# US 10,765,437 B1 · Climbing harness with built-in tourniquet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,437 B1 - Document ID: US10765437B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/255,427 - Filed: 2016-09-02 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-03 - Applicants: Ishmael L. Antonio - Inventors: Ishmael L. Antonio - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765437B1 ## CPC - A61B 17/1322: {comprising a flexible encircling member (A61B17/135 takes precedence)} - A61B 17/1325: {with means for applying local pressure (pressure pads A61F5/30)} - A62B 35/0006: {Harnesses; Accessories therefor} - A62B 35/0031: {Belt sorting accessories, e.g. devices keeping the belts in comfortable positions} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A62B: DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING (valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; life-saving devices, apparatus or methods specially adapted for use in water B63C9/00; divers' equipment B63C11/00; specially adopted for use with aircraft, e.g. parachutes, ejector seats, {B64D17/00, B64D25/10}; rescue devices peculiar to mining E21F11/00) ## Abstract A system of a combined climbing harness and medical tourniquet, and a method for using the system. A looped thigh strap portion of a climbing harness is detachable from the harness belt for separate alternative use as an emergency tourniquet for the user or a patient. The looped thigh strap is provided with features and components to facilitate its use as a functional tourniquet for either an arm or a leg, while nevertheless in ordinary use allowing it to serve as a component of a climbing harness. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for applying a tourniquet to an injured limb, comprising: providing a climbing harness system comprising a main belt and a thigh strap having a body; disposing on the thigh strap a holder loop and a second loop proximate to the holder loop; releasably engaging the thigh strap to the main belt; wrapping the main belt about a user's upper hips; wrapping the thigh strap around the user's thigh, and releasably engaging the thigh strap to define a closed loop; engaging the harness system with a rope, and climbing with the rope; disengaging the thigh strap from the main belt; looping the thigh strap around the injured limb; engaging a torsion item with the holder loop by inserting the item between the holder loop and the body of the thigh strap; rotating the torsion item to twist the holder loop, thereby shortening an effective circumferential length of the closed loop of the thigh strap, and constricting the injured limb; engaging the torsion item with the second loop to maintain the holder loop in a twisted condition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein disposing on the thigh strap the holder loop comprises securely attaching to the strap body two ends of a loop strip of flexible fabric. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein securely attaching two ends of the strip comprises: affixing a reinforcing overlay layer to the strap body; sewing the two ends of the strip between the strap body and the reinforcing overlay layer; and defining with the loop strip the holder loop distending a distance from the body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 further comprising providing the strap body with a bendable stiffener element substantially adjacent the loop strip. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein releasably engaging the thigh strap to the main belt comprises: providing a center main loop securely attached on the main belt; defining on the thigh strap a main strap loop; and disposing a carabiner through the center main loop and through the main strap loop, and closing the carabiner. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein disengaging the thigh strap from the main belt comprises opening the carabiner and detaching it from the center loop and from the main strap loop. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein engaging the torsion item comprises engaging the carabiner. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein rotating the item comprises rotating the carabiner. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein rotating the carabiner comprises rotating the carabiner around an imaginary axis of rotation oriented generally oblique to the strap body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein engaging the torsion item with the second loop comprises clipping the carabiner to the second loop. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein releasably engaging the thigh strap to define the closed loop comprises: attaching a buckle at an intermediate location on the thigh strap; and engaging a first free end of the thigh strap with the buckle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising tightening the closed loop on the injured limb by moving the thigh strap relative to the buckle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein defining on the thigh strap a main strap loop comprises folding a second end portion of the thigh strap upon itself, and sewing the strap securely to itself. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein engaging the torsion item comprises engaging a carabiner. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein engaging the torsion item with the second loop comprises clipping the carabiner to the second loop. ### Claim 16 A method for applying a tourniquet to an injured limb, comprising: providing a climbing harness system comprising a main belt and a thigh strap having a body; disposing on the thigh strap a holder loop and a second loop proximate to the holder loop; releasably engaging the thigh strap to the main belt, comprising: providing a center main loop on the main belt; defining on the thigh strap a main strap loop; and disposing a carabiner through the center main loop and through the main strap loop, and closing the carabiner; wrapping the main belt about a user's upper hips; wrapping the thigh strap around the user's thigh, and releasably engaging the thigh strap to define a closed loop; disengaging the thigh strap from the main belt, comprising opening the carabiner and detaching it from the center loop and from the main strap loop; looping the thigh strap around the injured limb; engaging the carabiner with the holder loop by inserting the carabiner between the holder loop and the body of the thigh strap; rotating the carabiner to twist the holder loop, thereby shortening an effective circumferential length of the closed loop of the thigh strap, and constricting the injured limb; and engaging the carabiner with the second loop to maintain the holder loop in a twisted condition. ### Claim 17 A method for applying a climbing harness as a tourniquet to an injured limb, comprising: providing the climbing harness with a main belt and a thigh strap having a body; securing on the main belt a center loop means through which a carabiner may be removably attached to the main belt; disposing on the thigh strap a holder loop and a second loop proximate to the holder loop; wrapping the main belt about a user's upper hips; releasably engaging together with the carabiner the center loop and the thigh strap; wrapping the thigh strap around the user's thigh, and releasably engaging the thigh strap to define a closed loop; engaging the harness system with a rope, and climbing with the rope; disengaging the thigh strap from the main belt; looping the thigh strap around the injured limb; engaging a torsion item with the holder loop by inserting the item between the holder loop and the body of the thigh strap; rotating the torsion item to twist the holder loop, thereby shortening an effective circumferential length of the closed loop of the thigh strap, and constricting the injured limb; engaging the torsion item with the second loop to maintain the holder loop in a twisted condition. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the step of disposing the holder loop comprises securely attaching to the strap body two ends of a strip of flexible fabric. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein: attaching to the strap body two ends of the strip comprises the step of affixing a reinforcing overlay layer to the strap body; and sewing the two ends of the strip between the strap body and the reinforcing overlay layer, so that the strip defines the holder loop distending a distance from the strap body.