Breathing Apparatus Harness With Segmented Guide Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breathing apparatus harnesses lack versatility in accommodating individual user preferences for hose placement, requiring either custom back plates or routing hoses out of guide channels, which can lead to snagging risks and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A harness with a structural support member featuring longitudinally extending guide channels on both sides and a transverse cross guide channel, allowing flexible conduits to be routed between shoulder straps, with retaining means such as clamping elements or channel shapes to secure the hoses in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single fixed guide channel configuration is provided on the back plate, then the manufacturing cost is reduced and production is simplified, but the harness cannot accommodate individual user preferences or different brigade requirements for hose placement
Solution Approach 1:
The guide channel system is segmented into multiple independent channels (first guide channel, second guide channel, third guide channel) that can be used in different combinations. This allows the same back plate to accommodate different hose routing configurations without requiring custom designs for each user preference or brigade requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The back plate is designed with multi-functional guide channels that can serve multiple purposes: the first and second guide channels can route hoses to either the left or right shoulder strap, and the third guide channel provides additional routing options. This universal design allows a single back plate to fulfill multiple hose placement requirements that would traditionally require differently configured back plates.
2Adaptability or versatility
If hoses are routed out of the guide channels to accommodate user preferences, then individual customization is achieved, but the hoses present a snagging risk
Solution Approach 1:
Different guide channels are positioned at different locations on the back plate (first guide channel for left shoulder routing, second guide channel for right shoulder routing, third guide channel for alternative routing). This local differentiation allows hoses to be routed through appropriate channels based on user preference while maintaining protection within the channel structure, preventing snagging while achieving customization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If differently configured back plates are produced to accommodate user preferences, then hose placement versatility is achieved, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal back plate design incorporates multiple guide channels that can accommodate different hose routing configurations. This eliminates the need to produce multiple differently configured back plates for different users or brigades, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and production costs while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide channel system is divided into separate, independently usable channels that can be activated or deactivated based on the required configuration. This segmentation allows one back plate design to serve multiple purposes without requiring custom manufacturing for each configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is disclosed a harness for breathing apparatus, comprising a structural support member 10 having a front for accommodating a gas cylinder and a rear for facing the back of a wearer, and left and right sides. Left and right shoulder straps 110, 120 are disposed towards the left and right sides of the structural support member respectively, and each shoulder strap has a first end attached to an upper portion of the structural support member and a second end attached to a lower portion of the structural support member. A plurality of flexible conduits 140, 150 extend from a lower portion of the structural support member along the structural support member, each to a position on either the left or right shoulder strap. Left and right guide channels 30, 32 extend longitudinally along the structural support member along left and right sides respectively, for accommodating the flexible conduits.