Carabiner divider and fall arrest system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12565908-B2
Application number	US-202117208899-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2021
Priority date	Aug 21, 2015
Publication date	Mar 3, 2026
Grant date	Mar 3, 2026

Abstract

A divider for a carabiner in a fall arrest system, the carabiner having a frame; and an openable gate and configured to be moved between an open position and a closed position, the divider comprising a body having: (i) a central body portion; and (ii) a plurality of connection portions extending from the central body portion and configured to attach the divider to at least a portion of the frame, wherein the plurality of connection portions are spaced and divide the carabiner into a plurality of areas for connection of the at least one component of the harness arrangement and the at least one fall arrest device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising a divider and a carabiner in a fall arrest system, the carabiner having:
(1) a frame; and (2) an openable gate attached to the frame at a pivot point and configured to be moved between an open position, wherein at least one component of a harness arrangement and at least one fall arrest device can be attached to or detached from the frame, and a closed position, wherein the at least one component of the harness arrangement and the at least one fall arrest device can be secured to the frame, wherein the gate is configured to slide longitudinally and then pivot about the pivot point for movement between the open position and the closed position, the divider comprising: a body having:
(i) a central body portion; and
(ii) a plurality of connection portions extending from the central body portion and configured to attach the divider to at least a portion of the frame,
wherein the plurality of connection portions are spaced and divide the carabiner into a plurality of areas for connection of the at least one component of the harness arrangement and the at least one fall arrest device, and
wherein the central body portion comprises a stop formation that, when engaged, is positioned adjacent a longitudinal end face of the gate opposite the pivot point such that contact of the longitudinal end face of the gate with the stop formation prevents the gate from longitudinally sliding.

2 . The divider of claim 1 , wherein the at least one stop formation is formed separately from the divider.

3 . The divider of claim 1 , wherein the at least one stop formation is formed integrally with the divider.

4 . The divider of claim 1 , wherein at least one connection portion of the plurality of connection portions comprises a collar extending around the frame.

5 . The divider of claim 4 , wherein the collar is positioned substantially adjacent to and spaced from one end of the gate.

6 . The divider of claim 4 , wherein the collar is configured to facilitate the swiveling of the divider from an engaged position, wherein all of the plurality of connection portions are attached to the frame, to a disengaged position, wherein only the collar remains attached to the frame.

7 . The divider of claim 1 , wherein, when attached, at least one of the plurality of connection portions is slidable along the frame and configured to facilitate complete removal of the divider from the carabiner.

8 . The divider of claim 1 , wherein at least one connection portion of the plurality of connection portions are removably attachable to the frame.

9 . The divider of claim 8 , wherein the at least one connection portion comprises a substantially C-shaped clip member that is configured to fit at least partially around at least a portion of the frame.

10 . The divider of claim 9 , wherein the substantially C-shaped clip member is substantially deformable or flexible, such that the substantially C-shaped clip member can be frictionally engaged with the frame.

11 . The divider of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the body is positionable substantially adjacent the gate.

12 . The divider of claim 1 , wherein the central body portion comprises at least one edge extending substantially adjacent to a side of the gate, such that, when the divider is attached to the frame, the gate is prevented from pivoting to the open position.

13 . The divider of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of connection portions define four areas, comprising: (1) a first area for connection of a first fall arrest device; (2) a second area for connection of a second fall arrest device; (3) a third area for connection of the at least one component of the harness arrangement; and (4) a fourth area at least partially surrounding the gate.

14 . The divider of claim 1 , further comprising at least one rib formed on the body at least partially along at least one of the plurality of connection portions.

15 . A fall arrest system, comprising:
a harness arrangement removably attachable to a user; at least one fall arrest device having a safety line having a connector on an end thereof, the connector configured to be secured to an anchor point; a carabiner comprising a frame and an openable gate attached to the frame at a pivot point and configured to be moved between an open position, wherein at least one component of the harness arrangement and the at least one fall arrest device can be attached to or detached from the frame, and a closed position, wherein the at least one component of the harness arrangement and the at least one fall arrest device can be secured to the frame, wherein the gate is configured to slide longitudinally and then pivot about the pivot point for movement between the open position and the closed position; and a divider comprising a body having:
(i) a central body portion; and
(ii) a plurality of connection portions extending from the central body portion and configured to attach the divider to at least a portion of the frame,
wherein the plurality of connection portions are spaced and divide the carabiner into a plurality of areas for connection of the at least one component of the harness arrangement and the at least one fall arrest device,
wherein the central body portion comprises a stop formation that, when engaged, is positioned adjacent a longitudinal end face of the gate opposite the pivot point such that contact of the longitudinal end face of the gate with the stop formation prevents the gate from longitudinally sliding.

16 . The fall arrest system of claim 15 , wherein at least one connection portion of the plurality of connection portions comprises a collar extending around the frame.

17 . The fall arrest system of claim 15 , wherein the collar is positioned substantially adjacent to and spaced from one end of the gate.

18 . The fall arrest system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of connection portions define four areas, comprising: (1) a first area for connection of a first fall arrest device; (2) a second area for connection of a second fall arrest device; (3) a third area for connection of the at least one component of the harness arrangement; and (4) a fourth area at least partially surrounding the gate.

19 . The fall arrest system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one stop formation is formed separately from the divider.

20 . The fall arrest system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one stop formation is formed integrally with the divider.

21 . The divider of claim 1 , wherein the divider comprises four separate connection portions.

Assignees

• Latchways Plc
• Msa Technology Llc

Inventors

• Jones Owain
• Jones Karl

Classifications

• A62B35/0043

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

• F16B45/023

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

• A63B29/02

  Mountain guy-ropes or accessories, e.g. avalanche ropes; Means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons · CPC title

• A62B35/0037

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

• F16B45/027 Primary

  and having position-locking means for the closing member · CPC title