BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a commercially available safety harness.
FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a harness of the present invention in a form as donned by a user.
FIG. 2B illustrates a perspective view of a portion of the safety harness of FIG. 2A including a back pad of the present invention.
FIG. 2C illustrates a rearward view of an embodiment of a D-ring for use in connection with the harness of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 2D illustrates a rear view of the back pad portion of the harness of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 3A illustrates a rearward perspective view an embodiment of a back pad of the present invention for use in connection with the harness of FIG. 2A wherein the D-ring is captured in an upright position.
FIG. 3B illustrates a forward perspective view the back pad of FIG. 3A wherein the D-ring is captured in an upright position.
FIG. 3C illustrates a rearward view the back pad of FIG. 3A wherein the D-ring is captured in a non-upright or downward position.
FIG. 3D illustrates a rearward, enlarged perspective view of a portion of the back pad of FIG. 3A wherein the D-ring is captured in an upright position.
FIG. 3E illustrates the rearward, enlarged perspective view of FIG. 3D wherein the D-ring has been removed from connection with the D-ring attachment of the back pad.
FIG. 3F illustrates another rearward, enlarged perspective view of the back pad of FIG. 3A wherein the D-ring has been removed from connection with the D-ring attachment of the back pad.
FIG. 3G illustrates a perspective cutaway view of the back pad of FIG. 3A wherein the D-ring is in an upright position.
FIG. 3H illustrates a side view of the back pad of FIG. 3A wherein the D-ring is in an upright position.
FIG. 3I illustrates a rearward view of the back pad of FIG. 3A wherein the D-ring is in an upright position.
FIG. 3J illustrates another rearward perspective view of the back pad of FIG. 3A wherein the D-ring is in an upright position.
FIG. 3K illustrates a top view of the back pad of FIG. 3A wherein the D-ring is in an upright position.
FIG. 3L illustrates another forward perspective view of the back pad of FIG. 3A wherein the D-ring has been removed from connection with the D-ring attachment of the back pad.
FIG. 3M illustrates an enlarged, rearward perspective view of a portion of the back pad of FIG. 3A illustrating an area of decreased thickness in the back pad to create a stress point to provide a visual indication in the case that the safety harness in connection with which the back pad is used is subjected to a relatively large force or load as would occur in an impact or a fall.
FIG. 3N illustrates another rearward perspective view of the back pad of FIG. 3A wherein the D-ring has been removed from connection with the D-ring attachment of the back pad.
FIG. 3O illustrates a side view of the back pad of FIG. 3A wherein the D-ring has been removed from connection with the D-ring attachment of the back pad.
FIG. 3P illustrates a top view of the back pad of FIG. 3A wherein the D-ring has been removed from connection with the D-ring attachment of the back pad.
FIG. 3Q illustrates a rearward perspective view of the back pad of FIG. 3A wherein the D-ring has been removed from connection with the D-ring attachment of the back pad.
FIG. 3R illustrates another rearward perspective side view of the back pad of FIG. 3A wherein the D-ring has been removed from connection with the D-ring attachment of the back pad.
FIG. 3S illustrates a forward view of the back pad of FIG. 3A wherein the D-ring has been removed from connection with the D-ring attachment of the back pad.
FIG. 3T illustrates another enlarged, rearward perspective view of a portion of the back pad of FIG. 3A (encircled in FIG. 3Q) illustrating an area of decreased thickness in the back pad to create a stress point to provide a visual indication in the case that the safety harness in connection with which the back pad is used is subjected to a relatively large force or load as would occur in an impact or a fall.
FIG. 3U illustrates another rearward perspective side view of the back pad of FIG. 3A wherein the D-ring has been removed from connection with the D-ring attachment of the back pad.
FIG. 4A illustrates a rearward view of a hexagonal back pad providing an embodiment of a load indicator of the present invention.
FIG. 4B illustrates a rearward view of a D-ring attachment of the present invention that can be use in connection with the back bad of FIG. 4A.
FIG. 4C illustrates a rearward view of the D-ring attachment of FIG. 4B in position for use with the back bad of FIG. 4A.
FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective cutaway view of another embodiment of a back pad of the present invention including a D-ring attachment including a D-ring seating of noncircular cross-section.
FIG. 6A illustrates a side view another embodiment a back pad of the present invention including capture members to hold a D-ring in an upright position.
FIG. 6B illustrates an enlarged bottom view of one of the capture members of the back pad of FIG. 6A.
FIG. 6C illustrates a rearward view of the back pad of FIG. 6A with the D-ring removed from connection therewith.
FIG. 7 illustrate a rearward view of another embodiment of a back pad of the present invention including a capture member having flexing detents to hold a D-ring in an upright position in which the D-ring is removed from connection with the back pad.
FIG. 8A illustrates the safety harness of FIG. 1 including two examples of another embodiment of a load indicator of the present invention.
FIG. 8B illustrates a rear view of one of the load indicators of FIG. 8A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate one embodiment of a full body safety harness 100 of the present invention. Various general aspects of safety harness 100 are disclosed in Published U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2006/0005293 and 2006/0102423, assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Safety harness 100 includes an upper torso section, portion or module 110 and a lower torso or seat section, portion or module 112. Upper torso portion 110 includes a first shoulder strap 120 and a second shoulder strap 130 extending over the shoulders of the user and a multi-component chest strap 140 extending between first shoulder strap 120 and second shoulder strap 130. First ends of each of shoulder straps 120 and 130 extend down over the back of the user to form first and second generally longitudinal back straps 122 and 132, respectively. Back straps 122 and 132 cross through an opening 153 in D-ring 150 and thereby are connected to D-ring 150. In the area of D-ring, back straps 122 and 132 also cross through a back pad 200 (see FIG. 2B) in the region of D-ring 150. Back pad 200 is described further below. Back straps 122 and 132 are attached at their respective ends to right side and left side connectors 300, that operate to connect upper torso portion or module 110 to lower seat portion or module 112 such that upper torso portion 110 is relatively easily rotated relative to lower seat portion 112. Back straps 122 and 132 can, for example, be looped around slots formed in connectors 1900 and stitched.
As used herein terms such as “left”, “right”, “side”, “front”, “back”, “up”, “down”, “reward”, “forward”, “top”, “bottom” and similar terms when used to refer to harness 100 or any portion thereof (including a back pad or back pad system 400 as described below) refer to a direction relative to the orientation of harness 100 (or a portion thereof) when harness 100 is donned or worn by a user as illustrated in FIG. 2A. Such designations are provided for ease of reference and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention to any particular embodiment unless specifically set forth otherwise.
A second end of each of shoulder straps 120 and 130 extends downward over the front of the user to form generally longitudinal first and second front straps 124 and 134, respectively. Chest strap 140 is attached between front strap 124 and front strap 134 of shoulder straps 120 and 130, respectively. One or more adjustable adjustment mechanism can be provided to adjust the length of chest strap 140.
First and second front straps 124 and 134 extend further downward from chest strap 140 and terminate at and are attached to a cam buckle adjustment mechanisms 126 and 136, respectively, or other adjustment mechanism for adjustment of the fit of safety harness 100 on the upper torso of the user. Lengths of connecting strapping strap 124′ and 134′ are connected at a first end thereof to cam buckles 100 and at a second end thereof to connectors 300. In that regard, straps 124′ and 134′ can, for example, be looped through slots formed in connectors 300.
Lower torso or seat portion 112 of safety harness 100 can, for example, include leg straps 180 and 190. Leg strap 180 can be attached to right side connector 300 at a first or front end thereof via a slot formed therein. A second or rearward end of leg strap 180 is attached to seat strap 170. Seat strap 170 is attached at a first end thereof to right side connector 300 via a slot formed therein. Similarly, leg strap 190 is attached to left side connector 300 at a first or front end thereof via a slot formed therein. A second or rearward end of leg strap 190 is attached to seat strap 170. A second end of seat strap 170 is attached to left side connector 300 via a slot formed therein. Leg straps 180a and 190a can include adjustment members or mechanisms.
As illustrated in FIG. 2B, D-ring 150 and back pad or back pad system 400 are positioned over an intermediate section of comfort pad 600 between a meshed section 620 and shield section 640 of comfort pad 600, which are described in detail, for example, in Published U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0102423, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In the illustrated embodiment, back pad 400 is not attached to comfort pad 600. As known in the art, back pad 400 includes six slots 405a-f through which straps 122 and 132 cross and pass through a channel 154 (see FIGS. 2B through 2D) of D-ring 150. In the illustrated embodiment, there is a first or left upper slot 405a, a second or right upper slot 405b, and generally central upper slot 405c, a generally central lower slot 405d, a first or left lower slot 405d and a second or right lower slot 405e. A connector such as a snap hook (not shown) can be connected to anchor attachment portion 158 of D-ring 150.
As illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 3A through 3U, back pad 400 can include a D-ring attachment 410 in which D-ring 150 is movably (for example, rotatably or pivotably) seated or attached. Upon application of direct or indirect force (for example, manual force) to D-ring 150 to move D-ring 150 to an upright position, D-ring 150 is captured, held or maintained in the upright position. Neither attachment 410 nor any other element of back pad 400 urges or biases D-ring 150 into an upright position. However, D-ring 150 is captured, held or maintained in an upright position when D-ring is moved to that position via application of force thereto. Extra components associated with a biasing or urging mechanism (for example, springs) are thereby eliminated.
In the illustrated embodiment, D-ring attachment 410 includes a generally cylindrical central portion 420 including a generally cylindrical passage 422 therethrough in which a lower bar or connecting member 159 of D-ring 150 is positioned or seated. In that regard, during attachment of D-ring 150 to attachment 410, bar 159 is first passed through an opening 440 formed in back pad 400. Bar 159 is then aligned with an extending opening or slot 424 formed on a forward side (with respect to the orientation of back pad 400 when worn by a user) of central portion 410. Slot 424 is in operative connection with passage 422 and extends along the entire length of central portion 420. Once bar 159 is aligned with slot 424, a rearward force (with respect to the orientation of back pad 400 when worn by a user) is applied to D-ring 150 so that bar 159 is snapped into place within passage 422.
Bar 159 can be rotated within passage 422. D-ring 150 is illustrated in a downward position in FIG. 3C. When force is applied to D-ring 150 to move D-ring toward and upright position (illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 3A and 3B), bar 159 rotates within passage 422. A central wall of side members 153 of D-ring 150 contact one or more capture members, abutment members, extensions or detents 430 positioned, for example, on the lateral sides of central portion 420. Detents 430 are forced laterally inward upon contact with side members 153. Openings or expansion slots 434 can, for example, be provided in central portion 420 to facilitate the inward flexing of detents 430. Once side members 153 pass detents 430 (that is, once D-ring 150 is moved into the upright position), detents 430 flex laterally outward to capture D-ring 150 in the upright position.
Straps 122 and 132 pass over central portion 420 of D-ring attachment 410 (and thereby through channel 154 of D-ring 150) as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 2B and 2D. In general, D-ring 150 abuts the rearward or outermost strap (see, for example, FIG. 3H) of harness 100 after D-Ring is forced into the upright position such that D-ring is maintained within a range of angles (A) of the upright position (for example, between approximately 20° and approximately 45° with respect to a vertical orientation.
Entire back pad/back pad system 400 can, for example, be molded (for example, injection molded) monolithically from a polymeric material such as a thermoplastic polymeric material or a thermoplastic elastomer polymer/thermoplastic polymer blend (for example, a thermoplastic elastomer/polypropylene blend). Other suitable materials include flexible, semi-rigid polymeric materials such as various plastics, rubbers and polyurethanes. The are no components to assemble during manufacture or become disassembled during use. Moreover, there are no moving elements of back pad 400 to fail during use. A user can, for example, push D-ring 150 into the upright position before donning harness 100. Once a snap hook or other connector has been attached to D-ring, the force of gravity will typically pull D-ring 150 into a non-upright, downward or natural position as, for example, illustrated in FIG. 3C. To once again place D-ring 150 into an upright position (to, for example, remove a snap hook from connection therewith), a user or wearer of harness 100 can, for example, apply force to a line or lanyard connected to the snap hook to force D-ring 150 into an upright position. While maintaining force (for example, an upward force) on the line or the snap hook (or other connector) with one hand, the user can, for example, remove the snap hook from connection with D-ring 150 with the other hand of with the same hand.
Existing harnesses can be retrofitted to incorporate an upright D-ring mechanism the same as or similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 3A through 3U. In that regard, back pads in current use in commercially available safety harnesses can, for example, be replaced by back pad 400. Moreover, existing safety harnesses and/or back pads for use therewith can be used in connection with a standalone D-ring/connector attachment of the present invention to, for example, from a back pad system similar in operation to back pad/back pad system 400. For example, FIG. 4A illustrates a hexagonal D-pad 400a. FIG. 4B illustrates a separate or standalone upright D-ring attachment 410a of the present invention that is similar in operation to D-ring attachment 410. D-ring attachment 410a includes a base 411a in which an opening 440a, similar in function to opening 440, is formed. D-ring attachment 410a includes a central portion 420a that operates in an identical manner to central portion 420. In general, components of D-ring attachment 410a are numbered similarly to corresponding or like components of D-ring attachment 410 with the addition of the designation “a”. A connector attachment such as D-ring attachment 410 can be used in connection with generally any safety harness comprising a connector such as a D-ring, whether or not the safety harness includes a back pad as known in the art.
Other types of abutment or capture member can be used to capture D-ring 150 or another connector in an upright position to facilitate attachment of a connector such as a snap hook thereto. As illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5, a back pad 400b can include a passage 422b in a central portion 420b of a D-ring attachment 410b having a noncircular cross-section over at least a portion thereof or over the entirety thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, passage 422b has a generally hexagonal cross-section. Lower bar 159b of D-ring 150b can have a flattened surface 159b′ to facilitate positioning thereof in cooperation with noncircular passage 422b. In the illustrated embodiment, D-ring 150 can be placed in various positions including an upright or connecting position upon application of force (for example, manual force) to D-ring 150b.
Capture member or abutment members to capture or hold a D-ring such as D-ring 150 or other similar anchoring connector can also be positioned away from a D-ring attachment member. As illustrated in FIGS. 6A through 6C, back pad 400d includes an D-ring attachment 410d that operates similarly to D-ring attachment 410. D-ring attachment does not include detents 430, however. In that regard, capture members 430d are provided on each side of back pad 400 to capture and hold D-ring 150 in an upright position. In the embodiment illustrated in, FIGS. 6A and 6B, capture member 430d include a generally cylindrical seating 432d with which side member 153 of D-ring can form a snap fit upon application of force to D-ring 150 to move D-ring 150 in the upright position as illustrated in FIG. 6A.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, a back pad 400e can be provided with capture members 430e that include flexing detents 432e to hold D-ring 150 in an upright position upon a application of force to D-ring 150 to move D-ring 150 in the upright position.
In the case of application of a relatively large force to harness 10 (as, for example, in a fall), the force is transferred to straps 122 and 132 which pass over central portion 420 (or other central portion as described above) when harness 100 is assembled. Under a substantial load, straps 122 and 132 become taut, changing the force exerted upon, for example, back pad 400 (or another back pad or other load indicator of the present invention as described below). Further, back pad 400 is movable relative to straps 122 and 132. Indeed, such movability provides users of various heights and weights with the ability to adjust the position of back pad 400 and D-ring 150 to a desirable position for each user. Friction between straps 122 and 132 and back pad 400 typically prevents relative motion between back pad 400 and straps 122 and 132 during normal use. In the case of a fall, straps 122 and 132 become taut as described above. Moreover, back pad 400 slides to a different position. For example, in a foot-first fall, back pad 400 will slide upward (in the direction of the head of the user). In a head first fall, back pad 400 moves downward with respect to the user's body. Once the fall is arrested, the users body is caused to rotate and back pad 400 is caused to slide upward, coming to rest near the head of the user.
Friction between back pad 400 and straps 122 and 132 during movement of back pad 400 can result in heat damage or melting those areas of back pad 400 in contact with straps 122 and 132. Further, movement of back pad 400 in either the upward or downward direction results in movement of back pad 400 in a direction of widening in the separation between straps 122 and 132, thereby increasing the force exerted on back pad 400 (pulling to the outside or tensioning back pad 400).
The increased force associated with increased tautness in straps 122 and 132 (whether, there is movement of back pad 400 relative to straps 122 and 132 or not) can be used to cause a change in the appearance (for example, distension or breaking) of back pad 400. Although a change in appearance can occur in the case of a falls in back pads used in connection with some commercially available safety harnesses, in some cases the change in appearance is insubstantial and can be overlooked. In back pad 400 and other back pads of the present invention, structural stress points or weak points are built into back pad 400 to accentuate the change in appearance of back pad 400 in the case of a large force (for example, a load of at least 500 to 600 pounds of force) such that the change in appearance of back pad 400 is readily apparent in even a cursory inspection.
As for example illustrated in FIGS. 3T and 3U, one or more areas 480 of decreased thickness are formed in the material of back pad 400. These areas of decreased thickness, channels or notches 480 create stress points that cause significant distention or stretching, or, more likely, breakage in the case of application of a substantial or large load as described above to safety harness 10. As known to, for example, those in the materials arts, the load under with such distension or breakage occurs can be readily adjusted to a particular predetermined load by, for example, choice of the material or materials of back pad 400 and/or the dimensions of areas 480. Indicators, such as arrows 484 can be provided to further draw attention to relatively thin areas or notches 480 for inspection. In the illustrated embodiment, relatively thin areas, channels or notches 480 are formed between upper and lower slots 405a, b, e and f and generally central slots 405c and d. As illustrated in, for example, FIG. 3M, an indication of an unstressed width of channels or notches 480 (for example, ⅛ inch) can be provided as a reference to determine if distention or stressing has occurred.
D-ring attachment 410 (or other D-ring attachment of the present invention) will not typically be subjected to a force suitable to damage attachment 410.
As, for example, illustrated by back pad 400a FIG. 4A, areas 480a can be incorporated into a back pad that does not include a D-ring attachment 410 as described above and is not used in connection with a standalone D-ring attachment 410a as described above. In FIG. 4A, areas 480a have been incorporated into the design of a standard hexagonal back pad used in a number of commercially available safety harnesses. Existing safety harness designs are readily retrofitted to incorporate back pad 480a as illustrated in FIG. 4A. Moreover, many other back pads or strap guides used in safety harnesses are readily altered to include areas of decreased strength to provide a readily observable indication that a safety harness and thereby the back pad has undergone a predetermined load. Furthermore, the indicators of the present invention can reduce or eliminate false positives associated with many other types of fall indicators (that is, false indications of a fall when there has been no fall).
Further, a load indicator of the present invention need not be incorporated into the back pad of the safety harness. In that regard, a load indicator of the present invention need only be connected between two spaced straps of the safety harness such that the change in force exerted upon the load indicator in the case of a fall causes a readily observable change in appearance of the load indicator. The load indicator can include a first connector that is connected to the first strap and a second connector that is connected to the second strap.
FIGS. 8A and 8B, for example, illustrate a load indicator 500 wherein a first connector 510 includes slots 512 and 514 through which strap 22 of harness 10 passes (see FIG. 8A), and a second connector 520 includes slots 522 and 524 through which strap 22 passes. Connectors 510 and 520 are connected by an intermediate member 530. In the illustrated embodiment, the width of intermediate member decreases near the center thereof to provide a stress point as described above. Depending upon the material(s) chosen for load indicator 500, there may be no need to create one or more stress points. FIG. 8A also illustrates a second load indicator 500a that is similar in design and operation to load indicator 500. Load indicator 500a is positioned above the position of the crossing point of straps 22 and 32 and load indicator 500 is positioned below the position of the crossing point of straps 22 and 32.
The foregoing description and accompanying drawings set forth preferred embodiments of the invention at the present time. Various modifications, additions and alternative designs will, of course, become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing teachings without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is indicated by the following claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes and variations that fall within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Patent Application
20080060873
