A harness

Abstract

A man-worn power and data harness. The harness is intended to facilitate the supply of power and data around a user's, and in particular a soldier's, person. Furthermore, the harness is intended to be compatible with a tiered structure of soldier load carriage and protection. The harness may comprise: at least one brace for passing over a user's shoulder, each brace comprising at least one cable; and a belt for at least partially encircling a user's waist, the belt comprising at least one cable; wherein each cable comprises power and/or data cabling, each brace is connected at both ends to the belt and each brace comprises at least one release clip, the release clip being for disconnecting and reconnecting the brace; each brace may further comprise at least one attachment device to attach the brace to an item worn underneath the harness. Furthermore, a harness and load carriage may be provided. Methods for the use of such a harness in combination with a tiered structure for soldier load carriage and protection may also be provided.

1 . A harness, comprising:
 at least one brace, the brace being for passing over a user's shoulder, each brace comprising at least one cable; and   a belt, the belt being for at least partially encircling a user's waist, the belt comprising at least one cable;   wherein each cable comprises power and/or data cabling, each brace is connected at both ends to the belt and each brace comprises at least one release clip, the release clip being for disconnecting and reconnecting the brace   wherein each brace further comprises at least one attachment device to attach the brace to an item worn underneath the harness.   
     
     
         2 . A harness, comprising:
 a belt for at least partially encircling a user's waist, the belt comprising at least one cable;   at least one brace connectable at only one of its ends to the belt and configured to extend from the belt towards a user's shoulder, each brace comprising at least one cable;   wherein each cable comprises power and/or data cabling and each brace comprises at least one attachment device to attach the brace to an item worn underneath the harness.   
     
     
         3 . A harness according to  claim 1 , wherein the harness comprises a connection point between the brace and the belt, and the release clip is located at one of the connection points. 
     
     
         4 . A harness according to  claim 1 , wherein the release clip is located substantially at the midpoint of the brace, this midpoint being located at the top of a user's shoulder during use. 
     
     
         5 . A harness according to  claim 4 , wherein the release clip located substantially at the midpoint of the brace is a quick release clip, the quick release clip being suitable for being integrated into a master quick release clip of an underlying vest or load carriage and being activated to release upon activation of the master quick release clip. 
     
     
         6 . A harness according to  claim 1 , wherein each brace comprises at least one connector for attachment to an external module. 
     
     
         7 . A harness according to  claim 1 , wherein the belt comprises at least one attachment device to attach the belt to an item worn underneath the harness. 
     
     
         8 . A harness according to  claim 1 , wherein the belt comprises at least one connector for attachment to an external module. 
     
     
         9 . A harness according to  claim 1 , wherein the belt comprises, or is connected to, a central power unit or a central processor. 
     
     
         10 . A load carriage and harness, comprising:
 a load carriage, comprising:
 at least one webbing for passing over a user's shoulder; and 
 a waistband for at least partially encircling a user's waist, each webbing being attached at both ends to the waistband; 
   a harness, comprising:
 at least one brace running adjacent each webbing, each brace comprising at least one cable; and 
 a belt running adjacent the waistband, the belt comprising at least one cable, each brace being connected at both ends to the belt;
 wherein each cable comprises power and/or data cabling and each brace comprises at least one release clip, the release clip being for disconnecting and reconnecting the brace 
 wherein each brace further comprises at least one attachment device to attach the brace to an item worn underneath the harness. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . A load carriage and harness, comprising:
 a load carriage, comprising:
 at least one webbing for passing over a user's shoulder; and 
 a waistband for at least partially encircling a user's waist, each webbing being attached at both ends to the waistband; 
   a harness, comprising:
 a belt running adjacent the waistband, the belt comprising at least one cable; 
 at least one brace connectable at only one of its ends to the belt and configured to extend from the belt towards a user's shoulder, each brace comprising at least one cable;
 wherein each cable comprises power and/or data cabling, and each brace comprises at least one attachment device to attach the brace to an item worn underneath the harness. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . A load carriage and harness according to  claim 10 , wherein the harness comprises a connection point between the brace and the belt, and the release clip is located at one of the connection points. 
     
     
         13 . A load carriage and harness according to  claim 10 , wherein the release clip is located substantially at the midpoint of the brace, this midpoint being located at the top of a user's shoulder during use. 
     
     
         14 . A load carriage and harness according to  claim 13 , wherein the release clip located substantially at the midpoint of the brace is a quick release clip, the quick release clip being suitable for being integrated into a master quick release clip of an underlying vest or load carriage and being activated to release upon activation of the master quick release clip. 
     
     
         15 . A load carriage and harness according to  claim 10 , wherein the or each attachment device on the or each brace are for attaching the brace to the webbing. 
     
     
         16 . A load carriage and harness according to  claim 10 , wherein the or each brace comprises at least one connector for attachment to an external module. 
     
     
         17 . A load carriage and harness according to  claim 10 , wherein the belt comprises at least one attachment device to attach the belt to an item worn underneath the harness. 
     
     
         18 . A load carriage and harness according to  claim 10 , wherein the belt comprises at least one connector for attachment to an external module. 
     
     
         19 . A load carriage and harness according to  claim 10 , wherein the belt comprises, or is connected to, a central power unit or a central processor. 
     
     
         20 . A method for putting on body armour with a harness according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 disconnecting an attachment device on each brace;   removing the brace from a wearer's body, so that body armour may be put on without covering up any of each brace;   putting the body armour on;   locating each brace over the body armour; and   connecting the attachment device on each brace to the body armour.   
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20 , further comprising:
 disconnecting a release clip on each brace; and   reconnecting each release clip.