Tool Harness Weight Transfer Without Snagging Straps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior harnesses cause discomfort and pain by placing pressure on the neck, shoulders, and arms due to poorly fitting designs that fail to transfer tool weight to stronger body parts, and often have sliding connections that snag on clothing, skin, or hair.
Innovation Solution
A harness design featuring a shoulder support with a tether that connects to a tool attachment and support connector, distributing the tool's weight to the user's upper back and hips, eliminating sliding connections to prevent snagging and providing adjustable components for a snug fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional harness designs are used to carry tools on straps, then the tool can be transported hands-free, but the harness causes discomfort and pain by placing pressure on the neck, shoulders, and arms
Solution Approach 1:
The harness divides the tool-carrying function into separate components: a shoulder support structure and a tether. The shoulder support bears the weight, while the tether provides tool retention, distributing forces across stronger body parts rather than concentrating pressure on vulnerable areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional vertical shoulder straps to a horizontal chest-supported configuration. The shoulder support rests on the upper chest and back, distributing weight across a broader anatomical region with stronger muscle support, thereby reducing pressure on the neck and arms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sliding connections are used in harness design, then the harness allows movement and flexibility, but the sliding connections snag on clothing, skin, or hair
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes sliding connections entirely from the harness design. Instead, it uses fixed attachment points and a tether system that provides flexibility through controlled length rather than through sliding mechanisms, eliminating the snagging problem while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than allowing movement through sliding connections that create snagging hazards, the invention inverts the approach by using a fixed tether length that provides flexibility through the tether's inherent elasticity and the user's ability to adjust positioning, eliminating the need for sliding mechanisms.
3Duration of action of moving object
If traditional harness straps are worn for long periods or in rugged terrain, then hands are freed for safe travel, but user fatigue and soreness increase due to poor weight distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The shoulder support is designed with specific anatomical considerations, placing weight-bearing surfaces on the upper chest and back areas where stronger muscles and bone structure can support the load. This localized quality matching reduces fatigue by aligning force application with the body's natural strength distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
A harness includes a shoulder support having a back member, a shoulder strip, an underarm strip, and a chest strip. The underarm strip and the chest strip connect to an underarm connection. A tether connects to the underarm connection at a tether first end. At a tether second end, a tool connection is configured to connect to a tool and a support connection is configured to connect to a user.