Shoulder Strap Release for Backplate Harness

D Sams <dpsams_nospam@earthlink.net> writes:

> Any particular reason for ruling out "fastex" style (plastic) buckles
> in favor of metal weight belt buckles?

I've been using a Poseidon 50mm (~2inch) weight-belt clip as a release
on my left strap as I am not that flexible and to be able to get out
of the harness by my self.

This buckle is not like "normal" ones ... see:

http://www.poseidon.se/utrustning/storbild.dip?id=197

I've seen numerous plastic quick-releases buckles break or release
unexpectedly from exposure to cold temperatures and high loads.
Heavy use and not so good maintainance does not really work in the
favour of plasic buckles ...

>>>>>>>>.rune

--
Rune Bakken rune@bakken.no
Maur Hansens v 34, N-2013 Skjetten, Norway
Ph: (+47) 63 84 16 95

In article <p3u17atkdn.fsf@kavringen.nsc.no>,
Rune Bakken <rune@bakken.no> writes:

>I've been using a Poseidon 50mm (~2inch) weight-belt clip as a release
>on my left strap as I am not that flexible and to be able to get out
>of the harness by my self.
>
>This buckle is not like "normal" ones ... see:
>
>http://www.poseidon.se/utrustning/storbild.dip?id=197

Interesting, but it looks rather bulky.

Does it remain fastened if there is no tension on the straps?

--
Charlie Hammond -- Digital Equipment Corporation -- Pompano Beach FL USA
(hammond@peek.ppb.dec.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

In article <p3u17atkdn.fsf@kavringen.nsc.no>, Rune Bakken
<rune@bakken.no> wrote:

€ I've seen numerous plastic quick-releases buckles break or release
€ unexpectedly from exposure to cold temperatures and high loads.

That problem is exacerbated in scuba diving by equipment.

--
"We're going to rush the hijackers."
-Jeremy Glick, aboard United Airlines flight 93, September 11, 2001

Charlie wrote:

> Interesting, but it looks rather bulky.

It looks to me like there's more than one device in the picture. The part
to the right is similar to what I used to have.

> Does it remain fastened if there is no tension on the straps?

A good question which suggests you understand the mechanism. My best answer
is that it depends on the design of the hook portion and just how loose teh
no tension straps are. The deeper the hook, the looser the straps can be,
but the harder the release becomes if the straps are not loose enough.
--
The latest survey shows that 3 out of 4
people make up 75% of the population.
- -

"Charlie Hammond" <hammond@not@peek.enet.dec.com> wrote in message
news:Phiab.5060$QE1.3102@news.cpqcorp.net...
> In article <p3u17atkdn.fsf@kavringen.nsc.no>,
> Rune Bakken <rune@bakken.no> writes:
>
> >I've been using a Poseidon 50mm (~2inch) weight-belt clip as a release
> >on my left strap as I am not that flexible and to be able to get out
> >of the harness by my self.
> >
> >This buckle is not like "normal" ones ... see:
> >
> >http://www.poseidon.se/utrustning/storbild.dip?id=197
>
>

>
> --
> Charlie Hammond -- Digital Equipment Corporation -- Pompano Beach FL
USA
> (hammond@peek.ppb.dec.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
> All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.
>

"Lee Bell" <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:lJtab.40781$Aq2.10176@newsread1.news.atl.eart hlink.net...
> Rune Bakken wrote:
>
> > This buckle is not like "normal" ones ... see:
> >
> > http://www.poseidon.se/utrustning/storbild.dip?id=197
>
> It certainly isn't. If I'm not mistaken, that's a variation on one I was
> talking about. It consists of a rectangular ring and a sort of hook
device
> that goes through it. Pressure against the hook keeps it in place until
> it's pulled toward the rectangular ring, causing it to slip out easily and
> reliably. It's also very easy to reattach. The one I had in the good old
> days, was made of stainless rod bent to be much like what you showed.
>

That looks like a tank strap and if so the tension is what holds it closed.
It can open or slip off if the tension is released.
I bet there is a spring under the right hand cover.
Some of them ended up with Velcro to keep them closed.

The one I had would have to have been very loose to come loose. The depth
of the hook controlls how easy it is to release and how much tension it
takes to keep it connected.

Lee

--
The latest survey shows that 3 out of 4
people make up 75% of the population.
- -

"Mike Painter" <m.painter@att.net> wrote in message
news:KKQab.146040$0v4.10781161@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
> "Lee Bell" <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote in message
> news:lJtab.40781$Aq2.10176@newsread1.news.atl.eart hlink.net...
> > Rune Bakken wrote:
> >
> > > This buckle is not like "normal" ones ... see:
> > >
> > > http://www.poseidon.se/utrustning/storbild.dip?id=197
> >
> > It certainly isn't. If I'm not mistaken, that's a variation on one I
was
> > talking about. It consists of a rectangular ring and a sort of hook
> device
> > that goes through it. Pressure against the hook keeps it in place until
> > it's pulled toward the rectangular ring, causing it to slip out easily
and
> > reliably. It's also very easy to reattach. The one I had in the good
old
> > days, was made of stainless rod bent to be much like what you showed.
> >
>
> That looks like a tank strap and if so the tension is what holds it
closed.
> It can open or slip off if the tension is released.
> I bet there is a spring under the right hand cover.
> Some of them ended up with Velcro to keep them closed.
>
>

To make a long story short... I had a situation a few years ago where I
got entangled in ropes while surfacing from a dive. A series of small
mistakes on my part compounded into a life threatning situation. The
rope was tangled on my tank somewhere, and it was holding me underwater
ten feet from the surface with only 500 lbs. of air left. When I reached
for my knife, it was...GONE! No problem I thought, just take the BC off
and untangle the mess. Only problem was, it was my buddy's BC that was
too small for me, and I couldn't get it off no matter what I tried.
Luckily, the rope untangled itself at the last possible moment, So, I
adjusted my BC as you have suggested. Now I have no trouble releasing
it, it never comes loose or slips, and I now carry two knives 8-)
Cheers,
Allen Stanish
Rockport, MA

Charlie Hammond wrote:
> I know the arguments against this, but...
>
> I am not a flexible person. I never have been -- I could not touch my
> toes as far back as Jr High Gym class! I am not likely to become more
> flexible as I continue to age. So, I'm considering this.
>
> Since I normally lift my rig onto my right shoulder first, I am thinking
> that the right shoulder strap should remain intact. My idea is to cut
> the left strap fairly low, just above my waist. I would then adjust
> the strap coming up from the waist, making it longer and installing
> a metal, weight belt buckle on it. This would be use to connect the
> shoulder strap. I think this would make gearing-up much easier for me.
>
> Given that I am going to do this, does this sound like a reasonable
> way to do it? I think it places the buckle in a location where it
> will not intefere with other gear.
>

allen.beverly@verizon.net stopped playing nethack just long enough to say:
>
>rope was tangled on my tank somewhere, and it was holding me underwater
>ten feet from the surface with only 500 lbs. of air left. When I reached
>for my knife, it was...GONE! No problem I thought, just take the BC off
>and untangle the mess.

Interesting response to the problem. My first thought would have been
to signal my buddy and have him untangle the rope for me. Did you not
think of doing that?

-JimG

--
Jim Greenlee (jkg@cc.gatech.edu) (x-six) is one? no! x is one? no!
College of Computing o, now (t-six) is two? no!! one?
Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA 30332 no!! (six-one)? no!! six..is..x!

leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com stopped playing nethack just long enough to say:
><Jim.Greenlee@cc.gatech.edu> wrote
>>
>> The signal for "entanglement" is to cross the index and middle fingers
>> of one hand, and then move the crossed fingers in a Figure 8.
>
>How do you do that with a HID cannister light? 8^)

You use the hand that is not holding the lighthead. Alternatively (if
your buddy is behind you and cannot easily see your hands), you cross
your fins.

-JimG

--
Jim Greenlee (jkg@cc.gatech.edu) Jryy abj lbh'ir tbar naq qbar vg!
College of Computing Whfg unq gb xrrc svqqyvat jvgu vg
Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA 30332 hagvy lbh oebxr vg, qvqa'g lbh ?!

In article <bklj54$sd8$1@news-int.gatech.edu>, Jim.Greenlee@cc.gatech.edu writes:
>allen.beverly@verizon.net stopped playing nethack just long enough to say:
>>
>>rope was tangled on my tank somewhere, and it was holding me underwater
>>ten feet from the surface with only 500 lbs. of air left. When I reached
>>for my knife, it was...GONE! No problem I thought, just take the BC off
>>and untangle the mess.
>
>Interesting response to the problem. My first thought would have been
>to signal my buddy and have him untangle the rope for me. Did you not
>think of doing that?

I agree with Jim on this. Actually, in a good buddy team, I'd almost
expect that my buddy would have noticed this problem, possibly before I
did, and fixed it before I had to signal. Nevertheless, I do carry
two cutting devices! After all, the best of buddies can get seperated.

FWIW, this scenario is NOT the reason for my considering a shoulder
strap release.

--
Charlie Hammond -- Digital Equipment Corporation -- Pompano Beach FL USA
(hammond@peek.ppb.dec.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.