Patent Application
20060011414
The invention relates to a mounting plate intended for use together with a harness. The mounting plate further comprises a first opening. The invention also relates to a safety device comprising a mounting plate and a harness.
A harness is used to secure persons who are working at a great height or as an aid for persons who are carrying out a job hanging from a rope, for example on the outside of a building facade, or in a telecommunications mast, or from a rescue helicopter. A harness consists of a number of straps, which are strapped at suitable points around the body of user. A leg strap is strapped around each leg and a waist strap is strapped around the waist of a user. The leg straps and the waist strap are coupled together by additional straps or cords. The harness can further be equipped with shoulder straps extending from one side of the waist strap, across the shoulders and back to the other side of the waist strap. The harness can further be equipped with transverse straps which connect the shoulder straps one to the other across, for example, the shoulder blades and/or across the chest.
The waist part is normally divided into two waist parts on the front side of the harness to make it possible to adjust the size of the waist part around a user. A harness is further equipped with a coupling device in the form of, for example, a so-called D-ring or a specially arranged coupling strap. The D-ring consists of a metallic ring configured with a flat side and a semicircle. The coupling strap usually consists of a strap or band made of durable material. The coupling device is firmly anchored in the leg parts and in the waist part. The coupling device can be anchored to the various parts by straps or the like. When the waist part and the leg parts are strapped around the user, it is possible for the user to secure a variety of devices in the coupling device to allow him to work freely hanging from a rope.
When working hanging from a rope, it is important to be able to adjust one's height according to requirement. A user must therefore be able to lower himself down, stop at a certain height and also be able to gain height.
In lowering operations, there are a large number of lowering gears available which have the task of receiving the rope in a special loop which allows the user to be able to lower himself down with the aid of the rope and halt the lowering operation whenever he wishes. Furthermore, the lowering gear generally allows the facility to lock the rope at the desired height, for example by the rope being clamped in a special device or the rope being fitted in such a loop that the friction in the loop is sufficiently high for the rope not to move. In order to be able to stop at a certain height, there are therefore a large number of devices which stop the rope from sliding once it has been fastened in the device.
In those cases in which the user wishes to gain height in the rope, there are separate winches. The winches can be of both the manual and motor-driven type and can be fixed in connection with the harness. The motor-driven winches are normally fairly large and cumber some, so that it is especially important for the winch to be arranged in such a way near to the harness that the user can easily get at rope, tools and lowering devices.
In order to secure rope, tools, lowering devices, winches, etc. in the harness, a lockable snap hook or other lockable and reclosable device is often used. The snap hook is drawn through the opening in the coupling device (for example the D-ring). A problem arises when a plurality of snap hooks are secured in the opening in the coupling device, since all the devices which are secured in the opening in the coupling device have to share the space in the opening. Unwelcome situations can then arise, in which the securing devices of the various devices are jammed against one another when the user is hanging from the rope. If, for example, a D-ring is used, the securing devices of the tools will slide in the gravitational direction and come together at the lowest point, whereupon the securing devices are jammed. This gives the user problems when one or more devices are to be taken off or moved from the opening in the coupling device.
In order to facilitate the securement of the various tools and devices, a mounting plate can be used. The mounting plate usually consists of a plate with holes/openings. The mounting plate is secured in a snap hook, which, in turn, is secured in the coupling device. One problem with the mounting plate is that the distance between the coupling device and the tool increases, which can give rise to an excessively high working height for a user.
The mounting plate can further be used to secure tools and other devices which the user might need to use during his exercise. When a user is to carry out a job over a lengthy period hanging from the harness, it is of utmost importance that the tools or devices disposed by the mounting plate are in an ergonomically favourable position.
The coupling device is usually arranged in the harness in such a way that the coupling device has an extension along the front side of the user. This is particularly apparent where the coupling device consists of a D-ring. When a snap hook is secured in the coupling device, the snap hook will jut out from the body of a user. The mounting plate which is secured in the snap hook will then, in turn, have an extension along the front side of the user.
The extension of the mounting plate along the body of the user means that the securement points for the various tools and devices lie in the plane along the body of the user. This can be inappropriate, since tools and devices of different weight, placed on different sides of the mounting plate, can create an uneven distribution of loads in the mounting plate. This has an adverse effect upon the user, since the user might lean to one side. It leads to further problems, moreover, when a tool is to be added to or removed from the mounting plate, since further uneven load can then occur. The tools will therefore advantageously be situated on a line out from the body of the user, since an uneven distribution of loads in such a direction will only turn the user toward or away from the rope and not to the side. If a mounting plate of the above-described type is used when tools and devices are placed in front of the mounting plate, the securing devices (snap hooks) of the various tools and devices will cross one another and are therefore at risk of jamming one another.
Once the harness is arranged securely and comfortably around the user, the mounting plate can be used to secure a rope from which the user can hang during use. The rope can further be secured in a lowering gear and a winch. If the mounting plate is secured in a snap hook secured in the coupling device, the lowering gear and the winch will be secured in an opening in the opposite side of the mounting plate.
The user hanging from the rope will have the facility to reach both the lowering gear and the winch so as to be able to determine when he will be lowered down and winched up. In most winches, the rope has to be released from the winch in order for the lowering gear to be operative. One problem with the aforementioned arrangement having the coupling device, the snap hook, the mounting plate, the winch and the lowering gear is that the distance between the coupling device and, for example, the winch is large. The distance is so large that a user disadvantageously and unergonomically has to stretch with his arms at least above shoulder height in order to get to release the rope for lowering or arrange the rope for winching. Furthermore, the winch, the lowering gear and other devices are usually secured in the mounting plate by snap hooks, which further adds to the unwanted height.
Further drawbacks with a device according to the above, having coupling device, snap hook, mounting plate, winch and lowering gear, are that a user is unable to reach the object to be manipulated. Such an object can be a pipe in need of inspection or measurement, or a structure in need of repair or inspection, or some other device in which hanging work is called for. The unwanted height can be so great that the harness does not reach up to the desired object.
The mounting plates which have been described above do not therefore allow an ergonomically favourable position of the type which is sought in hanging work situations.
Further problems with the prior art are that the coupling device, for example the D-ring, can turn, depending on how the loads are distributed over the D-ring from the various straps. Furthermore, the coupling device is secured at the junction between the leg straps and the waist parts and is therefore placed close to the pelvis or lower abdominal region of the user and can irritate the genitalia of a user. When a tool is secured in the coupling device, the securement point of the tool will be located close to the genitalia of the user, which can further impact negatively upon the genitalia of the user.
WO 02/28482 shows a harness having a coupling device in the form of a strap. Extending between the leg parts, moreover, is a connecting strap. The coupling device connects the leg parts to the waist part by the connecting strap. A coupling device according to WO 02/28482 has the problems which have previously been discussed with snap hooks/tools secured in the coupling device, and with mounting plates. The coupling device can thus turn disadvantageously under uneven distribution of loads. If a mounting plate, furthermore, is to be secured in the coupling device, this is done by means of a snap hook, so that an undesirably large distance is formed between the coupling device and a tool.
When a job is to be carried out in a hanging position, it is of utmost importance that all the tools end up in an favourable position for the user. The user sitting in the harness will advantageously have the securement point for tools as low as possible so that the tools end up preferably at stomach/chest height, or level with the solar plexus, or level with the shoulders/head, and at a distance from the body. One advantage with such a positioning of the securement point for tools is that it is easier to reach the tools without needing to place an unhealthy strain upon the shoulders, arms and back. Furthermore, such a securement point allows a reduction in the height of the object to be manipulated. The aforementioned harnesses with coupling device and mounting plate have no such favourable securement point for tools.
A description has been given above of the facility for securing tools directly in the coupling device in order to reduce the height between the coupling device and the tool, which creates problems with the securing devices of the tools becoming jammed. There is therefore a desire to have a coupling device or mounting plate in which the securing devices for tools and other devices are not jammed against one another during use.
An object of the present invention is therefore to solve the above problems and produce a harness with a mounting plate which offers a more ergonomic working position in a harness, with a better facility for handling tools, winches, lowering gears and other devices.
The invention aims to solve the problems which have been specified above. The problems are solved by a mounting plate intended for use together with a harness. The mounting plate and the harness are preferably designed for use by a human being. The mounting plate comprises a first opening. The invention is characterized in that the mounting plate, via the first opening, is arranged in a first part of the harness in such a way that the mounting plate, when in use, juts out essentially at right angles from the body of a user. The mounting plate further advantageously comprises a second opening. The harness is advantageously, via the first part, arranged in the first opening and, via a second part of the harness, arranged in the second opening.
In the following description of the invention, the term “receive” is used in describing the function of the various openings. By receive is here meant that the opening can be passed through by a device and that the device can be secured, contained, arranged or accommodated in the opening.
According to the invention, the mounting plate is integrated in the harness and replaces the coupling device, the snap hook and the mounting plate described in the prior art. According to the invention, the harness is secured directly in the mounting plate without any intermediate links (for example a coupling device in the form of a D-ring), thereby producing a lower securement point for tools and devices which are to be placed by the mounting plate.
By harness is meant a device consisting of straps intended for strapping tightly around a user. A harness advantageously comprises a leg strap around each thigh of the user and a waist part around the waist of the user. The waist part is further advantageously connected to the leg parts by additional straps on the rear side of the body of the user. The leg parts can further be connected one to the other by a connecting strap on the front side of the body of the user.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the mounting plate advantageously comprises a third opening at a distance from the first opening and the second opening. The third opening can expediently be used as a securement point for the securement of tools and/or rope.
The third opening is advantageously arranged at a first distance in the vertical direction from the first opening and at a first distance in the horizontal direction from the second opening. The second opening is further advantageously arranged at a second distance in the vertical direction from the first opening.
The mounting plate can further be configured with additional openings. The additional openings can advantageously be used as a securement point for the securement of tools or rope. The additional openings can advantageously lie in a row along the contour of the mounting plate on that side of the mounting plate which faces away from the body of a user during use.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the additional openings lie arranged one above the other at various distances from the body of the user, which offers the advantage that devices can be secured in the various openings without the securing gears/securing devices of the devices jamming together. The securing gear/securing devices will lie one on top of the other. Because the openings lie one on top of the other and the mounting plate has an extent out from the body of the user, further advantages are obtained through the absence of any lateral load upon the mounting plate.
A lower securement point advantageously gives a lower height to the tool and/or the device for the user. The integration of the mounting plate in the harness together with the projecting characteristic of the mounting plate further offers the advantage that the mounting plate does not turn in such a way that the genitalia of the user are at risk of being pinched.
The mounting plate juts out from the body in such a way, moreover, that the securement points for tools and securement points for the rope from which the user is to hang are away from the body. This improves the facilities for the user to work with tools and otherwise improves the ergonomic situation of the user.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the mounting plate is plane in its extent and advantageously has a first edge part on the lower side of the mounting plate, viewed from the plumb line, which extends essentially out from the body of a user, and a second edge part, which, when the safety device is in use, extends in the direction along the body of a user. The first opening is advantageously placed along the first edge part and the second opening is advantageously placed along the second edge part.
In another embodiment of the invention, the mounting plate can be equipped with a separate fastening device for the second opening. The fastening device can, for example, be arranged at an angle to the projecting part of the mounting plate, along and against the second edge part. The fastening device can then, when in use, advantageously have an extension substantially parallel with the body of a user. The second opening can in this case consist of two openings on either side of that part of the mounting plate which juts out substantially at right angles from the body of the user.
Correspondingly, a fastening device can be arranged against the first edge part, in which the first opening is arranged in the fastening device, for example in the form of an opening on either side of that part of the mounting plate which juts out essentially at right angles from the body of the user.
As previously mentioned, the harness can comprise leg straps and a connecting strap between the leg straps, as well as a two-piece waist strap. The connecting strap advantageously consists of a strap which, in the end sections, is fastened in the leg straps. According to any of the aforementioned embodiments, the first opening is advantageously arranged to receive the connecting strap and the second opening is advantageously arranged to receive the waist strap. The straps are advantageously of such a nature that their width is greater than their thickness.
The invention also relates to a safety device comprising a mounting plate and a harness, the mounting plate comprising a first opening. The safety device is characterized in that the mounting plate comprises a second opening, in which the harness, via a first part, is arranged in the first opening and, via a second part, is arranged in the second opening. The mounting plate is therefore advantageously integrated in the harness in such a way that the mounting plate, when in use, juts out essentially at right angles from the body of a user.
The aforementioned advantages with the mounting plate also apply to the safety device. Further advantages with the invention will be described below in the description of various embodiments.
One example of a possible configuration of a mounting plate is given below in the form of a number of data:
The size of the first and second opening can be varied according to choice in such a way that the straps can be received and appropriate strength is obtained. Appropriate strength relates to the norms laid down by the authorities for a safety harness with mounting plate to be allowed to be used in a certain activity. The first and the second opening are preferably configured as slots. By slot is meant a long and narrow opening which can have bevelled short ends. The third opening and the additional openings are preferably configured with circular or oval geometries.
The diameter of the third opening is advantageously ca. 15 mm or larger, or of such a size that a lockable snap hook can be passed through the opening a full turn. The diameter of the third opening can therefore be varied in dependence on the size of the snap hook.
The mounting plate is advantageously curved in such a way that a lower part forms a substantially rectangular/trapezoidal part and an upper part forms a curved tapered part which ends in a snub-nosed tip. The upper part starts from the upper side of the rectangle. The opposite lower part of the rectangle is limited by the first edge part. That part of the rectangle/trapezium which faces toward the body of the user is limited at least partially by the second edge part. That part of the rectangle which is opposite the second edge part faces away from the user during use. The curved part is curved in such a way that the tip of the curved part sticks out beyond the extended limit line of the rectangle in the vertical direction on that side of the rectangle which faces away from the user during use. The curved configuration means that the mounting plate does not disturb the user during use. As an example can be cited that the mounting plate must not stick into the stomach or chest of the user when the user bends forward. The angle between the first opening and the second opening therefore has a certain importance for the configuration of the mounting plate. The angle should be such that the configuration of the mounting plate affords the user a comfortable working position without the mounting plate disturbing him in such a way as has been mentioned above.
When the mounting plate is in use, a rope or a tool is advantageously fixed in the third opening, which advantageously is placed at a distance from the tip of the curved part. Such a securement is advantageously made with a securing device/securing gear in the form of a snap hook, but can also consist of an eyelet arranged in the rope. A fourth opening can advantageously be placed in connection with the tip of the curved part. One advantage with this is that the fourth opening sticks out beyond the plumb line formed by the rope and the snap hook secured in the rope. The fourth opening is therefore free to be used to secure additional tools or rope. This differs from the case where the additional openings lie in a row in the vertical direction, since the fourth opening would then have been fully or partially covered by the securing device/securing gear, i.e. the snap hook or the rope.
A further advantage with the invention is that the mounting plate further can move freely about the third opening, with the securing gear as the hinge. A user can then, by leaning back, make the mounting plate rotate about the securing gear in such a way that the fourth opening moves from one side of the plumb line to the other side of the plumb line. A user can therefore determine the side of the plumb line on which the fourth opening shall be located.
The advantageous aspect of the invention can therefore be achieved by configuring a mounting plate which, during use, juts out from the body of a user within the framework of the measurements which have been specified above.
The invention will be described below in a number of embodiments with the aid of figures.
The waist part 3 consists of a back part 5 and a front part 6. The front part 6 can consist of two waist straps intended to close the waist part 3 around the body of the user 10. The waist straps are advantageously equipped with devices which form a reclosable joint, for example a clasp, Velcro fastening or a combination thereof, or some other suitable device which forms reclosable joints. The waist part 3 can also be configured in one piece with an adjustable device for altering the size of the waist part around the body of a user.
The leg parts 4 each consist of a strap which passes around the thigh of a user 10 and which advantageously can be reclosable, adjustable, or the opening in which can have a specific size. Both thighs are encircled by such leg parts 4.
The leg parts 4 are advantageously connected one to the other by the front connecting strap 7 on the front side of the user 10. The front connecting strap 7 can be attached to the leg parts 4 by an eyelet which receives the leg parts or by the front connecting strap 7 being firmly anchored to the leg parts, for example by gluing and/or by sewing.
The first opening 8 is advantageously arranged to receive the front connecting strap 7 and the second opening 9 is advantageously arranged to receive a part of the waist strap which constitutes the front part 6 of the waist part. To this end, the first and the second opening 8, 9 are advantageously configured as slots.
The mounting plate 1 juts out from the body in such a way that fastening points for tools and fastening points for the rope from which the user is to hang are prominent from the body. This improves the facilities for the user 10 to work with tools and otherwise improves the ergonomic situation of the user 10. To this end, the mounting plate advantageously comprises a third opening 17, which can receive securing devices/securing gears 18 for tools and securing devices/securing gears for rope.
When the mounting plate 1 is in use, a rope or a tool 30 is fixed in the third opening 17, which advantageously is placed at a distance from the tip of the curved part. Such a securement is advantageously made with a securing device 18 in the form of a snap hook, but can also consist of an eyelet arranged in the rope or another suitable securing device.
Further advantages with the mounting plate are that it can move freely about the third opening 17, with the securing device 18 (for example the snap hook) as the hinge. A user 10 can then, by leaning back, make the mounting plate 1 rotate about the snap hook in such a way that the fourth opening 19 moves from one side of the plumb line 20 to the other side of the plumb line 20. A user 10 can therefore determine the side of the plumb line 20 on which the fourth opening 19 shall be located.
The third opening 17 is advantageously arranged at a first distance in the vertical direction 21 from the first opening 8 and at a first distance in the horizontal direction 22 from the second opening 9. The second opening 9 is further advantageously arranged at a second distance in the vertical direction 23 from the first opening 8. The positioning and configuration of the first and the second opening 9 is of importance to the balance of the harness 2 during use.
The first opening 8 absorbs loads essentially in the vertical direction from the legs via the leg openings and the second opening 9 absorbs loads essentially in the horizontal direction from the back via the waist part. The loads in the vertical direction are usually greater than the loads in the horizontal direction. As previously mentioned, the third opening 17 is intended to receive tools or rope. Regardless of whether it is a tool or a rope which is secured in the mounting plate, the third opening 17 is intended for the user to hang from. If a tool, for example a motor-driven winch, is arranged in the mounting plate 1, then the tool hangs from the rope from which the user hangs.
The first, second and third opening 8, 9, 17 therefore form a triangle if lines are drawn between the various openings, which triangle expediently balances loads during use in such a way that the mounting plate 1 juts out from the body and does not capsize during use.
In
The mounting plate 1 can further be configured with additional openings 24.
The second edge part 12 of the mounting plate is relatively straight and extends substantially perpendicularly. The second edge part 12 is configured to follow the contour of the body, thereby reducing the risk of exposure of the user 10 to point loads when the mounting plate presses against the body of the user 10.
The positioning of the first and second opening 8, 9 of the mounting plate 1 gives the device a good balance. The first opening 8 absorbs loads from the leg parts and the second opening 9 absorbs loads from the waist part 3.
The invention is not limited to what has been shown in the various embodiments, but can be varied within the scope of the adjoining patent claims. As examples can be cited that the mounting plate 1 can have a different geometrical configuration from what has been shown, for example in the form of a trapezium with the second opening 9 on that side of the mounting plate which faces toward a user, and in which the first opening 8 is arranged on the lower side connecting the two other sides. The upper tip of the trapezium advantageously faces away from the user and the lower tip of the trapezium faces toward the user. The lower tip is advantageously bevelled in such a way that the mounting plate follows the body contour of the user, in a manner similar to that mentioned above. The third opening 17 is preferably arranged somewhere remote from the first opening 8 and the second opening 9. The fourth opening can be placed, for example, close to the upper tip.
The mounting plate 1 can further be configured essentially as a triangle with a substantially right angle, in which one short side extends alongside the body of the user 10 and in which the second short side extends out from the body of the user 10 and in which the hypotenuse extends from the lower part 13 of the mounting plate, by the body of the user 10, up and out toward the end point of the second short side. With the triangular configuration of the mounting plate 1, the first opening 8 is placed near to the lower apex of the triangle between the hypotenuse and the short side which extends along the body of the user 10. The second opening 9 is preferably placed along the short side which extends along the body of the user 10. The third opening 17 is preferably arranged somewhere remote from the first opening 8 and the second opening 9. The fourth opening can be placed, for example, close to the second apex of the triangle, i.e. where the other short side, extending out from the body of the user 10, meets the hypotenuse.
With both the trapezoidal and the triangular configuration, it is nevertheless important to point out that the mounting plate 1 is arranged in such a way that the mounting plate 1 does not disturb the user during use. As an example can be cited that the mounting plate 1 must not stick into the stomach of the user 10 when the user bends forward.
The first opening 8 can consist of two or more openings intended to receive one or more straps, having the same purpose as has been indicated above in the description of the first opening 8.
The second opening 9 can consist of two or more openings intended to receive one or more straps, having the same purpose as has been indicated above in the description of the second opening 9.
In another embodiment of the invention, the mounting plate can be equipped with a separate fastening device for the second opening. The fastening device can be arranged, for example, at an angle to the projecting part of the mounting plate, along and against the second edge part. The fastening device can then, when in use, advantageously have an extension substantially parallel with the body of a user. The second opening can then consist of two openings on either side of that part of the mounting plate which juts out substantially at right angles from the body of the user. The opening can be in the form of a slot, either having an oval or circular geometry.
Correspondingly, a fastening device can be arranged against the first edge part, in which the first opening is arranged in the fastening device, for example in the form of an opening on either side of that part of the mounting plate which juts out essentially at right angles from the body of the user. The opening can be in the form of a slot or can have an oval or circular geometry.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0202600-3 | Sep 2002 | SE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/SE03/01348 | 9/1/2003 | WO | 3/2/2005 |
