Safety harness with pseudo-cross abdominal straps

Abstract

A fall prevention safety harness having first and second abdominal straps and an abdominal buckle that is at least generally aligned with a user's sagittal plane, the abdominal buckle comprising first and second buckle portions attached to the first and second abdominal straps, respectively.

Description

Background Art

[0001] Safety harnesses are often used to reduce the likelihood that a user will experience a fall and / or to safely restrain a user in the event of a fall. Such harnesses are often used in combination with one or more of a lanyard, a vertical safety system, or a ladder climbing assistance system, an automatic retractable lifeline, and other fall prevention devices.

Summary of the Invention

[0002] Broadly summarized, this specification discloses a fall prevention safety harness having first and second abdominal straps and an abdominal buckle that is at least generally aligned with the sagittal plane of a user. These and other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description. However, this broad summary should not be construed to limit the claimable subject matter, whether such subject matter is presented in the claims first filed in the application or in the claims presented in the claims as amended during the prosecution of the application or otherwise presented.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0003] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a rear view of an exemplary fall prevention safety harness having exemplary first and second buckle portions. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of an exemplary fall prevention safety harness having exemplary first and second buckle portions with the harness partially worn by a user and the first and second buckle portions not yet attached to each other. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a front view of the exemplary fall prevention safety harness of FIG. 2 fully worn by a user with the first and second buckle portions attached to each other to form an abdominal buckle. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view of an exemplary abdominal buckle. [Figure 5]Front views of exemplary first and second buckle portions that can be attached to each other to form the abdominal buckle shown in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a front view of the first buckle portion, as illustrated in the example. [Figure 7] This is a front view of another exemplary abdominal buckle.

[0004] Similar reference numerals in various figures indicate similar elements. While some elements may be presented in multiple identical or equivalent forms, meaning that only one or more representative elements may be indicated by a reference numeral, it should be understood that such reference numerals apply to all such identical elements. Unless otherwise specified, all figures and drawings in this document are not to scale and are selected for the purpose of illustrating different embodiments of the invention. In particular, dimensions of various components are shown only illustratively unless otherwise specified, and the relationships between the dimensions of various components should not be inferred from the drawings. Terms such as “first” and “second” may be used in this disclosure, but unless otherwise specified, these terms should be understood to be used only in a relative sense. Where used herein as a modifier of a property or attribute, the term “generally” means, unless otherwise specified, that a person skilled in the art can readily recognize the property or attribute without requiring a high degree of approximation.

[0005] The following terms are defined in relation to fall prevention safety harnesses when worn by an upright user. Therefore, descriptions of the position, orientation, etc., of harness components disclosed herein, including the claims, relate to harnesses when worn by an upright user, unless otherwise specified. However, these terms are used for clarity and are not intended to limit the actual orientation of harnesses and their components in use in the workplace.

[0006] Terms such as vertical, upward and downward, upper, lower, up and down, and similar terms correspond to the conventional orientation when the harness is worn by an upright user. The vertical axis (v) is shown in various figures herein. The transverse direction refers to the conventional left-right direction of the user and harness, as indicated by the transverse axis (t) in various figures herein. The term abdominal refers to the front of the user's upper body and the harness parts and components located there, and the term back refers to the back of the user's upper body and the harness parts and components located there. The back-abdominal direction is the direction extending forward-backward through the user's body (specifically, through the torso), as indicated by the back-abdominal axis (dv) in various figures herein.

[0007] Unless otherwise specified, terms such as "inward" indicate a direction that is inward towards the user's body along the back-to-abdominal axis, while terms such as "outward" indicate a direction that is outward away from the user's body along the back-to-abdominal axis. Terms such as "transverse inward" and "transverse outward" are exceptions to this usage, indicating the direction toward and away from the sagittal plane of the user's body and harness along the transverse (t) axis, respectively.

[0008] As used herein, the sagittal plane (sometimes called the median sagittal plane) has its conventional meaning as a vertical plane extending down the transverse centerline of a user's body so as to symmetrically divide the user's body into left and right portions, and the term sagittal also applies to the harnesses disclosed herein when worn by such a user in an upright position. The sagittal plane is shown as item 501 in Figure 9 of U.S. Patent Application Publication 2015 / 0165246, which is incorporated herein by reference for this purpose. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Fall protection harnesses (sometimes called full-body safety harnesses) are widely used in environments where workers are at height or where there is a risk of falling. Fall protection harnesses are designed to function in conjunction with fall protection devices or equipment, such as self-retracting safety lines, horizontal safety lines, or lanyards, to provide fall protection. Therefore, in normal use, at least one such fall protection device is typically connected to the safety harness, for example, to a D-ring (or other suitable connection point) supported by the harness. Fall protection harnesses would be distinguished from general-purpose items such as backpacks.

[0010] As shown in the general representations in Figures 1 to 3, the fall protection safety harness 1 will comprise an assembly of straps and related items capable of collectively supporting the weight of the harness user (wearer) in the event of a fall. The depictions in Figures 1 and 2 are intended as illustrative representations, and in reality, safety harnesses may differ in several aspects from the specific configurations shown in these figures. Furthermore, the illustrative harnesses in Figures 1 and 2 differ in various respects and should not be interpreted as different diagrams of the same harness.

[0011] The straps of such harnesses often consist of flat webbing made from, for example, woven synthetic fabrics such as polyamide, polyaramid (e.g., Kevlar), and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (e.g., Dyneema). Such straps are typically flexible and can conform to the surface of the wearer's body and pass through one or more of buckles, guides, loops, etc., but are typically not significantly stretchable. Such straps are interconnected with each other and are often fitted with various pads to improve the comfort of the harness (e.g., shoulder pads 4 and waist / hip pads 8), as well as various buckles, latches, connectors, loops, guides, and additional pads such as chest pads and / or leg pads. Such components and exemplary configurations of such components are described, for example, in U.S. Patents 8,959,664, 9,174,073, and 1,013,7322, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0012] Safety harness 1 typically includes first and second (right and left) straps 3 and 2 extending over the upper shoulders of the user, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 shows the harness partially worn, with the first and second buckle portions 100 and 200 not yet attached to each other. Figure 3 shows such harness fully worn, with the buckle portions 100 and 200 attached to each other to form an abdominal buckle 50, as will be described in detail later herein.

[0013] On the wearer's abdominal (front) side, the shoulder straps 3 and 2 continue generally downward along the wearer's torso, as seen in Figures 2 and 3. In such positions, these straps are referred to herein as abdominal straps 7 and 6 (note that each abdominal strap is often a continuous extension of the shoulder straps, as is evident from Figures 1 to 3). The first and second abdominal straps 7 and 6 extend generally downward along the user's torso, such that the lowest portions 12 and 13 of the straps 7 and 6 are located on or near the user's buttocks. Often, the lowest portions 12 and 13 of the abdominal straps 6 and 7 meet, for example, with a strap 5 (which may be called a lumbar strap, buttock strap, etc.) that surrounds at least a portion of the user's lumbar / buttock area, as shown in Figure 1, and connect, for example. (In various harness designs, a waist strap may or may not be present.) In many embodiments, the abdominal straps 6 and / or 7 may each be a single piece of webbing extending continuously from the shoulders to the buttocks. In other embodiments, the abdominal straps 6 and / or 7 may take the form of two separate pieces of webbing attached to one another at several positions along the strap 6 or 7 (by definition, such positions are not at the abdominal buckle). All such design variations are encompassed by the term “strap” as used herein.

[0014] In many safety harness designs, the first and second shoulder straps 3 and 2 meet, overlap, and cross each other on the back of the wearer's torso, for example, at a dorsal intersection located between the shoulder blades. In some embodiments, a back plate 11 and / or back pad 4 (which may continue upward to function as shoulder pads) may be present, as in the exemplary design of Figure 1. Often, a back D-ring 40 is provided in the position shown in Figure 1. Some safety harnesses, such as multi-purpose safety harnesses, harnesses specifically configured for use with vertical or lifting assistance systems, may include an abdominal D-ring 104, as shown in various figures herein. (The D-ring may also be provided in other positions, for example, on the buttocks, as is evident in the exemplary design of Figure 1.)

[0015] In some embodiments, harness 1 also includes leg straps or thigh straps (shown in Figures 1 to 3, which are not numbered), and in various embodiments, some such straps may or may not be a continuation of the abdominal strap. In some embodiments, the fall protection safety harness may or may not include one or more plates (e.g., back plates as described above) which may be relatively rigid compared to other relatively flexible harness components such as pads and cushions (e.g., which may be made from molded plastic and / or metal). Although not shown in the figures herein, in some embodiments, the abdominal straps 6 and / or 7 (and / or any other straps, e.g., lumbar straps, leg straps, etc.) may be equipped with strap adjusters which can be used to adjust the length of the straps as desired. An exemplary strap adjuster is described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 8,794,378. The disclosure herein makes it clear that abdominal buckles, such as those disclosed herein, are distinguished from strap adjusters. The harnesses disclosed herein do not necessarily require, and in many embodiments do not include, coupler straps (i.e., straps that are generally horizontal and transverse, extending between the left and right chest straps of a conventional H-type harness, as exemplified by item 202 in Figure 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,993,048).

[0016] Traditionally, there have been two common types of fall protection safety harnesses. In one common type of harness, one abdominal strap extends from the user's right shoulder to their right hip, and the other strap extends from their left shoulder to their left hip. Often, such abdominal straps descend along the user's torso in a roughly vertical, straight path. Such harnesses (sometimes called H-shaped harnesses) traditionally include coupler straps of the aforementioned common type that extend roughly transversely from one abdominal strap to the other (i.e., forming a horizontal crossbar of an "H"). Such harnesses have the advantage of being relatively easy to wear, for example, in the common way of a jacket or vest. That is, the abdominal straps of such harnesses can be wrapped around the front of the upper torso, and then a chest strap coupler is used to establish a connection between the two abdominal straps.

[0017] A second common type of harness is the so-called cross-type harness. In such a harness, one abdominal strap extends from the right shoulder to the left hip, and the other abdominal strap extends from the left shoulder to the right hip. (Here and elsewhere, the term "shoulder" refers to the general area extending from the transverse edge of the neck to the transverse lateral limit of the deltoid muscle. Similarly, the term "hip" encompasses the general area from the rectus abdominis to the muscles and tissues that cover the iliac crest laterally.) Thus, the abdominal straps cross each other, for example, near the user's sternum. Such a harness may have advantages in redistributing asymmetrical forces that may arise, for example, from heavy tools hanging on the user's hips. Such a harness may also advantageously allow the abdominal D-ring to be positioned near the transverse center (sagittal plane) of the user's torso, which may be particularly advantageous for female users and / or when the harness is used in combination with a vertical safety system, an ascent assistance system, etc. This can be advantageously achieved by having a D-ring that connects directly to the abdominal strap rather than to the coupler strap mentioned above. However, the cross-type harness has the disadvantage that it cannot be worn like a jacket or vest. Rather, the harness needs to be pulled downwards over the user's head in the general manner of a pullover sweater. This can be cumbersome, especially for novice users of harnesses, and can instantly lead to confusing tangles of straps.

[0018] Pseudo-intersection design This design is a pseudo-cross design that retains the advantages of both types of harnesses. By definition, a pseudo-cross design is a configuration in which, as in an H-type harness, the first abdominal strap 7 of the harness extends from the user's right shoulder to the user's right hip, and the second abdominal strap 6 of the harness extends from the user's left shoulder to the user's left hip. However, each abdominal strap does not extend roughly straight vertically downward along the user's torso in the usual manner of an H-type harness. Instead, each abdominal strap deviates transversely inward (towards the sagittal plane of the user and harness) so that, as it extends downward from the user's shoulder, the abdominal straps come close to each other (e.g., within 10 cm) at the abdominal buckle 50 in the general manner shown in Figure 3. Then, each abdominal strap deviates transversely outward so that, as it continues downward from the abdominal buckle, it extends to the hip on the same side as the shoulder from which the abdominal strap began, as is evident from Figure 3.

[0019] In some embodiments, this can be achieved by attaching a first buckle portion 100 to a first abdominal strap 7 and a second buckle portion 200 to a second abdominal strap 6, as shown in Figure 2. When the harness is worn, the two buckle portions 100 and 200 can be moved transversely inward toward each other (i.e., toward the user's sagittal plane) and detachably attached to each other to form an abdominal buckle 50 as shown in Figure 3. It should be understood that this can be done in a manner similar to wearing an H-type harness, without having to pull the harness downward above the user's head.

[0020] In a pseudo-cross design, the abdominal buckle 50 will be at least roughly aligned with the sagittal plane of the user and harness, as is evident from Figure 3. This means that the abdominal buckle is positioned at least roughly centered with respect to the left-right (transverse) axis of the user and harness, such that the sagittal plane passes through at least some portion of the abdominal buckle. In many cases, the sagittal plane may pass near, or very close to (e.g., within 4, 2, or 1 cm of) the transverse center of the buckle.

[0021] However, in many embodiments, neither portion of the first abdominal strap 7 nor the second abdominal strap 6 is aligned with the sagittal plane of the user and the harness. In other words, in such embodiments, the abdominal straps may be positioned transversely outward from the sagittal plane and transversely apart from each other, so that the sagittal plane does not pass through any portion of either abdominal strap, as illustrated by the configuration shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, in such embodiments, as is again clear from Figure 3, no portion of either abdominal strap overlaps with any portion of the other abdominal strap. Any two (or more) items overlapping means that, along the back-abdominal direction, a line passing through at least some portion of one of the items also passes through at least some portion of the other item. The above conditions apply when all harness straps are in a stable, proper, and snug fit; however, it will be understood that these conditions can be momentarily broken, for example, when the user of the harness is twisted or bent, or during the process of putting on the harness.

[0022] 180-degree twist of the abdominal strap In many embodiments, at least one of the first and second abdominal straps 7 and / or 6, and the buckle portions (100 and / or 200) attached to the abdominal strap, may be configured such that the abdominal strap exhibits a 180-degree twist. A 180-degree twist means that as the abdominal strap progresses downward along the user's torso, the main surface facing inward (towards the user's body) in the portion of the strap above the abdominal buckle is opposite to the main surface facing outward (away from the user's body) in the portion of the strap below the abdominal buckle (and vice versa), and the abdominal strap rotates 180 degrees about a rotation axis generally aligned with the long axis of the abdominal strap.

[0023] Thus, referring to the exemplary abdominal strap 7 as shown in FIG. 3, the main surface 14 of the strap 7 faces inward on the user's upper chest and faces outward on the user's lower abdomen, and vice versa for the opposing main surface 15 of the strap 7. Similarly, for the strap 6 in FIG. 3, the main surfaces 16 and 17 take on an inward-outward orientation above and below the abdominal buckle 50, respectively. Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the abdominal straps 7 and 6 are each configured to include 180-degree twists 18 and 19. In some embodiments, only a single abdominal strap may be configured in such a manner. In such cases, the other strap may be configured substantially vertically, for example, in the general manner of an abdominal strap of a conventional H-type harness. However, in many embodiments, it may be advantageous to configure both abdominal straps with 180-degree twists.

[0024] In many embodiments, the buckle portion attached to the abdominal strap may be configured to require that a 180-degree twist (such as the exemplary 180-degree twists 18 and 19 shown in FIG. 3) occur in the buckle portion. "In" means within a few cm (such as 4, 2, or 1 cm) of the buckle portion. In some embodiments, such a configuration can be facilitated by providing the buckle portion with at least a generally vertically elongated slot through which the abdominal strap passes. (Such slots may also be referred to herein as vertically elongated slots, but it will be understood that, unless otherwise specified, they are at least generally vertically elongated). Such slots can be seen partially in FIGS. 1-3, and an exemplary slot of this type can be seen more readily as slots 106 and 202 of buckle portions 100 and 200, as shown in FIG. 4. A slot means a through-opening that is elongated so as to have an easily recognizable major axis and exhibits an elongated length at least as large as the transverse (cross-web) width of the strap passing through the slot. In many embodiments, such slots are at least generally vertically elongated, which means that the major axis of the slot is oriented within ±20 degrees of the vertical axis of the user and the harness. In some embodiments, such slots are at least substantially vertically elongated, which means that the major axis of the slot is oriented within ±10 degrees of the vertical axis. (The exemplary configurations of FIGS. 3 and 4 show slots that are very close to being strictly vertically oriented). The second major dimension of the slot (such as the "width" of the slot extending along the transverse direction in FIGS. 3 and 4) need only be sufficient to accommodate the thickness dimension of the strap passing through the slot. The final (third) dimension of the slot (extending in the back-to-abdomen direction, such as in and out of the plane of FIGS. 3 and 4) can be any suitable value, for example, defined by the thickness of the body defining the slot.

[0025] As illustrated in an exemplary manner in Figure 3, by providing a slot that is at least generally vertically elongated through which the abdominal strap passes, a 180-degree twist can be generated in the abdominal strap at the buckle portion where the slot is provided. In other words, the abdominal strap may exhibit a 180-degree twist in the local region where it approaches, passes through, and exits a generally vertically elongated slot.

[0026] In at least some embodiments, the abdominal strap may exhibit a 180-degree twist. Thus, in some embodiments, such an abdominal strap may comprise first and second strap portions that overlap each other, as exemplified by portions 9 and 9' of the abdominal strap 6 shown in Figure 3. These portions overlap, with portion 9' facing outward and portion 9 facing inward. Furthermore, in some such embodiments, at least one portion of each of these strap portions may also overlap with a region of the buckle portion that partially defines a roughly vertically elongated slot of the buckle portion. Such a region is not visible in Figure 3 because it overlaps with and is covered by portion 9 of the strap itself, but such a region is shown in Figure 4 as region 211 (partially defining slot 202). A similar region is shown in Figure 7 as region 311.

[0027] In the exemplary configuration shown in Figure 3, at the point of overlap, the lower part of each abdominal strap is fed outward (along the dorsal-abdominal direction) from the upper part of each abdominal strap. (For example, with respect to strap 6, part 9' is positioned outward from part 9). This is optional and can be easily reversed, for example, by feeding the upper part of one or both straps outward from the lower part of that strap.

[0028] In some embodiments, the generally vertically elongated slots (e.g., slots 106 or 202 of buckle portion 100 or 200) may function in a standalone manner. However, in some embodiments, one or more auxiliary slots may be provided to improve the guidance of the abdominal strap, in particular to improve the degree to which a 180-degree twist is forced in the generally vertically elongated slots. An exemplary configuration of this general type is shown in Figure 7. In this figure, the first buckle portion 100 (other components and functions will be described in detail later herein) includes a generally vertically elongated slot 402, which is similar in form and function to slot 106 in Figure 4. Buckle portion 100 also includes two (upper and lower) auxiliary slots 406 and 407. Although the strap is not shown in Figure 7 to allow for easier viewing of other items and features, it is readily apparent how the strap may be guided downward and transversely inward at a desired angle established by slot 406, then through the vertically elongated slot 402, and then guided downward and transversely outward at an angle established by slot 407. In such a case, a 180-degree twist would occur in slot 402.

[0029] In various embodiments, there may be only a single auxiliary slot (e.g., an upper or lower slot), or two (or more) auxiliary slots may be used. The angle of such a slot can be selected as desired and is defined with respect to the orientation of the major axis of the auxiliary slot with respect to the major axis of the vertically elongated slot. In various embodiments, such an auxiliary slot may have a major axis oriented at an angle of at least 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 degrees with respect to the vertically elongated slot. In further embodiments, such an auxiliary slot may have a major axis oriented at an angle of up to 60, 50, 40, or 30 degrees with respect to the vertically elongated slot. As a particular example, in the exemplary configuration of Figure 7, the auxiliary slot 306 is oriented at an angle of about 35 degrees with respect to the vertically elongated slot 302.

[0030] Whatever the specific angle, any such auxiliary slot by definition will be oriented such that the end of the auxiliary slot closest to the vertical midpoint of the vertically elongated slot is further away from the vertically elongated slot than the other opposing end of the auxiliary slot. (In other words, the distance from the lower end of the auxiliary slot 306 to the nearest point of the vertically elongated slot 302 is greater than the distance from the upper end of the auxiliary slot 306 to the nearest point of the vertically elongated slot 302, as is readily apparent from Figure 7.) If upper and lower auxiliary slots are present, such requirement necessitates that the upper and lower auxiliary slots be angled in the opposite direction to the vertically elongated slot, which is again readily apparent from Figure 7. In consideration of the disclosure herein, a person skilled in the art will readily understand how such configurations of auxiliary slots can improve the guidance of the strap to facilitate the 180-degree twist disclosed herein.

[0031] Although not described in detail herein, other buckle portions may similarly include one or more auxiliary slots of a design similar to that described above. Thus, in Figure 7, the second buckle portion includes upper and lower auxiliary slots 306 and 307 in addition to the vertically elongated slot 302. The upper and lower auxiliary slots shown in Figure 7 are symmetrical (for example, they are oriented at equal but opposite angles with respect to the accompanying vertically elongated slot), but this is not necessarily the case. For example, the lower auxiliary slot may be oriented at a different angle than the upper auxiliary slot.

[0032] In various embodiments, at least 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, or 98 percent of the elongated length of the auxiliary slots may be oriented transversely outward of all portions of the vertically elongated slot. As a particular example, in the exemplary configuration of Figure 7, at least 90 percent of the elongated length of the auxiliary slots 306 and 307 are oriented transversely outward of all portions of the vertically elongated slot 302.

[0033] In conventional designs of slots and guides for harness straps, the slot or guide is often selected to have an elongated length slightly greater than the lateral (cross-web) width of the strap so that the strap can fit through the slot. It should be understood that slots such as those disclosed herein serve the specific purpose of guiding the strap through a 180-degree twist and can advantageously be selected to have an elongated length considerably greater than the lateral width of the strap passing through the slot. Thus, in various embodiments, the ratio of the elongated length of at least a generally vertically oriented slot of the buckle portion to the lateral width of the strap passing through the slot may be at least 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, or 2.0. In further embodiments, this ratio may be up to 4.0, 3.5, 3.0, 2.5, 2.2, or 1.9.

[0034] Abdominal buckles as disclosed herein include at least a slot oriented generally vertically as described herein (and optional auxiliary slots which may be used in conjunction therewith). All such slots are configured to have a strap that passes through the slot and continues forward. This distinguishes them from buckle slots configured for passing a strap to attach the strap to the buckle. For example, for certain purposes, a strap may be attached to the buckle portion by passing the end portion of the strap through the slot, folding this end portion of the strap over itself, and then sewing, braiding, or otherwise attaching the strap to itself to form a terminal loop for attaching the strap to the buckle portion. Such attachment is typically done in the factory where the buckles and harnesses are manufactured, and the strap typically remains attached to the buckle portion at all times. Such buckle portions would be distinguished from abdominal buckle portions as disclosed herein.

[0035] The condition for a 180-degree twist, particularly the provision that a 180-degree twist may occur in the buckle portion, for example, as required by a vertically elongated slot, is applicable when the harness is fully worn and the buckle portions are attached to each other to form the abdominal buckle, as shown, for example, in Figure 3. When the harness is not worn (as in Figure 1) or partially worn (as in Figure 2), the configurations and geometric relationships disclosed herein may not be apparent. Therefore, whether the abdominal strap exhibits a 180-degree twist as described herein is evaluated when the harness is fully worn and properly fitted to the user in the manner required by the manufacturer. In particular, the configurations disclosed herein, in which a 180-degree twist is intentionally incorporated into the abdominal strap of the harness, are distinct from situations in which the abdominal strap twists due to, for example, improper wearing of the harness by the user (e.g., accidentally twisting the strap). In this configuration, when the harness is manufactured in the factory, a 180-degree twist is incorporated into the abdominal strap by, for example, attaching various straps to each other with buckles or the like in a selected permanent configuration (e.g., sewing them on). In other words, the 180-degree twist disclosed herein cannot be removed by untwisting the abdominal strap or any straps to which it may be attached.

[0036] Exemplary buckle designs capable of achieving the effects described above are shown in Figures 4 to 7. In some exemplary embodiments, the abdominal buckle 50 may be provided in the form of two buckle portions 100 and 200 that can be detachably attached to each other to form the buckle 50. In the exemplary configurations depicted in these figures, the first buckle portion 100 and the second buckle portion 200 are, respectively, the “female” buckle portion and the “male” buckle portion, according to the terminology commonly used in the art to describe such buckles. (Such buckle portions may be attached to the left abdominal strap or the right abdominal strap). The female buckle portion 100 has an opening 119 configured to selectively receive the complementary catch 203 of the male buckle portion 200, as is evident from Figure 5. “Complementary” and “selectively” mean that the buckle portions 100 and 200 are each configured to be matable with a mating buckle portion that is specifically designed to be matable with it. Such a design is in contrast to, for example, a "general-purpose" buckle or connector. (In some embodiments, a universal buckle may be used as desired.)

[0037] In some embodiments, the first (e.g., female) buckle portion 100 includes a base plate 101 and a cover plate 102. Parts of the base plate 101 and the cover plate 102 can be seen in Figure 5. These items are more easily seen in Figure 6, where the base plate 101 is separated from the cover plate 102 and rotated 180 degrees relative to the cover plate 102. That is, in Figure 6, the base plate 101 is separated from the cover plate 102 in a clamshell manner so that additional components and features of the cover plate 102 can be seen, and so that the components and features on the underside of the base plate 101 can be seen. (Also in Figure 6, various fasteners are omitted so that other features can be seen more easily). In various embodiments, the plates 101 and 102 (and other components associated with them) may be made of a metal such as steel or aluminum. Various mechanical fasteners (e.g., rivets) 103 may be used to permanently hold the plates 101 and 102 together. As is clear from the illustration in Figure 6, various through-holes can be provided in the plate to accommodate such fasteners.

[0038] In some embodiments, the first buckle portion 100 includes at least one latch pivotably attached to the first buckle portion and configured to selectively engage with the catch 203 of the second buckle portion 200, thereby reliably locking the catch 203 into the internal space (receiving cavity) 111 of the first buckle portion 100. In some specific embodiments, the at least one latch may take the form of first and second pivotable latches 112, as shown in Figure 6. Such latches may be pivotably connected to the first buckle portion 100 in such a manner that they are (partially) rotatable about a pivot axis 118, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, the latch 112 is pivotally connected to the buckle portion 100 by mechanical fasteners (e.g., rivets) 103b passing through the base plate 101, the cover plate 102, and aligned openings 122, 121, and 124 of the latch 112, the mechanical fasteners 103b establishing the axis of rotation 118 of the pivotable latch. (Other fasteners 103a pass through various similarly aligned openings in the base plate and cover plate, which assist in holding the plates together but do not interact with the latch.)

[0039] In the illustrated embodiment, the pivotable latch 112 is biased inward. Inward bias means that the portions of the latch that physically contact the catch of the second buckle portion when the latch is in its second latch position (i.e., the “shoulder” portion 115 as shown in Figure 6) are biased inward toward each other. Such biasing can be achieved, for example, by using a biasing member 113 as shown in Figure 6. In some embodiments, the biasing member 113 may take the form of a coil spring 113 mounted in a compressed state to channels 116 and 117 provided in the base plate 101 and the latch 112, respectively. Such a configuration is shown in Figure 6. (In Figure 6, one spring remains with the cover plate 102 and the latch 112, while the other spring is disassembled with the base plate 101, so that the position of the spring can be fully shown.)

[0040] Such a configuration of the first buckle portion 100, which includes a pivotably inwardly biased latch 112, can be used in combination with a second buckle portion 200 (e.g., a “male” portion) which extends from the main body 201 and carries a generally T-shaped catch 203 having protruding teeth 204, as shown in Figure 5. When the catch 203 is inserted into the opening 119 of the first buckle portion 100 (as indicated by the block arrow in Figure 5), the catch 203 enters the receiving cavity 111 of the first buckle portion. The leading edge of the catch 203 strikes the inclined contact surface 123 of the latch 112 (as seen in Figure 6), overcoming the biasing force of the spring 113 and biasing the latch 112 to pivot in a direction that moves the shoulders 115 of the latch 112 away from each other. As the catch continues to penetrate deeper into the cavity 111, the teeth 204 of the catch 112 move until the latch 112 can pivotally rotate under the biasing force of the spring 113, and as a result, the shoulder portion 115 of the latch 112 fits into the space 205 adjacent to the teeth 204 of the catch. This securely holds the catch 203 of the second buckle portion 200 within the receiving cavity 111 of the first portion 100, and thus locks the first and second buckle portions together, as shown in Figure 4. Such a configuration of the latch is referred to as the second latch position.

[0041] The catch 203 cannot be removed from the receiving cavity 111 unless the latch 112 is manually pivotably moved (rotated) from the second latched position to the first unlocked position (thus, the first and second buckle parts cannot be removed from each other). To achieve this, the user can, for example, use their thumb and index finger to bias the operating portion of the latch 112 (the “ears” 114 exposed beyond the edges of plates 101 and 102 as shown in Figure 5) generally backward (in this case, “backward” means away from the main body of the first buckle part 100). This rotates the latch 112 (overcoming the biasing force of the spring 113) so that the shoulder portion 115 of the latch 112 moves away enough to reach the first unlocked position, thereby making it possible to remove the catch 203 of the second buckle part from the first buckle part.

[0042] Based on the above description, it should be understood that in some embodiments, a latch system such as those disclosed herein can latch automatically (e.g., self-latch), meaning that the engagement of the catch of the second buckle portion with the pivotable latch of the first buckle portion may occur automatically when the catch is inserted into the receiving cavity of the first buckle portion. In other words, operation of the pivotable latch by the user's fingers is not required to attach the first and second buckle portions together to form an abdominal buckle.

[0043] In contrast, in the illustrated embodiments, disengaging the catch from the pivotable latch to separate the buckle portions from each other requires careful manual operation. That is, a preliminary step must be performed to manually pivot the latch to the unlocked position (overcoming the biasing force) before the catch can be removed from the receiving cavity. Thus, in at least some embodiments, the first and second buckle portions can be automatically attached to each other as a result of moving the buckle portions toward each other, whereas, in contrast, a preliminary step of pivoting the latch to unlock it must be performed manually to allow the first and second buckle portions to be separated from each other.

[0044] Based on the above description, it is clear that when buckle portions 100 and 200 are separated from each other (for example, when the harness is not being worn by the user), the biasing force of the biasing member causes the latches to be held in their second latched position (although there are no catches fixed within the receiving cavity). To wear the harness, the upper part of the harness is wrapped forward around the shoulders, and the left and right abdominal straps are positioned on the left and right sides of the upper torso. The first and second buckle portions are then moved transversely inward toward the sagittal plane of the user and toward each other, so that the catch of the second buckle portion enters the receiving cavity of the first buckle portion. The leading edge of the catch collides with the latch, overcomes the biasing force, and biases the latch to instantaneously move to the first unlocked position, thereby capturing the catch and enabling the buckle portions to be attached to each other, as described above. In this capture process, the latch will automatically return to the second latched position under the influence of the biasing force.

[0045] Once the harness is removed, the user manually operates the latch to the first unlocked position as described, and then moves the first and second buckle portions away from the user and the harness in a generally transverse direction.

[0046] It should be understood that the first buckle portion 100 (and the corresponding complementary second buckle portion 200) described above are illustrative only, and such buckle portions may be configured as desired. Various designs of buckle portions are described in detail, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 6,668,434, 8,181,319, and 9,993,048, and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2011 / 0239413, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In some embodiments, the first buckle portion is of a design in which an opening 119 configured to receive the catch of the second buckle portion is located at the end of the first buckle portion (as shown, for example, in Figure 5 herein and described in detail above). In such a design, the opening is configured to receive the catch as it moves into the opening 119 along a direction generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the catch. Such a configuration is called an “end-fit” design and is distinguished from a “side-fit” design, for example, in which the main side of the first buckle portion has an opening (e.g., a roughly T-shaped opening) provided in, for example, the base plate or cover plate of the buckle portion through which the catch is inserted. Such a side-fit design is shown, for example, in Figure 14A of U.S. Patent No. 9,993,048. It should be understood that the first and second buckles, which are detachably attached to each other to form a stomach buckle as disclosed herein, may be of any preferred type or configuration and may depend on any suitable latch or set of latches. Any such latch(s) may be biased in any suitable way, for example, by a coil spring mounted in compression (as in this case), a coil spring mounted in tension, a torsion spring, by the use of a magnetic biasing element, etc.

[0047] Regardless of the specific design, by definition, an abdominal buckle as disclosed herein comprises (at least) two buckle parts (e.g., a female part and a male part) that are in direct contact with each other and attached to each other by metal components of the buckle parts (e.g., the latches, catches, etc., described above). Thus, an abdominal buckle as disclosed herein does not include a configuration in which the two “buckle parts” are attached to each other only by one or more flexible straps, webbing (e.g., made of cloth), etc. Furthermore, the abdominal buckle 50 (and its first and second buckle parts) is an item specifically configured for use with the body support abdominal strap of a fall-proof safety harness. Thus, such a buckle is distinguished from a buckle that may be used with one or more straps used to support only the weight of some relatively lightweight accessory items (e.g., a hard hat, tools, etc.) rather than being used with one or more harness straps that must be involved in supporting the entire weight of the user in the event of a fall.

[0048] Whatever the specific design of the latch mechanism, any suitable first buckle portion may exhibit specific features and functions, and similarly, any preferred second buckle portion may exhibit specific features and functions. For example, in many embodiments, the second buckle portion 200 comprises a main body 201 defining a vertically elongated slot 202 (from which the catch 203 described above may extend), as previously described in detail herein. In some embodiments, one or more auxiliary slots may also be present, as previously described herein. In some convenient embodiments, the body 201 and the catch 203 may take the form of a single, integrated body (made from a metal such as steel or aluminum, for example), as in the exemplary design shown in Figure 5.

[0049] Similarly, the first buckle portion 100 includes a slot support 107 defining a vertically elongated slot 106. In some embodiments, such a slot support may be an integral extension of the base plate 101 or the cover plate 102. However, in some embodiments, it may be advantageous for the slot support 107 to be pivotably connected to the remaining components of the first buckle portion 100 (e.g., the base plate 101 and / or the cover plate 102). Thus, in some embodiments, the slot 106 may be provided within the slot support 107 from which a connecting arm 108 extends, as shown in Figure 5. The connecting arm 108 may be connected to the base plate 101 and / or the cover plate 102 by a connector 105 which includes the connecting arm 108 and a shaft extending through aligned openings provided in the base plate 101 and / or the cover plate 102. (The location of such an opening 109 in the connecting arm 108 is schematically shown in Figure 5, and the location of such an opening 125 in the base plate 101 is shown in Figure 6). Such a configuration connects the slot support 107 to the other components of the buckle portion, and in particular, such a configuration enables a pivotable connection between the slot support 107 and the base plate and cover plate. In such an embodiment, the axis of rotation of the slot support 107 relative to the other components of the buckle portion is defined by the long axis of the connector 105 and is at least substantially aligned with the vertical axis of the harness and abdominal buckle. Such a configuration may allow, for example, the first buckle portion and the abdominal buckle formed by attaching the first buckle portion to the second buckle portion to conform more easily to the shape of the user's body.

[0050] Abdominal buckles such as those disclosed herein include at least one D-ring 104 (the term D-ring refers to any suitable connecting item, regardless of the exact shape of the item) to which a safety line, lanyard, etc., can be attached. In some embodiments, such a D-ring may be a component of the first buckle portion 100 (i.e., permanently attached thereto), as in the exemplary designs of Figures 4–6. In some convenient embodiments, such a D-ring 104 may be attached to the same connector 105 to which a slot support 107 is attached, as is evident from Figure 6. Thus, the D-ring may be pivotably connected to the first buckle portion 100 and, therefore, to the abdominal buckle 50 formed therefrom. In the illustrated embodiments, the D-ring 104 is mounted to be pivotably lateral, but optionally, the D-ring may be mounted to be pivotably vertical.

[0051] In some embodiments, the first and second buckle portions 100 and 200 may be configured such that the vertically elongated slot 106 of the first buckle portion 100 is held in close contact with the vertically elongated slot 202 of the second buckle portion 200 in a specific orientation. For example, in some embodiments, when the buckle portions 100 and 200 are attached to each other, the slot 106 may always remain parallel to the slot 202, for example, within ±5, 2, or 1 degree. In other embodiments, the buckle portions may be configured to allow or facilitate some variation in the relative orientation of the slots 106 and 202. Such variation may be made possible, for example, by allowing some "play" in the ability of the catch 203 to move slightly relative to the latch 112 (even while securely held by the latch). Therefore, in various embodiments, the slot 106 of the first buckle portion 100 may be able to pivot relative to the slot 202 of the second buckle portion 200 by at least some angle of relative rotation, for example, at least 5, 10, or 20 degrees or more. In some embodiments, the slots cannot rotate relative to each other by angles greater than 15, 7, or 3 degrees. Any such rotation would be about an axis of rotation that is roughly aligned with the dorso-abdominal axis of the harness and buckle and the buckle portion. Clearly, since the arm 108 (in the illustrated embodiment) is pivotably attached to the connector 105 with respect to rotation about a vertical axis as described above, such rotation about a vertical axis can occur by any suitable amount (e.g., up to 90 degrees or more), regardless of whether rotation about a dorso-abdominal axis is possible.

[0052] At least some features of the embodiments disclosed herein are that when at least the first and second buckle portions 100 and 200 are detached from each other, the first buckle portion 100 can slide along the first abdominal strap 7, and the second buckle portion 200 can similarly slide along the second abdominal strap 6. In other words, when the buckle portions 100 and 200 are in the general configuration shown in Figure 2, the user can slide each buckle portion upward or downward in a generally vertical direction as desired. The path the abdominal strap follows through the buckle portions does not necessarily require the buckle portions to slide freely along the strap, but rather can create sufficient frictional resistance so that in most cases they can remain in place until intentionally moved by the user. In some embodiments, the presence of auxiliary slots as described above can contribute to such an effect. When both buckle portions are in the desired position, they can then be attached to each other. The upward / downward position of the buckle 50 can therefore be selected as desired to provide, for example, the best fit to the user's specific body shape.

[0053] As described above, in many embodiments, the first buckle portion 100 and the second buckle portion 200 and their components may be made from any suitable material. In some embodiments, any such component may be made from any suitable metal, for example, steel or aluminum. In various embodiments, such components may be forged or cast, or made from sheet metal formed (e.g., bent) into a desired shape using standard sheet metal forming techniques. Typically, the base plate 101 and the cover plate 102 may be manufactured separately and then joined together (with latches, springs, etc., caught between them) and fastened together by mechanical fasteners 103, for example, rivets, to form the first buckle portion 100.

[0054] In some embodiments, certain portions of the buckle (in particular any areas regularly contacted by the user's fingers) may be partially encapsulated within an overmolded organic polymer resin. The overmolding can be done, for example, by taking a pre-formed metal body and inserting it at least partially into an injection molding cavity to form and adhere the organic polymer molding resin onto the desired portion of the body. In some embodiments, plates and / or pads may be provided inside, for example, the first and / or second buckle portions 100 and / or 200 to provide reinforced cushioning between the abdominal buckle 50 and the user's chest or torso. Any such plates and / or pads may be any preferred design, for example, relying on one or more layers of foam or other elastic material.

[0055] Abdominal buckles (and pseudo-cross configurations of abdominal straps) as disclosed herein may be used with any suitable fall protection harness. Such harnesses are well known and may be used with a wide variety of fall protection devices, methods, and systems. In some embodiments, the fall protection harness and its abdominal buckle may satisfy the requirements of ANSI Z359.12.

[0056] Fall protection devices and systems (e.g., lanyards, self-retracting safety lines, positioning systems, horizontal systems, vertical systems, ascent support systems, descenders, etc.), fall protection fasteners, and components of such devices, systems, and equipment, etc., for which applications can be found, are described, for example, in the 3M DBI-SALA Fall Protection Full Line Catalog 2018.

[0057] It is emphasized that users of any fall protection device, apparatus, system, or component thereof, including harnesses and / or abdominal buckles as described herein, are required to take any appropriate steps, actions, precautions, operating procedures, etc., as required by applicable laws, rules, norms, standards and / or instructions. In other words, under no circumstances does the presence of any configuration disclosed herein exempt the user from the obligation to comply with all applicable laws; rules; norms; standards published by applicable authorities (e.g., ANSI); instructions provided by the manufacturer of the fall protection system, apparatus, or component; instructions provided by the body supervising the work site, etc.

[0058] The specific designs of the buckle portions presented herein are illustrative, and variations may exist, but it will still be understood that the buckle portions may enable the formation of an abdominal buckle that achieves a pseudo-crossing arrangement of straps. The buckle portions (and 180-degree twist configurations) disclosed herein are described primarily in the context of being used to form an abdominal buckle for use with the abdominal strap of a fall protection safety harness, but in various embodiments, such buckle portions and / or configurations of straps may be used with other straps of a fall protection safety harness, with straps of a general-purpose harness, or with straps for any desired purpose. Such use does not necessarily involve interaction between the two abdominal straps. When the buckle portions are detached from each other (as in Figure 2), the two straps do not necessarily have to be substantially parallel to each other, and when the buckle portions are attached to each other (as in Figure 3), the two straps do not necessarily have to approach each other in a substantially tangential direction. Rather, one strap may approach the other strap, for example, substantially perpendicularly or at any suitable angle. Therefore, in various embodiments, the approaches disclosed herein may be used, for example, to interconnect an abdominal strap with a lumbar strap or leg strap, and a lumbar strap with a leg strap, and so on.

[0059] In summary, all such variations and combinations are considered to be within the scope of the conceived invention, rather than representative designs selected merely to serve as illustrative examples. Therefore, the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific exemplary structures described herein, but extends to at least the structures described by the language of the claims and their equivalents. Any element actively described herein as an option may be expressly included in or excluded from the claims in any combination as desired. Any element or combination of elements described herein in open-ended language (e.g., "contains" and its derivatives) may be further described in closed-ended language (e.g., "consists of" and its derivatives) and partially closed-ended language (e.g., "essentially consists of" and its derivatives). In the event of any inconsistency or contradiction between the description herein and the disclosure of any document incorporated herein by reference, where no priority is asserted, the description herein shall prevail. The following are exemplary embodiments. [Item 1] A fall prevention safety harness configured such that, when the harness is worn by a user, the first abdominal strap of the harness extends from the user's right shoulder to the user's right hip, and the second abdominal strap of the harness extends from the user's left shoulder to the user's left hip, A first buckle portion is attached to the first abdominal strap, a second buckle portion is attached to the second abdominal strap, and the first and second buckle portions are detachably attached to each other to form an abdominal buckle. and, A fall prevention safety harness in which the first and second abdominal straps and the first and second buckle portions are configured such that the abdominal buckle is at least generally aligned with the sagittal plane of the user and the harness. [Item 2] The fall protection safety harness according to item 1, wherein neither portion of the first abdominal strap nor the second abdominal strap is aligned with the sagittal plane of the user and the harness. [Item 3] A fall-prevention safety harness according to item 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the first and second abdominal straps, and the buckle portion attached to the abdominal strap, are configured such that the abdominal strap exhibits a 180-degree twist at the buckle portion. [Item 4] The fall prevention safety harness according to item 3, wherein the buckle portion comprises an elongated slot at least in the generally vertical direction oriented within ±20 degrees of the vertical axis of the harness, and the abdominal strap exhibits the 180-degree twist as the abdominal strap passes through the elongated slot at least in the generally vertical direction of the buckle portion. [Item 5] The fall protection safety harness according to item 4, wherein the ratio of the elongated length of the slot, which is at least generally elongated vertically, to the lateral width of the abdominal strap passing through the slot is 1.4 to 3.0. [Item 6] The fall protection safety harness according to item 4, wherein the abdominal strap exhibits a 180-degree twist as it passes through the generally vertically elongated slot of the buckle portion, the abdominal strap comprises first and second strap portions that overlap each other, and at least a portion of the overlapping first and second strap portions also overlaps with a region of the buckle portion that partially defines the generally vertically elongated slot of the buckle portion. [Item 7] The fall protection safety harness according to item 4, wherein the substantially vertically elongated slot is substantially vertically elongated and oriented within ±10 degrees of the vertical axis of the harness, and the buckle portion having the substantially vertically elongated slot also comprises at least one auxiliary elongated slot having a long axis oriented at an angle of 15 to 60 degrees with respect to the substantially vertically elongated slot. [Item 8] The fall protection safety harness according to item 7, wherein at least 80 percent of the elongation length of the at least one auxiliary elongation slot is positioned transversely outward of all portions of the substantially vertically elongated slot. [Item 9] The fall protection safety harness according to item 7, wherein the at least one auxiliary elongated slot is in the form of an auxiliary elongated slot angled in opposite directions at the top and bottom, and each of the auxiliary elongated slots has a major axis oriented at an angle of 15 to 60 degrees with respect to the substantially vertically elongated slot. [Item 10] A fall-prevention safety harness according to any one of items 1 to 9, wherein the first abdominal strap and the first buckle portion attached to the first abdominal strap are configured such that the first abdominal strap exhibits a 180-degree twist at the first buckle portion, and the second abdominal strap and the second buckle portion attached to the second abdominal strap are configured such that the second abdominal strap exhibits a 180-degree twist at the second buckle portion. [Item 11] The fall protection safety harness according to item 10, wherein the first buckle portion comprises a first generally vertically elongated slot, the first abdominal strap exhibits the 180-degree twist as it passes through the first generally vertically elongated slot of the first buckle portion, and the second buckle portion comprises a second generally vertically elongated slot, the second abdominal strap exhibits the 180-degree twist as it passes through the second generally vertically elongated slot of the second buckle portion. [Item 12] The first substantially vertically elongated slot of the first buckle portion is a first substantially vertically elongated slot oriented within ±10 degrees of the vertical axis of the harness, and the first buckle portion is provided with upper and lower auxiliary slots angled in opposite directions, each exhibiting a major axis angled at 15 to 60 degrees with respect to the first substantially vertically elongated slot, and, The fall protection safety harness according to item 11, wherein the second substantially vertically elongated slot of the second buckle portion is a second substantially vertically elongated slot oriented within ±10 degrees of the vertical axis of the harness, and the second buckle portion comprises upper and lower auxiliary slots angled in opposite directions, each exhibiting a long axis angled at 15 to 60 degrees with respect to the second substantially vertically elongated slot. [Item 13] A fall protection safety harness according to any one of items 1 to 12, wherein the first buckle portion is slidably movable along the first abdominal strap and the second buckle portion is slidably movable along the second abdominal strap when the first and second buckle portions are detached from each other. [Item 14] A fall protection safety harness according to any one of items 1 to 13, wherein the first and second buckle portions are directly attached to each other by the metal components of the first and second buckle portions, and the first and second buckle portions are not directly attached to or connected to each other by any flexible strap or webbing. [Item 15] A fall protection safety harness according to any one of items 1 to 14, wherein the first buckle portion comprises a base plate and a cover plate permanently attached to each other by a plurality of mechanical fasteners, the base plate and the cover plate of the first buckle portion are configured to define a receiving cavity capable of receiving the catch of the second buckle portion for attaching the first and second buckle portions to each other, and the base plate and the cover plate also define an opening into which the catch of the first buckle portion can be inserted and reach the receiving cavity. [Item 16] The fall protection safety harness according to item 15, comprising first and second pivotable latches that are pivotably movable between a first latch release position, in which the first buckle portion is pivotably mounted to the base plate and / or the cover plate, and the catch of the second buckle portion is released from the receiving cavity of the first buckle portion, allowing the first and second buckle portions to be separated from each other, and a second latch position, in which the catch of the second buckle portion is securely held within the receiving cavity of the first buckle portion, preventing the catch from being removed from the receiving cavity. [Item 17] The fall protection safety harness according to item 16, wherein the first and second pivotable latches of the first buckle portion are biased toward the second latch position by a biasing member, and the first and second pivotable latches are configured such that the user's fingers can overcome the biasing force of the biasing member by operating the exposed lugs of the first and second pivotable latches, thereby manually pivoting the first and second latches from the second latch position to the first latch release position. [Item 18] The fall protection safety harness according to item 17, wherein the first and second pivotable latches of the first buckle portion are configured such that the first and second buckle portions move transversely toward each other, causing the catch of the second buckle portion to enter the receiving cavity of the first buckle portion, so that the tip of the head of the catch strikes the contact surfaces of the first and second pivotable latches, overcoming the biasing force of the biasing member and biasing the first and second pivotable latches, causing them to pivotably move to their second latch release position. [Item 19] The fall protection safety harness according to item 18, wherein the first and second pivotable latches of the first buckle portion are configured such that the catch of the second buckle portion fully penetrates the receiving cavity of the first buckle portion, and the biasing force applied by the biasing member biases the first and second latches, causing them to automatically pivot to the second latch position and securely hold the catch within the receiving cavity. [Item 20] A fall protection harness as described in any one of items 1 to 19, wherein the harness and the abdominal buckle meet the requirements of ANSI Z359.12. [Item 21] A method for wearing a fall-prevention safety harness as described in any one of items 1 to 20, comprising wrapping the upper part of the safety harness around the user's shoulders and upper torso like a jacket, and then attaching the first and second buckle portions to each other to form the abdominal buckle, without requiring the step of pulling the harness downward over the user's head and shoulders like a pullover sweater.

Claims

1. A fall prevention safety harness configured such that, when the harness is worn by a user, the first abdominal strap of the harness extends from the user's right shoulder, across the right side of the user's upper body, to the user's right hip, and the second abdominal strap of the harness extends from the user's left shoulder, across the left side of the user's upper body, to the user's left hip, A first buckle portion is attached to the first abdominal strap, and a second buckle portion is attached to the second abdominal strap, and the first and second buckle portions are detachably attached to each other so as to form an abdominal buckle on the front of the upper body when the harness is worn by the user. and, A fall prevention safety harness in which the first and second abdominal straps and the first and second buckle portions are configured such that the abdominal buckle is at least generally aligned with the sagittal plane of the user and the harness.

2. The fall prevention safety harness according to claim 1, further comprising a right leg strap which is an extension of the first abdominal strap and a left leg strap which is an extension of the second abdominal strap.

3. The fall prevention safety harness according to claim 1 or 2, wherein neither portion of the first abdominal strap nor the second abdominal strap is aligned with the sagittal plane of the user and the harness.

4. A fall prevention safety harness according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the first and second abdominal straps, and the buckle portion attached to the abdominal strap, are configured such that the abdominal strap exhibits a 180-degree twist at the buckle portion.

5. The fall prevention safety harness according to claim 4, wherein the buckle portion comprises an elongated slot at least in the generally vertical direction oriented within ±20 degrees of the vertical axis of the harness, and the abdominal strap exhibits the 180-degree twist as the abdominal strap passes through the elongated slot at least in the generally vertical direction of the buckle portion.

6. A fall prevention safety harness according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first abdominal strap and the first buckle portion attached to the first abdominal strap are configured such that the first abdominal strap exhibits a 180-degree twist at the first buckle portion, and the second abdominal strap and the second buckle portion attached to the second abdominal strap are configured such that the second abdominal strap exhibits a 180-degree twist at the second buckle portion.

7. The fall protection safety harness according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first and second buckle portions are directly attached to each other by the metal components of the first and second buckle portions, and the first and second buckle portions are not directly attached to each other or directly connected by any flexible strap or webbing.

8. A fall prevention safety harness according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first buckle portion comprises a base plate and a cover plate permanently attached to each other by a plurality of mechanical fasteners, the base plate and the cover plate of the first buckle portion are configured to define a receiving cavity capable of receiving the catch of the second buckle portion for attaching the first and second buckle portions to each other, and the base plate and the cover plate also define an opening into which the catch of the first buckle portion can be inserted and reach the receiving cavity.

9. A method for wearing a fall-prevention safety harness according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising wrapping the upper part of the safety harness around the user's right shoulder, left shoulder, and upper torso like a jacket, and then attaching the first and second buckle portions to each other to form the abdominal buckle, without requiring the step of pulling the harness downward over the user's head, right shoulder, and left shoulder like a pullover sweater.

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