US2553007A

US2553007A - Safety harness

Info

Publication number: US2553007A
Application number: US94435A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rosenthal Philip
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-05-20
Filing date: 1949-05-20
Publication date: 1951-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 1968-05-15

Description

May 15, 1951 P.' RosENTHAL 2,553,007

SAFETY HARNESS Filed May 20, 1949 ATTORN EY` Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES IFATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a har-ness for children adapted to -be used as a safety device for keeping children, .and especially infants, in a perambulator, crib or the like.

In particular, by the present invention a safety harness is provided which may be conveniently applied to and removed from the child, which can be readily adjusted to accommodate children of different sizes and which has a minimum of inconvenience and hindrance to the child, and especially permits the child to turn completely over without the removal or unfastening of the harness.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention Will become more apparent from the following description of ka preferred embodiment thereof taken in connection with the appended drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a .partial plan view of the harness carried by a child confined to a crib;

Figure 2 shows a developed View of the harness itself;

Figure 3 shows a cross sectional View of the harness of Figure 2 along line 3-3 thereof; and

Figure 4 shows an end view of the harness in fastened condition.

A harness according to the present invention comprises a waist encircling belt Il having a buckle I2 at one end and perforations I3 at the other end cooperating with buckle I2, the perforations I3 in well known manner permitting the belt to accommodate different sizes of waists. A pair of shoulder straps III and I5 are provided which xedly encircle the belt II at one end as shown at I6 and I'I by means of a loop turned back and fastened upon itself as illustrated by rivets I8. At the other end, the shoulder straps Ill and I 5 are supplied with perforated ends I9 and 20. Encircling the belt II are a pair of closed loops 2i and 22 having

buckles

23 and 24 at their ends. These

buckles

23 and 24 cooperate with the perforated ends I9 and 2t to permit adjustment of the length of the shoulder straps I4 and I5. The shoulder straps I4 and I5 are joined by a back cross strap 25 formed with a pair of end loops 2li and 2l, freely sliding on the shoulder straps I 4 and I5. Also, there is provided a front cross strap formed in two sections 28 and 29, each terminating in a loop slidable along a respective shoulder strap. The two straps 28, 29 terminate respectively in a buckle 3!) and a perforated end 3l, permitting adjustment of the length of this cross strap also. Where desired, any suitable means for xedly or movably securing the shoulder straps I4, I5 to lli 2 the main strap Il may be used, such as rings, hooks and eyes, snaps, rivets, sewing, etc. The buckles 23, 2d may also be located between crossstraps 25 and 28, 29 where desired.

It will be apparent that the harness, as thus far described, is adapted to be attached to the body in the manner shown in Figure 1 with the shoulder straps passing over the shoulder on either side of the head, with cross strap 25 on the back of the body and `cross strap 28, 29 on the front of the body and the belt II encircling the waist. As shown in Figure 4, the buckle l2 is fastened at the side of the wearer, rather than at the front as in prior forms of harness. As will be seen, this is an important feature of my invention. The

buckles

23, 24, 30 and I2 per mit adjustment of the harness to any size child. Cross straps 25 and .28, 29 prevent the shoulder straps I4, I5 from slipping off the childs shoulders. In this way, the harness is retained snugly on the childs body. To fasten the child to a crib, perambulator, or the like, a pair of retaining devices are provided as shown at Si and 32.. Each comprises a snap hook 33 coupled to a link 34 engaging an adjustable strap 35 having a buckle 36 at one end and perforations 31 at the other end, making an adjustable length loop. The snap hooks 33 are adapted to be coupled to a pair of sliding rings 38 encircling an auxiliary strap 39. Auxiliary strap 39 is fastened to the waist encircling belt I I at a minimum number of points. In the illustration shown, it is fastened as by riveting 4I at the end nearest the buckle I2 and by riveting l2 at the other end nearest the perforations I3. In addition, it is fastened to belt II by riveting at the center of the waist encircling belt, as shown at 43. One of the elements 38 engages the strap 39 between rivets 4I and 43 and the other between

rivets

42 and 43. Under some circumstances, the rivet 43 can be eliminated entirely which will give much wider freedom of movement as will now be described.

As is shown in Figure 1, the two loops 35 encircle any desired portions of the support for the child illustrated in Figure 1 as a crib Mi with the loops 35 encircling slats 41 thereof. As shown most clearly in Figure 4, the mounting of the rings 38 on the auxiliary strap 39 gives a wide latitude of freedom to the child wearing the harness. Thus, in Figure 4, the harness is shown in one extreme position. However, from this position the child can rotate substantially a complete for example from lying on his back to lying on his stomach, in the direction shown by theA arrows 48 until the rings 38 engage the riveted fastenings at the other extreme position. This complete rotation from front to back is made possible by the side fastening of buckle I2, whereby one section-of auxiliary strap 39 extends from one side to the other via the back, and the other similarly extends from one side to the other via the front. In this way, even though loops 35 are securely fastened down the child can turn over completely or turn back completely as he desires, without in any way impairing or diminishing his safety. The shoulder straps I4 and I5 in no way impede this movement, which is further facilitated by the reduced friction inherent in the arrangement whereby the rings 38 slide between the main belt II and the auxiliary beltV 39, so that the clothing of the wearer does not impede the sliding action of the rings 38. This provides an extreme advantage, especially for a young infant whose parents may desire to turn him over in his crib or perambulator. The present harness permits this to be done without the necessity of unfastening the harness in any way.

Accordingly, the present invention has provided a much more convenient harness for children without in any way impairing the safety of fastening. It is to be understood that while the present invention has been illustratively described as using buckles and perforated straps other means of adjustable fastening may be sub stituted where deemed expedient. Likewise, while riveted fastenings have been illustrated as a practicable and simple type of fastening, other kinds of fastening such as screws, snaps, loops and hooks, stapling or sewing or any desired type of xed or removable fastening may be used. The straps and belts just described may be made Vof leather, cloth, plastic material or any other desired material suitable for the purpose. It will also be understood that while auxiliary belt 39 has been shown as in one piece, it may, of course, be formed in two separate shorter pieces, each fastened to the waist belt I I at both ends, one end being adjacent one end of the waist encircling belt II and the other end being adjacent the center of belt II. Especially when leather is used, this permits the use of the cheaper short lengths of strap.

According to one important aspect ofthe invention the rivet e3 or Whatever fastening means is substituted therefor 'may be entirely omitted. When this is done, the degree of freedom afforded to the child wearing the harness is increased still further over that shown in Figure 2, sinceV the rivet 43 is then no longer present to provide a stop for movement of rings 38; It will be une derstood that while it is preferred to use the above improved safety harness on a child, it may be used where necessary on children or adults or even animals or inanimate objectsgwherever the `advantage of the use of such restraining means are desired with a minimum of obstruction tothe freedom or action of movement of the wearer. According to another modication of the pres ent invention, the auxiliary strap (such asBS) or itsA equivalent two-strap arrangement described above, may be securedinside the waistencircling strap in the manner already described. l In this casa-the auxiliary strap (or straps) willcarry theA shoulder strap loops, such as IIL-I1 ,2 I, 22, and the main strap II will. carry the rings While the invention has been described rela tive toshoulder straps, it will be understood that other straps, such as crotch straps, may be used with or in place of shoulder straps, or all such straps may be omitted. .Y

When desired, the auxiliary strap 39 or its two sections as described above may be made removable, as by use of snap fasteners, hooks and eyes or loops, in place of

rivets

4I, 42, 43. In such a case, the buckle I2 may be moved to the front of the Waist strap I I, although such an arrangement is notr preferred because of the extra trouble in applying and removing the harness.

It will be understood that many other minor modifications of the invention just described may readily be conceived without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the above description is intended to be illustrative only and not to constitute a limitation upon the invention which is defined solely by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A safety harness for confining a child, or the like, comprising a waist-encircling belt having a fastening means therefor adapted to be positioned at the side of the wearer, an auxiliary strap fastened to said waist encircling belt on the outside thereof, at points adjacent the ends of said belt and also at a point substantially midway between the ends of said belt, a pair of shoulder straps each having a front end and a back end slidably mounted on said belt, the front pair of ends of said shoulder Vstraps being positioned along said belt between one end fastening point of said strap and the intermediate fastening point of said strap and the other back pair of ends of said shoulder straps being slidably mounted on said belt between said intermediate fastening point and the other end fastening point of said auxiliary strap, whereby said belt fastening means is worn at the side of the wearer, a pair of rings slidably engaging said auxiliary strap, one ring being located between one end of said auxiliary strap and said intermediate fastening point` thereof and the other ring being located between the other end of said auxiliary strap and saidV intermediate fastening point, and respective side fastening means removably attached to said rings for holding said harness to fixed points, saidside fastening means comprising respective removable hook means engaging Veach of said rings and a'.

fastening strap secured to each said hook means,

whereby substantially fullfreedom of turning from a back recumbent position to a front recumbent position in one direction is afforded to the wearer of said harness without impeding the ready adjustment of said shoulder straps and even though said side fastening means maybe` secured to fixed objects.

l PHILIP ROSENTHAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS