Harness device permits user to quickly put on or take off load carried in backpack arrangement. It can be attached with one hand; has controlled deformation belt that automatically encircles user upon application of pressure; has rigid shoulder harness elements which move automatically into place; and primary attachment components cannot be displaced while harness is in place

Thomas, D. F., Jr.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

NASA TECH BRIEF 
Langley Research Center 
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Flexible Belt 
Pressure Plate
Mounting 
Frame 
Spring 
System 
Half Belt 
December 1972	 B72-1064l 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial a pplication. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151, Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C.20546. 
Quick-Donning Backpack Harness 
The quick-donning backpack harness is a device which 
permits the user to quickly put on or take off a load 
carried in a backpack arrangement. It can be attached to 
the user with one hand; has a controlled deformation belt 
that automatically encircles the user upon proper applica-
tion of pressure; has rigid shoulder harness elements which 
automatically move into position for carrying the load; 
and its primary attachment components cannot be dis-
placed while harness is in place.
This harness is basically composed of a mounting frame 
to which the load is attached, a pressure plate, a spring 
system, a pair of shoulder hooks, two controlled deforma-
tion or rigid half-belts, and a short length of flexible belt 
which is used to fasten the free ends of the half-belt in 
place. These components are mounted on the mounting 
frame in such a manner that movement of the pressure 
plate toward the mounting frame forces the shoulder 
hooks and half-belts into position over the shoulders and 
about the waist of the user. 
Shoulder 
(continued overleaf) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the Natu..nal
	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the Aeronautics and Space Administration Neither the United States
	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
	 will be free from privately owned rights
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19720000640 2020-03-17T03:41:34+00:00Z
The quick-donning backpack harness, as seen in the 
illustration, has a mounting frame for support of the load 
to be earned. The shoulder hooks are curved and extend 
down to permit a hanging-type arrangement. The exten-
sions of the shoulder hooks curve outwardly from the 
mounting frame and down to the pressure plate where they 
are rigidly fastened. Guides hold the extensions to the 
shoulder hooks in their proper positions. Pressure on the 
pressure plate causes it to move toward the mounting 
frame and forces the shoulder hooks into position over 
the shoulders of the user. 
The version of the waist belt shown in the illustration 
consists of two rigid half-belt sections and a flexible 
section. The rigid sections are secured to the pressure 
plate through a semi-rigid spring-steel system. The spring-
steel curves away from the pressure plate and then 
forward to unite with the waistbelt rigid sections. The 
flexible waistbelt end is connected to one curved half-belt, 
and the receiver lock is attached to the other. With this 
arrangement, pressure placed on the pressure plate causes 
the spring steel portion of the waistbelt to move to the 
rear or toward the mounting frame, and this causes the 
curved half belts to encircle the waist of the user. Guides 
function to locate the waistbelt in its proper position 
relative to the pressure plate and mounting frame. 
This construction permits the user to lock the half 
belts and shoulder hooks by using one hand to connect 
the flexible belt end to the belt lock. 
A flexible belt of webbing with spacers and a spring 
member can also be used with the harness. The belt 
webbing is attached to the mounting frame on one end 
and to the spring member at the other "beitbuckle" end. 
The other end of the spring member is attached to the 
pressure plate. The spring member lies along the outer 
surface of the belt webbing, away from the user's body. 
Pressure on the plate forces the spring member, because of 
its freedom to slide in the spacers and its fixed relation-
ship to the belt, to deflect inwardly to effect the 
encircling action by the waistbelt of the body of the user 
of the harness. For those applications where rigid shoulder
hooks are not desirable this waistbelt design could be 
adapted for use as a shoulder harness. 
Ease of use and the requirement that an overt act 
would have to be committed to disable the harness make 
it practical for use as safety equipment such as: auto-
mobile or airplane safety harnesses, emergency breathing or 
other special equipment, quick donning and doffing 
harness for emergency vehicle personnel, or patient 
restraints for litters or stretchers. 
The self-deploying and latching features make this 
harness of possible help to handicapped persons with 
physiological limitations of arm motion or control or even 
with wheelchair patients who are not able to hold 
themselves in the chair,or bed patients requiring restraints. 
The flexible belt concept could have general industrial 
application through its incorporation into load carrying 
devices such as cargo nets, flat bed trailers, or railway cars. 
The weight of the material placed upon it would activate 
the restraining straps which would then enfold the load. 
Note: 
Request for further information may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Langley Research Center 
Mail Stop 139-A 
Hampton, Virginia 23365 
Reference: B72-10641 
Patent status: 
This invention has been patented by NASA (U.S. 
Patent No. 3,649,921). Inquiries concerning nonexclusive 
or exclusive license for its commercial development 
should be addressed to: 
Patent Counsel 
Mail Stop 173 
Langley Research Center 
Hampton, Virginia 23365 
Source: David F. Thomas, Jr. 
Langley Research Center 
(LAR-10102)
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B72-1064l
	 Category 05,06


Quick-donning backpack harness

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