Harness Quick-Release Waist Strap With Adjustable Guide Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing harnesses for supporting equipment like air tanks lack efficient and easy mechanisms for quick release and adjustable positioning, which are essential for user comfort and versatility.

Innovation Solution

A harness design featuring a backframe and strap connection with an elongate guide and carriage system, allowing for quick release and adjustable vertical positioning through a combination of retaining and positioning plates with notches and lugs, enabling easy detachment and adjustment without tools.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a traditional fixed connection mechanism is used between the strap and backframe, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the harness cannot be quickly detached or adjusted for different users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequick release and adjustmentVSAvoidconnection mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the elongate guide with positioning plate and retaining plate forms the fixed attachment structure on the backframe, while the carriage with lugs forms the movable component on the strap. This segmentation allows the strap to be quickly detached by separating these components, while each component maintains structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection mechanism transitions from a static fixed connection to a dynamic adjustable connection. The carriage can slide along the elongate guide to different positions, and the lugs can engage with positioning notches to lock at specific locations. This dynamic capability enables quick adjustment and detachment without complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple adjustment positions are provided for different user preferences, then the versatility and comfort are improved, but the mechanism becomes more complex requiring more notches and positioning features

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustable positioningVSAvoidpositioning mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The elongate guide serves multiple functions: it provides the sliding path for the carriage, contains the positioning notches for adjustment, and includes the retaining plate with removal notches for detachment. This multi-functionality allows multiple adjustment positions to be provided without adding separate mechanisms for each function, maintaining simplicity while achieving versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustment mechanism utilizes the longitudinal dimension of the elongate guide to provide multiple positioning options. By arranging positioning notches along the length of the guide in a linear sequence, multiple adjustment positions are achieved without adding complexity in other dimensions. The carriage moves along this one-dimensional path to access different notches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If a secure locking mechanism is used to prevent accidental detachment, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of quick release may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure attachmentVSAvoidquick release
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lugs act as intermediary elements between the carriage and the positioning notches. They provide the locking function by engaging with the notches to prevent accidental detachment during normal use. For quick release, the lugs are designed to disengage from the positioning notches and engage with the removal notches in the retaining plate, providing a mediated transition from locked to unlocked state without requiring complex operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection mechanism is designed to be self-locking through the engagement of lugs with positioning notches, eliminating the need for separate locking operations. For release, the mechanism allows self-unlocking by aligning the lugs with removal notches and applying simple force to disengage, making the quick release function accessible without tools or complex procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4258935B1Harness with quick-release mechanism
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO
  • EP4258935B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4258935B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4258935B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A harness with a backframe and a strap that is removably connected to the backframe by a connection that includes an elongate guide that is borne by the backframe and a carriage that is borne by the strap. The elongate guide includes a positioning plate that has at least two pairs of positioning notches; and, a retaining plate that has at least one pair of removal notches.