Lifting harness and method of using the same
The lifting harness includes a base strap and a pair of shoulder straps releasably attached to a base strap. Each shoulder strap includes a shoulder engaging portion and a plurality of arm loops for receiving the arms of a user. The base strap is an oval, elliptical, or other elongated loop having a pair of buckles or the like for adjusting the circumference of the loop, and a pair of parallel cross straps extending across the loop and slidable along the loop to adjust the position of each cross strap, each cross strap having a buckle to adjust the length of the cross strap. In use, a heavy load is mounted on the base strap and each shoulder strap is placed around the neck and over the shoulders of the users, and a pair of arm loops receiving the forearms of the user. Further, each shoulder strap further terminates at either end in an adjustable releasable loop, allowing for one or more shoulder straps to be used as carrying harnesses without the need for a base strap.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates devices for the moving, cargo transport, and storage industries, and particularly to a lifting harness and a method for using the harness for lifting and carrying furniture, furnishings, and other loads.
2. Description of the Related Art
A multitude of devices are available for moving furniture, cargo, boxes and other heavy loads often encountered in the fields of moving and transportation. Transportation of heavy loads is often accomplished through the use of dollies, carts, hand trucks and the like. These devices, however, often provide only transportation, and the cargo must still be lifted onto them, which can cause great physical strain on the users. Further, such devices are generally not adaptable to cargo of varying sizes; i.e., a dolly may be useful for moving boxes, but it cannot transport a large piece of furniture. Similarly, it would be inefficient to transport a large cart to a moving site and only use the cart to transport small boxes.
Various manual lifting devices worn or held by a user have been utilized to aid the user in lifting heavy cargo. However, such devices are generally hung from a single point of the user's body, such as a strap or belt worn about the user's neck or attached only to the user's arms or waist. Applying the entire force of the cargo's weight to a single point on the user's body may be harmful and can cause severe injuries to the user. It would be preferable to provide a lifting device that distributes the weight of the cargo over various points of the user's body, in order to reduce the possibility of injury. Thus, a lifting harness and method of using the same solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe lifting harness includes a base strap and a pair of shoulder straps releasably attached to the base strap spaced apart by 180°. Each shoulder strap includes a shoulder engaging portion and a plurality of arm loops for receiving the arms of a user. The base strap is an oval, elliptical, or other elongated loop having a pair of buckles or the like for adjusting the circumference of the loop, and a pair of parallel cross straps extending across the loop and slidable along the loop to adjust the position of each cross strap, each cross strap having a buckle to adjust the length of the cross strap. In use, a heavy load is mounted on the base strap and each shoulder strap is worn by the user, with the shoulder engaging portion mounted on a user's shoulders and a pair of arm loops receiving the forearms of the user. The force of the load's weight is supported by the arms, the upper back and the shoulders of both users, thus minimizing the possibility of strain and injury.
Alternatively, one of the shoulder straps may be detached from the base strap, and the single shoulder strap may be used as an adjustable belt for lifting smaller loads, requiring the lifting power of a single user. One end of the shoulder strap forms a loop, and the free end is received through the looped end to form the adjustable belt. The belt is tightened around the load, and the free end is supported by the user. The user may mount the free end over his or her shoulder, if necessary. Also, a rod or stick may be provided for reception by one of the arm loops in order to releasably lock the arm loop in position with respect to the remainder of the adjustable belt, thus securing the load.
Further, a pair of shoulder straps may be joined together to form an alternative base strap. A second pair of shoulder straps are releasably attached to the alternative base strap, with the load being mounted on the alternative base strap. One or more shoulder straps may be used on their own to lift a load, wrapping the shoulder strap or shoulder straps about the load and securing the straps to the load. Each shoulder strap includes an adjustable-length releasable loop at either end, which may further be secured to or about loads.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to
As best shown in
The user may select which of arm loops 18 to utilize, depending on the size and shape of the user's arms and body. In the preferred embodiment, when worn, arm loops 18 engage the users' forearms, allowing the users to support load 12 with their forearms while leaving the users' hands free to provide additional support and stability for load 12. However, the user may position arm loops 18 on any suitable portion of the user's arm, depending on comfort and the further needs and desires of the user. It should be noted that the choice of arm loop 18, and the selectable positioning of the arm loop 18 on the arm of the user, is further dependent upon the size and shape of the load to be carried.
As shown in
As shown in
Each shoulder strap 16 further includes an adjustable buckle 42, allowing for the selective adjustment of the length of the shoulder strap 16. Depending on the size and shape of the user, each shoulder strap 16 may be adjusted for optimal comfort and stability. Similarly, as shown in
Further, as shown in
As best shown in
Shoulder engaging portions 24 are mounted on the users' shoulders, and the users insert their arms into respective pairs of arm loops 18. As shown in
As illustrated in
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As illustrated in
Optionally, a stick or rod 44 may further secure shoulder strap 16 about load 40. As shown in
Once the load 40 has been secured within shoulder strap 16, the load 40 may then be carried by the user, as illustrated in
In an alternative embodiment, illustrated in
Alternatively, a pair of shoulder straps 16 may be used on their own to lift a load 12, as shown in
A single shoulder strap 16 may also be used for the transportation of a load, as shown in
It should be understood that shoulder straps 16 may be used with the provided base strap 14, may be used one their own, or a single shoulder strap 16 may be utilized to lift a load. As described in the examples above, a pair of shoulder straps 16 may be interconnected to act as a base strap or, in the alternative, shoulder straps 16 may be interconnected, positioned beneath a load to be lifted, and used together as a lifting harness. A wide variety of combinations of interconnections between the pair of shoulders straps 16 and base strap 14 are possible for providing a lifting harness; the selective detachable nature of shoulder straps 16 with respect to base strap 14 provides for great versatility in applying the lifting harness 10 to a wide variety of loads having varying shapes and sizes.
The lifting harness 10 is adaptable for the lifting and transportation of a wide variety of different cargo items, including, but not limited to, furniture, boxes, plants, mattresses and other heavy loads. In order to decrease the risk of injury to the users, the weight of the load is supported over multiple points of the users' bodies. Primarily, lifting harness 10 allows the users to support the load with the combination of the users' arms, shoulders and backs, rather than applying the entire force to only a single region of each user's body, which could cause severe injuries to the users.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A lifting harness, comprising:
- a base strap forming a continuous loop; and
- a pair of shoulder straps releasably attached to the base strap 180° apart, each of the shoulder straps having a shoulder-engaging portion and a pair of side portions extending therefrom, each said side portion having at least one arm loop for releasably receiving an arm of a user;
- whereby the base strap is adapted to receive a load positioned on the base strap and the shoulder straps are adapted for being looped around the necks and over the shoulders of a pair users positioned on opposite sides of the load.
2. The lifting harness as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one cross strap extending across the base strap loop, the cross strap having opposed ends attached to said base strap for supporting the load.
3. The lifting harness as recited in claim 2, wherein each of the ends of said at least one cross strap defines a loop for receiving said base strap, whereby said cross strap is movable on said base strap to adjust arc size defined by said cross strap.
4. The lifting harness as recited in claim 3, wherein said at least one cross strap further comprises means for adjusting cross strap length.
5. The lifting harness as recited in claim 1, wherein:
- said base strap further comprises means for adjusting the length of the circumference of the loop; and
- each of said shoulder straps further comprises means for adjusting shoulder strap length.
6. The lifting harness as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said shoulder straps has opposing lower ends extending from the side portions, the lifting harness further comprising:
- a first releasable fastener attached to each of the lower ends;
- a connector strap extending from each of the lower ends; and
- a second releasable fastener attached to the connector strap, the second releasable fastener mating with the first releasable fastener to form a loop around said base strap, thereby movably attaching the lower ends of said shoulder straps to said base strap.
7. A method of lifting a load, comprising the steps of:
- providing a set of straps;
- selecting at least one strap of said set of straps for lifting a load;
- supporting the load on said at least one strap;
- positioning a portion of said at least one strap over a shoulder of a user; and
- lifting said load.
8. The method of lifting a load as recited in claim 7, further including the step of forming a loop in said at least one strap for receiving said load.
9. The method of lifting a load as recited in claim 8, wherein said step of supporting the load further comprises the step of tightening said loop about said load.
10. The method of lifting a load as recited in claim 7, wherein said selecting step further comprises selecting a base strap from the set of straps.
11. The method of lifting a load as recited in claim 10, wherein said step of supporting the load further comprises the step of placing the load on said base strap.
12. The method of lifting a load as recited in claim 11, wherein said step of selecting at least one strap further includes the step of selecting a pair of shoulder straps.
13. The method of lifting a load as recited in claim 12, further comprising the step of releasably securing said pair of shoulder straps to said base strap.
14. The method of lifting a load as recited in claim 7, wherein said selecting step further comprises selecting a plurality of shoulder straps from the set of straps.
15. The method of lifting a load as recited in claim 14, further including the step of joining said plurality of shoulder straps to each other to form a base strap.
16. The method of lifting a load as recited in claim 15, wherein the step of supporting the load further comprises the step of placing the load on said mounting base.
17. The method of lifting a load as recited in claim 16, wherein said step of selecting at least one strap further includes the step of selecting another pair of shoulder straps.
18. The method of lifting a load as recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of releasably securing said another pair of shoulder straps to said base strap.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 12, 2005
Publication Date: Jun 14, 2007
Inventor: Adil Aliev (Mamaroneck, NY)
Application Number: 11/298,621
International Classification: A45F 3/14 (20060101);