An example embodiment relates generally to fall protection systems and, more particularly, to fall protection harnesses.
Fall protection devices, such as harnesses, are able to withstand various large forces during operation. Additionally, depending on the application and time during operation, the distribution of force on the harness changes and therefore the harness must be capable of withstanding different force distributions during operation. Through applied effort, ingenuity, and innovation, many of these identified problems have been solved by the methods and apparatus of the present disclosure.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the present disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements nor delineate the scope of such elements. Its purpose is to present some concepts of the described features in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
In an example embodiment, a harness for fall protection is provided. The harness includes a horizontal connecting webbing with a force receiving mechanism. The horizontal connecting webbing including a first horizontal receiving loop at a first end of the horizontal connecting webbing. The harness also includes a first upper webbing configured with a upper webbing loop that is engaged with the first horizontal receiving loop at the first end of the horizontal connecting webbing. The harness further includes a first lower webbing configured with a lower webbing loop that is engaged with first horizontal receiving loop at the first end of the horizontal connecting webbing. The first upper webbing and the first lower webbing are independent of one another
In some embodiments, the horizontal connecting webbing also includes a second horizontal receiving loop at a second end of the horizontal connecting webbing opposite the first end of the horizontal connecting webbing. In such an embodiment, the harness also includes a second upper webbing configured with a upper webbing loop to be received by the second horizontal receiving loop at the second end of the horizontal connecting webbing; and a second lower webbing configured with a lower webbing loop to be received by the second horizontal receiving loop at the second end of the horizontal connecting webbing, with the second upper webbing and the second lower webbing being independent of one another. In some embodiments, the upper webbing loop is the end of the first upper webbing fixably attached to another portion of the first upper webbing and the lower webbing loop is the end of the first lower webbing fixably attached to another portion of the first lower webbing.
In some embodiments, the horizontal connecting webbing includes a fastening mechanism configured to connect and disconnect the horizontal connecting webbing for removal. In some embodiments, the fastening mechanism is defined equidistant from the first end of the horizontal connecting webbing and a second end of the horizontal connecting webbing. In some embodiments, the force receiving mechanism is a D ring.
In some embodiments, the harness also includes a lower body harness portion attached to at least one of the first upper webbing, the first lower webbing, the second upper webbing, or the second lower webbing, the lower body harness portion configured to be worn at least around the waist of a user during operation. In some embodiments, the lower body harness body includes a waist webbing attached to at least one of the first lower webbing or the second lower webbing, the waist webbing configured to be sit at approximately the waist of a user during operation. In some embodiments, the first upper webbing is attached to the lower body harness portion at an end of the first upper webbing opposite the upper webbing loop. In some embodiments, the lower body harness body also includes one or more leg webbings configured to receive one of the legs of a user during operation.
In another example embodiment, a method of manufacturing a harness for fall protection is provided. The method includes providing a horizontal connecting webbing with a force receiving mechanism. The horizontal connecting webbing includes a first horizontal receiving loop at a first end of the horizontal connecting webbing. The method also includes creating an upper webbing loop of a first upper webbing by passing the first upper webbing through the first horizontal receiving loop at the first end of the horizontal connecting webbing. The method further includes creating a lower webbing loop of a first lower webbing by passing the first lower webbing through the first horizontal receiving loop at the first end of the horizontal connecting webbing. The first upper webbing and the first lower webbing are independent of one another.
In some embodiments, the method also includes providing a second horizontal receiving loop at a second end of the horizontal connecting webbing opposite the first end of the horizontal connecting webbing; creating an upper webbing loop of a second upper webbing by passing the second upper webbing through the second horizontal receiving loop at the second end of the horizontal connecting webbing; and creating a lower webbing loop of a second lower webbing by passing the second lower webbing through the second horizontal receiving loop at the second end of the horizontal connecting webbing. In such an embodiment, the second upper webbing and the second lower webbing are independent of one another. In some embodiments, the upper webbing loop is created by attaching the end of the first upper webbing to the another portion of the first upper webbing and the lower webbing loop is created by attaching the end of the first lower webbing to the another portion of the first lower webbing.
In some embodiments, the method also includes providing a fastening mechanism on the horizontal connecting webbing configured to connect and disconnect the horizontal connecting webbing for removal. In some embodiments, the fastening mechanism is defined equidistant from the first end of the horizontal connecting webbing and a second end of the horizontal connecting webbing. In some embodiments, the force receiving mechanism is a D ring.
In some embodiments, the method also includes attaching a lower body harness portion to at least one of the first upper webbing, the first lower webbing, the second upper webbing, or the second lower webbing, the lower body harness portion, the lower body harness portion configured to be worn at least around the waist of a user during operation. In some embodiments, the lower body harness body includes a waist webbing attached to at least one of the first lower webbing or the second lower webbing, the waist webbing configured to be sit at approximately the waist of a user during operation. In some embodiments, the first upper webbing is attached to the lower body harness portion at an end of the first upper webbing opposite the upper webbing loop. In some embodiments, the lower body harness body also includes one or more leg webbings configured to receive one of the legs of a user during operation.
The above summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example embodiments to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above-described embodiments are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the invention in any way. It will be appreciated that the scope of the invention encompasses many potential embodiments in addition to those here summarized, some of which will be further described below.
Having thus described certain example embodiments of the present disclosure in general terms, reference will hereinafter be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
Some embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, embodiments are shown. Indeed, various embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. As discussed herein, the protection devices may be referred to use by humans, but may also be used to raise and lower objects unless otherwise noted.
The components illustrated in the figures represent components that may or may not be present in various embodiments of the invention described herein such that embodiments may include fewer or more components than those shown in the figures while not departing from the scope of the invention. Some components may be omitted from one or more figures or shown in dashed line for visibility of the underlying components.
Example embodiments of the present disclosure provide various example harness configurations to allow for, in some examples, increased reliability of front anchors during use. In some examples, front anchored harnesses need to be able to withstand dynamic and static tests, such as EN/ANSI/GB or other region standards. Current front anchor harnesses often employ a chest webbing sewed to a single torso webbing on each end of the chest webbing. In such current harnesses, the sewed regions struggle to withstand sufficient force to pass the required testing and therefore cannot be used in operation.
Various example embodiments of the present disclosure use a multi-webbing configuration to allow for a better distributed forces during both static and dynamic operations of a harness. Specifically, example embodiments described herein divide or otherwise separate torso webbing into at least two separate webbings (e.g., upper webbing and lower webbing). In such example embodiments, the at least two separate webbings are mated or otherwise connected by way of a chest webbing (e.g., horizontal connecting webbing). Advantageously, and in some examples, when force is applied to the chest webbing by way of a force acting on a force receiving mechanism (e.g., a D-Ring) the force is concentrated, in some examples, on folds or loops in the at least two separate webbings and, in some examples, avoids or otherwise diminishes stress and/or tearing on a sewing pattern on the at least two separate webbings. Additionally, various embodiments discussed herein may allow for reduced manufacturing costs and increased ease of manufacturing.
As shown in
In various embodiments, each of the first upper webbing 110 and the first lower webbing 115 may be attached to the horizontal connecting webbing 105 at a first end 155 of the horizontal connecting webbing. In various embodiments, each of the second upper webbing 120 and the second lower webbing 125 may be attached to the horizontal connecting webbing 105 at a second end 160 of the horizontal connecting webbing 105. In various embodiments, the horizontal connecting webbing 105 may include a fastening mechanism 260 configured to allow the harness to be removed and/or equipped. In various embodiments, the horizontal connecting webbing 105 may include a force receiving mechanism 265 configured to receive a clip, rope, cable, carabiner, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the force receiving mechanism 265 may be a D-ring that is attached to the horizontal connecting webbing 105. In some embodiments, the force receiving mechanism 265 may be a webbing loop (e.g., similar to the loops discussed herein).
In various embodiments, the lower harness portion 130 may include a waist webbing 135, and one or more leg webbings 140, 145. In various embodiments, various components of the upper harness portion 101 may be attached to various components of the lower harness portion 130. For example, as shown, each of the first lower webbing 115 and the second lower webbing 125 may be attached to the waist webbing 135. In some embodiments, as shown in
In various embodiments, the material of the various webbings may be based on a given application of the harness. In various embodiments, the various webbings discussed herein may be made out of polyester, nylon, and/or the like. In various embodiments, the size and shape of the webbings may be based on the weight to be carried during operation. In various embodiments, the webbing size (e.g., thickness, width), webbing material, and/or attachment methods (e.g., sewing pattern may be increased) may be chosen based on the weight to be carried during operation (e.g., a 125 kg harness may have webbing with a larger thickness than the webbing of a 100 kg harness).
In various embodiments, the first upper webbing 110 and the first lower webbing 115 are independent from one another, such that the first upper webbing 110 and the first lower webbing 115 are able to move relative to one another during operation. In various embodiments, the first upper webbing loop 220 of the first upper webbing 110 and the first lower webbing loop 225 of the first lower webbing 115 may each independently engage with the first horizontal receiving loop 200, such that the first upper webbing 110 and the first lower webbing 115 are able to move relative to one another within the first horizontal receiving loop 200.
In various embodiments, the horizontal connecting webbing 105 may have a second horizontal receiving loop 205 defined at the second end 160 of the horizontal connecting webbing 105 (or 105B in an instance in which the horizontal connecting webbing 105 may have a fastening mechanism 260A, 260B, as shown in
In some embodiments, the second upper webbing 120 is folded onto itself, such that a second upper webbing loop 230 is created (e.g., the loop end 250 of the second upper webbing 120 may be attached to itself at a second upper webbing attachment point 280). The second upper webbing loop 230 is passed through the second horizontal receiving loop 205, such that the second upper webbing loop 230 and the second horizontal receiving loop 205 are linked. In various embodiments, the attachment of the second upper webbing 120 to itself may be achieved via sewing.
In some embodiments, the second lower webbing 125 is folded onto itself, such that the second lower webbing loop 235 is created (e.g., the loop end 255 of the second lower webbing 125 may be attached to itself at a second lower webbing attachment point 285). The second lower webbing loop 235 is passed through the second horizontal receiving loop 205, such that the second lower webbing loop 235 and the second horizontal receiving loop 205 are linked. In various embodiments, the attachment of the second lower webbing 125 to itself may be achieved via sewing.
In various embodiments, the second upper webbing 120 and the second lower webbing 125 are independent from one another, such that the second upper webbing 120 and the second lower webbing 125 are able to move relative to one another during operation. In various embodiments, the second upper webbing loop 230 of the second upper webbing 120 and the second lower webbing loop 235 of the second lower webbing 125 may each independently engage with the second horizontal receiving loop 205, such that the second upper webbing 120 and the second lower webbing 125 are able to move relative to one another within the second horizontal receiving loop 205.
In various embodiments, as shown, the horizontal connecting webbing 105 may be include multiple distinct portions 105A, 105B configured to be connected to one another via a fastening mechanism 260. In some embodiments, the fastening mechanism 260 may be a mating buckle. In some embodiments, the fastening mechanism 260 may define a male connecter 260A and a female connector 260B configured to engage with one another in an instance in which the harness 100 is equipped. In some embodiments, the fastening mechanism 260 may be equidistant from the first end 155 and the second end 160 of the horizontal connecting webbing 105. In some embodiments, a force receiving mechanism 265 may attached to the horizontal connecting webbing 105. In various embodiments, the force receiving mechanism 265 may be proximate the fastening mechanism 260. In various embodiments, the force receiving mechanism 265 may be a D-ring. In various embodiments, the force receiving mechanism 265 may be configured to be attached to clip, rope, cable, carabiner, and/or the like
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In some embodiments, the method of manufacturing the harness may also include providing a lower body harness portion configured to be worn at least around the waist of a user during operation. In various embodiments, the lower body harness portion may include the waist webbing 135 and one or more leg webbings 140, 145. As discussed above, various components of the upper harness portion may be attached to components of the lower harness portion.
The present disclosure provides various example harness configurations to allow for increased reliability of front anchors during use. Front anchored harnesses need to be able to withstand dynamic and static tests, such as EN/ANSI/GB or other region standards. Current front anchor harnesses struggle to pass such tests and therefore cannot be used in operation. Various embodiments of the present disclosure use a multi-webbing configuration to allow for a better distributed forces during both static and dynamic operations of a harness.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain example combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and/or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/CN2020/080142 | 3/19/2020 | WO |