Patent Application
20220249887
The disclosed concept relates generally to accessories for harnesses in fall protection systems, and in particular, to a harness spacer for use with a harness in fall protection systems.
In fall protection systems, a worker typically wears a harness. In some systems, a lifeline is attached to an attachment point on the harness and to an anchor point on a building, connecting the worker to the anchor point. In the case of a fall, the lifeline will arrest the fall, preventing injury to the worker. There are numerous types of lifelines, harnesses, and types of anchor points used, but the principle of arresting the fall is generally similar.
In an example type of harness, a D-ring in a dorsal location is employed as the attachment point where the harness is attached to the lifeline. The D-ring includes a slot through which webbing of the harness passes and a generally circular aperture to which the lifeline can be connected. Typically, a slotted mounting plaque is employed in the vicinity of the D-ring. The webbing passes through slots in the mounting plaque and the D-ring so that when the webbing is pulled tight, the slotted end of the D-ring is pulled tight against the mounting pieces.
One type of accessory for a harness is a dual self-retracting lifeline (SRL) bracket. The dual-SRL bracket attaches to the webbing of the harness in the vicinity of the D-ring and mounting plaque and facilitates connection of the harness to two SRLs. In the example harness, adding the dual-SRL bracket first requires adjusting the webbing of the harness to loosen the webbing in the area of the D-ring and the mounting piece to create a space for the dual-SRL bracket to attach to the webbing. The webbing is then tightened again to secure the dual-SRL bracket in place. When the dual-SRL bracket is removed, the webbing of the harness should then be adjusted again to pull the D-ring against the mounting plaque and remove the gap where the dual-SRL bracket was attached.
The adjustment of the harness to attach the dual-SRL bracket and then the subsequent readjustment of the harness when the dual-SRL bracket has been removed can become time consuming. There remains room for a device which allows a dual-SRL bracket to be easily attached and removed from a harness.
These needs and others are met by embodiments of the disclosed concept in which a harness spacer for a harness includes slotted and arched members which accommodate connection to webbing of the harness and another accessory, respectively.
In accordance with one aspect of the disclosed concept, a harness spacer comprises: a base having a first outer slot, a second outer slot, and a central slot, wherein the first outer slot, the second outer slot, and the central slot form an H-shape; a first arched member extending from the base and creating a first opening; and a second arched member extending from the base and creating a second opening, wherein the base is composed of a pliable material.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosed concept, a harness comprises: a webbing; and a harness spacer attached to the webbing, the harness spacer including: a base having a first outer slot, a second outer slot, and a central slot, wherein the first outer slot, the second outer slot, and the central slot form an H-shape; a first arched member extending from the base and creating a first opening; and a second arched member extending from the base and creating a second opening, wherein the base is composed of a pliable material, and wherein the webbing passes through the first outer slot and the second outer slot.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosed concept, a method of attaching a harness spacer to a harness comprises: providing a harness spacer having a base having a first outer slot, a second outer slot, and a central slot, wherein the first outer slot, the second outer slot, and the central slot form an H-shape, a first arched member extending from the base and creating a first opening, and a second arched member extending from the base and creating a second opening, wherein the base is composed of a pliable material; bending the base of the harness spacer by pressing the first and second arched members away from each other; pushing webbing of the harness through the central slot while the base of the harness spacer is bent; positioning the webbing such that the webbing passes through the first and second outer slots of the harness spacers; and releasing pressure on the first and second arched members of the harness spacer.
A full understanding of the disclosed concept can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Directional phrases used herein, such as, for example, left, right, front, back, top, bottom and derivatives thereof, relate to the orientation of the elements shown in the drawings and are not limiting upon the claims unless expressly recited therein.
As employed herein, the statement that two or more parts are “coupled” together shall mean that the parts are joined together either directly or joined through one or more intermediate parts.
The harness spacer 10 includes a base 12, a first arched member 14, a second arched member 16, and a slotted opening 18. The base 12 is a substantially planar member and the slotted opening 18 is formed in the base 12. In some example embodiments of the disclosed concept, the base 12 has a substantially rectangular shaped outer periphery. However, it will be appreciated that the outer periphery of the base 12 may have other shapes without departing from the scope of the disclosed concept. In some example embodiments, the slotted opening 18 has an H-shape. For example, the slotted opening 18 may be composed of a first outer slot 20, a second outer slot 22, and a central slot 24. The first outer slot 20 may be an elongated opening formed proximate a first edge 26 of the base 12 and extending the majority of the length of the first edge 26. The second outer slot 22 may be an elongated opening formed proximate a second edge 28, opposite of the first edge 26, of the base 12 and extending the majority of the length of the second edge 28. The central slot 24 may be an elongated opening that extends from and joins central portions of the first outer slot 20 and the second outer slot 22. Together, the first outer slot 20, the second outer slot 22, and the central slot 24 form the H-shaped slotted opening 18 in the example embodiment of the harness spacer 10 shown in
The first arched member 14 and the arched member 16 each include two legs that extend upward from the base 12 that blend into an arch that connects the two legs. In some example embodiments, the legs may extend upward substantially perpendicular to the base 12. However, it will be appreciated that the legs may extend upward at other angles with respect to the base 12 without departing from the scope of the disclosed concept. The legs of the first arched member 14 may be joined to the base 12 in an area between the first outer slot 20 and the second outer slot 22 on a first side of the central slot 24. The legs of the second arched member 16 may be joined to the base 12 between the first outer slot 20 and the second outer slot 22 on a second side, opposite of the first side, of the central slot 24. The first and second arched members 14, 16 each form an opening whose bounds are defined by the base 12, the legs, and the arch. The openings are aligned such that lines passing in an axial direction through the opening formed by the first arched member 14 also pass through the opening formed by the second arched member 16. For example, an elongated member can pass through both openings.
In some example embodiments, on the bottom side of the base 12 (shown in
The base 12 may be formed of a pliable material such that it is bendable. In some example embodiments, the base 12 may be composed of a thermoplastic material such as, without limitation, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). In some example embodiments, the base 12 is composed of a material having a hardness of approximately Shore A 91. In some example embodiments, the base 12 is composed of a material having a hardness within a range of approximately Shore A 70-100. However, it will be appreciated that other hardness values may be employed without departing from the scope of the disclosed concept. In some example embodiments, the harness spacer 10 is a unitary piece composed of the same material. Manufacturing the harness spacer 10 as a unitary piece is cost effective and provides structural strength. However, it will be appreciated that the harness spacer 10 may be a multi-piece object without departing from the scope of the disclosed concept. For example, the base 12 and the first and second arched members 14, 16 may be separate pieces that are joined together without departing from the scope of the disclosed concept. In this case, the separate pieces may be composed of different materials. For example, the base 12 and the first and second arched members 14, 16 may be composed of different materials or the same material without departing from the scope of the disclosed concept.
The dimensions of the harness spacer 10 may be selected based on the harness and harness accessory that the harness spacer 10 is used with. For example, the length of the first and second outer slots 20, 22 may be slightly greater than the width of the webbing of the harness that the harness spacer 10 will be used with. As another example, the openings created by the first and second arched members 14, 16 should be large enough to receive the harness accessory, such as a dual-SRL bracket, the harness spacer 10 will be used with.
As noted above, in some example embodiments, the harness spacer 10 is composed of a thermoplastic material. The harness spacer 10 may also be composed of other flexible materials. In use, the harness spacer 10 is flexible such that the first and second arched members 14, 16 can be pulled apart from each other such that the base 12 of the harness spacer 10 bends. Bending the harness spacer 10 in this manner enlarges the size of the central slot 24 such that webbing of a harness can be pushed through the central slot 24. The webbing may then be positioned such that it passes through one of the first and second outer slots 20, 22 and then back through the other of the first and second outer slots 20, 22. When the harness spacer 10 is released, it will revert back to its original shape and will be attached to the webbing. Reversing the process by pulling apart the first and second arched members 14, 16 to bend the harness spacer 10 allows the harness spacer 10 to then be detached from the webbing.
When the dual-SRL bracket 46 is detached, the harness spacer 10 can remain in place and the webbing 40 does not need to be readjusted. The dual-SRL bracket 46 can then be attached and detached as desired without the need for adjustment of the webbing 40.
In addition to creating space for attachment of the dual-SRL bracket 46, the harness spacer 10 also tends to the lock the webbing 40 in place and prevent it from moving downward under pressure. For example, the harness spacer 10 changes angles and adds additional friction points of the webbing 40 which tend to better lock it in place. The harness spacer 10 also tends to hold the D-ring 42 in an upward position, for example, by blocking the D-ring 42 from rotating downward. In the example embodiment shown in
As shown in
As described herein, the harness spacer 10 is structured to be easily attached and detached from webbing of a harness. When employed in a dorsal D-ring location, the harness spacer 10 creates a space to easily attach and detach a dual-SRL bracket without adjusting the webbing of the harness. The harness spacer 10 may also be used on other locations of the harness to provide an accessory attachment point.
While specific embodiments of the disclosed concept have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the disclosed concept which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.
