Patent Application
20220134150
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 or lanyards typically interconnect anchorage structures and safety harnesses donned by users. The lifelines or lanyards allow the users to move and perform tasks while being connected to the anchorage structures. Should a user fall, the lifeline or lanyard limits the distance the user falls and forces exerted upon the user.
A user commonly connects a lifeline or a lanyard to the strap(s) of the safety harness, for example via a D-ring proximate a dorsal pad assembly positioned on the back of the user's safety harness. To connect the lifeline or lanyard to the safety harness, it is desirable to have a connector operatively connected to the safety harness that could accommodate different types of lifelines and lanyards, which include a variety of different types of connectors such as carabiners, snap hooks, dual self-retracting lifeline connectors, etc.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, a need exists for the present invention.
The above-mentioned problems associated with prior devices are addressed by embodiments of the disclosure and will be understood by reading and understanding the present specification. The following summary is made by way of example and not by way of limitation. It is merely provided to aid in understanding some of the aspects of the invention.
In one embodiment, a safety harness connector assembly comprises a strap connector and an insert. The strap connector includes a base through which a base bore longitudinally extends and an extension. The base and the extension form an opening configured and arranged to receive a strap of a safety harness. The insert includes an intermediate portion interconnecting a first side and a second side, and the intermediate portion is configured and arranged to be received within the base bore. The first side includes a protrusion and the second side includes a shoulder portion. The protrusion and the shoulder portion are configured and arranged to engage opposing ends of the base when the intermediate portion is received within the base bore to secure the insert within the base.
In one embodiment, a safety harness comprises a strap forming at least a portion of the safety harness and a strap connector. The strap connector includes a base through which a base bore longitudinally extends and an extension extending laterally outward from a top of the base. The base and the extension form an opening through which the strap extends. The top of the base is longer in length than a bottom of the base and forms a first angled end surface and a second angled end surface. The first angled end surface forms a first angled opening into the base bore and the second angled end surface forms a second angled opening into the base bore.
In one embodiment, an insert for use with a strap connector having a base with a base bore comprises an intermediate portion interconnecting a first side and a second side. The intermediate portion is configured and arranged to be received within the base bore. The first side includes a protrusion and the second side includes a shoulder portion, the protrusion and the shoulder portion are configured and arranged to engage opposing ends of the base when the intermediate portion is received within the base bore to secure the insert within the base.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of embodiments and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments and together with the description serve to explain principles of embodiments. Other embodiments and many of the intended advantages of embodiments will be readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description. In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to the present disclosure. Reference characters denote like elements throughout the Figures and the text.
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 embodiments in which the disclosure 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 embodiments 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 embodiments 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 other embodiments may be utilized and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
Embodiments of the disclosure generally provide a modular safety harness connector assembly that can be used with a variety of different lifelines and lanyards, which include a variety of different types of connectors such as but not limited to carabiners, hooks, snap hooks, dual self-retracting lifeline connectors, etc. Therefore, the term “lifeline” is being used to include any suitable lifeline, self-retracting lifeline, lanyard, etc. and the term “connector” is being used to include any suitable connector, carabiner, snap hook, dual self-retracting lifeline connector, etc.
One example safety harness connector assembly 100, shown in
The insert 116, shown in
An example lifeline connector 134 that could be used with the insert 116 includes a generally U-shaped base 135 having a first end 136 with a first end bore 137 and a second end 138 with a second end bore 139. A locking member 140 such as a pin is received within the bores 137 and 138 in a locked position and is moved out of at least one of the bores 137 and 138 in an unlocked position. In the locked position, the locking member 140 engages the baser 135. These types of connectors are well known. The lifeline connector 134 is configured and arranged to connect to a suitable lifeline such as a first self-retracting lifeline 144 and a second self-retracting lifeline 146 via connectors 145 and 147, respectively.
In operation, a strap of a safety harness, for example a first safety harness strap 150 and a second safety harness strap 152 that criss-cross are inserted through the opening 112 of the strap connector 102, as shown in
The base bore 106 extending through the base 103 of the connector 102 is configured and arranged to receive each of the insert 116 and a lifeline connector. As shown in
The insert bore 124 extending through the base 117 of the insert 116 is configured and arranged to receive a lifeline connector, such as lifeline connector 134, as shown in
The strap connector 102 is modular because it could be used with a lifeline connector (e.g., carabiner, snap hook, dual self-retracting lifeline connector, etc.) or an insert, and the insert could be configured and arranged to be used with any suitable lifeline connector.
Although specific embodiments 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 embodiments 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 embodiments 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 Ser. No. 63/107,623, filed Oct. 30, 2020, which is incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63107623 | Oct 2020 | US |
