Segmented Climbing Harness Straps for Pressure Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Climbing harnesses face challenges in distributing fall forces evenly across the body, leading to high local pressure and discomfort, while existing solutions either concentrate force on narrow areas or compromise on breathability and durability.
Innovation Solution
A carrying strap construction that divides into multiple tension straps, integrated with breathable padding, to distribute forces more evenly across a larger body contact area, reducing local pressure and enhancing comfort and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a narrow binding tape is used to support the climbing harness, then the harness structure is simple and lightweight, but the force is concentrated on a small area causing high local pressure and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The binding tape is divided into multiple parallel tension straps (typically three) that run longitudinally. This segmentation distributes the force applied to the harness across multiple separate contact points on the body, reducing the local pressure at each point while maintaining the overall structural integrity and support function of the harness.
2Stress or pressure
If the binding tape is widened to distribute force, then the body contact area increases and local pressure decreases, but the weight of the harness increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using a single wide tape, the harness uses multiple narrow parallel tension straps. This segmentation achieves force distribution equivalent to a wide tape while using less total material, thereby reducing the overall weight of the harness while maintaining comfort and pressure distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension straps are positioned to contact specific anatomical points on the body (such as the iliac crests and thighs), concentrating the force distribution function where it is most needed for comfort and stability, while minimizing material usage in non-critical areas.
3Stress or pressure
If the binding tape is made from a single continuous piece, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the force distribution along the length is uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The single continuous binding tape is cut into multiple separate tension straps of equal length. Each strap is then independently attached to the harness structure at its ends. This segmentation ensures that force is distributed evenly along the length of the harness, as each strap carries an equal portion of the load, while the construction remains relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple identical tension straps are combined in parallel between the same attachment points on the harness. This merging of multiple equal-force elements creates uniform force distribution along the harness length, while the repetitive nature of the construction keeps manufacturing straightforward.
4Ease of operation
If padding is added to increase comfort and breathability, then the body contact area and comfort improve, but the weight and complexity of the harness increase
Solution Approach 1:
Padding is applied selectively only in areas where the tension straps contact the body (such as the waist and thigh regions), rather than covering the entire harness. This localized padding provides comfort and breathability exactly where needed for pressure distribution, while minimizing the total amount of padding material used, thereby controlling weight and complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3~5
Figure 6
AI summary
The climbing harness has a lap strap (11), two leg loops (12,12') and a hanging part for form-fit and force-fit connection of the lap strap with the leg loops. A stay brace is provided for leading arising forces. The stay brace is divided in an area in two clamping bands for broader pressure distribution. An independent claim is also included for a method for manufacturing stay brace construction used in climbing belts, backpacks and for transporting heavy loads at the body of a person.