WO2011153594A1

WO2011153594A1 - Water skiing harness

Info

Publication number: WO2011153594A1
Application number: PCT/AU2011/000721
Authority: WO
Inventors: Geoffrey Dale Smith
Original assignee: Geoffrey Dale Smith
Priority date: 2010-06-10
Filing date: 2011-06-10
Publication date: 2011-12-15
Also published as: AU2011264427A1

Abstract

A harness (10) for a person water skiing has a back support member (12) for wrapping around the back of the person, and first and second side straps (14, 16) extending from respective opposite sides of the back support member (12) and having free ends (18, 20) adapted to releasably interengage so as to strap the harness (10) around the body of the person. The harness (10) also has forwardly extending strap means (22) for laying over a handle (24) attached to a tow rope (26) so that the strap means (22) can be temporarily secured thereto by pressure applied by the hands of the person when holding the handle (24) during water skiing.

Description

WATER SKIING HARNESS

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to apparatus used for water skiing and, in particular, to a harness for wearing by a person who is water skiing. The invention more particularly relates to a water skiing harness that provides back support and is able to be releasably attached to a handle of a water ski tow line. Although the background, objects and preferred embodiments of the invention will be hereinafter described with reference to a harness for use in water skiing, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but has wider application. For example, the harness may be used in wake boarding, kite surfing and other sports that involve towing a person on water.

It is to be understood that the terminology employed herein is for the purpose of ^* description only and should not be regarded as limiting. For instance, the terms "comprising" or "comprises" are to be understood as meaning "including", unless otherwise stated. Also, the term "harness" is to be understood as including any item, whether or not it is "harness-like", that can be worn or supported on the body of a person who is water skiing and provide back support and be able to be releasably attached to a handle of a water ski tow line.

BACKGROUND ART

Normally when a person water skis, they grip with both their hands in front of their body a handle at the end of a tow rope extending rearwardly from a powered craft. Their hands, as well as the rest of their arms, often tire considerably towards the end of a long period of water skiing, and they may then choose to wrap the tow rope around their back and hold the handle again in front of their body. Although this relieves some strain from the arms, it adds to the strain on the back, which may now experience even more violent forces than it normally experiences when water skiing. It may also be dangerous if the person falls or releases the handle without first unwrapping the tow rope from around their back, as the rope and/or the handle may present a risk of striking the person. .

There have been some attempts in the prior art to provide apparatus for assisting people to water ski for longer periods without tiring their arms. US Patent No. 5,595,136 is one such example. However, the apparatus disclosed therein can possibly jam when a water skier falls and cause them injury.

It has been found by the present inventor that these problems can be overcome by providing a water skiing harness that is safe to use, provides back support and is able to be releasably attached to a handle of a water ski tow line. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the disadvantages and problems of the aforementioned prior art, or at least provide a useful alternative.

It has been found by the present inventor that these and other objects of the invention may be achieved in general by providing a harness for a person water skiing, the harness comprising:

(a) a back support member for wrapping around the back of the person, (b) first and second side straps extending from respective opposite sides of the back support member and having free ends adapted to releasably interengage so as to strap the harness around the body of the person, and

(c) forwafdly extending strap means for laying over a handle attached to a tow rope so that the strap means can be temporarily secured thereto by pressure applied by the hands of the person when holding the handle during water skiing. Preferably, the forwardiy extending strap means comprise a first strap portion connected at one of its ends to a first side of the back support member, and a second strap portion connected at one of its ends to a second side of the back support member opposite to the first side, the first and second strap portions being interconnected at their respective other ends so as to define a forwardmost strap portion.

It is preferred that the forwardmost strap portion is laid over a middle region of the handle. Adjacent parts of the first and second strap portions may also be laid over the middle region of the handle.

The pressure for temporarily securing the forwardiy extending stop means to the handle is preferably applied by the whole of one hand. Alternatively, such pressure may be applied by the thumbs of the hands.

In a preferred form, the back support member is padded.

In another preferred form, the free ends of the first and second side straps are releasably interengaged by hook and loop interengaging parts, such as may be provided by Velcro™.

The water skiing harness of the present invention can readily be adjusted by laying the forwardiy extending strap means over the handle during water skiing over a long period when it is desired to relieve the arms, and especially the hands, of tiredness and strain.

There has been thus outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and put into practical effect, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which the disclosure is based, may be readily utilized as the basis for designing other assemblies and processes for carrying out the objects of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the broad outline of the invention described above be regarded as including such equivalent constructions in so far as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a water skiing harness according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the harness of Figure 1 , Figure 3 is a partial front view of a person who is water skiing by holding a handle attached to a tow rope and using their thumbs to apply pressure for temporarily securing around the handle a forwardly extending strap means of the harness of Figures 1 arid 2, and Figure 4 is a full side view of the person, water skiing harness and tow line shown in Figure 3. MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference now to the above summarized drawings of Figures 1 to 4, a water skiing harness embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will now be described.

The harness 10 is adapted to be worn by a person who is water skiing, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the harness 10 includes a back support member 12 for wrapping around the back of the person. In this embodiment, the back support member is padded and provides a relatively wide area of support around the back from one hip to the other. There are first and second side straps 14, 16 which extend from respective opposite sides of the back support member 12 and have free ends 18, 20 adapted to releasably interengage so as to strap the harness 10 around the body of the person. In this embodiment, the free ends of the first and second side straps are releasably

interengaged by hook and loop interengaging parts, such as may be provided by Velcro™.

The harness 10 also includes forwardly extending strap means 22 for laying over a handle 24 attached to a tow rope 26 so that the strap means 22 can be temporarily secured thereto by pressure applied by one or both hands of the person when holding the handle 24 during water skiing. In this embodiment, and as shown in Figure 3, that pressure is applied by the thumbs of the hands, although it may alternatively be applied by the whole of one hand.

In this embodiment, the forwardly extending strap means 22 comprises a first strap portion 28 connected at one of its ends to a first side 30 of the back support member 12, and a second strap portion 32 connected at one of its ends to a second side 34 of the back support member opposite to the first side 30. The first and second strap portions 28, 32 are interconnected at their respective other ends, such as by stitching, adhesive, or heat bonding, so as to define a forwardmost strap portion 36. In use, the forwardmost strap portion 36 is laid over a middle region of the handle 24, as shown in Figure 3. That drawing also shows adjacent parts of the first and second strap portions 28, 32 laid over the middle region of the handle. A user can adjust the length of the forwardly extending strap means 22 that they wish to lay over the handle 24 according to their preference. The forwardmost strap portion 36 is, in effect, wrapped around the middle region of the handle, but not beyond a point where it cannot quickly unwrap by itself when the person releases their grip on it.

A person can begin their period of water skiing by immediately applying thumb or whole hand pressure for temporarily securing the forwardly extending strap means to the handle, or they may choose after a long period of water skiing normally, when their arms are tired and strained, to wrap the forwardly extending strap means around the handle and then apply thumb or whole hand pressure to temporarily secure the strap means 22 to the handle. Such adjustment during water skiing can be done quickly and easily.

If a person who is water skiing with the harness of the present invention falls or releases the handle, the forwardmost strap portion 36 quickly unwraps from around the handle, and the person is free of the tow line without the rope and/or the handle presenting a risk of striking the person.

It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that the water skiing harness 10 may be made of many suitable materials.

The combination of the back support member 12 and the use of the forwardly extending strap means 22 to temporarily secure the harness 10 to the handle 24 by pressure applied by one or both hands of the person when holding the handle during water skiing are advantageous features of the present invention that together improve the experience and safety of water skiing.

Still further advantages of the present invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

It will also be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in details of design and construction of the embodiments of the water skiing harness, and in the steps of using the assembly described above, without departing from the scope or ambit of the present invention.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an

acknowledgement or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or · information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates before the filing date of this patent application.

Claims

1. A harness for a perso water skiing, the harness comprising:

(a) a back support member for wrapping around the back of the person,

(b) first and second side straps extending from respective opposite sides of the back support member and having free ends adapted to releasably interengage so as to strap the harness around the body of the person, and

(c) forwardly extending strap means for laying over a handle attached to a tow rope so that the strap means can be temporarily secured thereto by pressure applied by the hands of the person when holding the handle during water skiing.

2. The harness of claim 1 wherein the forwardly extending strap means comprise a first strap portion connected at one of its ends to a first side of the back support member, and a second strap portion connected at one of its ends to a second side of the back support member opposite to the first side, the first and second strap portions being interconnected at their respective other ends so as to define a forwardmost strap portion.

3. The harness of claim 2 wherein the forwardmost strap portion is laid over a middle region of the handle.

4. The harness of claim 3 wherein adjacent parts of the first and second strap portions are also laid over the middle region of the handle.

5. The harness of claim 1 wherein the pressure for temporarily securing the forwardly extending strap means to the handle is applied by the whole of one hand.

6. The harness of claim 1 wherein the pressure for temporarily securing the forwardly extending strap means to the handle is applied by the thumbs of the hands.

7. The harness of claim 1 wherein the free ends of the first and second side straps are releasably interengaged by hook and loop interengaging parts.