Patent Application
20190314656
Fall protection equipment is commonly used to reduce a likelihood of a fall and/or injuries associated with a fall, particularly by users who perform tasks at heights or are at risk of falling. Generally, lifelines and/or lanyards typically interconnect anchorage structures and safety harnesses donned by users. The lifelines and/or lanyards allow the users to move and perform tasks while being connected to the anchorage structures. Should a user fall, the lifeline and/or lanyard limits the distance the user falls.
An example of one type of fall protection equipment is a horizontal lifeline assembly including at least two anchorage structures (e.g., stanchions) between which a lifeline extends. The user may connect to the lifeline, for example with a lanyard, and move along the length of the lifeline. The horizontal lifeline assembly may include an energy absorber to absorb energy should a fall occur.
Examples of the disclosure provide an energy absorber. In one aspect, an energy absorber comprises a base having a weakened portion, a mounting aperture, and a connecting aperture.
In another aspect, the base is a disk member.
In another aspect, the disk member is round.
In another aspect, the weakened portion includes a plurality of alternating connected portions and cuts extending through the base.
In another aspect, the cuts are elongated.
In another aspect, the weakened portion is arranged in a spiral configuration.
In another aspect, the weakened portion forms an elongating portion having an intermediate portion interconnecting a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being positioned proximate a center of the spiral configuration and the proximal end being positioned proximate an outer portion of the spiral configuration, the distal end and the intermediate portion being configured to separation from the base and deform to absorb energy.
In another aspect, the connecting aperture is proximate a center of the spiral configuration and the mounting aperture is proximate an outer portion of the spiral configuration.
In another aspect, an anchor member extends through the connecting aperture and a mounting bracket is operatively connected to the base for use as an energy absorber assembly, wherein a fastener extends through an aperture in the mounting bracket and the mounting aperture in the base to interconnect the mounting bracket and the base.
In another aspect, a horizontal lifeline assembly includes an energy absorber.
In another aspect, an energy absorber assembly comprises an energy absorber, an anchor member, and a mounting bracket. The energy absorber includes a base having a weakened portion, a mounting aperture, and a connecting aperture. The anchor member extends through the connecting aperture. The mounting bracket includes an aperture, and a fastener extends through the aperture of the mounting bracket and the mounting aperture of the energy absorber.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of examples and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate examples and together with the description serve to explain principles of examples. Other examples and many of the intended advantages of examples will be readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding similar parts.
In the following Detailed Description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific examples in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “leading,” “trailing,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. Because components of examples can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. It is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.
It is to be understood that the features of the various exemplary examples described herein may be combined with each other, unless specifically noted otherwise.
Example energy absorbers 100 and 100′ are illustrated in
A weakened portion is arranged on the base 101. In some examples, the weakened portion 102 includes a plurality of alternating connected portions and cuts or voids extending through the base 101 that provide guidance for a separation pattern in the base 101. In some examples, the cuts or voids are elongated. It is recognized that score lines, perforations, or other suitable weakened portions could be used in lieu of alternating connected portions and cuts or voids to form the weakened portion.
The weakened portion 102 includes a first end 102a and a second end 102b interconnected by an intermediate portion 102c. As shown in
The weakened portion 102 forms an elongating portion 108 extending between the first end 102a and the second end 102b. The elongating portion 108 includes a distal end 105 proximate the second end 102b, a proximal end 106 proximate the first end 102a, and an intermediate portion 107 extending between the distal end 105 and the proximal end 106. In a spiral configuration, the distal end 105 is preferably positioned proximate a center of the spiral configuration and the proximal end 106 is preferably positioned proximate an outer portion of the spiral configuration. The distal end 105 and the intermediate portion 107 are configured and arranged to separate and/or deform from the remainder of the base 101 along the weakened portion 102 from proximate the distal end 105 up to proximate the proximal end 106 to absorb energy when subjected to a force exceeding a predetermined threshold.
The weakened portion 102 and/or the elongating portion 108 may separate and/or deform when subjected to a predetermined threshold that is either relatively consistent or varied from proximate the distal end 105 to proximate the proximal end 106. In some examples, the weakened portion 102 and/or the elongating portion 108 separates and/or deforms when subjected to a first predetermined threshold proximate the distal end 105 and at least one predetermined threshold between the first predetermined threshold and the proximal end 106 that is different than the first predetermined threshold. For example, the ease at which the weakened portion 102 and/or the elongating portion 108 separates and/or deforms could vary between the distal end 105 and the proximal end 106.
For example, as shown in
The base 101 also includes at least one mounting aperture and a connecting aperture. In some examples, a first mounting aperture 103a and a second mounting aperture 103b are positioned on opposing sides of the base 101. Preferably, at least one of the mounting apertures 103a and 103b is positioned proximate the proximal end 106 and the outer portion of the spiral configuration and the connecting aperture 104 is positioned proximate the distal end 105 and the center of the spiral configuration.
An example use of the energy absorber is with a horizontal lifeline assembly, and an example horizontal lifeline assembly 110 is illustrated in
The energy absorber 100 is connected to the first stanchion 111 with a first connecting member 112 and fasteners (not shown). The first connecting member 112 could be a plate or bracket member. The fasteners extend through the mounting apertures 103a and 103b and into the first connecting member 112.
One end of the lifeline 117 is connected to the distal end 105 with a fastener 118. The fastener 118 could be an eyebolt and a nut or a swivel eye secured to the distal end 105 by a bolt and a nut. The other end of the lifeline 117 is connected to the second stanchion 115 with a second connecting member 116. The second connecting member 116 could be a tensioner, such as a turnbuckle or other tensioning member.
In operation, a user connects to the lifeline 117, for example with a lanyard connected to the user's safety harness, and the user may move along the length of the lifeline 117. Should the user fall, force is exerted upon the lifeline 117, which transfers to the energy absorber 100. As force exceeding a predetermined threshold is exerted upon the energy absorber 100, the elongating portion 108 begins to deploy. The distal end 105 is pulled in a direction away from the remaining portion of the base 101 and the weakened portion 102 begins to separate thereby separating the distal end 105 from the remaining portion of the base 101. The weakened portion 102 continues to separate from the remaining portion of the base 101 along the intermediate portion 107 toward the proximal end 106. As the elongating portion 108 deploys, it deforms from a generally spiral configuration to a generally outwardly extended, linear configuration, as shown in
The energy absorber could be a component of an energy absorber assembly configured and arranged to connect to an anchorage structure (e.g., a stanchion). An example energy absorber assembly includes an energy absorber, for example the energy absorber 100, and connecting components. This is shown in
The energy absorber assembly could be connected to a horizontal lifeline system 230 such as that shown in
In operation, should a user fall, force is exerted upon the lifeline 235, which transfers to the energy absorber 100. As force exceeding a predetermined threshold is exerted upon the energy absorber 100, the elongating portion 108 begins to deploy as previously described.
Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific examples shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific examples discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/656,783, filed Apr. 12, 2018.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62656783 | Apr 2018 | US |
