Draeger Safety UK Limited

Aaron Chapman

Paul Nicholas Townsend

David Graham Storey

A harness for use with breathing apparatus has: a flexible hip plateand a flexible bandolier-style shoulder panel, linked together by a strap, and a waist beltfastenable by a sprung fastener. In use, the flexible hip platerests 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 panelrests 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, and optionally also the hip plateof the harness, are made of a resilient material which, though flexible, allows the harness substantially to retain its operational configuration even when not being worn.

Harnesses

A harness for use with breathing apparatus has: a flexible hip plateand a flexible bandolier-style shoulder panel, linked together by a strap, and a waist beltfastenable by a sprung fastener. In use, the flexible hip platerests 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 panelrests 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, and optionally also the hip plateof the harness, 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.

A hose dispenser has a rotatable reel, holding a coiled hosesuitable for conveying breathable gas, mounted on a tubular steel frame. The reel has a pivoting arm, which has a portion defining an aperture, or 'eye'fitted thereon. The hose is threaded through the eyeso 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. The hood provides two functions. First, it enables the free end of the hose to engage the eye of the arm, and secondly, it protects a valve, located on the free end of the hose, from damage. Another valveis 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 armis mounted pivotally on the reel. Due to the fact that the hose is threaded through the aperture portion mounted on the arm, when the hose is put under tension, i.e. when the end of the hose is pulled so as to uncoil the hose, the arm lifts. If the hose becomes slack, i.e. when it is not being pulled, the arm falls under gravity. The pivoting armis operatively connected to braking means which provides a brake for the reelholding the hose. When the brake is engaged rotational motion of the reel is inhibited, thus preventing undesirably large amounts of hose from being dispensed from the reelwhen the hose is slack.

Growing community of inventors

Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Aaron Chapman