Load indicator for a fall protection apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10328294-B2
Application number	US-201615233618-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2016
Priority date	Apr 12, 2016
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

A load indicator for use with a fall protection apparatus having a line and a connector for connecting to a user includes a housing having a pass-through opening and a covered indicator region. At least a portion of the housing is configured for connecting to the line. The load indicator also includes a shear pin supported by the housing and extending across the pass-through opening, and a saddle extending across at least a portion of the pass-through opening and supported by at least a portion of the shear pin. The saddle is configured for connecting to at least a portion of the connector. The saddle is movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position when a force exceeding a predetermined threshold value is applied on the saddle causing the shear pin to shear or break. At least a portion of the indicator region is uncovered in the second position of the saddle when the shear pin shears or breaks.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A load indicator for use with a fall protection apparatus having a line and a connector for connecting to a user, the load indicator comprising:
a housing having a pass-through opening and a covered indicator region, at least a portion of the housing configured for connecting to the line;
a shear pin supported by the housing and extending across the pass-through opening; and
a saddle extending across at least a portion of the pass-through opening and supported by at least a portion of the shear pin, the saddle configured for connecting to at least a portion of the connector,
wherein the saddle is movable relative to the housing and within the pass-through opening between a first position, where the saddle is offset from a bottom of the pass-through opening, and a second position to contact the housing at the bottom of the pass-through opening when a force exceeding a predetermined threshold value is applied on the saddle causing the shear pin to shear or break, and
wherein at least a portion of the indicator region is uncovered in the second position of the saddle when the shear pin shears or breaks.

2. The load indicator of claim 1 , further comprising an indicator cover connected to at least a portion of the saddle such that the indicator cover covers the indicating region in the first position of the saddle and uncovers the at least a portion of the indicator region in the second position of the saddle.

3. The load indicator of claim 2 , wherein the indicator cover has a mounting structure for releasably connecting the indicator cover to the saddle.

4. The load indicator of claim 2 , wherein the indicator cover defines an interior cavity shaped to receive at least a portion of the indicator region of the housing.

5. The load indicator of claim 2 , wherein the housing has a first guide member and the indicator cover has a second guide member for guiding a movement of the indicator cover to uncover the at least a portion of the indicator region with movement of the saddle from the first position to the second position.

6. The load indicator of claim 1 , wherein the shear pin has an elongated, substantially cylindrical body with a first end and a second end offset from the first end along a longitudinal axis.

7. The load indicator of claim 6 , wherein the first end and the second end of the shear pin are received within a receiving space on the housing.

8. The load indicator of claim 6 , wherein the shear pin comprises one or more circumferential grooves recessed into the body between the first end and the second end.

9. The load indicator of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the body of the shear pin is solid or hollow.

10. The load indicator of claim 1 , wherein the saddle has an upper end with a grooved portion shaped to engage at least a portion of the connector.

11. The load indicator of claim 10 , wherein the saddle has a lower end with a recess for receiving at least a portion of the shear pin.

12. The load indicator of claim 11 , wherein the recess is oriented substantially perpendicularly to a direction of the grooved portion.

13. The load indicator of claim 10 , wherein the lower end of the saddle is offset from a bottom of the pass-through opening of the housing.

14. The load indicator of claim 1 , wherein the saddle has a pair of lugs protruding from the lower end with a space between the lugs.

15. The load indicator of claim 14 , wherein a retaining pin is retained between the pair of lugs.

16. The load indicator of claim 1 , wherein the housing has a unitary, monolithic structure.

17. The load indicator of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a first part and a second part releasably connected together to surround at least a portion of an outer circumference of the line.

18. A load indicator for use with a fall protection apparatus having a line and a connector for connecting to a user, the load indicator comprising:
a housing having a pass-through opening and an indicator region, the housing configured for connecting to the line;
a shear pin supported by the housing and extending across the pass-through opening;
a saddle extending through at least a portion of the pass-through opening and offset from a bottom of the pass-through opening, the saddle being supported by at least a portion of the shear pin and configured for connecting to at least a portion of the connector;
an indicator cover movable relative to the housing between a first position, where the indicator cover covers the indicator region, and a second position, where the indicator cover uncovers at least a portion of the indicator region,
wherein the indicator cover is moved to the second position when a force exceeding a predetermined threshold value is applied to the saddle to shear or break the shear pin, and
wherein, in the second position, the saddle contacts the housing at the bottom of the pass-through opening.

19. A fall protection apparatus comprising:
a line having a first end and a second end;
a connector for connecting to a user; and
a load indicator positioned between the second end of the line and the connector, the load indicator comprising:
a housing having a pass-through opening and a covered indicator region, at least a portion of the housing connected to the second end of the line;
a shear pin supported by the housing and extending across the pass-through opening; and
a saddle extending across at least a portion of the pass-through opening and supported by at least a portion of the shear pin, the saddle connected to at least a portion of the connector,

wherein the saddle is movable relative to the housing and within the pass-through opening between a first position, where the saddle is offset from a bottom of the pass-through opening, and a second position to contact the housing at the bottom of the pass-through opening when a force exceeding a predetermined threshold value is applied on the saddle causing the shear pin to shear or break, and
wherein at least a portion of the indicator region is uncovered in the second position of the saddle.

20. The fall protection apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising an indicator cover connected to at least a portion of the saddle such that the indicator cover covers the indicating region in the first position of the saddle and uncovers the at least a portion of the indicator region in the second position of the saddle.

Assignees

• Msa Technology Llc

Inventors

• Hetrich Mitchell H
• Hall Mark
• Wu Jeffrey
• Bao David
• Zhan James
• Zhan Jim

Classifications

• A62B35/0037

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

• A62B35/0075 Primary

  Details of ropes or similar equipment, e.g. between the secured person and the lifeline or anchor · CPC title

• G01L5/047 Primary

  Specific indicating or recording arrangements, e.g. for remote indication, for indicating overload or underload · CPC title

• A62B35/0043

  Lifelines, lanyards, and anchors therefore (attachments A62B35/0037) · CPC title

• A62B35/0093 Primary

  Fall arrest reel devices · CPC title