Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the effects of three different types of harnesses (lap belt, lap belt with crossed shoulder harness, and lap belt with parallel shoulder harness) on functional arm reach. Six male college students grasped a rotatable cylindrical handle as far away from the seat reference vertical line as was comfortably possible. Three different vertical heights and eight different azimuth angles were used. Contour curves for the reach envelopes are presented. The type of harness and height level had a significant effect on arm reach. Reach envelopes for the crossed and parallel harnesses were, on the average, 15 and 24% lower than the reach envelope for the lap belt. Of the three reach heights compared, the 110.5-cm reach envelope provided the greatest functional arm reach.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Asfour, S. S. , Ayoub, M. M. , Mital, A. , and Bethea, N. J. Reach profiles for males and females under restrained and unrestrained conditions. Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 22nd Annual Meeting, Santa Monica, CA: The Human Factors Society, 1978.

Ayoub, M. M. , Deivanayagam, S. , and Bakken, G. M. A preliminary manual for selected anthropometric, strength and endurance measurements. Lubbock, TX: Technical Report, Dept. of Industrial Engineering, Texas Tech University, 1977.

Ayoub, M. M. , and Halcomb, C. G. Improved seat, console and workplace design: Annotated bibliography, integration of the literature, accommodation model, and seated operator reach profiles. Point Mugu, CA: Pacific Missile Test Center, AIR-TASK A62763N/WF55.525.403, 1976.

Bullock, M. I. The determination of functional arm reach boundaries for operating of manual controls. Ergonomics, 1974; 17, 375–388.

Davies, O. L. Design and analysis of industrial experiments. New York: Hafren, 1969.

Kennedy, K. W. Reach capability of the USAF population: Phase I---The outer boundaries of grasping-reach envelopes for the shirtsleeve, seated operator. Dayton, OH: Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, 1964.

Laubach, L. L. , and Alexander, M. Arm-reach capability of USAF pilots as affected by personal protective equipment. Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine, 1975, 46, 377–386.

Morgan, C. T. , Cook, J. S. , Chapanis, A. , and Lund, M. W. Human engineering guide to equipment design. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1963.

Roebuck, J. A., Jr. Anthropometry in aircraft engineering design. Journal of Aviation Medicine, 1957, 28, 41–56.

10.

Stoudt, H. W. Arm lengths and arm reaches: Some interrelationships of structural and functional body dimensions. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 1973, 38, 151–162.

11.

Van Cott, H. P. , and Kinkade, R. G. Human engineering guide to equipment design. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1972.

Effect of Seat Belts and Shoulder Harnesses on Functional Arm Reach

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References