Abstract: The present invention relates to a structural support member 10 for a harness 100 for breathing apparatus, the structural support member being generally elongate and arranged in use to support a cylinder of breathable gas and one or more components operatively associated with the breathing apparatus, wherein the structural support member comprises first and second parts 20, 30 defining therebetween a housing for retaining one or more of the components.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a harness 100 for breathing apparatus, comprising: a structural support member 102 having a fixing portion 10, and at least one strap 40 having a loop 42. The strap is arranged to be releasably attached to the structural support member. The fixing portion comprises a first slot 12 through which a portion of the strap is arranged to pass in use; and a first anchor member 16, 18 laterally spaced from the first slot extending in a direction substantially parallel to the first slot and arranged in use to releasably locate at least partly within the loop of the strap through a first side of the loop.

Abstract: A structural support member 10 for a harness 100 for breathing apparatus, the structural support member being generally elongate and arranged in use to support a cylinder of breathable gas, the structural support member comprising: a frame having; a lower portion 11 arranged in use to support a first end of a cylinder; an upper portion arranged in use to support a second opposed end of the cylinder; and first and second side limbs 26, 36 coupling the upper and lower portions and defining a void 14 therebetween, in a substantially central region of the frame.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas-cylinder retaining assembly 10 for retaining a gas-cylinder on a harness for breathing apparatus. The retaining assembly comprises a strap 20 arranged in use to be coupled to the harness and a retaining portion of which is arranged to pass around at least a portion of the cylinder; a tensioning device 30 arranged for tightening the retaining portion of the strap around the cylinder such that the cylinder is held to the harness, and wherein a free portion of the strap, having a free end, extends from the tensioning device; and a retaining buckle 40 arranged for retaining the free portion of the strap, the retaining buckle 40 comprises a positioning slot 42 through which in use the retaining portion of the strap passes; a pivot member 44 which in use is located between the cylinder and the retaining portion of the strap; and a retaining slot arranged in use to receive the free end of the strap 46.

Abstract: A shoulder strap for a harness for breathing apparatus includes a first elongate strap portion generally extending along a first longitudinal axis; a second elongate strap portion attached to the first strap portion and generally extending along a second longitudinal axis that is oblique to the first axis; and a first attachment portion for attaching a first end of the shoulder strap to the harness in use and a second attachment portion for attaching a second end of the shoulder strap to the harness in use.

Abstract: A harness for use with breathing apparatus has: a flexible hip plate 12 and a flexible bandolier-style shoulder panel 14, linked together by a strap 15, and a waist belt 16 fastenable by a sprung fastener. In use, the flexible hip plate 12 rests against the hip of a user (the left hip in this example), the waist belt is fitted around the waist of the user, and the shoulder panel 14 rests against the shoulder opposite to the hip against which the flexible plate is resting (the right shoulder in this example). At least the bandolier-style panel 14, and optionally also the hip plate 12 of the harness 10, are made of a resilient material which, though flexible, allows the harness substantially to retain its operational configuration even when not being worn. The material is preferably a composite, and may comprise closed cell, open face foam, such as compression moulded EVA foam. Two layers of such foam may be used in a sandwich construction, and may be glued or otherwise bonded together.

Abstract: A harness for use with breathing apparatus has: a flexible hip plate 12 and a flexible bandolier-style shoulder panel 14, linked together by a strap 15, and a waist belt 16 fastenable by a sprung fastener. In use, the flexible hip plate 12 rests against the hip of a user (the left hip in this example), the waist belt is fitted around the waist of the user, and the shoulder panel 14 rests against the shoulder opposite to the hip against which the flexible plate is resting (the right shoulder in this example). At least the bandolier-style panel 14, and optionally also the hip plate 12 of the harness 10, are made of a resilient material which, though flexible, allows the harness substantially to retain its operational configuration even when not being worn. The material is preferably a composite, and may comprise closed cell, open face foam, such as compression moulded EVA foam. Two layers of such foam may be used in a sandwich construction, and may be glued or otherwise bonded together.

Abstract: A head-up display unit 10 comprises a microprocessor 30 which controls four light-emitting diodes (LEDs) which constitute the head-up display 20. The microprocessor 30 and LEDs 20 are powered by a battery 40 and a switch 50 is in series with the battery. A temporary store 60 in the form of a capacitor is in parallel with the battery 40 after the switch 50. A data receiver 32 is connected to the microprocessor 30 and communicates received data 34 to the microprocessor 30. The head-up display unit 10 is located in the face-mask 100 of a self contained breathing apparatus unit. The LEDs 20 are located in the periphery of the viewable region of the face-mask 100 so that they can be seen by the user when the face-mask is worn. The switch 50 comprises two conductive rubber strips which conduct current between them when sufficient pressure is applied. The switch 50 is located on a portion of the face-mask seal 102 such that when the face-mask 100 is worn i.e.

Abstract: A harness (10) for use with breathing apparatus comprises: a back plate (11); two support straps (13, 14), each of which extends between an upper part of the back plate and a lower part of the back plate, the two support straps being disposed on opposite sides of a central axis of the back plate (11); and a tension equalising mechanism (15, 16; 30, 32) connected to the support straps and being arranged such that, when tension is applied to a first strap (13, 14) of the support straps, it acts to transfer the tension to the other, second strap (13, 14), thereby increasing the tension in the second strap, the tension equalising mechanism being resiliently biased towards a neutral configuration.

Abstract: An adjustable harness 10 for a self contained breathing apparatus, a back plate 12, a sliding plate 16, a pair of shoulder straps 20, 22 and a belt 18. The sliding plate 16 can move longitudinally with respect to the back plate between the extended position and the un-extended position. Shoulder straps 20, 22 are fixed to an upper portion of the sliding plate and a belt 18 is fixed to a lower portion of the back plate. A valve 28 is provided at the bottom of the back plate 12 so that a cylinder of breathable gas connected to the valve may be retained by a retaining strap 13. Hoses 24, 26 are attached to the sliding plate 16, cross over in the region of the opening 14 and as such the side of the sliding plate 16 to which they are attached is different to the side of the valve 28 from which they leave. Guide channels 34 are shaped to retain the hoses 24, 26. The hoses 24, 26 fold and unfold within the confines of the plates 12, 16 to prevent snagging.

Abstract: A cylinder back plate includes a frame member 11 and a cylinder clamp 12 connected to the frame member 11 by means of a pivot 13. The cylinder clamp 12 comprises a band of rigid or semi-rigid material. The cylinder clamp 12 has a retaining position with respect to the frame member 11, wherein the cylinder clamp extends substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the frame member. The frame member 11 lies parallel to a back plate of the harness or is constituted by the back plate of the harness. Thus, when the cylinder clamp 12 is in the retaining position a cylinder can be retained securely to the frame member and sliding of the cylinder relative to the frame member or back plate can be prevented. When it is desired to attach a new cylinder to the harness, the cylinder clamp 12 can be pivoted into a loading position.

Abstract: A hose dispenser has a rotatable reel 10, holding a coiled hose 12 suitable for conveying breathable gas, mounted on a tubular steel frame 14. The reel has a pivoting arm 16, which has a portion defining an aperture, or “eye” 18 fitted thereon. The hose is threaded through the eye 16 so that the free end of the hose protrudes through the eye. The free end of the hose is fitted with a resilient frusto-conical protective hood 20. The hood provides two functions. First, it enables the free end of the hose to engage the eye of the arm 16, and secondly, it protects a valve 22, located on the free end of the hose, from damage. Another valve 24 is provided in the centre of the reel, which is connected to the other end of the hose. In use, the free end of the hose is carried by an operative, or is attached to breathing apparatus worn by the operative, and the other end is connected to a source containing gas for breathing. The arm 16 is mounted pivotally on the reel.