Energy absorber cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9707421-B2
Application number	US-201313827309-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2013
Priority date	Feb 8, 2013
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

A cover for an energy absorber comprises front and rear sides having first and second legs extending downward forming an upside down V-shape. The front and rear sides define a cavity therebetween and an opening provides access to the cavity proximate a top portion of the front side and a top of the rear side. The top portion is configured and arranged to engage a connector. The top portion includes a first portion of a fastener, and the top includes a second portion of the fastener. The first and second portions releasably interconnect the top portion and the top. A first strap is operatively connected to the first leg and is configured and arranged to engage a first shoulder strap of the safety harness. A second strap is operatively connected to the second leg and is configured and arranged to engage a second shoulder strap of the safety harness.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cover for an energy absorber operatively connected to a safety harness, the energy absorber including a first energy absorber portion and a second energy absorber portion configured and arranged to separate and absorb energy when subjected to a force from a fall, the cover comprising:
a front side and a rear side, the front side and the rear side operatively connected to form a single first leg and a single second leg extending downward in a single upside down V-shape, the front side having a top portion including a first portion of a fastener, the rear side having a top including a second portion of the fastener, wherein the first portion of the fastener is configured to engage with the second portion of the fastener to connect and disconnect the top portion to the rear side, the front side and the rear side forming an opening proximate the top, the opening configured and arranged to provide access to a cavity formed between the front side and rear side; and
a first connecting member proximate a distal end of the single first leg and a second connecting member proximate a distal end of the single second leg, the first connecting member configured and arranged to operatively connect the single first leg to a first strap of the safety harness, and the second connecting member configured and arranged to operatively connect the single second leg to a second strap of the safety harness.

2. The cover of claim 1 , wherein the top portion includes a flap portion extending upward from the first and second legs, the flap portion being configured and arranged to engage a connector interconnecting the energy absorber and the safety harness.

3. The cover of claim 2 , wherein the first portion of the fastener further selectively connects the flap portion to the first and second legs.

4. The cover of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is configured to release to allow the energy absorber to operate when the energy absorber is subjected to a predetermined load.

5. The cover of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a hook and loop fastener.

6. The cover of claim 1 , wherein the first and second connecting members are straps including ends with mating releasable fasteners.

7. A cover for an energy absorber operatively connected to a safety harness, the energy absorber including a first energy absorber portion and a second energy absorber portion configured and arranged to separate and absorb energy when subjected to a force from a fall, the cover comprising:
a front side and a rear side, the front side and the rear side operatively connected to form a single first leg and a single second leg extending downward in a single upside down V-shape, the front side having a top portion including a first portion of a fastener, the rear side having a top including a second portion of the fastener, the rear side and the front side defining a cavity therebetween and an opening; said cavity is configured and arranged to keep the energy absorber in a folded upside down V-shape configuration and said opening is configured and arranged to provide access to the cavity proximate the top of the rear side, the first and second portions of the fastener are configured to engage one another to connect and disconnect the top portion of the front side and the top of the rear side; a first strap operatively connected to the single first leg, the first strap configured and arranged to engage a first shoulder strap of the safety harness; and a second strap operatively connected to the single second leg, the second strap configured and arranged to engage a second shoulder strap of the safety harness.

8. The cover of claim 7 , wherein the top portion includes a flap portion extending upward from the first and second legs, the flap portion being configured and arranged to engage a connector interconnecting the energy absorber and the safety harness.

9. The cover of claim 7 , wherein the fastener is configured to release to allow the energy absorber to operate when the energy absorber is subjected to a predetermined load.

10. The cover of claim 7 , wherein the fastener is a hook and loop fastener.

11. The cover of claim 7 , wherein the first and second straps each include ends with mating releasable fasteners.

12. A cover for an energy absorber stored in a single upside down V-shape folded configuration, the energy absorber including a first energy absorber portion and a second energy absorber portion configured and arranged to separate and absorb energy when subjected to a force from a fall, the cover comprising:
a top portion, the top portion including a first portion of a fastener assembly; a top including a second portion of the fastener assembly, the first portion is configured to engage with the second portion to connect and disconnect the top portion and the top, the top portion, the top and the fastener assembly being configured and arranged to couple the cover to a connector that interconnects the energy absorber to a safety harness;
a single first leg extending from the top portion, the single first leg having a first leg cavity configured and arranged to receive a first portion of the energy absorber;
a single second leg extending from the top portion in a divergent fashion relative to the single first leg, the single second leg having a second leg cavity configured and arranged to receive a second portion of the energy absorber, the single first leg and the single second leg form a single upside down V-shape, the first leg cavity and the second leg cavity assist in keeping the energy absorber in the single upside down V-shape folded configuration, the top portion and the top forming an opening to the first leg cavity and the second leg cavity; a first connector member coupled proximate a distal end of the single first leg, the first connector member configured and arranged to couple the single first leg to a first strap of the safety harness; and
a second connector member coupled proximate a distal end of the single second leg, the second connector member configured and arranged to couple the single second leg to a second strap of the safety harness.

13. The cover of claim 12 ; wherein the cover is made from a front side and a rear side that are connected to form the first and second cavities.

14. The cover of claim 12 , further comprising:
the top portion having a flap portion; and
the fastener assembly configured and arranged to couple the flap portion to the connector that interconnects the energy absorber to the safety harness.

15. The cover of claim 14 , wherein the fastener assembly is configured to release to allow the energy absorber to operate when the energy absorber is subjected to a predetermined load.

Assignees

• Db Ind Llc

Inventors

• Casebolt Scott C
• Wolner J Thomas

Classifications

• A62B35/0025

  Details and accessories · CPC title

• F16C11/04

  Pivotal connections (hinges for doors, windows or wings E05D) · CPC title

• F16F7/006

  using textile means (safety belts or body harnesses incorporating energy absorbing means A62B35/04) · CPC title

• Y10T403/32041

  Universal · CPC title

• A62B35/04 Primary

  incorporating energy absorbing means · CPC title