US 6,640,397 B1 · Quick release harness device

Abstract

A quick release harness system for wind or kite surfers or the like that enables users to manually release themselves from the harness line during a “blow over” event and which can easily reconnect to the harness line when desired. The system includes a quick release, biased lever mounted to a main bracket. The main bracket is attached to a waist support member worn around the waist of the user. Located below the lever and attached to the main bracket is a biased pivoting hook member with a forward extended arcuate section designed to engage a ring or similar structure attached to the distal end of a harness line. Also attached to the main bracket is a biased pivotal latch that selectively moves between engaged and disengaged positions with the hook member. Movement of the latch is manually controlled by pressing downward on the lever which enables the latch to rotate inward and move to a non-blocking position so that the hook member is able to move upward and disengage from the harness line. The lever and the hook member are both biased so that they automatically return to their original positions for re-engagement to the harness line. The latch is also biased so it automatically returns to a locked position.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims1

Dependent claims

A quick release harness system, comprising:

a. a waist support member;
b. a main bracket attached to said waist support member, said bracket including two parallel and spaced apart arms substantially perpendicularly aligned with said waist support member, each said arm including an upward extending curved slot located directly across from each other;
c. a lever pivotally attached to said main bracket, said lever including an upper section that curves upward and outward from said main bracket, a lower section that extends downward and adjacent to said arms on said main bracket, and a pair of side arms each including an elongated bore formed thereon;
d. a hook member pivotally attached to said main bracket and below said lever, said hook member including a forward and downward curved arcuate section and a rearward extending section;
e. a first biasing member disposed between said hook member and said main bracket used to maintain said hook member in an upward extending position;
f. an actuator latch pivotally attached at one end to said main bracket, said latch including an upper support surface that supports said rearward extending section of said hook member, said latch including a pin that extends from the sides of said latch to engage said curved slots on said arms on said main bracket;
g. a second biasing means disposed between said hook member and said bracket to keep said hook member engaged on said support surface on said latch;
h. a third biasing means disposed between said latch and said main bracket to keep said latch and said main bracket in a forward extended position to support said rear extending section of said hook member;
i. said actuator pin transversely aligned between said arms of said main bracket and extending through said curved slots formed on said arms on said main bracket and said elongated slots formed on said side arms on said lever;
and,
j. wherein when said force is applied to said hook element, said latch automatically moves to a locked position and said lever moves to an upward extended position and when a downward force is selectively applied to said lever, said latch automatically disengages thereby allowing the latch to rotate upward and disengage from a pull cord.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description3,556 words

Summary1,186 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention pertains to a harness device used by wind and kite surfers, and more particularly, to harness devices that include quick release features that enable a user to quickly engage and disengage a harness device from a harness line.

#2. Description of the Related Art

Brief description of the drawings11 figures

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the quick release harness device used by windsurfers.

#FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the invention.

#FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the invention.

Detailed description2,208 words

#Referring to the accompanying Figs., there is shown and described a quick release harness system 10 for a sailboard or kite board user or the like that enables the user to immediately release themselves from the harness line 98 during a blow over event and then quickly and easily reconnect themselves to the harness line 98 when desired.

#The system 10 includes a quick release lever 45 mounted at one end to a main bracket 20 which is attached to a waist support member 12 worn around the user's waist. The waist support member 12 may be a separate component or integrally formed into a belt or harness worn by the user. The main bracket 20 is centrally attached to the waist support member 12. Attached to the main bracket 20 and below the lever 45 is a pivoting hook member 60 with a forward extended, downward curved, arcuate section 65 designed to engage a ring 11 or similar structure attached to the distal end of a harness line 98. As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, formed on the opposite, proximal end 72 of the hook member 60 is a straight, rearward extended section 70. Also, attached to the main bracket 20 medially with respect to the hook member 60 is an upward extending latch 80. During normal operation, the distal end 82 of the latch 80 supports the proximal end 72 of the hook member 60 when the hook member 60 is engaged on the ring 11. The latch 80 is designed to selectively move inside curved slots 29, 29′ formed on the two side members 23, 23′, respectively, on the main bracket 20. During use, the latch distal end 82 pivots between a supporting and non-supporting disengaged position with the proximal end 72 of the hook member 60. When the distal end 82 of the latch 80 is in a supporting position, the hook member 60 is locked so that pivotal movement is prohibited. When the distal end 82 is in a non-supporting position, the hook member 60 is unlocked and pivotal movement of the hook member 60 is permitted.

#The waist support member 12 is a slightly curved, rectangular shaped structure designed to conform to the user's lower abdomen. Formed on the opposite ends of the waist support member 12 are two belt receiving slots 14, 15 which connect to a belt (not shown) or a harness (not shown) worn by the user.

Facts

Application

10/177,199Filed 20 Jun 2002

Granted

4 Nov 2003

Term ended

20 Jun 2022

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification8 codes

B63H 8/54
Accessories, e.g. repair kits or kite launching aids: arrangements for connecting the user or the harness to the wishbone, e.g. trapeze lines or…
B63H 8/58
Devices to distribute the user's load, e.g. harnesses: spreader bars; Hook connection arrangements
B63H 8/18
Kite-sails; Kite-wings; Control thereof; Safety means therefor: arrangements for connecting the user to a kite-sail; Kite-safety means, e.g.…
B63H 8/56
Accessories, e.g. repair kits or kite launching aids: devices to distribute the user's load, e.g. harnesses

Description3,556 words

Summary1,186 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#2. Description of the Related Art

Brief description of the drawings11 figures

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the quick release harness device used by windsurfers.

#FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the invention.

#FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the invention.

Detailed description2,208 words

Quick release harness device

Life of this patent

Quick release harness device

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims1

Description3,556 words

Drawings

Classification8 codes

Life of this patent

Description3,556 words