Personal carrier harness

Abstract

A personal weight-bearing harness that is worn over at least one shoulder of a wearer and that comprises at least one handle attached to the front of a strap of the harness provides an improved means of carrying an infant or other item in at least one arm of the wearer. The hand of the arm carrying the infant or item can grasp the handle, which results in at least some of the weight of the carried item(s) being transferred to the shoulder and/or back of the wearer. The harness is worn over, under, or incorporated into an outer garment, such as a coat, jacket, vest, shirt, sweatshirt, and the like; in the latter two cases, a handle is accessed through an opening in the outer garment disposed over the handle.

1 . A personal weight bearing harness, comprising:
 a first strap adapted to be worn over a shoulder of a wearer and descending downwardly from the shoulder in front and in back of the wearer, the first strap having a first end and a second end;   a second strap having a first end and a second end and adapted to be worn encircling the wearer at about the wearer's waist, wherein the first end of the first strap is attached to the second strap in the front of the wearer and the second end of the first strap is attached to the second strap in the back of the wearer, and wherein the second strap may be fastened together at its first and second ends; and   at least one handle attached to the first strap or to the second strap in the front of the wearer, such that the handle can be grasped by a hand of the wearer, thereby to aid the wearer in carrying weight supported by the wearer's forearm.   
     
     
         2 . The harness of  claim 1 , wherein the harness is incorporated into an outer garment, such that when the outer garment is worn by the wearer, at least one hand of the wearer can access and grasp a handle on the harness. 
     
     
         3 . The harness of  claim 2 , wherein the outer garment is selected from the group consisting of coats, jackets, blazers, vests, shirts, and sweatshirts. 
     
     
         4 . The harness of  claim 2 , wherein the harness is incorporated into an interior of the outer garment, such that at least one handle is accessible to at least one hand of the wearer through an opening in the outer garment. 
     
     
         5 . The harness of  claim 4 , wherein the ends of the second strap are attached to the outer garment at a front of the outer garment, such that each end of the second strap is attached to one side of a front center closure of the outer garment, such that when the front center closure of the garment is closed the second strap is fastened securely around the wearer's body. 
     
     
         6 . The harness of  claim 1 , wherein the harness further comprises additional means for securing at least one item to at least one strap in the front of the wearer. 
     
     
         7 . The harness of  claim 4 , further comprising additional means for securing at least one item to at least one strap in the front of the wearer, wherein such securing means is accessible to the wearer through an opening in the outer garment. 
     
     
         8 . The harness of  claim 2 , further comprising means to secure a baby carrier to the harness, wherein such means is accessible to the wearer. 
     
     
         9 . An outer garment configured to be worn over the harness of  claim 1 , wherein the outer garment comprises at least one opening in front of the wearer and disposed over the at least one handle attached to a strap of the harness when the harness is worn by the wearer under the garment, such that the handle is accessible to at least one hand of the wearer through the opening in the garment. 
     
     
         10 . The weight bearing harness of  claim 1 , further comprising a third strap adapted to be worn over a second shoulder of the wearer and descending downwardly from the second shoulder in front and in back of the wearer, the third strap having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the third strap is attached to the second strap in the front of the wearer and the second end of the third strap is attached to the second strap in the back of the wearer, and wherein the at least one handle is attached to the first strap or to the second strap or to the third strap in front of the wearer, such that the handle can be grasped by a hand of the wearer, thereby to aid the wearer in carrying weight supported by the wearer's forearm. 
     
     
         11 . The harness of  claim 10 , wherein the first strap and the third strap cross each other in back of the wearer. 
     
     
         12 . The harness of  claim 10 , wherein the harness further comprises a back brace. 
     
     
         13 . The harness of  claim 10 , wherein the harness further comprises a back piece.