Field of the invention

The invention relates to a carrying harness comprising a middle bar configured to detachably receive a supporting rod for carrying an object.

Technical Background

During their daily work, construction workers often have to carry all kinds of objects. Often these objects are carried by the hands and arms of the construction workers, putting strain on the shoulders of the workers. During years of working, these lifts slowly wear out the shoulders of the workers performing the lifts. This severely limits the construction workers, not only in their work, but also in life in general. Many older construction workers can not raise their arms higher than their chest because of their injured shoulders.

In order to try to prevent shoulder injuries resulting from these lifts, special carrying harnesses have been developed. These harnesses try to reduce weight carried by the hand and arms, and thus the strain on the shoulders, by transferring the weight of the objects to other parts of the body.

However, a problem with these conventional harnesses is that harmful strain still is put on the shoulders. A further problem is that by transferring weight to other parts of the body harmful strain is put on those parts instead leading to injuries on those parts.

In documents JP2016216224, US2003052144, US5881487 and US2002148866 different carrying harnesses are described, each of them having drawbacks as discussed above.

An improved way for objects to be carried without leading to long-term injury is still something which is desired. Summary of the invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a carrying harness which provides for a way to carry objects without leading to long-term injuries to the shoulders or to any other part of the body. According to a first aspect, these and other objects are achieved in full, or at least in part, by a carrying harness comprising:

a first shoulder strap configured to hang over a first shoulder of a person,

a second shoulder strap configured to hang over a second shoulder of said person,

a horizontal strap configured to extend around the torso of said person, and

a middle bar attached to the first shoulder strap and to the second shoulder strap,

wherein the first shoulder strap is attached to the horizontal strap at a first attachment point and at a second attachment point of the horizontal strap,

wherein the second shoulder strap is attached to the horizontal strap at a third attachment point and at a fourth attachment point of the horizontal strap, and

wherein the middle bar is configured to detachably receive a

supporting rod for carrying an object.

Such a carrying harness is advantageous in that it allows for carrying an object without putting harmful load or strain on the arms or shoulders. It allows the weight to be put directly on the shoulders without affecting the shoulder muscles, whereby the weight is rather supported by the back and the spine of the person. The weight of the object is transferred from the supporting rod to the middle bar. As the middle bar is attached to both the first and the second shoulder strap the weight of the object is transferred to both shoulders of the person. But at this time not being supported by the shoulder muscles, but rather just being supported on the shoulders. Instead the weight is carried by the spine of the person. The arms can be used to balance the object on the supporting rod, hardly putting any strain on the arms and shoulders.

By having a middle bar to which the supporting rod can be detachably received it is possible to carry an object without affecting the form and shape of the whole harness, and thus the load distribution of the harness. The middle bar may thus be customized for the purpose of receiving and supporting a supporting rod. By the horizontal strap the shoulder straps are kept in place, also the whole harness is kept in place around the torso of the person wearing the harness. The horizontal strap further holds together the harness.

By being able to detachably receive a supporting rod it is possible to move around freely when wearing the harness without a supporting rod being in the way. As such the flexibility of the harness is greatly increased. It is possible to wear the harness during the entire workday. When something is to be lifted and carried it is possible to attach the supporting rod, carry the object and then detach the supporting rod. The harness only has to be put on once.

The first attachment point and the third attachment point of the horizontal strap may be configured to be at the front side of said person, and the second attachment point and the fourth attachment point of the horizontal strap may be configured to be at the back side of said person.

By this the shoulder straps are kept in place, over each shoulder of a person wearing the harness.

The first shoulder strap at the first attachment point and the second shoulder strap at the third attachment point each may be slidably attached to the horizontal strap such that the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap may move along the horizontal strap.

By this the middle bar can be moved around horizontally. Thus, the object carried by the supporting rod can be moved around the person wearing the harness. The object may be moved around without the person having to move. This increases the flexibility and movability of the person wearing the harness, while carrying an object through the harness.

The first shoulder strap may comprise a first loop and the second shoulder strap may comprise a second loop,

wherein the first shoulder strap may be slidably attached at the first attachment point of the horizontal strap by the first loop and the second shoulder strap may be slidably attached at the third attachment point of the horizontal strap by the second loop.

By this each shoulder strap may be slidably attached to the horizontal strap in a simple and robust manner. The loop may be formed by folding an end of each strap and attaching the end of the fold to the strap.

The middle bar may be placed, centrally at the front side of said person, between the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap.

By this it is ensured that the load, and strain from the carried object is evenly distributed to each shoulder strap and thus evenly distributed to the person’s right and left side. Thus, an object may be carried without creating an uneven, harmful strain on the person wearing the harness.

The middle bar may be rigid.

By this it can be assured that the middle bar doesn’t bend or flex from the weight of the supporting rod and the carried object. Thus, it is assured that the weight from the object is transferred to the shoulder straps in an intended way such that it doesn’t produce any harmful strain. If the middle bar were to bend or flex it would produce strain in unintended directions which would be harmful.

The middle bar may be placed over the abdomen of said person.

By this the middle bar may be supported by the muscles of the abdomen. Thus if the middle bar were to press towards the person they would be able to counteract this pressure by the muscles of their abdomen. Thus, for example, the person would still be able to breathe relatively effortlessly. Further, this placement allows for relatively easy adjustment of the middle bar by the hands of the person. Thus the flexibility and the comfortability of the carrying harness may be increased.

The middle bar may be curved such that it may follow the abdomen of said person.

By this the harness may be more comfortable to wear. Further the middle bar may be more stably placed over the abdomen. Thus, the carried object may be more stable and kept at a central position. This increases not only the safety of the harness but also the predictability of the movements of the object. Further, the less the object moves around the less harmful strain is put on the person wearing the harness.

The carrying harness may further comprise a supporting rod for carrying an object,

wherein the supporting rod may be configured to detachably attach to the middle bar at a first end of the supporting rod,

wherein the supporting rod may comprise a supporting point at a second end of the supporting rod, opposite the first end,

wherein the supporting point is may be configured for supporting the object.

By this the harness is provided with a detachable supporting rod for carrying an object. By having a first end for detachably attaching and a second end for supporting an object it is possible to support the object remotely from the middle bar to which the supporting rod is attached. Thus, it is possible to support the object close to the ground, which makes it easier to lift objects from the ground to the supporting point. Further, it allows for a person to easily balance the object on the supporting point by horizontally supporting the object close to the first end of the supporting rod.

The supporting rod may be configured to extend substantially from the middle bar to the ankle of said person.

By this it will be easier to lift an object from the ground to the supporting rod. Further it allows for movement of the supporting rod between the legs of the person, Thus, it allows for the supporting rod to be swung backwards between the legs of a person wearing the carrying harness such that the person may crouch down.

The supporting rod may be rigid.

By this the movements of an object supported by the supporting rod are more predictable. Thus, the safety and usability of the carrying harness is increased.

The horizontal strap may comprise a strap adjuster.

By this the horizontal strap may be adjusted. Thus, the horizontal strap may be tightened around the torso of the person. By the horizontal strap being tightly arranged around the torso the carrying harness may be secured to the person. Thus, it may be ensured that the weight of the carried object is distributed as intended and not in a harmful manner.

Further the horizontal strap may be adjusted such that the carrying harness is easier to put on, then tightened such that the carrying harness still functions as intended.

The horizontal strap is configured to form a loop. The horizontal strap may comprise a lock for opening and closing the loop.

By being configured to form a loop the horizontal strap may secure the carrying harness to the person in a secure manner. By being able to open the horizontal strap it is possible to easily put on the carrying harness and then close the horizontal strap again such that the carrying harness functions as intended.

The carrying harness may further comprise

a first folded plate, folded around the middle bar at a first end of the middle bar, and

a second metal fold, folded around the middle bar at a second end of the middle bar, opposite to the first end, wherein the first end of the middle bar may be attached to the first shoulder strap through a rivet passing through the first folded plate and the middle bar, and

wherein the second end of the middle bar is may be attached to the second shoulder strap through a rivet passing through the second folded plate and the middle bar.

By this the middle bar is secured to the shoulder straps such that it doesn’t twist. Thus, the middle bar does not cut into the abdomen of the person. Further, by the middle bar being securely attached to the shoulder straps it is ensured that the weight of the carried object is distributed as intended, without harmful strain being put on the person.

The middle bar may extend along the horizontal strap.

By this the person is protected by the horizontal strap from any movements and forces from the middle bar. Thus, both the person and the clothes they are wearing are protected from wear from the middle bar.

The carrying harness may further comprise padding, wherein the padding may be configured to be situated at the shoulders and back of said person.

By this the comfortability of the carrying harness is increased. Further the padding may provide for additional spreading of the load coming from the carried object.

The object may be a board or a plate or a sheet or a panel.

These are objects which are cumbersome to carry by hand and which when carried by hand produce harmful strain to the shoulders.

By the term“rigid” is here meant rigid in the context of the carrying harness and the objects which may be carried by it. Since the carrying harness is intended to be worn by a person, the objects carried by the carrying harness should not be too heavy for a person to be able to lift and carry. Thus, rigid is here meant to be put into relation to these objects which are carried and their weight. In other words, rigid here means rigid or stiff or hard or inflexible enough such that it is not bent, flexed or forced out of shape from the load which comes from the load of a person lifting and carrying an object.

Brief description of the drawings

The above objects, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a carrying harness.

Figure 2 shows a person wearing the carrying harness in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a supporting rod.

Figure 4 is a zoomed in view of a section of the carrying harness in Figure 1.

Detailed description

Figure 1 shows a carrying harness 1. The carrying harness 1 is configured to be worn by a person 3.

The carrying harness 1 comprises a first shoulder strap 5a and a second shoulder strap 5b. The first shoulder strap 5a is configured to hang over a first shoulder of a person 3 and the second shoulder strap 5b is configured to hang over a second shoulder of a person 3.

The carrying harness comprises a horizontal strap 7. The horizontal strap 7 is configured to extend around the torso of a person 3.

The horizontal strap 7 is configured to form a loop. The horizontal strap 7 comprises a strap adjuster 17. The horizontal strap 7 may comprise a lock for opening and closing the loop. The lock may be the strap adjuster 17. By the strap adjuster 17 the extension of the horizontal strap 7 around the torso of a person 3 wearing the carrying harness 1 can be adjusted. In other words, the strap adjuster 17 may adjust the extension of the loop formed by the horizontal strap 7.

The carrying harness 1 comprises a middle bar 9 attached to the first shoulder strap 5a and to the second shoulder strap 5b. The middle bar 9 extends along the horizontal strap 7.

The middle bar 9 is rigid. In this specific embodiment, the middle bar 9 is made from steel. Flowever, other material is naturally also possible. The middle bar 9 may be curved in such a way that it may follow the abdomen of a person 3 wearing the carrying harness 1. The middle bar 9 is configured to detachably receive a supporting rod 10 for carrying an object.

The carrying harness 1 comprises padding 23. The padding 23 is configured to be situated at the shoulders and at back of a person 3 wearing the carrying harness 1. The padding 23 is attached to the carrying harness 1 by stitching. The padding 23 comprises an opening at the backside of the person 3, which opening may help with the thermoregulation of a person 3 wearing the carrying harness 1. The padding 23 is configured to be situated between on the one hand the shoulder straps 5a, 5b and the horizontal strap 7 and on the other hand a person 3 wearing the carrying harness 1.

The first shoulder strap 5a is attached to the horizontal strap 7 at a first attachment point 11 a of the horizontal strap 7 and at a second attachment point 13a of the horizontal strap 7.

The second shoulder strap 5b is attached to the to the horizontal strap 7 at a third attachment point 11 b of the horizontal strap 7 and at a fourth attachment point 13b of the horizontal strap 7.

The first shoulder strap 5a comprises a first loop 15a and the second shoulder strap 5b comprises a second loop 15b. The first shoulder strap 5a is slidably attached at the first attachment point 11 a of the horizontal strap 7 by the first loop 15a and the second shoulder strap 5b is slidably attached at the third attachment point 11 b of the horizontal strap 7 by the second loop 15b.

The first loop 15a is formed by folding an end of the first shoulder strap 5a over the strap itself and attaching the end by stitching.

The second loop 15b is formed by folding an end of the first second shoulder strap 5b over the strap itself and attaching the end by stitching.

The first shoulder strap 5a at the first attachment point 11 a and the second shoulder strap 5b at the third attachment point 11 b are each slidably attached to the horizontal strap 7 such that the first shoulder strap 5a and the second shoulder strap 5b may move along the horizontal strap 7.

The first shoulder strap 5a is attached to the horizontal strap 7 at the second attachment point 13a by stitching.

The first second shoulder strap 5b is attached to the to the horizontal strap 7 at the fourth attachment point 13b by stitching.

As can be seen in the exploded view of the middle bar 9 the carrying harness 1 comprises a first folded plate 19a and a second folded plate 19b. The folded plates 19a, 19b may be made of the same material as the middle bar 9. The first folded bar 19a is folded around the middle bar 9 at a first end of the middle bar 9. The second folded bar 19b is folded around the middle bar 9 at a second end of the middle bar 9, opposite to the first end.

The first end of the middle bar 9 is attached to the first shoulder strap 5a through two rivets 21a passing through the first folded plate 19a and the middle bar 9. The second end of the middle bar 9 is attached to the second shoulder strap 5b through two rivets 21 b passing through the second folded plate 19b and the middle bar 9. The middle bar 9 may be attached to each of the shoulder straps 5a, 5b by any suitable number of rivets per shoulder strap 5a, 5b.

Figure 2 shows a person 3 wearing a carrying harness 1. The carrying harness 1 is of the same type as the one seen in Figure 1. In Figure 2 it can be seen how the carrying harness 1 is configured to be worn by a person 3.

The first shoulder strap 5a hangs over a first shoulder of the person 3 and the second shoulder strap 5b hangs over a second shoulder of the person 3.

The horizontal strap 7 extends around the torso of the person 3.

The padding 23 is situated at the shoulders and at the back of the person 3.

The first attachment point 11a and the third attachment point 11 b of the horizontal strap 7 are at the front side of the person 3. The second

attachment point 13a and the fourth attachment point 13b of the horizontal strap 7 are at the back side of the person 3.

The middle bar 9 is placed over the abdomen of the person 3. The middle bar 9 is placed centrally at the front side of the person 3, between the first shoulder strap 5a and the second shoulder strap 5b. The middle bar 9 extends along the horizontal strap 7 with the horizontal strap 7 being situated between the middle bar 9 and the abdomen of the person 3.

The middle bar 9 has received a supporting rod 10 for carrying an object. The supporting rod 10 is detachable from and re-attachable to the middle bar 9.

The supporting rod 10 is configured to detachably attach to the middle bar 9 at a first end 101 of the supporting rod 10. The supporting rod 10 comprises a supporting point 103 at a second end 102 of the supporting rod 10, opposite the first end 101. The supporting point 103 is configured for supporting the object.

The supporting rod 10 may extend substantially from the middle bar 9 to the ankles of the person 3. Alternatively, the supporting rod 10 may extend substantially from the middle bar 9 to the knees of the person 3, or to a position between the ankles and the knees of the person 3. A further alternative is to extend substantially to the medial malleoli of the person 3.

The supporting rod 10 is rigid. The supporting rod 10 may be made of the same material as the middle bar 9.

Figure 3 shows a supporting rod 10 in more detail. At a first end 101 of the supporting rod 10, the supporting rod 10 is configured to detachably attach to a middle bar 9. This is achieved by forming a hook-like shape of the first end 101 of the supporting rod 10. The hook-like shape may be formed by bending of the supporting rod 10. The supporting rod may be detachably attachable to a middle bar by hanging the first end 101 of the supporting rod 10 on the middle bar 9.

At a second end 102 of the supporting rod 10, the supporting rod 10 comprises a supporting point 103. The second end 102 is opposite to the first end 101. The supporting point 103 may be formed by bending of the supporting rod 10. The supporting point 103 is configured to receive and support an object to be carried. The object may in particular be a board or a sheet or a plate or a panel. The object may be supported on the supporting point 103 and balanced with the arms of the person 3 wearing a carrying harness 1.

Figure 4 is a zoomed in view of a section of the carrying harness 1.

The section shows a portion of the first shoulder strap 5a, of the horizontal strap 7, of the middle bar 9 and of the supporting rod 10. The section shows this in the vicinity of the first attachment point 11 a of the horizontal strap 7.

Figure 4 further shows how the first shoulder strap 5a is attached to the middle bar 9 and to the horizontal strap 7. It is possible to see how the first folded plate 19a is folded around the middle bar 9 and how the first shoulder strap 5a is slidably attached at the first attachment point 11 a of the horizontal strap 7 by the first loop 15a. The situation regarding the second shoulder strap 5b and its attachments is equal.

It can also be seen how the supporting rod 10 is detachably received by the middle bar 9 by hanging the first end 101 of the supporting rod 10 on the middle bar 9.

It can be seen that the supporting rod 10 has a horizontal extension such that the rod is securely attached to the middle bar 9. The supporting rod may thus not rotate around an axis normal to the horizontal plane.

As the carrying harness 1 is meant to be able to support an object the harness should be made strong and robust enough to withstand the strain and loads which may come from this. The straps could be made from a strong enough fabric or any other suitable material. The shoulder straps 5a, 5b should not be too narrow as it might cut into the shoulders of a person 3 wearing the carrying harness 1 in an uncomfortable way when an object is carried using the carrying harness 1. For example, the shoulder straps 5a, 5b could be made with a width of 50 mm.