CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority to U.S. Application Ser. No. 63/462,541 filed on Apr. 28, 2023, the contents of which are fully incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The field of the invention and its embodiments relates to a harness for assisting manual moving of heavy loads, and more particularly to a load carrier having a harness connected to a mattress cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Many current load carriers in today's market have a planar surface connected to a pair of handles configured to be grasped by a pair of individuals during use. These load carriers require the use of a user's hands during operation to lift the load. It would be more desirable for a user's hands to be free to stabilize a load and/or open a door during transport of a load. Thus, there is a need for a load carrier that does not require a user to grasp a pair of handles during use.

Further, it is known for a large load, such as a mattress, to become dirty and/or damaged during transport. It would be more desirable for a barrier to cover the mattress during the transportation process. Further, it would also be more convenient if the barrier covering the mattress was configured to communicate with the load carrier for a more efficient transportation process. Thus, there is a need for a transported load to be protected from contamination of exposure to environmental debris such, as dirt and germs.

Review of Related Technologies:

US20220162003A1 discloses a furniture handling strap assembly used to aid in lifting and carrying a furniture item such as a chair, sofa, or loveseat, for example. The handling strap assembly may include a strap, a bracket, and a fastener. The strap may include a first handling loop and a second handling loop. The first and second handling loops may be flexible. The bracket may be attached to the strap. The fastener may be configured to be received through an aperture in the bracket and may engage the furniture item. A person may insert his/her hand through one or both of the handling loops and gasp a portion of the strap. The person may use his/her other hand to support and stabilize the furniture member as the person lifts the furniture item. Another person may assist in lifting the furniture item using another one of the handling strap assemblies.

U.S. Pat. No. 11,116,328B2 describes a mattress cover for covering and carrying a mattress having a rectangular cuboid mattress cover body sized to fit around and contain the mattress. A handle strap is mounted on an outer surface of the mattress cover body for facilitating lifting of the mattress cover. An additional handle strap is mounted on an inner surface of the mattress cover body. The additional handle strap has the same structure as the handle strap, wherein the first, second, and third attachment points of the handle strap and the first, second, and third attachment points of the additional handle strap are fastened together with first, second, and third fasteners, respectively, to sandwich the rectangular cuboid mattress cover body therebetween.

US20210219740A1 describes a device for transporting and protecting a mattress with a cover containing straps and buckles. The cover may include an end opening, such as a zipper, which allows the cover to slide over the mattress and then be enclosed therein. A strap or straps may be attached to the mattress, and the mattress may be folded in half and buckled in order for it to be transported. An additional strap and buckle may be located in the center of the cover to add additional support if necessary. The cover further may contain eight handles that may be used to pick up and transport the mattress.

US20180362219A1 discusses a reusable bag for moving, carrying, and storing large and/or bulky objects such as mattresses, box springs, furniture, furniture cushions, boxes, and other large or bulky objects. The bag has built in handles and an open end.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,992,938B2 teaches a manufactured device comprised of a high strength, padded strap with carabiner elongated hooks attached onto both ends intended to make a tarp easier to drag under load when attached. The device may be strapped about the body like a chest strap or belt, or drug by other equipment. The device includes a pad to be placed upon the body for comfort while using.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,596,922B2 teaches a strap lifter for use with a harness that may have two shoulder straps that support a central, front buckle for use at about the lower, central belly of a user. A generally horizontal buckle strap has a fixed, rigid lower loop beneath a movable, flexible upper loop secured to the front of the buckle strap.

EP2602214B1 teaches a handling device for supporting a furniture panel, in particular for supporting a kitchen work top. The device has a support structure connected to a strap of material.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,067,734B1 discloses a carrier detachably engaging opposing ends of an unfolded and upright mattress and utilizing a pair of movers to move the unfolded and upright mattress. The carrier includes a pair of frames. The pair of frames detachably engage the opposing ends of the unfolded and upright mattress, respectively, and utilize the pair of movers to move the unfolded and upright mattress.

CN103158996A discloses a mattress transporting cover and belongs to the field of transporting tools. The mattress transporting cover comprises a cuboid canvas mattress transporting outer cover body, wherein the shape of the cuboid canvas mattress transporting outer cover body corresponds to the shape of a mattress. A zipper is mounted on one of side faces, in the thickness direction, of the cuboid canvas mattress transporting outer cover body, and a plurality of flexible transporting handles are mounted on two end faces of the cuboid canvas mattress transporting outer cover body.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,459,710B1 discusses a mattress carrier comprising a generally rectangular shaped sling having spaced apart front and back opposed panels, spaced apart end panels, and a bottom end forming an interior cavity having a closed bottom and sides with an open upper portion for receiving a mattress to be transported. A stabilizing strap having a first portion securely attached to the back panel and a second portion securely attached to front panel. A pair of primary handles is fixed to the upper portions of the spaced apart side panels for lifting and carrying the mattress carrier.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,342,587B2 discloses a device for moving, carrying and storing a mattress including a bag sized to receive the mattress and having an opening for placing the mattress into the bag. Handles are built in to an extension on at least one side or end of the bag.

US20090140019A1 teaches a strap system for carrying a load. The strap system generally comprises a first loop, a second loop and a connector for connecting the first loop and the second loop. The loops may include a shoulder portion for being draped over the shoulder of a user.

US20080235871A1 teaches a cart having wheels configured to move a mattress or box spring of various sized beds.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,390,042B1 teaches a strap having an adjusting buckle near each end and a handle on each end. The length of the strap is adjusted using the buckles so a heavy load can be handled by a worker in a manner that permits the worker to safely carry the load in a variety of situations.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,331,493B2 teaches a shoulder harness made of straps forming a figure eight having a crisscross strap configuration across a user's back. Two loops are formed which hang under the user's arms. The loops may be threaded into slots on the top of a wide tension buckle, which is centered in front of the user.

US20070131726A1 teaches a lifting harness having a base strap and a pair of shoulder straps releasably attached to a base strap. Each shoulder strap includes a shoulder engaging portion and a plurality of arm loops for receiving the arms of a user.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,035B2 discloses an apparatus designed to assist the manual transportation of large, heavy or unwieldy articles. The main components of the present invention include a support strap, with handles formed at each end, and two cradle assemblies. To transport a mattress, the apparatus is first laid out lengthwise, with the cradle assemblies positioned open-end-up, to facilitate the loading of the mattress.

US20050263551A1 describes a shoulder harness made of straps forming a figure eight having a crisscross strap configuration across a user's back. Two loops are formed which hang under the user's arms. The loops may be threaded into slots on the top of a wide tension buckle, which is centered in front of the user.

US20050103813A1 illustrates a dual strap load carrying apparatus. The first strap has two shoulder loops with a length extending between the first and second shoulder loops. The first strap attaches to a second strap which also has shoulder loops. An object to be carried is positioned on the straps above the point where the two straps connect to each other.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,511B2 describes a shoulder harness made of straps forming a figure eight having a crisscross strap configuration across a worker's back. Two adjustable sized loops are formed which hang under the worker's arms. A hook is threaded into each loop. A wide tension buckle is mounted from the hooks with carabiners, thereby centering the tension buckle in front of the worker.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,008B2 describes two shoulder harnesses made from a pair of elongate flexible straps, each of which has a pair of like shoulder-engageable loops formed on opposite ends thereof and connected by a central section of the associated strap. One strap has formed in its central section, which is longer than that of the other strap, a plurality of spaced openings in one of which the other strap is releasably and slidably connected intermediate its ends.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,462A describes a carrier for the two-person transporting of beds, sheet material such as plywood or drywall, and innumerable other elongated, bulky loads formed of a main strap loop arranged to freely encircle a load to be transported in its longitudinal direction. The main strap mounting a pair of depending, load-supporting sling strap members is positioned on the main strap member in equidistant, spaced apart condition from the mid-point of the main strap loop for supporting the weight of the load.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,376A details a strap apparatus for carrying objects includes a basic parallel and “X” configuration of a strap with strap elements extending outwardly from the base of the object being carried. In both the parallel and “X” configurations of use, the strap apparatus is disposed at the bottom of an object to be carried and outwardly extending strap portions are disposed at the sides of the object. The outer ends of the straps comprise carrying handles. Two people secure the handles to carry the object.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,781A describes a strap apparatus having at least three straps, each comprising a body portion and a buckle, are linked together to be used in carrying a relatively large object. The middle strap contacts the bottom surface of the relatively large object and the strap connected to each end of the middle strap contacts portions of the bottom surface and portions of relatively large opposite surfaces of the relatively large object.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,056A describes a mattress moving system which includes a horizontal strap with two detachable, rotating and adjustable handles, a pair of vertical straps each with an expandable, detachable and position adjustable castered platform.

U.S. Pat. No. D323,730S teaches an ornamental design for a carrier for a mattress.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,904A teaches a mattress carrier, of molded, integrated, high impact plastic construction, having a pair of opposed sides and a bottom that form an open ended cradle.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,045A teaches an improved mattress carrier for containing, protectably enclosing a mattress, and for facilitating handling of the mattress during transportation to a location of use. The carrier comprises a flexible, generally rectangular cover designed to receive and contain a mattress therein. The cover has an upper zippered opening, sets of reinforcing straps bands and spaced pairs of handles on opposite ends of the cover to be gripped by respective deliverymen to normally support the mattress in a generally vertical plane.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,226A describes improvements in large object handling devices, particularly mattress carriers. The device has an improved wrap-around band to enable two people to carry a large and cumbersome mattress. An adjustable wrap-around band is useable to fit and carry more than one size of mattress.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,250A teaches a heavy cloth-like material shaped as a rectangular parallel pipe and has sides or ends having a length corresponding to the length of a king-sized mattress and a bottom having a width corresponding to the thickness of a king-sized mattress. A pair of carrying straps of endless square configuration are affixed to the bottom of the material and to the sides at corresponding opposite ends of the parallelepiped.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,214,072A describes a sling for carrying a mattress in an upright position. A flexible strap of webbing material forms first and second closed loops. The loops form a pair of joined strands.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,431,780A teaches a load carrying means comprising two sling straps to extend under the load. An adjustable means connects the lower portions of the two sling straps with each other to prevent them from slipping from under the load. Two harnesses are to be worn by two men facing opposite sides of the load.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a harness system is configured to be worn by a user and is removably connected to a mattress cover retaining a mattress, and which also includes improvements that overcome the limitations of prior harness systems for a mattress cover, is now met by a new, useful, and non-obvious invention.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a harness system, including a harness having a first strap and a second strap configured to be worn over a user's shoulders, the first strap having a first fastening member, the second strap having a second fastening member; and a mattress cover, the mattress cover having a first handle and a second handle, the first handle having a first attachment structure, the second handle having a second attachment structure, the first attachment structure of the first handle of the mattress cover is configured to connect to the first fastening member of the first strap of the harness, the second attachment structure of the second handle of the mattress cover is configured to connect to the second fastening member of the second strap of the harness.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a harness system, wherein the first fastening member of the first strap of the harness is an elongated hook.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a harness system, wherein the first attachment structure of the first handle of the mattress cover is a loop.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a harness system, wherein the mattress cover has an opening forming a compartment, and the compartment is configured to retain a mattress.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a harness system, wherein a zipper borders an edge of the opening forming the compartment of the mattress cover.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a harness system, including a harness, configured to be connected to a user, the harness having a strap having a first end located opposite a second end, the first end of the strap is connected to the harness, the strap having a fastening member; and a mattress cover, the mattress cover having an outer wall surface, the outer wall surface of the mattress cover having an attachment structure, the second end of the strap of the harness is removably connected to the attachment structure of the mattress cover.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a harness system, wherein the fastening member of the strap of the harness is an elongated hook.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a harness system, wherein the attachment structure of the mattress cover is a loop.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a harness system, wherein the mattress cover has an opening forming a compartment, and the compartment is configured to retain a mattress.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a harness system, wherein a zipper borders an edge of the opening forming the compartment of the mattress cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a harness system with a harness connected to a mattress cover, according to at least some embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 depicts an illustration of a front perspective view of the harness of FIG. 1, according to at least some embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 2A depicts an illustration of a rear perspective view of the harness of FIG. 2, according to at least some embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 3 depicts a front perspective view of the mattress cover having a zipper, according to at least some embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 3A depicts a rear exploded view of an elongated hook of the harness configured to connect to a loop of the mattress cover having a zipper, according to at least some embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a mattress cover with a handle having a first attachment structure connected thereto, according to at least some embodiments disclosed herein; and

FIG. 4A depicts a perspective view of the mattress cover of FIG. 4 with a handle having a first attachment structure connected thereto, according to at least some embodiments disclosed herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures may be identified with the same reference numerals. Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

FIG. 1 depicts harness system 100 with at least one harness 102 having first strap 104 and second strap 106 configured to be worn over a user's shoulders. Harness 102 is configured to be removably connected to at least a portion of a user's body including, but not limited to, a user's waist, at least one shoulder, and/or at least a portion of a torso. It is within the scope of this invention for harness 102 to have at least one shoulder strap configured to be positioned over a user's shoulders. It is within the scope of this invention for harness 102 to have at least one adjustable strap such as, a length of material and/or a belt extending therefrom. Harness 102 has strap 104 having a first end 108 located opposite second end 110. First end 108 of strap 104 is connected to harness 102. Second end 110 of strap 104 has fastening member 112 being an elongated hook. It is within the scope of this invention for harness 102 to have a second strap 106 having a second fastening member.

Referring again to FIG. 1, mattress cover 116 has an outer wall surface 118. Outer wall surface 118 of mattress cover 116 has first handle 122 and second handle 124. It is within the scope of this invention for the first handle 122 and second handle 124 to be on the same side and/or on an opposite side of mattress cover 116. First handle 122 has a first attachment structure 126. Second handle 124 has second attachment structure 128. It is within the scope of this invention for attachment structure to be a length of material forming a loop and/or a ring. First attachment structure 126 of first handle 122 of mattress cover 116 is configured to connect to first fastening member 112 of first strap 104 of harness 102. Second attachment structure 128 of second handle 124 of mattress cover 116 is configured to connect to second fastening member 114 of second strap 106 of harness 102.

FIGS. 2 and 2A illustrate harness 200. FIG. 2 best shows harness 200 having an adjustable first strap 202 having first fastening member 206 being an elongated hook. FIG. 2 best shows harness 200 having an adjustable second strap 204 having second fastening member 208 being an elongated hook.

FIGS. 3 and 3A depict an illustration of mattress cover 300. Referring now to FIG. 3, first side 302 of mattress cover 300 has first handle 306A having an end with first attachment structure 308C located opposite another end having second attachment structure 308D. First side 302 of mattress cover 300 has second handle 306B having an end with third attachment structure 308A located opposite another end having fourth attachment structure 308B. Fastener, such as zipper 310 removably connects first side 302 of mattress cover 300 to second side 304 of mattress cover 300.

FIG. 3A best illustrates second side 304 of mattress cover 300 having third handle 306C having an end with fifth attachment structure 308G located opposite another end having sixth attachment structure 308H. Second side 304 of mattress cover 300 has fourth handle 306D having an end with seventh attachment structure 308E located opposite another end having eighth attachment structure 308F. It is within the scope of this invention for each handle to be a strap, a belt, and/or a length of material having at least one grasping portion and/or a plurality of grasping portions. Harness 312 is removably connected to mattress cover 300.

FIGS. 4 and 4A shows mattress cover 400 having handle 402. An attachment structure, such as a loop 404 is connected thereto.

It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others or ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the embodiments thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. Similarly, the adjective “another,” when used to introduce an element, is intended to mean one or more elements. The terms “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.