Tethered training harness

Abstract

A training harness for a downhill gliding sport comprising: a harness comprising a back panel, a pair of shoulder straps connected to the back panel, a waist strap connected to the back panel, and at least one sliding anchor point connecter; and a retractable tether comprising a casing supporting and storing a rotatable spool, a handle grip connected to the casing, a tether comprising a first end coupled to the spool and a second end configured for reversible coupling to the at least one sliding anchor point connecter, an elastic section at or proximal to the second end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A training harness for a downhill gliding sport comprising:
 a harness comprising a back panel, a pair of shoulder straps connected to the back panel, a waist strap connected to the back panel, and at least one sliding anchor point connecter; and   a retractable tether comprising a casing supporting and storing a rotatable spool, a handle grip connected to the casing, a tether comprising a first end coupled to the spool and a second end configured for reversible coupling to the at least one sliding anchor point connecter, an elastic section at or proximal to the second end.   
     
     
         2 . The training harness of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sliding anchor point connecter is a runner comprising a rod connected at first and second ends to the back panel and a closed ring slidably engaging the rod. 
     
     
         3 . The training harness of  claim 2 , wherein the back panel and shoulder straps define a longitudinal line of symmetry and the runner is oriented transverse to the line of symmetry. 
     
     
         4 . The training harness of  claim 1 , further comprising a clip connected to a side surface of the casing 
     
     
         5 . The training harness of  claim 1 , wherein the back panel is a back pack comprising first and second surfaces circumferentially connected to define an interior cavity and a sealable opening communicating with the interior cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The training harness of  claim 1 , further comprising a brake enclosed within the casing, the brake operationally associated with a plurality of surfaces of the spool, and the brake configured to engage one of the plurality of surfaces of the spool to prevent rotation of the spool. 
     
     
         7 . The training harness of  claim 1 , wherein the spool is biased to rotate in a direction to retract the tether. 
     
     
         8 . The training harness of  claim 2 , wherein the second end comprises a quick-release connecter for engaging the closed ring. 
     
     
         9 . The training harness of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic section is at the second end. 
     
     
         10 . The training harness of  claim 1 , wherein the downhill gliding sport is snowboarding. 
     
     
         11 . A training harness for a downhill gliding sport comprising:
 a harness comprising a back panel, a pair of shoulder straps connected to the back panel, a waist strap connected to the back panel, and a pair of anchor point connecters coupled to the harness; and   a retractable tether comprising a casing supporting and storing a rotatable spool, a handle grip connected to the casing, a tether comprising a first end coupled to the spool and a second end comprising a pair of elastic section arms, each of the pair of elastic section arms configured for reversible coupling to one of the pair of anchor point connectors.   
     
     
         12 . The training harness of  claim 11 , wherein the back panel and shoulder straps define a longitudinal line of symmetry and the pair of anchor point connectors are symmetrically coupled to the harness. 
     
     
         13 . The training harness of  claim 11 , further comprising a clip connected to a side surface of the casing. 
     
     
         14 . The training harness of  claim 11 , wherein the back panel is a back pack comprising first and second surfaces circumferentially connected to define an interior cavity and a sealable opening communicating with the interior cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The training harness of  claim 11 , further comprising a brake enclosed within the casing, the brake operationally associated with a plurality of surfaces of the spool, and the brake configured to engage one of the plurality of surfaces of the spool to prevent rotation of the spool. 
     
     
         16 . The training harness of  claim 15 , further comprising an actuator coupled to the brake, the actuator extending outside the casing. 
     
     
         17 . The training harness of  claim 11 , wherein the spool is biased to rotate in a direction to retract the tether. 
     
     
         18 . The training harness of  claim 11 , wherein each of the pair of elastic section arms comprises a quick-release connecter configured for reversible coupling to one of the pair of anchor point connectors. 
     
     
         19 . The training harness of  claim 18 , wherein the quick-release connecter is a snap clip comprising a hooked portion and a clasp moveable between an open position and a closed position, the clasp biased to the closed position. 
     
     
         20 . The training harness of  claim 11 , wherein the downhill gliding sport is snowboarding.