Apparatus for assisting manually carrying and lifting objects

Abstract

The disclosure herein relates, inter alia, to an apparatus for aiding in manual support or lifting of an object, comprising first strap connector means connected to first means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of one of the user's arms; second strap connector means connected to a second means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of the other of the user's arms; and strap means extending between said first strap connector means and said second strap connector means, with an intermediate portion thereof resting on the shoulder of the user.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . Apparatus for aiding in manual support or lifting of an object, comprising: 
 first strap connector means connected to first means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of one of the user's arms;    second strap connector means connected to a second means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of the other of the user's arms; and    strap means extending between said first strap connector means and said second strap connector means, with an intermediate portion thereof resting on the shoulder of the user.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising first load engaging means, said first load engaging means being operatively connected to said first strap connector means.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the first means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of the arm of a user are one selected from the following group: (full glove, partial glove, finger ring, thumb loop, forearm cuff, wrist cuff).  
   
   
       24 . Apparatus for aiding in manual support or lifting of an object, comprising: 
 first strap connector means connected to first means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of one of the user's arms;    second strap connector means connected to a second means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of the other of the user's arms;    strap means extending between said first strap connector means and said second strap connector means, with an intermediate portion thereof resting on the shoulder of the user;    first load engaging means, said first load engaging means being operatively connected to said first strap connector means; and    second load engaging means, said second load engaging means being operatively connected to said second strap connector means.    
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the first means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of the arm of a user are one selected from the following group: (full glove, partial glove, finger ring, thumb loop, forearm cuff, wrist cuff), and wherein the second means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of the arm of a user are one selected from the following group: (full glove, partial glove, finger ring, thumb loop, forearm cuff, wrist cuff).  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus as in  claim 25  wherein one of said first strap means or said second strap means has therein a slot to permit the passage through, and relative securement of, the other of said first strap means or said second strap means.  
   
   
       27 . Apparatus for aiding in manual support or lifting of an object, comprising: 
 first strap connector means connected to first means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of one of the user's arms;    second strap connector means connected to a second means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of the other of the user's arms;    first strap means extending between said first strap connector means and said second strap connector means, with an intermediate portion of said strap resting on one of the shoulders of the user; and    second strap means extending between said first strap connector means to said second strap connector means, with an intermediate portion thereof resting on the other shoulder of the user.    
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising first load engaging means, said first load engaging means being operatively connected to said first strap connector means; and second load engaging means, said second load engaging means being operatively connected to said second strap connector means.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the first means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of the arm of a user are one selected from the following group: (full glove, partial glove, finger ring, thumb loop, forearm cuff, wrist cuff), and wherein the second means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of the arm of a user are one selected from the following group: (full glove, partial glove, finger ring, thumb loop, forearm cuff, wrist cuff).  
   
   
       30 . Apparatus for aiding in manual support or lifting of an object, comprising: 
 first strap connector means;    second strap connector means; and    a substantially continuous strap extending from said first strap connector means, over one shoulder of the user, through said second strap connector means, over the other shoulder of the user, and back to said first strap connector means.    
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising first load engaging means, said first load engaging means being operatively connected to said first strap connector means; and second load engaging means, said second load engaging means being operatively connected to said second strap connector means.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein the first means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of the arm of a user are one selected from the following group: (full glove, partial glove, finger ring, thumb loop, forearm cuff, wrist cuff), and wherein the second means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of the arm of a user are one selected from the following group: (full glove, partial glove, finger ring, thumb loop, forearm cuff, wrist cuff).  
   
   
       33 . Apparatus as in  claim 26 , further comprising a first means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of one arm of the user and connected to said first strap connector means;  
   
   
       34 . Apparatus as in  claim 27 , further comprising a second means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of the other arm of the user and connected to said second strap connector means.  
   
   
       35 . Apparatus as in  claim 23 , further comprising first load engaging means, said first load engaging means being operatively connected to said first strap connector means.  
   
   
       36 . Apparatus as in  claim 35 , further comprising second load engaging means, said second load engaging means being operatively connected to said second strap connector means.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus as in  claim 24  or  claim 27  wherein one of said first strap means or said second strap means has therein a slot to permit the passage through, and relative securement of, the other of said first strap means or said second strap means.  
   
   
       38 . Apparatus for aiding in manual support or lifting of an object, comprising: 
 strap means comprising a said first section extending from a first strap connector means, located proximate to one hand, to a second strap section extending from one shoulder to a second strap connector means, located proximate to the other hand;    a third strap section extending from said second strap connector means to the other shoulder of the user, a fourth strap section extending from said other shoulder of the user to said first strap connector means.    
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 38  wherein the first means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of the arm of a user are one selected from the following group: (full glove, partial glove, finger ring, thumb loop, forearm cuff, wrist cuff), and wherein the second means adapted to be engaged by at least a portion of the arm of a user are one selected from the following group: (full glove, partial glove, finger ring, thumb loop, forearm cuff, wrist cuff).  
   
   
       40 . The apparatus as in claims  22 ,  28 ,  35  or  36  wherein the load engaging means is adapted to attach to an item selected from the following group: (shovel, toolbox, wheelbarrow, fire hose, prybar, debris-lifting instrument, stretcher, gurney)