Support harness

#One known form of support device intended for supporting a physically handicapped child in normal sitting position comprises a padded vest-like garment which embraces the child's trunk and which has mounted in the upper middle portion of the back and in the corresponding portion of the backrest of a chair mating male and female coupling parts to releasably hold that portion of the device against the backrest. However, aside from the expense and inconvenience of providing and mounting such mating coupling parts in the garment and in the backrest of the chair for access for coupling and uncoupling movement, such construction does not properly support the handicapped child in normal erect sitting position because the hips can slide sidewise and forwardly with respect to the upper middle portion of the back of the garment. Furthermore, such support device can only be used with certain chairs wherein the backrest coupling part may be mounted for access for coupling and uncoupling to and from the mating garment coupling part.

#As evident, such known form of safety or support harness is not suitable for supporting a child with cerebral palsy or other neurological disease in normal sitting position.

#A support harness for firmly but comfortably supporting a child with cerebral palsy or other neurologic disease in a normal sitting position in any chair or seat while the child's arms, legs, and head are completely free of any restraint. For a child subject to seizures, the support harness is provided with quick release fastening means for removing the child from the harness and the chair to which the harness is tied and strapped. On the other hand, for a hyperactive child the support harness has the quick release fastening means positioned so as not to be accessible for inadvertent release by the child.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one form of support harness constituting the present invention tied to the back of a chair to support a child in normal sitting position;

#FIG. 2 is a plan view of the support harness shown in FIG. 1 opened to flat form;

#FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 except illustrating another form of support harness;

#The support harness 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises two layers 2 and 3 of fabric, preferably brushed denim which combines firmness and softness, defining a generally rectangular back portion 4 having loops 5 and 6 stitched thereto at shoulder level and hip level for straps 7 and 8, the straps being removable as for laundering of the harness. Extending upwardly from the back portion 4 are shoulder straps 9 and extending downwardly from the back portion 4 is a longitudinal flap 10 which is of progressively decreasing width to define a crotch portion 11. The end portions of the shoulder straps 9 and the end portion of the longitudinal flap 10 have on opposite sides thereof cooperating adjustable quick release fastening means 12 and 13 such as Velcro strips.

#Extending laterally from the back portion 4 are wings or flaps 14 which are cut out at 15 to fit under the child's armpits, the lower edges of the flaps 14 being smoothly curved and joined to the longitudinal flap 10. The flaps 14 have padding material 16, such as 1/4 inch foam rubber therein, which preferably starts where the child's back curves away from the back of the chair C. The padding 16 imparts firmness to the flaps 14 without sacrificing comfort. The opposite sides of said flaps 14 have stitched thereto cooperating quick release fastening means 17 and 18 such as Velcro strips.

#In the use of FIG. 2 support harness 1 it may first be secured to the chair C by wrapping the straps 7 around the upper portion of the back of the chair as shown in FIG. 1 and tying the straps 7 together behind the backrest. The strap 8 is positioned around the lower portion of the back of the chair C and buckled in place therebehind. With the shoulder straps 12 draped over the top of the chair back and with the flap 10 extending forwardly of the back of the chair, a child may be placed in sitting position and first the left flap 14 as viewed in FIG. 1 will be wrapped snugly around over one side and across the chest and abdomen of the child and then the right flap 14 as viewed in FIG. 1 will be wrapped snugly around the other side into full overlapping relation with the left flap 14 whereat the strips 17 and 18 are interengaged to hold the flaps 14 together. The crotch portion 11 is then pulled up between the child's legs and the adjacent end portion is placed against the overlapping flaps 14 for adjustably fastening the shoulder straps 9 by the interengaging the fastening strips 12 and 13.