Safety apparatus comprising mechanical command interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11724136-B2
Application number	US-201816484707-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2018
Priority date	Feb 16, 2017
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

A fall-protection apparatus that includes a computing device configured to detect a mechanical command signal, and methods of using such an apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a self-retracting fall-protection apparatus, the method comprising:
receiving and identifying a mechanical command signal originating from a safety line with a proximal end that is attached to a rotatable drum of the self-retracting fall-protection apparatus and with a distal end that is attachable to a harness of a user of the apparatus; and,
upon receiving and identifying the mechanical command signal, performing at least one action,
wherein the mechanical command signal comprises a predetermined sequence of states of the safety line that is the result of deliberate manual manipulation of a distal section of the safety line by the user, and
wherein the method comprises a preliminary step of choosing the predetermined sequence of states of the safety line that constitute the mechanical command signal, in view of a work environment in which the self-retracting fall-protection apparatus is to be used, and
wherein the self-retracting fall-protection apparatus comprises a housing to which the rotatable drum is rotatably connected and further comprises a computing device configured to receive and identify the mechanical command signal that originates from the safety line, by way of at least one sensor that is resident on the housing of the apparatus and that is configured to sense a state of the safety line; and wherein the computing device is further configured to perform the at least one action upon receiving and identifying the mechanical command signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mechanical command signal comprises a predetermined sequence of motions of the safety line that includes at least one retraction of the safety line.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the mechanical command signal comprises a predetermined sequence of motions of the safety line that includes at least one extension of the safety line.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the mechanical command signal comprises a predetermined sequence of motions of the safety line that includes at least successive, alternating extensions and retractions of the safety line.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the mechanical command signal includes at least one predetermined wait time interval during which the safety line is held stationary.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the mechanical command signal includes at least one engaging of a braking mechanism of a housing of the self-retracting fall-protection apparatus.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the mechanical command signal comprises a predetermined sequence of successive, alternating engagings and disengagings of the braking mechanism of the housing of the apparatus.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one housing-resident sensor is chosen from at least one of a position sensor, a tension sensor, a speedometer, or an accelerometer, and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device is configured to receive and identify the mechanical command signal that originates from the safety line, by using at least one housing-resident sensor to directly interrogate at least one of a position, a tension, a speed, or an acceleration, of the safety line.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device is configured to receive and identify the mechanical command signal that originates from the safety line, by using at least one housing-resident sensor to interrogate at least one of a rotational position, a rotational tension, a rotational speed, or a rotational acceleration, of the rotatable drum to which the proximal end of the safety line is attached.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one housing-resident sensor is configured to sense a state of the safety line by way of monitoring at least one component of a braking mechanism of the housing of the apparatus.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one action that is performed is a non-mechanical action.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one action that is performed includes at least one of the following actions: changing the computing device from a stand-by state to a ready state; changing the computing device from a ready state to a stand-by state; performing a self-check of the computing device; logging a time event; logging an action and/or status of a user of the apparatus;
and monitoring an environmental parameter.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one action that is performed comprises a notification action chosen from the group of actions consisting of emitting a visible signal and emitting an audible signal.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device is configured to receive and identify an initial mechanical command signal, to send a request-for-confirmation signal upon receiving and identifying the initial command signal, to receive and identify a confirmation signal, and to take an action upon receiving and identifying the confirmation signal.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one action that is performed comprises a communication action comprising sending a wireless communication to a mobile device and/or to a base unit.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one action that is performed comprises a communication action chosen from the group consisting of: establishing communication with a mobile device carried by a user of the fall-protection apparatus and pairing the computing device with the mobile device; and, terminating communication with a mobile device with which the computing device had been previously communicating.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the self-retracting fall-protection apparatus is a self-retracting lifeline or a self-retracting descender.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device comprises a menu of different mechanical command signals from which the mechanical command signal is chosen in the preliminary step.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Company

Inventors

• Blackford Matthew J
• Awiszus Steven T
• Jesme Ronald D
• Lobner Eric C

Classifications

• A62B35/0093 Primary

  Fall arrest reel devices · CPC title

• A62B35/0043

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

• A62B1/00

  Devices for lowering persons from buildings or the like · CPC title

• A62B1/06

  by making use of rope-lowering devices (capstans, winches B66D) · CPC title

• A62B1/16

  Life-saving ropes or belts (safety belts A62B35/00; mountain guy-ropes A63B29/02; life-saving belts for use at sea B63C) · CPC title