Sport harness

Abstract

A sport harness for use with a kite or other propulsive device having a quick release feature whereby the user may release himself or herself from the harness while being pulled by a kite. The quick release feature including an interconnection between a spreader bar and one part of a two part waist band closure whereby releasing one end of the spreader bar causes the closure to separate. A harness having vent openings. An overlay for impeding tangling of lines with a harness.

Claims

1. A sport harness assembly comprising: a harness; a waist belt for securing the harness to a person, the waist belt having a first end and a second end, the first end of the waist belt is detachably secured to the second end of the waist belt until a force, is exerted sufficient to cause the first end of the waist belt to detach from the second end of the waist belt; a spreader bar having a first end and a second end, the first end of the spreader bar is attached to the harness, and the second end of the spreader bar is attached via a release that is activated by pulling a harness release tab; and a load transfer loop connecting the spreader bar and the first end of the waist belt, when the release securing the second end of the spreader bar is released, the second end of the spreader bar rotates away from the harness and pulls the load transfer loop thereby detaching the first end of the waist belt from the second end of the waist belt to open the waist belt.

2. The sport harness of claim 1, wherein the first end of the waist belt is secured to the second end of the waist belt by mating hook and loop fasteners.

3. The sport harness of claim 1, wherein the spreader bar has a hook for making connections.

4. The sport harness of claim 1, wherein the first end of the spreader bar is attached by a webbing attached to the waist belt, the webbing passes through a first opening at the first end of the spreader bar and is secured by a webbing adjustment buckle.

5. The sport harness of claim 1, wherein the release comprises a U-shaped slider that holds a compression plate and retainer plate together, tension provided by an elastic cord maintains the slider in a locked position, and pulling upon the harness release tab stretches the elastic cord and releases the U-shaped slider to free the second end of the spreader bar.

6. The sport harness of claim 1, wherein the harness has vents.

7. The sport harness of claim 1, wherein the harness has a mesh fabric overlay.

8. The sport harness of claim 7, wherein the mesh fabric overlay is fitted with a zipper to permit access under the mesh fabric overlay.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is perspective view of a rider on a board using a kite attached to a safety harness embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rider on a board using a kite attached to the safety harness embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the rider releasing the kite.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rider on a board using a kite attached to the safety harness embodiment of FIG. 1, showing the kite bar released and the rider activating the harness release.

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rider on a board and the safety harness embodiment of FIG. 1, in which the rider has activated the harness release.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a rider on a board using a kite attached to a safety harness embodiment of the present invention, showing the rider releasing the trim loop so as to transfer the force the kite to the kite leash.

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a rider on a board using a kite attached to the safety harness embodiment of FIG. 5, showing the trim loop released and the rider activating the harness release.

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a rider on a board and the safety harness embodiment of FIG. 5, in which the rider has activated the harness release.

(8) FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of a safety harness embodiment of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the safety harness of FIG. 8.

(10) FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a safety harness embodiment of the present invention with a mesh/fabric overlay.

(11) FIG. 11 is a perspective isolation view of an embodiment of the harness release of the present invention, shown in the closed position.

(12) FIG. 12 is a perspective isolation view of the embodiment of the harness release of the present invention of FIG. 11, shown in the open/released position.

(13) FIG. 13 is a perspective isolation view of the embodiment of the harness release of FIG. 12 showing the harness release tab being pulled in the direction of the release force to free the end of the spreader bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

(14) Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, components of the preferred embodiment of the invention are shown. The harness 32 has a waist belt 36 that overlaps itself and is held together with a two-part loop and hook fastener 58 (e.g., Velcro™). Waist belt 36 has a first end 37 and a second end 39

(15) A spreader bar 30 is provided having a first end 31 and a second end 33. Spreader bar 30 has a first opening 35 at first end 31 and a second opening 41 at second end 33. The spreader bar 30 has a spreader bar hook 40 and a spreader bar leash attachment 44. First end 31 of spreader bar 30 is attached on a first side 45 of waist belt 36 and second end 33 of spreader bar 30 is secured on second side 47 of waist belt 36. First end 31 of the spreader bar 30 connects to the harness 32 by spreader bar attachment webbings 42 that are fed through the first opening 35 at first end of spreader bar 30 and secured with the webbing adjustment buckles 52 that are attached to the harness 32.

(16) The second end 33 of the spreader bar 30 is attached to the harness 32 by a release 50 that connects to the harness 32 by spreader bar attachment webbings 42 that are fed through the webbing adjustment buckles 52 that are attached to the harness 32.

(17) Referring to FIG. 12, the components of the release 50 are shown. On the side of the harness 32 that has the release 50, the two pieces of spreader bar attachment webbing 42 are connected to a webbing retainer 64. Sewn inside the webbing retainer 64 is a retainer plate 68 made from stainless steel material, or other non-deformable material (e.g., fiberglass, plastics) and a compression plate 66 made from stainless steel material, or other non-deformable material (e.g., fiberglass, plastics).

(18) The section of the webbing retainer 64 that has the compression plate 66 is folded over the second opening 41 at the second end 33 of the spreader bar 30 and rests against the section of the webbing retainer 64 that has the retainer plate 68 inside. A U-shaped slider 60, made from stainless steel or similar, holds the compression plate 66 and the retainer plate 68 together, locking the end of the spreader bar 30 in place. The slider 60 is attached to the harness release tab 34 and two elastic cords 62 (e.g., shock cords) are attached at one end to the harness release tab, extend around the folded webbing retainer 64 and are affixed at the other end to the outer edge of the webbing retainer 64, past the compression plate 66. The tension provided by the elastic cord 62 assists in maintaining the slider 60 in the locked position.

(19) The release 50 is fitted with a harness release tab 34. Referring to FIG. 13, when the harness release tab 34 is pulled by the rider 10 in the direction of the release force 70, the elastic cord 62 is stretched and the end of the webbing retainer 64 that has the compression plate 66 inside folds open, away from the retainer plate 68, freeing the end of the spreader bar 30.

(20) A load transfer loop 38 connects the releasable end of the spreader bar 30 to the outside end of the loop and hook fastener 58 overlap of the waist belt 36. As the end of the spreader bar 30 is released, the load on the spreader bar 30 is transferred to the load transfer loop 38. As is shown in FIG. 9, when in use there is a force 48 from the kite that pulls on the spreader bar 30 such that when the release 50 is activated by pulling the harness release tab 34, the released end of the spreader bar rotates away from the harness 32, which in turn pulls the load transfer loop 38, that connects the released end of the spreader bar 30 to the waist belt 36. The pull from the load transfer loop 38 peels the overlapping loop and hook fastener 58 section of the waist belt 36 open thus freeing the rider 10 completely of the harness 32 and thus frees the rider 10 completely from the propulsive force of the kite 14.

(21) The harness 32 has mesh vents 46 that allow water to pass through the harness so that when the harness has been released and is being pulled by the kite 14, the harness will have reduced drag or resistance which will help to prevent the kite 14 from relaunching. As well, the vents 46 reduce the undesirable bucketing effect should the rider 10 be dragged in the water by the kite or when the harness 32 is partially immersed when the rider 10 is sailing in relatively extreme conditions.

(22) Referring to FIG. 10, a mesh fabric overlay 54 covers the sides and back of the harness 32 to cover locations where lines 16, 20 could tangle with the harness 32. The mesh fabric overlay 54 is fitted with a zipper 56 to permit access under the mesh fabric overlay 54.

(23) Referring to FIG. 1, a rider 10, stands on a board 12, and flies a kite 14. The propulsive force of the kite 14 is transferred to the rider 10 via bridles 18 that attach to the leading edge of the kite 14, and then attach to front lines 16 that connect to the trim line 22 (at times referred to herein as a power line), the trim line 22 passes through the kite bar 24 and terminates at a trim loop 26. The trim loop 26 is attached to the spreader bar 30, which is part of a harness 32 worn by the rider 10.

(24) Rear lines 20 attach to the kite 14 at the wingtips and to the outer ends of the kite bar 24. Moving the kite bar 24 towards the rider 10 increases the angle of attack of the kite 14 thus increasing the propulsive force, while moving the kite bar 24 away from the rider lowers the angle of attack of the kite 14 thus reducing the propulsive force. Pulling on one side of the kite bar 24 causes the kite 14 to turn in that direction.

(25) A kite leash 28 is connected to the trim loop 26 and then to the spreader bar 30. The kite leash 28 keeps the kite connected to the rider 10 when the trim loop 26 is no longer connected to the spreader bar 30.

(26) There is a harness release tab 34, mounted on the harness 32, which when pulled releases the harness 32 completely from the rider 10.

(27) In most instances, the assembly shown in the drawings and described herein would include a means (not shown) for releasing the trim loop 26 from the spreader bar hook 40.

(28) FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the steps involved when a rider 10 desires to release himself from the propulsive force of the kite 14, and the rider is unable to release the trim loop 26 from the spreader bar hook 40.

(29) Referring to FIG. 2, the rider 10 has released the rider's hold on the kite bar 24. This allows the kite bar 24 to move towards the kite 14, decreasing, but not eliminating the propulsive force of the kite.

(30) Referring to FIG. 3, the rider 10 is pulling the harness release tab 34.

(31) Referring to FIG. 4, the rider 10 has pulled the harness release tab 34 which releases one end of the spreader bar 30. The propulsive force of the kite 14, pulling on the spreader bar 30 via the trim loop 26, causes the released end of the spreader bar 30 to rotate away from the harness 32, which in turn pulls the load transfer loop 38, that connects the released end of the spreader bar 30 to the waist belt 36. The waist belt 36 wraps around the rider's 10 waist and has an overlapping loop and hook fastener 58 section that holds it in place. The pull from the load transfer loop 38 peels the overlapping loop and hook fastener 58 section of the waist belt 36 open thus freeing the rider 10 completely of the harness 32 and thus frees the rider 10 completely from the propulsive force of the kite 14.

(32) FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the steps involved when a rider 10 has to release himself from the propulsive force of the kite 14 after they have activated the release on their trim loop 26 but are still connected to the kite 14 by the kite leash 28.

(33) Referring to FIG. 5, the rider 10 has released the kite bar 24 with both hands and has activated the release on the trim loop 26 so the kite 14 is only attached to the harness 32 by the kite leash 28.

(34) Referring to FIG. 6, the rider 10 is pulling the harness release tab 34.

(35) Referring to FIG. 7, the rider 10 has pulled the harness release tab 34 which releases one end of the spreader bar 30. The propulsive force of the kite 14, pulling on kite leash 28 causes the released end of the spreader bar 30 to rotate away from the harness 32, which in turn pulls the load transfer loop 38, that connects the released end of the spreader bar 30 to the waist belt 36. The waist belt 36 wraps around the rider's 10 waist and has an overlapping loop and hook fastener 58 section that holds it in place. The pull from the load transfer loop 38 peels the overlapping loop and hook fastener 58 section of the waist belt 36 open thus freeing the rider 10 completely of the harness 32 and thus frees the rider 10 completely from the propulsive force of the kite 14.

(36) The following terms and reference numbers are used herein and in the drawings: rider 10, board 12, kite 14, front lines 16, bridle 18, rear lines 20, trim line 22, kite bar 24, trim loop 26, kite leash 28, spreader bar 30, harness 32, harness release tab 34, waist belt 36, load transfer loop 38, spreader bar hook 40, spreader bar attachment webbing 42, spreader bar leash attachment 44, mesh ports 46, direction of force from kite 48, release 50, webbing adjustment buckle 52, mesh fabric overlay 54, zipper 56, loop and hook fastener 58, slider 60, shock cord 62, webbing retainer 64, compression plate 66, retainer plate 68, and release force 70.