Patent Application
20240016350
This invention relates to a body harness assembly, more particularly for a body harness assembly for use to relieve oneself in the absence of a conventional toilet.
Sometimes people find themselves in outdoor or remote environments and need to relieve themselves without any nearby conventional restrooms. Some options come in the forms of portable rigid buckets, devices to sit on, and pop-up privacy tents.
The present invention is directed to a device for defecating or urinating in a leaning or squatting position. The body harness assembly secures a person to a stationary object and enables the person to urinate or defecate in a leaning or squatting position. The body harness assembly comprises a body harness presenting a major cross section and a primary band. the body harness extending from a first end to a second end and presenting an interior surface for contact with a partial perimeter of the person. The body harness includes a cutout region extending inwardly from the bottom edge of the cross section of the body harness, providing additional clearance between the buttocks.
The primary band includes a first strap section, a second strap section, and a releasable fastener, with the first strap section extending distally proximate the first side of the body harness and the second strap section extending distally proximate the second side of the body harness.
The strap sections are joined with a releasable fastener proximate their respective distal ends, with the releasable fastener disposed inline with the strap sections, and operable to releasably join the strap sections, whereby the person can manipulate it and make or break a complete perimeter and in turn encompass the person and the stationary object within said perimeter.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, and accompanying drawings.
Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
Sometimes people find themselves in outdoor or remote environments and need to use the restroom without any nearby restrooms facilities. The body harness assembly 10 of the current invention is operable to support a person 02 defecating or urinating 09 while leaning or squatting. The body harness assembly 10 is operable to support the weight of the leaning or squatting person 06 releasably secured to a stationary structure 02.
Embodiments of a body harness assembly 10 include a body harness 20 and a primary band 30 having a fastener 36. The body harness 20 is operable for engagement to the person 06.
The body harness 20 is dimensioned and shaped to cover a partial perimeter of the person 06 and distribute the resistive force provided by it over the body harness 20 and, in turn, the contact area 07 of the person 06. It is dimensioned and shaped to leave an unimpeded path from the crotch to the ground when the body harness assembly 10 is used. The illustrated body harness 20 presents a major cross section 25 and spans from side to side of the person 06. Exemplary configurations include a cutout region 21, the cutout region 21 extending inwardly from the bottom edge of the cross section of the body harness 20, providing improved conformity to each of the buttocks and increased clearance from the genitals and anus between the person 06 and the ground. Representative sample dimensions for a configuration of a body harness 20 for a person 02 are shown in
The body harness 20 is composed of material suitable to bear the load of the person 06 leaning or squatting into it, such as natural fabrics, synthetic fabrics, blended fabrics, water resistant fabrics, waterproof fabrics, webbing, or other similar fabrics. Additionally, the fabric may be impregnated or coated with antimicrobial material.
As shown in
The body harness assembly 10 enables a person 06 engaged to the body harness 20 to safely and securely lean or squat, with the body harness 20 releasably secured to the stationary structure 02. The body harness assembly 10 further includes a primary band 30 operable to releasably secure the body harness assembly 10 to the stationary object 02, enabling the person 06 and stationary object 92 to be encompassed within a perimeter 38. The primary band 30 of
The strap sections 3234 are composed of suitable material to bear the load of the person 06 leaning or squatting. Further suitable materials are those which have a friction coefficient that minimizes slipping between the strap sections 3234 sliding and the stationary object 02, such as the wood of a tree or the steel of a hitch. Exemplary strap sections 3234 can be composed of nylon or the like.
The strap sections 3234 are dimensioned with a length to provide a perimeter large enough to encompass the person 06 and the stationary object 02. Further considerations for strap section 3234 length include height/height range of persons 06, thigh section lengths of the persons 06 (to account for additional spacing from the stationary object 02 when a person changes from vertical standing position to a squatting position), and desired range of spacing between a person 06 and the stationary object 02.
In certain configurations, the body harness 20 includes one or more pockets 52. To illustrate, the pockets 52 may be disposed proximate adjacent ends 2627 of the body harness 20, supporting the strap sections 3234 folding back into the pockets 52 so that the strap sections 3234 can be compacted when the body harness assembly 10 is not in use. Additionally, the pockets 52 can include a waterproof layer on the inside.
The strap sections 3234 join are joined with a releasable fastener 36 proximate their respective distal ends, extending the partial perimeter presented by the body harness 20 and defining a continuous perimeter 38 when the releasable fastener 36 is engaged. The releasable fastener 36 should be durable enough to support the force of a person 06 during usage. Representative suitable releasable fastener 36 include carabiners, clips, or the like. Some other releasable fastener 36 configurations include support for easy attachment/removal, one handed operation, and the like.
In exemplary configuration, the releasable fastener 36 is disposed inline with the strap sections 3234, operable to releasably join the strap sections 3234, enabling the person 06 to manipulate it and make or break a complete perimeter 38 and in turn encompass the stationary object 02 within the perimeter 38. In various configurations, the primary band's 30 attachment with the body harness 20 varies. In certain configurations, the primary band 30, strap sections 3234, or parts thereof are integral with the body harness 20, on interior surface of the body harness 20, on exterior surface of the body harness 20, interleaved with the body harness 20, or other configurations. With the releasable fastener 36 engaged, a continuous perimeter 38 defined by the body harness 20 joined to the first strap section 32, in turn joined to the releasable fastener 36, in turn joined to the second strap section 34, in turn joined to the body harness 20 is defined.
In certain configurations, the length of the first strap section 32 and the second strap section 34 are different, so that the relative position of the releasable fastener 36 position is configurable. For example, the length of the first strap section 32 may be greater than the length of the second strap section 34, resulting in various positions of the fastener 36 relative to the anchor 02 or person 06, so that the releasable fastener 36 is or isn't bound by the stationary object 02, or the releasable fastener 36 is in or out of reach of the person 06 when the user 06 is leaning or squatting.
Certain configurations of the body harness assembly 10 include an additional integral, belt band 40. The illustrated belt band 40 includes a first belt section 42, a second belt section 44, and a releasable fastener 46. In the illustrated configuration, the belt sections 4244 extend distally from opposing ends 2627 of the body harness 20. The first belt section 42 extends distally proximate the first side 26 of the body harness 20 and the second belt section 44 extends distally proximate the second side 27 of the body harness 20. The belt sections 4244 are joined with a releasable fastener 46 proximate the respective distal ends, extending the partial perimeter presented by the body harness 20 and defining a second continuous perimeter 48, such that the second interior belt perimeter 48 encompasses the person 06 around the waist or other area, for freedom of use for the hands/arms and more resiliently securing the person's 06 body positioning relative to the body harness 20, while the outer perimeter 38 has a greater width and contains both the stationary object 02 and the person 06.
Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawing disclose any additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the single claim below, the inventions are not dedicated to the public and the right to file one or more applications to claim such additional inventions is reserved.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63390190 | Jul 2022 | US |
