Integral safety harness connector assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10232199-B2
Application number	US-201514800199-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2015
Priority date	Jun 10, 2015
Publication date	Mar 19, 2019
Grant date	Mar 19, 2019

Abstract

A safety harness connector assembly including a D-ring, a device connector system and a shaft. The D-ring is generally a C-shape including a first end portion, a second end portion and mid-portion. The mid-portion extends between the first end portion and the second end portion. The first end portion has a first D-ring aperture and the second end portion having has a second D-ring aperture that is aligned with the first D-ring aperture. The device connector system includes at least one device connection aperture that is configured and arranged to couple a device to the safety harness connector assembly. The device connector system has at least one shaft connection aperture. A shaft is received in the first and second D-ring apertures of the D-ring and in the at least one shaft connection aperture of the device connector system to pivotally couple the device connector system to the D-ring.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A safety harness connector assembly comprising:
a D-ring having generally a C-shape, the D-ring including a first end portion with a first D-ring aperture, a second end portion with a second D-ring aperture, and a mid-portion that extends between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first D-ring aperture being aligned with the second D-ring aperture;
a shaft received in the first and second D-ring apertures, the shaft comprising a longitudinal shaft axis;
a device connector system comprising:
a base member; and
a first connector member pivotally coupled directly to the base member by the shaft to provide for pivotal movement of the first connector member relative to the base member about the shaft axis;

wherein the D-ring is pivotally coupled directly to the first connector member by the shaft to provide for pivotal movement of the D-ring relative to both the base member and the first connector member about the shaft axis.

2. The safety harness connector assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the base member comprises at least one shaft connection aperture receiving the shaft to pivotally couple the base member directly to the D-ring, and wherein the first connector member comprises at least one device connection aperture to couple one or more safety devices to the safety harness connector assembly.

3. The safety harness connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base member further comprises at least one base device connection aperture configured and arranged to couple one or more safety devices to the safety harness connector assembly.

4. The safety harness connector assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the device connector system further comprises:
a swivel connector pivotally coupled to the first connector member; and
a second connector member pivotally coupled directly to the swivel connector, the second connector member having a second device connection passage.

5. The safety harness connector assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first connector member is configured and arranged to pivot about the shaft axis and the second connector member is configured and arranged to pivot about a second axis, the second axis being generally perpendicular to the shaft axis.

6. The safety harness connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base member comprises:
a first sidewall;
a second sidewall; and
a mid-plate portion coupled between the first sidewall and the second sidewall to form a tray to hold the device connector system.

7. The safety harness connector assembly of claim 6 , wherein the base member has a webbing passage configured and arranged to allow webbing from a safety harness to be routed around the shaft to couple the safety harness connector assembly to the webbing of the safety harness.

8. The safety harness connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base member comprises:
a load attachment member configured and arranged to couple a load member of a safety harness to the base member of the safety harness connector assembly.

9. The safety harness connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first connector member further comprises:
a first arm, the first arm having a first passage;
a second arm, the second arm having a second passage that is aligned with the first passage of the first arm, the first passage and the second passage receiving the shaft; and
a mounting rod the first arm extending from a first end of the mounting rod and the second arm extending from a second end of the mounting rod.

10. The safety harness connector assembly of claim 4 , wherein the second connector member further comprises:
a first end portion;
a second end portion, the first end portion and the second end portion pivotally coupled to the swivel connector; and
a generally C-shaped mid-portion forming the second device connection passage, the mid-portion of the second connector member further having a slot.

11. The safety harness connector assembly of claim 1 in combination with a safety harness to create a safety harness system.

12. A safety harness connector assembly comprising:
a D-ring having generally a C-shape, the D-ring including a first end portion, a second end portion and a mid-portion that extends between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first end portion having a first D-ring aperture and the second end portion having a second D-ring aperture, the first D-ring aperture being aligned with the second D-ring aperture;
a shaft received in the first D-ring aperture and the second D-ring aperture; and
a device connector system configured and arranged to couple devices to the safety harness connector assembly, the device connector system comprising:
a base member pivotally coupled directly to the D-ring by the shaft,
a first connector member pivotally coupled directly to the base member, the first connector member being pivotable in a first direction relative to the base member, the first connector member having a first device connection passage,
a swivel connector pivotally coupled directly to the first connector member; and
a second connector member pivotally coupled directly to the swivel connector, the second connector member being pivotable in a second direction relative to the base member, the second direction being different than the first direction.

13. The safety harness connector assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first connector member is configured and arranged to pivot about a first axis and the second connector member is configured and arranged to pivot about a second axis, the second axis being generally perpendicular to the first axis.

14. The safety harness connector assembly of claim 12 , wherein the base member further comprises:
a first sidewall;
a second sidewall; and
a mid-plate portion coupled between the first sidewall and the second sidewall to form a tray to hold the device connector system, at least the first sidewall, the second sidewall and the mid-plate portion forming a webbing passage configured and arranged to allow webbing from a safety harness to be routed around the shaft to couple the safety harness connector assembly to the webbing of the safety harness.

15. A safety harness connector assembly comprising a device connector system configured and arranged to couple devices to the safety harness connector assembly, the device connector system comprising:
a base member pivotally coupled directly to at least one webbing of a safety harness;
a first connector member pivotally coupled directly to the base member, the first connector member being pivotable in a first direction relative to the base member, the first connector member having first device connection passage, a swivel connector pivotally coupled directly to the first connector member;
a second connector member pivotally coupled directly to the swivel connector, the second connector member being pivotable in a second direction relative to the base member, the second direction being different than the first direction.

16. The safety harness connector assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first connector member is configured and arranged to pivot about a first axis and the second connector member is configured and arranged to pivot about a second axis, the second axis being generally perpendicular to the first axis.

17. The safety harness connector assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
a D-ring having generally a C-shape, the D-ring including a first end portion, a second end portion and mid-portion that extends between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first end portion having a

Assignees

• Db Ind Llc

Inventors

• Perner Judd J
• Schlangen David A
• Casebolt Scott C

Classifications

• A62B35/0031 Primary

  Belt sorting accessories, e.g. devices keeping the belts in comfortable positions · CPC title

• A62B35/0037 Primary

  Attachments for lifelines and lanyards (lifelines, lanyards A62B35/0043) · CPC title

• A62B35/00 Primary

  Safety belts or body harnesses; Similar equipment for limiting displacement of the human body, especially in case of sudden changes of motion (buckles A44B11/00; accessories for children's furniture A47D15/00; children's seats B60N2/24; safety belts or body harnesses for land vehicles B60R22/00; harnesses for parachutes B64D17/30; harnessing in aircraft B64D25/06; releasable fastenings F16B) · CPC title