Cable grab device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9750959-B2
Application number	US-201514919501-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2015
Priority date	Oct 21, 2015
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

A fall protection device or cable grab device for use with a generally vertically-extending cable, comprising: an articulating frame comprising: (i) a plurality of members; (ii) a channel configured to receive and retain the cable; and (iii) an attachment member opening extending through at least a portion of the articulating frame and configured to facilitate attachment of an attachment member to the cable grab device; wherein, when the frame is articulated in a generally downward (or first) direction, and at a specified point, at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of members contacts the cable and brakes movement of the cable grab device; wherein, when the frame is articulated in a generally upward (or second) direction, and at a specified point, at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of members contacts the cable and brakes movement of the cable grab device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fall protection device for use with a generally vertically-extending cable, comprising:
at least one first lateral member having a channel configured to receive and retain the cable;
at least one second lateral member spaced from the at least one first lateral member;
at least one first pivot member pivotally attached between a first end of the at least one first lateral member and a first end of the at least one second lateral member;
at least one second pivot member pivotally attached between a second end of the at least one first lateral member and a second end of the at least one second lateral member; and
an attachment member opening extending through at least a portion of at least one of the following: the at least one second lateral member, the at least one first pivot member, the at least one second pivot member, or any combination thereof, wherein the attachment member opening is configured to facilitate attachment of an attachment member to the fall protection device;
wherein, when the fall protection device is moved or urged in a generally downward direction, and at a specified point, at least a portion of a first end of the at least one first pivot member and/or a first end of the at least one second pivot member contacts the cable and brakes or stops movement of the fall protection device;
wherein at least one slot extends through at least a portion of the first end of the at least one first pivot member and/or the first end of the at least one second pivot member, such that if the at least one second lateral member is urged or moved in a generally upward direction with respect to the at least one first lateral member, and at a specified point, at least a portion of the first end of the at least one first pivot member and/or the first end of the at least one second pivot member contacts the cable and brakes the fall protection device.

2. The fall protection device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one biasing member configured to bias or urge the at least one second lateral member in one direction.

3. The fall protection device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one biasing member is a spring.

4. The fall protection device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first lateral member comprises a substantially U-shaped cross section, wherein a base area of the U-shape defines the channel and a top area of the U-shape is configured to receive at least a portion of the first end of the at least one first pivot member and at least a portion of the first end of the at least one second pivot member therebetween.

5. The fall protection device of claim 4 , further comprising a shaped slot in the base area of the U-shape, such that the fall protection device is removably connectable to the cable by first moving the shaped slot over the cable and twisting the fall protection device to seat the cable in the channel.

6. The fall protection device of claim 1 , wherein the attachment member opening defines a slot extending from a perimeter of the attachment member opening, wherein a slidable member is positioned at least partially in the slot and slidable along the attachment member opening and the slot.

7. The fall protection device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first lateral member comprises a substantially U-shaped cross section, wherein a top area of the U-shape is defined by a first wall and a second wall and is configured to receive at least a portion of the first end of the at least one first pivot member and at least a portion of the first end of the at least one second pivot member therebetween, wherein the at least one pin directly or indirectly connects at least one of the plurality of second pivot members between the first wall and the second wall.

8. The fall protection device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one biasing member directly or indirectly contacting at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of second pivot members, wherein the at least one biasing member is configured to bias or urge the at least one second lateral member in one direction.

9. The fall protection device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one pin directly or indirectly connecting a second end of at least one of the plurality of second pivot members to the at least one second lateral member.

10. The fall protection device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first pivot member is shaped, such that an edge of the first end of the at least one first pivot member contacts the cable to brake the fall protection device.

11. The fall protection device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of first pivot members, wherein at least one of the plurality of first pivot members is configured to contact the cable to brake the fall protection device.

12. The fall protection device of claim 11 , further comprising at least one pin directly or indirectly pivotally connecting the first end of at least one of the plurality of first pivot members to the at least one first lateral member.

13. The fall protection device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one slot extends through the first end of the plurality of first pivot members, and the at least one pin extends through and is configured to move along the at least one slot.

14. The fall protection device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one first lateral member comprises a substantially U-shaped cross section, wherein a top area of the U-shape is defined by a first wall and a second wall and configured to receive at least a portion of the first end of the at least one first pivot member and at least a portion of the first end of the at least one second pivot member therebetween, wherein the at least one pin directly or indirectly connects at least one of the plurality of first pivot members between the first wall and the second wall.

15. The fall protection device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one first pivot member and/or the at least one second pivot member is connected between two second lateral members.

16. The fall protection device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot extends through at least a portion of the first end of the at least one first pivot member.

17. The fall protection device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first pivot member and/or the second pivot member comprises at least one of the following: projections, indentations, ribs, slots, grooves, a coating, a friction material, knurling, or any combination thereof.

18. The fall protection device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot is at least one of the following: shaped, sized, oriented, or any combination thereof, to facilitate the movement or urging of at least a portion of the first end of the at least one first pivot member and/or the first end of the at least one second pivot member into contact with the cable to brake or stop the movement of the fall protection device.

19. The fall protection device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one pin extending through and configured to slide along the at least one slot, wherein the at least one pin has at least one of the following cross sections: circular, triangular, square, or any combination thereof.

20. A fall protection device for use with a generally vertically-extending cable, comprising:
an articulating frame comprising:
(i) a plurality of members;
(ii) a channel configured to receive and retain the cable; and
(iii) an attachment member opening extending through at least a portion of the articulating frame and configured to facilitate attachment of

Assignees

• Msa Technology Llc

Inventors

• Sepe Benjamin T

Classifications

• A62B35/0093

  Fall arrest reel devices · CPC title

• F16D63/008

  Brakes acting on a linearly moving member · CPC title

• F16G11/101

  deforming the cable by moving a part of the fastener · CPC title

• A62B1/14 Primary

  with brakes sliding on the rope · CPC title

• A62B35/0081

  Equipment which can travel along the length of a lifeline, e.g. travelers · CPC title