Harness for securing an object to a support and method of use thereof

Claim 2

A harness for securing an object to a support, the harness comprising: a) a flexible longitudinal strap member having first and second opposite end portions and an intermediate portion between said end portions; b) first and second strap portions having respective outer end portions, said first and second strap portions extending transversely to said longitudinal member; c) first connecting means for connecting said first and second strap portions to said intermediate portion of said longitudinal member; d) second connecting means for connecting respective outer end portions of said first and second strap portions together and to said first end portion of said longitudinal member; e) third and fourth strap portions having respective outer end portions, said third and fourth strap portions extending transversely to said longitudinal member; f) third connecting means for adjustably connecting said third and fourth strap portions to said intermediate portion of said longitudinal member such that said third and fourth strap portions are continuously moveable longitudinally along the longitudinal member, toward or away from the first and second strap portions; g) fourth connecting means for connecting together respective outer end portions of said third and fourth strap portions; h) a stretchable elastic loop connected to said second end portion of said longitudinal member said loop having first and second unobstructed co-terminus openings operable to receive said support therein such that said support extends through said loop and is embraced by said loop.

Claim 3

A harness as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first connecting means unadjustably fixes said first and second strap portions to said intermediate portion of said longitudinal member.

Claim 4

A harness as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first connecting means includes a plurality of stitches for securing said first and second strap portions to said intermediate portion.

Claim 5

A harness as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second connecting means includes respective complementary portions of a first releasable connector.

Claim 6

A harness as claimed in claim 4 wherein at least one of said complementary portions includes first adjusting means for adjustably connecting said at least one of said complementary portions to an outer end portion of one of said first and second strap portions to permit the tightness of the first and second strap portions to be adjusted about the object.

Claim 7

A harness as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second connecting means includes a loop formed in said first end portion of said longitudinal member, said loop being of sufficient size to permit said first releasable connector to pass therethrough.

Claim 8

A harness as claimed in claim 6 wherein the harness includes second adjusting means for adjusting the distance between said loop and said first and second strap portions to permit the first end portion to be comfortably secured on a child.

Claim 9

A harness as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second strap portions and said first end portion of said longitudinal member form a cradle securable about the waist and crotch of a child.

Claim 10

A harness as claimed in claim 1 wherein said third connecting means further includes second adjusting means for adjusting the position of the end portions of said third and fourth strap portions transversely relative to said longitudinal member.

Claim 11

A harness as claimed in claim 1 wherein said third and fourth strap portions are formed from a single unitary strap member.

Claim 12

A harness as claimed in claim 10 wherein said third connecting means includes a slidable connector having elongated slots including at least two longitudinally opposite slots and at least two transversely opposite slots arranged in a square pattern, the intermediate portion of said longitudinal member being threaded through said longitudinally opposite slots and said unitary strap member being threaded through said transversely opposite slots to permit longitudinal and transverse adjustment of said third and fourth strap portions relative to said longitudinal member.

Claim 13

A harness as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fourth connecting means includes complementary portions of a second releasable connector.

Claim 14

A harness as claimed in claim 12 wherein at least one of said complementary portions includes second adjusting means for adjustably connecting said at least one of said third and fourth strap portions to an outer end portion of one of said third and fourth strap portions to permit the tightness of the third and fourth strap portions to be adjusted about the object.

Claim 15

A harness as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elastic loop is formed from a band of flexible polyester braided elastic material.

Claim 16

A harness as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elastic loop has a connecting portion which is securely fastened to said longitudinal member such that said loop tends to extend in a plane generally perpendicular to said longitudinal member.

Claim 19

A method as claimed in claim 16 further including the steps of adjusting the first and second strap portions and adjusting the third and fourth strap portions to a desired degree of tightness on the child.

Claim 20

In combination: a) a chair having a back portion and a seat portion; and b) a harness having: i) a flexible longitudinal strap member having first and second opposite end portions and an intermediate portion between said end portions; ii) first and second strap portions having outer end portions, said first and second strap portions extending transversely to said longitudinal member; iii) first connecting means for connecting said first and second strap portions to said intermediate portion of said longitudinal member; iv) second connecting means for connecting respective outer end portions of said first and second strap portions together and to said first end portion of said longitudinal member; v) third and fourth strap portions having respective outer end portions, said third and fourth strap portions extending transversely to said longitudinal member; vi) third connecting means for adjustably connecting said third and fourth strap portions to said intermediate portion of said longitudinal member such that said third and fourth strap portions are continuously moveable longitudinally along the longitudinal member, toward or away from the first and second strap portions; vii) fourth connecting means for connecting together respective outer end portions of said third and fourth strap portions; viii) a stretchable elastic loop connected to said second end portion of said longitudinal member said loop having first and second unobstructed co-terminus openings operable to receive said back portion of said chair therein such that said back portion extends through said loop and is embraced by said loop.

Claim 21

In combination: a) a chair having a back portion and a seat portion; and b) a harness having: i) a flexible longitudinal strap member having first and second opposite end portions and an intermediate portion between said end portions; ii) first and second strap portions having outer end portions, said first and second strap portions extending transversely to said longitudinal member; iii) first connecting means for connecting said first and second strap portions to said intermediate portion of said longitudinal member; iv) second connecting means for connecting respective outer end portions of said first and second strap portions together and to said first end portion of said longitudinal member; v) third and fourth strap portions having respective outer end portions, said third and fourth strap portions extending transversely to said longitudinal member; vi) third connecting means for adjustably connecting said third and fourth strap portions to said intermediate portion of said longitudinal member such that said third and fourth strap portions are continuously moveable longitudinally along the longitudinal member, toward or away from the first and second strap portions; vii) fourth connecting means for connecting together respective outer end portions of said third and fourth strap portions; viii) a stretchable elastic loop connected to said second end portion of said longitudinal member said loop having first and second unobstructed co-terminus openings operable to receive said back portion of said chair therein such that said back portion extends through said loop and is embraced by said loop.