Articulated harness connection arrangement with integrated attachment element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12485301-B2
Application number	US-202318310567-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2023
Priority date	Jun 28, 2019
Publication date	Dec 2, 2025
Grant date	Dec 2, 2025

Abstract

A connection arrangement for use with a wearable body harness includes a first connector having a first body component, a second body component, and an attachment element connected to each other by a rod having a longitudinal axis. The connection arrangement further includes a second connector removably connectable to the first connector. Each of the first body component, the second body component, and the attachment element are independently movable relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of the rod. The first connector and the second connector are removably connectable to each other via a locking and release mechanism between a first, locked configuration, where the first connector and the second connector are connected to each other, and a second, unlocked configuration, where the first connector and the second connector are disconnected from each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A connection arrangement for use with a wearable body harness, the connection arrangement comprising:
a first connector comprising a first body component and a second body component connected to each other by a rod having a longitudinal axis; and a second connector removably connectable to the first connector, the second connector configured to receive a portion of the wearable body harness at an aperture extending through the second connector, wherein the first body component comprises a first tab, wherein the second body component comprises a pair of second tabs, the pair of second tabs being configured to receive the first tab therebetween for connection via the rod.

2 . The connection arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first tab comprises a first through opening having a first axis that is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the rod, and wherein the rod is inserted into the first through opening.

3 . The connection arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the second pair of tabs each comprise a second through opening with a second axis extending through the through openings, wherein the first axis and the second axis are coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the rod, and wherein the rod is inserted into the first through opening and the second through openings.

4 . The connection arrangement of claim 3 , further comprising an attachment element connected to the first body component and the second body component, wherein the attachment element has a pair of opposed terminal ends each having a through opening with an attachment element axis extending therethrough, wherein the pair of tabs of the second body component are received between the opposed terminal ends such that the first axis, the second axis, and the attachment element axis are coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the rod, and wherein the rod is inserted into the first through opening, the second through openings, and the terminal end through openings.

5 . The connection arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first connector and the second connector are removably connectable to each other via a locking and release mechanism between a first, locked configuration, where the first connector and the second connector are connected to each other, and a second, unlocked configuration, where the first connector and the second connector are disconnected from each other.

6 . The connection arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the first connector has a first portion of the locking and release mechanism, and
wherein the second connector has a second portion of the locking and release mechanism, wherein the first portion of the locking and release mechanism comprises:
a tab having a first end connected to the body of the first connector and a second, free end protruding away from the body of the first connector, and
a first latch at the second end of the tab and protruding laterally outward relative to at least one lateral side of the tab, and
wherein the second portion of the locking and release mechanism comprises:
an upper plate and a lower plate defining a slot therebetween and configured for receiving at least a portion of the tab, and
a pair of locking arms disposed within at least a portion of the slot and configured for interacting with the tab, the pair of locking arms movable between a first, locked position and a second, unlocked position to allow movement of at least a portion of the tab into and out of the slot.

7 . The connection arrangement of claim 6 , wherein each of the pair of locking arms has a locking tooth at a first end and a release tab at a second end with a pivot pin positioned between the locking tooth and the release tab such that each locking arm is pivotally movable about the pivot pin.

8 . The connection arrangement of claim 6 , wherein each of the pair of locking arms is biased to the first position by a biasing member.

9 . The connection arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first connector comprises a first buckle configured to connect to a first shoulder strap of the wearable body harness, and wherein the second connector comprises a second buckle configured to connect to the second shoulder strap of the wearable body harness.

10 . The connection arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the first buckle comprises a first bar spaced apart from the first connector by a first pair of posts and wherein the second buckle comprises a second bar spaced apart from the second connector by a second pair of posts.

11 . A wearable body harness having a plurality of straps comprising:
a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap; a first connector connected to the first shoulder strap, the first connector comprising a first body component and a second body component connected to each other by a rod having a longitudinal axis; and a second connector connected to the second shoulder strap and removably connectable to the first connector, wherein the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap are arranged in an X- shaped configuration at a front portion of the harness.

12 . The wearable body harness of claim 11 , wherein the first body component has a tab with a first through opening having a first axis that is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the rod, and wherein the rod is inserted into the first through opening.

13 . The wearable body harness of claim 12 , wherein the second body component has a pair of tabs each having a second through opening with a second axis extending through the through openings, wherein the tab of the first body component is received in a space between the pair of tabs such that the first axis and the second axis are coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the rod, and wherein the rod is inserted into the first through opening and the second through openings.

14 . The wearable body harness arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the first connector further comprises an attachment element;
wherein each of the first body component, the second body component, and the attachment element are independently movable relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of the rod.

15 . The wearable body harness of claim 14 , wherein the attachment element has a pair of opposed terminal ends each having a through opening with an attachment element axis extending therethrough, wherein the pair of tabs of the second body component are received between the opposed terminal ends such that the first axis, the second axis, and the attachment element axis are coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the rod, and wherein the rod is inserted into the first through opening, the second through openings, and the terminal end through openings.

16 . The wearable body harness of claim 11 , wherein the first connector and the second connector are removably connectable to each other via a locking and release mechanism between a first, locked configuration, where the first connector and the second connector are connected to each other, and a second, unlocked configuration, where the first connector and the second connector are disconnected from each other.

17 . The wearable body harness of claim 16 , wherein the first connector has a first portion of the locking and release mechanism, and
wherein the second connector has a second portion of the locking and release mechanism, wherein the first portion of the locking and release mechanism comprises:
a tab having a first end connected to the body of the first connector and a second, free end protruding away from the body of the first connector, and
a first latch at the second end of the tab and protru

Assignees

• Msa Technology Llc

Inventors

• Monahan Michael D
• Hall Mark
• Ferreira Dodge Eduardo José

Classifications

• A62B35/0018

  Full body harnesses covering at least shoulders and thighs · CPC title

• A44B11/006

  Attachment of buckle to strap (for safety buckles A44B11/2553) · CPC title

• A62B35/0037

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

• A44B11/2546

  Details · CPC title

• A62B35/0025 Primary

  Details and accessories · CPC title