Vented Protective Elements for Harness Webbing Elevation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fall protection harnesses cause perspiration, irritation, and potential injuries due to direct strap positioning on the user, leading to discomfort and delays in donning and inspection.
Innovation Solution
A fall protection harness system with a shoulder and belt portion featuring vented protective elements and raised devices that keep the webbing off the user's body, providing ventilation, comfort, and easy inspection, using lightweight materials and ergonomic design to reduce irritation and enhance airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If harness straps are positioned directly on the user's body, then the harness provides secure fall protection, but it causes perspiration, irritation, and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces vented protective elements as intermediary components between the harness webbing and the user's body. These elements serve as mediators that maintain the security function of the harness while eliminating direct contact between the webbing and skin, thereby preventing perspiration and irritation. The protective elements are specifically designed with ventilation features to allow air flow and reduce moisture accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The harness system is divided into separate functional components: the webbing structure for fall protection, the vented protective elements for comfort and ventilation, and the padding assemblies for additional cushioning. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without the compromises required by integrated designs.
2Device complexity
If harness straps are positioned directly on the user's body, then the harness structure is simple, but it causes discomfort and delays in donning and inspection
Solution Approach 1:
The vented protective elements and padding assemblies are pre-positioned on the harness structure before use. This preliminary preparation allows the webbing to be routed through designated channels and attached to the protective elements in advance, eliminating the need for complex on-site adjustments during donning or inspection procedures.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If vented protective elements are added to keep webbing off the body, then comfort and ventilation are improved, but the harness structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the vented protective elements: they serve as both protective barriers between the webbing and user's body, and as ventilation structures with integrated air flow channels. This merging reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall structure despite the added functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The vented protective elements are constructed using flexible shell structures that can conform to the user's body contours while maintaining the webbing clearance. These thin-film-like protective elements provide the necessary protection and ventilation without adding significant bulk or structural complexity to the harness system.
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 system maintains user comfort by allowing airflow, reducing irritation, and facilitating quick donning and inspection by keeping the webbing off the body, thus addressing the issues of perspiration and strap positioning in existing harnesses.
Implementation Method 1
The embodiments of the invention are very light weight and maintain the webbing of the harness system off a user's body to allow for air to circulate, which helps cool down a user during use.
Data Source
AI summary
A harness system includes a shoulder portion including a first vented protective element and a raised harness device. A belt portion includes a second vented protective element and a raised belt device.