Safety harnesses

Abstract

A back pad for use in connection with a safety harness including at least two spaced back straps. The back pad includes a shield covering at least a portion of each of the back straps of the safety harness. The shield extends between the back straps to cover a portion of a user's back when the safety harness is worn. A full body safety harness to be worn by a person includes an upper torso portion and a lower seat portion. The upper torso portion is operatively connected to the lower seat portion by a first connector on a first lateral side and a second connector on a second lateral side thereof. The first connector and the second connector can, for example, enable forward and rearward rotation of the upper torso portion relative to the lower seat portion (for example, without causing a significant increase in tension in the upper torso portion or the lower seat portion). At least one of the first connector and the second connector includes a shaft. The upper torso portion includes at least one connecting member having a passage formed therein. The lower seat portion includes at least one connecting member have a passage formed therein. The shaft passes through the passage of the at least one connecting member of the upper torso portion and through the passage of the at least one connecting member of the lower torso portion.

1 . A back pad for use in connection with a safety harness comprising at least two spaced back straps, the back pad comprising a shield covering at least a portion of each of the back straps of the safety harness, the shield extending between the back straps to cover a portion of a user's back when the safety harness is worn.  
   
   
       2 . The back pad of  claim 1  wherein the shield is flexible and has a hardness of at least 30 Shore durometer.  
   
   
       3 . The back pad of  claim 1  wherein shield is flexible and has a hardness of in the range of approximately 80 to 100 Shore durometer.  
   
   
       4 . The back pad of  claim 1  wherein the shield comprises a first channel and a second channel through which a first strap section and a second strap section, respectively, pass.  
   
   
       5 . The back pad of  claim 4  wherein the first channel is wider than the first strap section so that the first strap section can move laterally within the first channel and the second channel is wider than the second strap section so that the second strap section can move laterally within the second channel.  
   
   
       6 . The back pad of  claim 1  further comprising a reference point thereon adapted to be aligned with a reference point on a wearer of the harness to position a D-ring in operative connection with the back pad on the wearer.  
   
   
       7 . A back pad for use in connection with a safety harness comprising back strap sections that cross in the vicinity of the back pad, the back pad comprising at least one channel through which at least one of the back strap sections passes, the channel being wider than the back strap section so that the back strap section can move laterally within the channel.  
   
   
       8 . The back pad of  claim 7  wherein the channel is at least 20% wider than the back strap section.  
   
   
       9 . The back pad of  claim 7  wherein the channel is at least 50% wider than the back strap section.  
   
   
       10 . A back pad for use in connection with a safety harness, the back pad comprising a reference point thereon adapted to be aligned with a reference point on a wearer of the harness to position a D-ring in operative connection with the back pad on the wearer.  
   
   
       11 . A full body safety harness to be worn by a person, comprising: an upper torso portion and a lower seat portion, the upper torso portion being operatively connected to the lower seat portion by a first connector on a first lateral side and a second connector on a second lateral side thereof, the first connector and the second connector enabling forward and rearward rotation of the upper torso portion relative to the lower seat portion, at least one of the first connector and the second connector comprising a shaft, the upper torso portion comprising at least one connecting member having a passage formed therein, the lower seat portion comprising at least one connecting member have a passage formed therein, the shaft passing through the passage of the at least one connecting member of the upper torso portion and through the passage of the at least one connecting member of the lower torso portion.  
   
   
       12 . The full body safety harness of  claim 11  wherein the connecting member of the upper torso portion is a strap section of the upper torso portion and the connecting member of the lower seat portion is a strap section of the lower seat portion.  
   
   
       13 . The full body safety harness of  claim 13  wherein the strap section of the upper torso portion comprises a grommet through which the shaft passes and the strap section of the lower seat portion comprises a grommet through which the shaft passes.  
   
   
       14 . A full body safety harness to be worn by a person, comprising: an upper torso portion and a lower seat portion, the upper torso portion being operatively connected to the lower seat portion by a first connector on a first lateral side and a second connector on a second lateral side thereof, the first connector and the second connector enabling forward and rearward rotation of the upper torso portion relative to the lower seat portion, the upper torso portion including at least one strap, the lower seat portion including at least one strap, at least one of the first connector and the second connector comprising a loop formed on an end of the strap of the upper torso portion and a loop formed on an end of the strap of the lower seat portion, the loop of the strap of the upper torso portion being interconnected with the loop of the strap of the lower torso portion.  
   
   
       15 . A safety harness to be worn by a person, comprising at least a first strap and a second strap, the first strap and the second strap being connected by a cam buckle in operative connection therewith to adjust a fit of the safety harness, the can buckle comprising a base and a cam shaped locking member in moveable, operative connection with the base, the locking member comprising an abutment surface moveable into and out of contact with the first strap, the base comprises a first strap support around which the first strap passes and a second strap support around which the second straps passes, the abutment surface of the locking member being biased in connection with a first surface of the first strap over a section of the strap wherein a second, opposing surface of the first strap contacts the support member, the base being formed from a polymeric material, the base further comprising a support member of a material having a higher ultimate tensile load than the polymeric material, the support member having an opening therein through which the first strap passes and through which the second strap passes.  
   
   
       16 . A full body safety harness to be worn by a person, comprising: an upper torso portion and a lower seat portion, the upper torso portion being operatively connected to the lower seat portion by a first connector on a first lateral side and a second connector on a second lateral side thereof, the first connector and the second connector enabling forward and rearward rotation of the upper torso portion relative to the lower seat portion, the first connector comprising at least one shaft and the second connector comprising at least one shaft, at least one of the upper torso portion and the lower seat portion being rotatably connected to the shaft of the first connector and at least one of the upper torso portion and the lower torso portion being rotatably connected to the shaft of the second connector.  
   
   
       17 . An accessory attachment system for use in connection with worn articles comprising a strap or a belt, the accessory attachment system comprising: a connector having a channel therein through which the strap or belt can pass and an attachment member attached to the connector.  
   
   
       18 . A full body safety harness system comprising an accessory attachment system for use in connection with a strap of the safety harness system or a belt worn in connection with the safety harness system, the accessory attachment system comprising: a connector having a channel therein through which the strap or the belt can pass and an attachment member attached to the connector.