[0001] This invention relates to harnesses and more particularly, but not exclusively, is
concerned with harnesses for securing breathing apparatus to the user of the apparatus.
[0002] Harnesses are known to enable articles, such as breathing apparatus, to be secured
to the wearer of the harness to facilitate carrying the same. However, such conventional
harnesses can be uncomfortable to wear particularly in cases where the article secured
to the harness is heavy and/or bulky.
[0003] Moreover fire-fighters wearing breathing apparatus have to carry the weight of that
equipment whilst carrying out a wide range of physical movements, often in extremely
hostile environments. Also, there are other circumstances where people need to carry
various articles by means of harnesses on the upper body. In order to reduce the potential
for physiological strain in such circumstances, it is desirable to increase the mobility
and manoeuvrability of the harness to enable the wearer to go through a wide range
of movement without discomfort or distress.
[0004] The human body includes a number of joints which enable the bending of limbs and
the torso. The major bending facility for the torso is in the spine, and particularly
in the lumbar region. Harnesses comprising a rigid back plate held firmly in place
between, and linking, shoulder straps and a waist plate thus restrict safe upper body
flexing and bending.
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a harness which enables heavy
and/or bulky articles to be carried in a better position and with greater comfort
and enhanced freedom of upper body movement.
[0006] Accordingly, the present invention provides a harness for securing an article such
as breathing apparatus to the wearer of the harness, which harness comprises:-
(i) a waist plate comprising a back portion and side portions, at each end of the
back portion, for engaging the hips of the wearer,
(ii) a waist belt, secured to the waist plate, for fastening around the waist of the
wearer to hold the waist plate in position,
(iii) a back plate moveable with respect to the waist plate and connected thereto,
(iv) shoulder straps for looping around the shoulders of the wearer and connected
to the back plate, and
(v) a means of securing said article to the harness.
[0007] In an embodiment, the back plate is pivotally connected to the waist plate. More
particularly, the back plate is pivotally mounted in an essentially vertical plane
generally parallel to the wearer's back so that the back plate can pivot laterally
with respect to the wearer. This greatly facilitates the ability of the wearer to
lean to one side whilst wearing the harness.
[0008] Preferably, the back plate is flexible in a fore and aft direction (with respect
to the normal direction of motion of the wearer) so that the wearer is more able to
lean forward when wearing the harness.
[0009] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the back plate is movable with respect to
the waist plate in such a way that the overall length of the waist plate and back
plate can be varied i.e. such that the back plate can be moved vertically with respect
to the waist plate.
[0010] In one form of this embodiment the back plate and the waist plate are connected together
by a protrusion extending from one of the plates which is engaged in one of a plurality
of apertures in the other of the plates. By suitably selecting an appropriate aperture
to receive the protrusion, the overall length can be adjusted to enable the harness
to be worn by persons of significantly different height.
[0011] In another form of this embodiment, the back plate and the waist plate are connected
together by a protrusion extending from one of the plates which is engaged in an aperture
in the form of a longitudinally extending slot in the other plate. The arrangement
is such that the protrusion can slide along the slot in such a way that the overall
length can vary during use to accommodate longitudinal movement of the spine of the
wearer.
[0012] Generally, the lengths of the waist belt and/or the shoulder straps are adjustable
to accommodate wearers of different sizes. Also, it is preferred for the waist belt
and optionally the shoulder straps to be provided with quick release couplings to
facilitate fitting and removing the harness.
[0013] Preferably the back plate is bifurcated at its upper end to form first and second
limbs extending towards or to the shoulders of the wearer. In this case, one end of
a first of the shoulder straps is secured to the first limb and one end of a second
of the shoulder straps is secured to the second limb. This greatly lessens the risk
of the shoulder straps slipping off the shoulders of the wearer as he moves about.
Alternatively the tendency of the straps to slide off the shoulders can be reduced
by arranging for the shoulder straps to cross one another prior to being passed over
the shoulders of the wearer.
[0014] It is particularly preferred for the waist plate to include a connector plate whereby
the article to be carried can be readily and releasably attached to the harness.
[0015] For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried
into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings
in which:-
Figure 1 shows a rear perspective view of a first embodiment of a harness for breathing
apparatus in accordance with the present invention,
Figure 2 shows a front perspective view of the harness of Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the back plate and a part of the waist plate
of the harness of Figures 1 and 2,
Figure 4 shows an alternative form of a part of the harness shown in Figure 3,
Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of a third embodiment of a harness for breathing
apparatus in accordance with the present invention,
Figure 6 is a front view of the waist plate of the harness of Figure 5,
Figure 7 is a cross section along line VII-VII of Figure 6,
Figure 8 is a front view of a part of the breathing apparatus attached to the harness
of Figure 5,
Figure 9 is a front view of a part of the harness of Figure 5,
Figure 10 is a rear perspective view of the harness of Figure 5 in its folded away
configuration,
Figure 11 shows a side view of the harness of Figure 5 being worn by a wearer in an
upright position,
Figure 12 corresponds to Figure 11 and shows the harness with the wearer in a bending
forward position,
Figures 13 and 14 correspond to Figures 11 and 12 but illustrate the use of the harness
with a different type of breathing apparatus,
Figure 15 shows a rear view of a fourth embodiment of a harness for breathing apparatus
in accordance with the present invention,
Figure 16 shows a rear view of a fifth embodiment of a harness for breathing apparatus
in accordance with the present invention,
Figure 17 is a schematic rear view of a part of a sixth embodiment of a harness for
breathing apparatus in accordance with the present invention,
Figure 18 is a schematic partly sectioned side view of the embodiment of Figure 17,
Figure 19 is a rear perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a harness for breathing
apparatus in accordance with the present invention,
Figure 20 is a front perspective view of the harness of Figure 19,
Figure 21 is a front perspective view of a part of the harness of Figure 19,
Figure 22 is a rear perspective view of part of the harness of Figure 19,
Figure 23 is a rear perspective view of an eighth embodiment of a harness for breathing
apparatus in accordance with the present invention,
Figure 24 is a front perspective view of the harness of Figure 23,
Figure 25 is a side view of the harness of Figures 23 and 24 being worn by a wearer
in an upright position and in a bending forward position,
Figure 26 is a rear perspective view of a part of a ninth embodiment of a harness
for breathing apparatus in accordance with the present invention,
Figure 27 is an exploded view of a part of the harness of Figure 26, and
Figure 28 shows the part shown in Figure 27 but in the non-exploded configuration.
[0016] In the drawings, corresponding parts are denoted by like reference numerals.
[0017] Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the harness comprises a waist plate 1 comprising
a rigid supporting member 2 formed of plastics material (such as the linear polyamide
known as nylon) faced with padding 3 formed of a resilient material such as foamed
plastics material. The waist plate 1 is ergonomically shaped so as to provide lumbar
support. More particularly it includes a back portion 4 for engaging the back of the
wearer and side portions 5 and 6 at each end of the back portion for engaging the
hips of the wearer. Each of the side portions 5 and 6 has a lip 7 and 8, respectively,
at its upper edge for seating on the hip of the wearer.
[0018] A waist belt 9 formed of webbing is secured to the waist plate 1. The waist belt
includes a connector comprising a female portion 10 at one of its free ends and a
male portion 11 at the other of its free ends. The male portion 11 comprises two resilient
projections which are capable of entering the female portion 10 as a consequence of
being displaced towards one another. They include shoulders 12 which engage with abutments
13 on the female portion when the projections return to their non-displaced position
when fully entered into the female portion and which retain the male portion within
the female portion. A means (not shown) is provided to enable the length of the waist
belt 9 to be adjusted.
[0019] The waist plate 1 includes an upstanding portion 22 also formed of rigid plastics
material to which a back plate 21 is pivotally attached so that it can move with respect
to the waist plate. More particularly it can pivot in a vertical plane laterally with
respect to the general direction of movement of the wearer. The back plate 21 is supported
by the back of the wearer in use and is faced with resilient material 23, (similar
to material 3) to provide padding for the back and shoulders and includes a protrusion
in the form of a boss 24 of circular section and carrying a groove 25 in its outer
periphery. The upstanding portion 22 on the waist plate includes an aperture 26 of
a dimension which will receive the boss 24. Located at opposite sides of the aperture
23 are clips 27 resiliently mounted within the aperture so that they are urged towards
one another. When the boss 24 is introduced into the aperture 26 the clips 27 move
apart from one another to allow passage of the boss 24 and then engage in the recess
25 under their resilient bias and retain the back plate 21 in position on the upstanding
portion 22 in such a manner that the back plate 21 can pivot with respect to the portion
22.
[0020] In a variation of the above construction, the boss may be in the form of a protrusion
24' carrying a pair of diametrically opposed lugs 28 and the aperture 26' may include
a pair of diametrically opposite recesses 29 as shown in Figure 4. The recesses 29
are dimensioned to allow the protrusion 24' to pass through the aperture when the
recesses 29 and lugs 28 are in register and then to retain the protrusion 24' within
the aperture when the back plate 21 is suitably rotated with respect to the upstanding
portion 22 so that the lugs 28 and recesses 29 are no longer in register.
[0021] Both the above constructions provide a means of quickly connecting the back plate
21 to the upstanding portion 22 in a manner which enables the back plate 21 to pivot
with respect to the portion 22.
[0022] The back plate is height adjustable with respect to the waist plate as a consequence
of the upstanding portion 22 including three of said apertures 26 (26'). Thus the
back plate 22 may be connected to the waist plate by any of these apertures to allow
for the harness to be worn by wearers of significantly differing height.
[0023] The back plate 21 includes a plurality of laterally extending thinner portions 30
whereby it is provided with some flexibility in the fore and aft direction with respect
to the normal direction of motion of the wearer.
[0024] The back plate 21 is bifurcated at its upper end 79 and terminates in a first limb
31 and a second limb 32. A first shoulder strap 20 is secured to the first limb 31
at its first end and is provided at its second end with a loop 33 through which the
waist belt 9 passes. A second shoulder strap 20 is similarly attached to the second
limb 32. In this way, the first ends of the shoulder straps 20 are maintained in their
respective positions irrespective of movement of the wearer. Each shoulder strap 20
includes an adjustable buckle 35 (not shown in Figure 1) whereby the height of the
harness with respect to the wearer's back can be altered as desired.
[0025] The harness has secured thereto a durable rigid casing 14 carrying two substantially
spherical containers 15 of composite material for holding breathing gas under pressure.
The casing 14 is secured to the waist plate 1 in the manner shown in Figures 6, 7
and 8 described hereinafter. The containers 15 are each linked
via a manifold (not shown) to a high pressure inlet 16 passing through an opening in
the casing 14 for charging the containers with gas. Gas is taken from the containers
15 by means of a medium pressure outlet (not shown) connected to the manifold by means
of a pressure reducer (not shown).
[0026] In use, the shoulder straps 20 are passed over the shoulders and the waist belt 9
is fitted around the back and sides of the wearer so that the lips 7 and 8 rest on
the top of the hip bones of the wearer and the waist belt 9 is tightly secured about
the waist of the wearer by means of the male and female connector portions, the length
of the belt being adjusted as appropriate by the adjustment means (not shown). In
this way, the harness is locked onto the wearer's waist and hips in a comfortable
manner and allows negligible movement of the containers 15 with respect to the wearer.
[0027] Referring now to Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 there is shown the harness of Figures 1, 2
and 3 arranged to secure to the wearer three substantially spherical containers 15
within a casing 14'. A connector plate 40 is secured to the waist plate 1 by means
of spigots 41 adapted to pass through holes 42 and 43 in reinforcing plate 44 and
waist plate 1, respectively, and through holes 45 in connector plate 40 to engage
in bores 46 in studs 47 on connector plate 40. Four such studs 47 are provided and
each has a domed head 48 of larger dimension than shank portion 49.
[0028] The casing 14' for the spherical containers 15 includes four apertures each comprising
a slot 50 having a width greater than the diameter of the shank portion 49 but less
than the diameter of the domed head 48 of the studs 47 and a circular portion 51 having
a diameter greater than the diameter of the domed portion 48 of the studs 47. The
apertures are provided on the casing 14' in such a manner that the circular portions
51 can be put in register with the four studs 47 on the connector plate 40 whereby
the studs 46 can pass through the circular portions 50. Then by suitably rotating
the casing 14' the shank portions 49 of the studs 47 are caused to pass along the
slots 50 whereby the casing and the containers therein are securely attached to the
connector plate 40 by the dome portions 48 of the studs 47. Thus, the casing can be
quickly connected to the harness.
[0029] Referring now to Figures 9 and 10 it can be seen that, because of the pivotal mounting
of the back plate 21, the harness can be readily folded away for storage or carrying
purposes so as to adopt the configuration shown in Figure 10 by pivoting the back
plate 21 through about 180° with respect to the upstanding portion 22 of the waist
plate.
[0030] Referring now to Figures 11 and 12, there is shown the harness and apparatus of Figure
5 secured to the wearer.
[0031] The waist plate 1 is securely seated in the lumbar region of the wearer and the back
plate 21 is held closely against the wearer's back and shoulders. Figure 11 shows
the harness and apparatus secured to the wearer in an upright position. As can be
seen from Figure 12, when the wearer leans forward, the back plate 21 can bend transversely
at the thinner portions 30 to facilitate movement of the wearer.
[0032] Figures 13 and 14 are similar to Figures 11 and 12 but show the harness used for
carrying pressurised breathing air in a generally cylindrical container 60 formed
of carbon fibre composite material and having a capacity of 6.8 litres.
[0033] Figure 15 shows another embodiment of the harness. In this case the back plate 21'
is shortened so that it does not reach the shoulders and the shoulder straps 20 attached
to limbs 31 and 32 cross one another before passing over the shoulders. In this way
there is less tendency for the shoulder straps 20 to slip off the shoulders when the
wearer moves from side to side.
[0034] Referring now to Figure 16, there is shown another type of full harness used to carry
three spherical containers (not shown) in a casing 14'. This harness also includes
a pivotally mounted back plate 21 having fore and aft flexibility and shoulder straps
(not shown) and a waist belt 9'. The waist belt includes quick release connector 65
and a length adjusting mechanism 66 whereby it may be shortened by pulling on free
end 67 in a manner known
per se. The casing 14' includes a first opening 68 whereby all three containers may be charged
with breathing gas under pressure
via a high pressure inlet and a second opening by means of which one end of a hose 69
is connected to a medium pressure outlet of a reducing valve (not shown), the other
end of the hose 69 terminating in a demand valve 70.
[0035] Referring now to the embodiment of Figures 17 and 18, the back plate 21 includes
an aperture in the form of a narrow vertical slot 71 provided at its lower end. A
protrusion in the form of a flexible boss 72, centrally mounted on the rear of the
back portion 4 of the lumbar support waist plate 1, protrudes through the slot 71
and the back plate 21 is retained on the boss by the retaining member 73 having a
length greater than the width of the slot 71. The back plate 21 can thus move vertically
with respect to the waist plate 1 to vary the overall length of the waist plate 1
and back plate 21 as a consequence of relative displacement of the slot 71 and the
boss 72. Also, the flexible nature of the boss 72 permits angular movement of the
back plate 21 with respect to the waist plate 1.
[0036] When the waist belt to which the waist plate 1 is attached, is worn locked onto the
hips of the wearer, the boss 72 will be located in the centre of the lumbar region.
This permits multi-directional movement of the upper body, up to A° laterally (left
or right), and fore and aft movement up to B° bending forward, and C° bending backwards.
The shape and elasticity of the flexible boss 72 itself also permit rotational movements
of the lower spine, whilst the weight load remains on the hips.
[0037] When the wearer is standing upright, the weight load on the back plate 21 asserts
itself, by force of gravity, whereby the vertical slot 71 travels fully down the boss
72 until the majority of the weight being carried is transferred to the hips of the
wearer via the boss 72, the lumbar support waist plate 1 and the waist belt to which
it is attached.
[0038] Whenever the wearer leans forward, the spine elongates (stretches). If the wearer
were wearing a harness comprising a back plate rigidly connected to a waist plate,
this stretching of the spine would draw the back plate and the waist plate to which
it is immovably attached, upwards. This means that the waist plate would ride up above
the hips. As the wearer straightened up again the waist plate would be unable to relocate
itself in its correct position. This in turn would mean that the weight load would
therefore be higher up the wearer's back than it should be, and would be less stable
because the shoulder straps would become loosened due to the raising of the waist
plate. The wearer would therefore be at greater risk of physiological strain in attempting
to control the less stable weight load. On the other hand, the harness shown in Figures
17 and 18 allows for the elongation of the spine. It allows the wearer to bend forwards
and draw the weight load upwards as a consequence of the vertical slot 71 travelling
smoothly up the boss 72 without pulling the waist plate off the hips. When the wearer
stands upright again, the weight load reasserts itself through the force of gravity
and the vertical slot travels smoothly down the boss until the top of the slot reaches
the boss and transfers the weight load back onto the hips of the wearer via the waist
plate and the lumbar support waist belt.
[0039] Referring now to Figures 19 to 22, in this embodiment, the back plate is secured
to the waist plate in a manner generally similar to that shown in Figures 17 and 18
and, moreover, the back plate is in two parts to facilitate height adjustment. The
back plate 21 includes an intermediate part 80 linking the upper end part 79 comprising
limbs 31 and 32 with the waist plate 4'. The upper end 79 is moveably connected to
the intermediate part and includes an elongated vertical slot 81 terminating in a
circular aperture 82 at each end. The adjacent end of intermediate part 80 includes
an aperture 83 to receive a securing bolt 84 having a shank of a dimension such that
it can protrude through elongated slot 81. A washer 85 having a projection 86 including
a bore 87 is provided to receive the shank of the bolt 84 protruding through intermediate
part 80 and the upper end 79. The washer 85 is retained on the shank by a nut 88.
The shape of the projection 86 is such that one of its dimensions is less than the
width of the slot 81 and its dimension at right angles to said dimension is greater
than the width of slot 81 but less than the diameter of aperture 82. Thus, by slightly
slackening nut 88 and appropriately rotating washer 85, the bolt 84 can be slid along
slot 81 and then retained in either of apertures 82 by appropriately rotating the
washer 85 again before tightening the nut 88. In this way, the overall length of the
back plate 21 and the waist plate 4' can be varied in order to accommodate wearers
of different height.
[0040] The waist plate 4' is secured, at its lateral edges, to a wing 89 of plastics material
encased in a padded pocket 90 forming the side portions of the waist plate for engaging
the hips of the wearer. In this embodiment, the waist plate 4' is spaced from the
back of the wearer in use because of the padded pockets 90. The wings 89 are able
to flex in a transverse direction so as to envelop the wearer's hips but are otherwise
resistant to flexing. A waist belt 9 including male and female connectors 10 and 11
is secured at its ends to the wings 89 by bolts 91. The waist belt 9 includes length
adjusting members 92 at each end.
[0041] The intermediate part 80 of the back plate 21 is secured to the waist plate 4' by
a mechanism allowing articulation between the intermediate part 80 and the waist plate
4'. More particularly as shown in Figure 22 the rear of the waist plate 4' has a member
93 mounted thereon so that it can rotate about an axis normal to the waist plate 4'.
The member 93 includes an upstanding flange 94 which is received between a pair of
flanges 95 of a connecting member 96. A bolt 97 passes through the flanges 94 and
95 to secure the members 93 and 96 together in a manner such that the member 96 can
pivot about the longitudinal axis of the bolt 97. The member 96 includes a first plate
member 98 spaced from a second plate member 99 by a distance somewhat greater than
the thickness of the intermediate part 80 (shown by dotted lines in Figure 22 for
the purpose of clarity) of the back plate 21 by means of a web 100 such that the first
plate member 98 is located at one side of the intermediate part 80 and the second
plate member 99 is located at the other side of the intermediate part 80 with the
web 100 protruding through the slot 71 in the intermediate part 80. Thus, the intermediate
part 80 and the remainder of the back plate 21 are able to move vertically with respect
to the waist plate 4' and the waist belt associated thereto by virtue of the web 100
and the slot 71 being relatively axially displaceable. In this way the overall length
of the waist plate and back plate can vary in use to accommodate the movement of the
wearer as previously described. Further, the intermediate plate 80 and the upper end
79 of the back plate 21 can together pivot towards and away from the waist plate 4'
by virtue of the movement of the connecting member 96 about the longitudinal axis
of bolt 97. Moreover, the intermediate part 80 and the upper end 79 can together rotate
about an axis normal to the waist plate 4' by virtue of the rotational mounting of
the member 93 on the waist plate 4'.
[0042] Referring now to Figure 23, this is essentially identical to the previous embodiment
except that, in this case, the harness includes a casing 14' accommodating three substantially
spherical gas containers in the manner illustrated in the embodiment of Figure 5 and,
moreover, the upper end of the casing serves as the intermediate part of the back
plate linking the upper end 79 of the back plate to the waist plate 4'. Thus, the
slot 71 is, in this case, provided in the casing 14' and the upper end 79 of the back
plate is mounted on the upper end of the casing 14' in a similar manner to the way
in which the upper end 79 in the embodiment of Figures 19, 20, 21 and 22 is secured
to the intermediate part 80 so that it is possible to adjust the overall length of
the waist plate and back plate to accommodate wearers of different height. Figure
24 shows, by the large arrows, the manner in which the upper end 79 may move with
respect to the casing 14' to accommodate different wearers and the manner in which
the casing 14' may move with respect to the waist plate 4' as a consequence of the
manner in which it is mounted thereto as previously described. The relative movement
of the upper end 79 and the intermediate part 80 and the relative movement of part
80 and the waist plate 4' in the embodiment of Figures 19 to 22 is similar.
[0043] Referring now to Figure 25, this shows the embodiment of Figures 23 and 24 when being
worn. The drawing to the left shows the disposition of the apparatus when the wearer
is in an upright position and the drawing to the right shows the disposition when
the wearer is leaning forward. As can be seen, as the wearer leans forward, the back
plate constituted by the upper end 79 and the casing 14' can move upwards with respect
to the waist plate and waist belt which remain in position around the wearer's waist.
The upper end 79 also flexes forward. The movement of the back plate and the upper
end 79 is indicated by the arrows.
[0044] The same situation applies in the case where a conventional cylindrical gas container
60 is used (as shown by the dotted lines) instead of the spherical containers within
casing 14'.
[0045] Referring now to Figures 26 to 28, these illustrate the invention wherein the harness
is incorporated in a firefighters safety belt of the DIN type. As shown, the safety
belt 9' fits around the waist of the wearer and includes a quick release connector
part 101 whereby a waist plate and back plate assembly in accordance with the instant
invention can be readily clipped thereto by means of a corresponding connector part
102. The waist plate 4" is relatively rigid and formed of, for example, plastics material
and includes an aperture 103 passing therethrough. The aperture is generally circular
in section but includes a pair of diametrically opposed lugs 104. The aperture 103
is provided to receive a connecting assembly whereby the back plate 21 (not shown
in Figure 27 and shown in dotted lines only in Figure 26 in the interests of clarity)
including the longitudinal slot 71 may be secured thereto. The assembly comprises
a stud having a flange portion 105 to prevent the stud being pulled through the aperture
103 and a cylindrical portion 106 arranged to pass through the aperture 104. The cylindrical
portion 106 includes cutouts 107 to receive the lugs 104. The stud includes a projecting
portion 108 which protrudes through the slot 71 in the back plate 21. A metal washer
109 fits over the cylindrical portion 106 after it has passed through the aperture
104 in the waist plate 4" and receives a rubber buffer 110 including cutouts 111 to
accommodate the lugs 104. The projecting portion 108 passes through the rubber buffer
and through a second metal washer 112 before passing through the slot 71 in the back
plate 21. The tip of the projection 108 includes a semi-cylindrical recess 113 and
a semicylindrical retaining member 114 is located within this recess and secured to
the projection 108 by means of a screw 115 after the projection 108 has passed through
the slot 71. In this way, the back plate 21 is firmly secured to the waist plate 4"
yet it can execute a rocking motion with respect to the waist plate 4" as a consequence
of the buffer 110 incorporated in the connecting assembly and, moreover, as shown
by the arrows in Figure 28, it can move up and down with respect to the waist plate
4" in order to accommodate movement of the wearer as previously described.
1. A harness for securing an article such as breathing apparatus to the wearer of the
harness, which harness comprises:-
(i) a waist plate (1) having a back portion (4) and side portions (5,6), at each end
of the back portion, for engaging the hips of the wearer,
(ii) a waist belt (9), secured to the waist plate (1), for fastening around the waist
of the wearer to hold the waist plate in position,
(iii) a back plate (21) (79,80) mounted on the waist plate (1) for pivotal movement
in a plane generally parallel to the wearer's back so as to be pivotable laterally
with respect to the wearer,
(iv) shoulder straps (20) for looping around the shoulders of the wearer and connected
to the back plate (1), and
(v) a means (40,41,44,47) of securing said article (14) to the harness.
2. A harness as claimed in claim 1, wherein the back plate is flexible in a fore and
aft direction with respect to the normal direction of motion of the wearer.
3. A harness as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein one of the plates includes an aperture
(26) (26') (71) and the other of the plates includes a protrusion (24) (24') (72)
(100) retained in the aperture to permit the relative pivotal movement of the plates.
4. A harness as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the overall length of the waist plate
and back plate is variable.
5. A harness as claimed in claim 4 when appendant to claim 3 wherein the aperture is
in the back plate and is in the form of a slot (71) and the protrusion is displaceable
along the slot.
6. A harness as claimed in claim 5 wherein said back plate includes an upper end (79)
which is bifurcated to form first and second limbs (31,32) and an intermediate part
(80) linking the upper end to the waist plate wherein:-
one end of a first of the shoulder straps (20) is secured to the first limb (31) and
one end of a second of the shoulder straps (20) is secured to the second limb (32),
said slot (71) is provided in said intermediate part (80), and
said upper end (79) is moveably connected to said intermediate part (80) .
7. A harness as claimed in claim 6 wherein said upper end (79) includes two or more apertures
(82) and is moveably connected to said intermediate part (80) by means of a protrusion
(84) passing through one or other of said apertures.
8. A harness as claimed in claim 7 wherein said upper end (79) includes two of said apertures
(82) linked by a slot (81) along which the protrusion can pass between said apertures.
9. A harness as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8 which includes a casing (14) (14') to accommodate
said article and said intermediate part is constituted by a part of said casing.
10. A harness as claimed in claim 4 when appendant to claim 3 wherein two or more of said
apertures (26) (26') are provided and the protrusion (24) (24') may be retained in
any one of said apertures.
11. A harness as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the waist plate (1) includes
a connector plate (40) whereby the article to be carried can be readily and releasably
attached to the harness.