Vertical Lift Harness for Firefighter Turnout Gear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional safety harnesses, particularly Class III harnesses, often lift users at non-vertical orientations, making extraction from confined spaces difficult, and they lack integrated drag line functionality, which can complicate rescue operations in firefighting scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A safety harness system that allows vertical lifting and descending, integrated into firefighter turnout gear, featuring an upper body harness with horizontal and vertical straps, a drag line support strap, and a lower body harness, enabling vertical orientation and drag line functionality for secure extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional Class III harness is used, then severe fall arrest capability is provided, but the user is lifted at non-vertical orientations (30-45 degrees off vertical) making extraction from confined spaces difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional harness geometry by positioning the dorsal ring at the front of the user rather than the back, and by arranging the leg straps and hip belt to create a vertical lifting angle. This inversion changes the lift orientation from 30-45 degrees off vertical to substantially vertical, enabling easy extraction through confined spaces while maintaining severe fall arrest capability.
2Reliability
If an external harness is worn, then fall protection is provided, but the harness catches on objects and is difficult to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the harness with the turnout gear by integrating the harness straps, buckles, and dorsal ring directly into the coat and pants structure. The leg straps are incorporated into the pants legs, the hip belt is integrated into the pants waistband, and the dorsal ring is attached to the coat front. This merging eliminates the need to separately don the harness, making it automatic when the firefighter puts on their turnout gear, while maintaining full fall protection functionality.
3Reliability
If an external harness is worn, then fall protection is provided, but durability and security are reduced due to exposure to hostile environments and interfering objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the harness components within the turnout gear structure. The harness straps are positioned inside the coat and pants, the buckles are concealed within the gear, and only essential connection points are externally accessible. This nesting protects the harness from environmental damage, prevents catching on objects, and reduces wear while maintaining the structural integrity and fall arrest functionality of the harness system.
Data Source
AI summary
A safety harness for vertically lifting of a user is provided. The safety harness includes an upper body harness and a lower body harness which may be positioned on liners within a coat and pants of the user, respectively. The upper body harness and lower body harness attach together to function as a Class III harness enabling lifting of a user in a vertical orientation by virtue of the harness geometry. The lower body harness alone serves as a Class II harness and the upper body harness alone serves as a drag line. The harness is particularly suited to be integrated with firefighting turnout gear for ready donning with the turnout gear.