Weight bearing fall protection connector having a wireless fall indicator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11730984-B2
Application number	US-202017076486-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2020
Priority date	Apr 14, 2016
Publication date	Aug 22, 2023
Grant date	Aug 22, 2023

Abstract

A weight bearing fall protection connector includes a first connection member configured to attach the connector to a piece of fall protection equipment, and a second connection member configured to attach the connector to another piece of all equipment, with the connection members fixed to each other to transfer the weight of a worker in a fall event and for movement relative to each other between a ready position and a fall position. The connector further includes a breakable component having a retaining condition wherein the component maintains the members in a ready position and broken condition wherein the component allows the members to move to their fall position. The connector further includes a wireless fall indicator including a wireless transmitter and a switch configured to activate the wireless transmitter in response to movement of the members from the ready position to the fall position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A weight bearing fall protection connector for connecting one piece of fall protection equipment to another piece of fall protection equipment to transfer the weight of a worker in an event of a fall, the connector comprising:
a first connection member configured to attach the connector to one piece of fall protection equipment;
a second connection member configured to attach the connector to another piece of fall protection equipment, the first and second connection members rotatably fixed to each other and configured to transfer the weight of a worker in a fall event and for movement relative to each other between a ready position where the connector has not experienced a fall event while connected to a worker and a fall position where the connector has experienced a fall event while connected to a worker;
a breakable component operably connected to the first and second connection members and having a retaining condition wherein the breakable component maintains the connection members in the ready position and a broken condition wherein the breakable component allows the connection members to move to their fall position after the breakable component has been broken by a weight transfer from a fall event; and
a wireless fall indicator comprising:
a wireless transmitter, and
a switch configured to activate the wireless transmitter in response to movement of the connection members from the ready position to the fall position, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal indicating that a worker has fallen when the wireless transmitter is activated by the switch.

2. The weight bearing fall protection connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the first connection member comprises a first connection portion configured to attach the first connection member to one piece of fall protection equipment,
the second connection member comprises a second connection portion configured to attach the second connection member to another piece of fall protection equipment, and
each of the connection members defines or comprises a weight transfer portion rotatably engaged with the weight transfer portion of the other connection member to transfer the weight of a worker from the first connection member to the second connection member during or in response to the fall event.

3. The weight bearing fall protection connector of claim 2 , wherein the weight transfer portions are rotatably engaged to each other for guided translation relative to each other as the connection members move from the ready position to the fall position, and each of the weight transfer portions has a stop surface that engages another surface to retain the connection members in the fall position.

4. The weight bearing fall protection connector of claim 2 , wherein one of the weight transfer portions comprises a bar and the other of the weight transfer portions comprises an opening that receives the bar for sliding movement of the bar in the opening.

5. The weight bearing fall protection connector of claim 4 , wherein the bar is a cylindrical shaft and the opening is a cylindrical bore that allow the connection members to swivel relative to each other in the ready position.

6. The weight bearing fall protection connector of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the weight transfer portions comprises a collar that engages the other weight transfer portion to retain the connection members in the fall position.

7. The weight bearing fall protection connector of claim 1 , wherein the breakable component comprises a shear pin that is configured to shear during or in response to the fall event.

8. The weight bearing fall protection connector of claim 7 , wherein the shear pin is received in closely conforming bores formed in the connection members.

9. The weight bearing fall protection connector of claim 7 , wherein the shear pin retains a collar in a fixed position relative to one of the connection members with connection members in the ready position, and wherein the one of the connection members is released by the shear pin for movement relative to the collar in response to a fall event.

10. The weight bearing fall protection connector of claim 1 , wherein the switch comprises a pair of electrical contacts that are spaced from each other with the connection members in the ready position and pressed against each other with the connection members in the fall position.

11. The weight bearing fall protection connector of claim 10 , wherein:
the first connection member includes a surface that engages one of the pair of electrical contacts as the connection members move from the ready position to the fall position; and
the second connection member includes a surface that engages the other of the pair of electrical contacts as the connection members move from ready position to the fall position, the engagement of the surfaces with the electrical contacts pressing the contacts against each other with the connection members in the fall position.

12. The weight bearing fall protection connector of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the connection members or the breakable component is configured to generate a magnetic field, and the switch is a magnetic reed switch that is actuated in response to movement of the magnetic field as the connection members move from the ready position to the fall position.

13. The weight bearing fall protection connector of claim 1 , wherein the connector is a D-ring connector.

14. The weight bearing fall protection connector of claim 1 , wherein the connector is a snap hook connector.

15. A weight bearing fall protection connector comprising:
a first connection member configured to be coupled to a first piece of fall protection equipment;
a second connection member configured to be coupled to a second piece of fall protection equipment, the first and second connection members being rotatably fixed to each other, wherein the first connection member is configured for movement relative to the second connection member to transfer the weight of a worker in a fall event between a ready position when the fall event has not occurred and a fall position in an instance in which the first connection member is coupled to the first piece of fall protection equipment, the second connection member is coupled to the second piece of fall protection equipment, one of the first or second pieces of fall protection equipment are properly worn by the worker, and the fall event has occurred;
a breakable component operably connected to the first connection member and having a retaining condition wherein the breakable component maintains the first connection member in the ready position and a broken condition wherein the breakable component allows the first connection member to move to the fall position after the breakable component has been broken by a weight transfer from a fall event; and
a wireless fall indicator comprising:
a wireless transmitter, and
a switch configured to activate the wireless transmitter in response to movement of the first connection member from the ready position to the fall position, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal indicating that the worker has fallen when the wireless transmitter is activated by the switch.

16. The weight bearing fall protection connector of claim 15 , wherein the switch comprises a pair of electrical contacts that are configured to be spaced a distance from each other when the first connection member is in the ready position and configured to be disposed against or nearby each other when the first connection member is in the fall positio

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Huseth Steve
• Rohlf Bradley
• Fegley Michael
• Sharp Steven Joseph
• Deets Cinnamon C
• Zachar Jr William A

Classifications

• F16B45/023

  the closing member pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the hook · CPC title

• F16B45/028

  the position-locking means being pivotally connected · CPC title

• A62B35/0037 Primary

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

• F16B45/02

  Hooks with pivoting {or elastically bending} closing member · 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