Harness Component with Splayed Tension Lines for Strength and Packability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Harnesses used for activities like climbing and hunting often require a balance between being lightweight and compact for transport while maintaining strength and comfort, especially in remote locations.
Innovation Solution
The harness design incorporates a wide band portion and narrow extension portions with splayed tension lines that distribute tension forces across a wider surface area, using materials that are lighter and more collapsible, reducing weight and bulk without compromising performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If traditional harness materials and construction are used, then strength and durability are maintained, but weight and bulk increase making them less suitable for remote transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from traditional woven fabrics to tubular braided structures with optimized diameter and wall thickness ratios. This changes the physical parameters of the material while maintaining strength through the tubular geometry that provides higher strength-to-weight ratio, allowing weight reduction without compromising load-bearing capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite construction by combining tubular braided elements with strategic reinforcement at stress points. The harness integrates multiple material properties within a unified structure, using the tubular braided material for primary load-bearing functions while incorporating additional materials at critical locations to maintain overall strength while reducing weight
2Volume of moving object
If traditional harness construction is used, then strength is maintained, but compactness and packability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible tubular braided structures that can be collapsed and packed into compact configurations. The tubular geometry provides inherent flexibility and collapsibility, allowing the harness to be compressed into a fraction of its original volume while the braided construction maintains structural integrity and strength when deployed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by designing a harness that transitions between expanded operational state and compressed packed state. The tubular braided elements can dynamically change their configuration, allowing the harness to be easily packed into compact form for transport and then rapidly deployed to full size for use, maintaining strength in both states
3Ease of operation
If wider band portions are used, then comfort is improved by distributing tension, but weight and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from traditional flat wide bands to three-dimensional tubular structures. The tubular geometry provides structural efficiency that allows reduced material usage while maintaining or improving comfort through better tension distribution. The circular cross-section of the tubular elements distributes loads more evenly around the body compared to flat bands of equivalent weight
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enhances comfort and maintains strength while allowing for a more compact and packable harness, meeting safety standards and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The splayed end portions are spaced apart and/or extend beyond ends of the narrow extension portions and/or splay or spread apart to have a width greater than a smaller width of the narrow extension portions. The splayed end portions may be joined to the wide band portion such that tension forces applied to the component are spread or distributed across at least a majority of a transverse width of the wide band portion
Data Source
AI summary
A harness component may include a wide band portion and a narrow extension portion. The wide band portion may include a sleeve and a shape retainer. The sleeve has longitudinal tension lines and elastic binding lines transversely extending across the longitudinally extending lines. The shape retainer is connected to the sleeve and retains at least portions of the sleeve in a stretched and flattened state. The narrow extension portion extends from the wideband portion and includes tension lines that are connected to the longitudinal tension lines of the sleeve.