Suspension trauma relief strap assembly for use with a full body harness

• US 20060048998A1
• Filed: 07/19/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DB Industries LLC (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: D B Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Betcher, Travis P., Wolner, J. Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,061,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 182/3
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 35/0006 Harnesses; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 35/0018 Full body harnesses covering at least shoulders and thighs
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 35/0025 Details and accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 35/0031 Belt sorting accessories, e.g. devices keeping the belts in comfortable positions

Abstract

A preferred embodiment suspension trauma relief strap assembly for use with a full body harness includes a pair of straps connectable in two configurations. The first configuration is formed by engaging a hook of one strap with one of a plurality of closed loop arrangements of the other strap to form a sling upon which a person donning the full body harness may stand. The second configuration is formed by engaging the hook of the one strap with one of the plurality of closed loop arrangements of the one strap and engaging the hook of the other strap with one of the plurality of closed loop arrangements of the other strap to form two slings upon which a person donning the full body harness may stand.

Claims

1. A suspension trauma relief strap assembly for use with a full body harness, comprising:

a) a pair of straps, each strap having a first end, an intermediate portion, and a second end, each first end including a connector configured and arranged to engage the full body harness, each intermediate portion including a plurality of closed loop arrangements, each second end including a hook, the hook being configured and arranged to engage one of the plurality of closed loop arrangements, the pair of straps connectable in two configurations;

b) a first configuration formed by engaging the hook of one strap with one of the plurality of closed loop arrangements of the other strap, the pair of straps forming a sling upon which a person donning the full body harness may stand; and

c) a second configuration formed by engaging the hook of the one strap with one of the plurality of closed loop arrangements of the one strap and engaging the hook of the other strap with one of the plurality of closed loop arrangements of the other strap, each strap forming a sling upon which a person donning the full body harness may stand.

2. The suspension trauma relief strap assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pair of housings, each strap being folded to fit inside one of the housings.

3. The suspension trauma relief strap assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector is a loop formed by the first end of each strap.

4. The suspension trauma relief strap assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of closed loop arrangements are portions of the strap folded and secured to form loops with the strap along the intermediate portion of the strap.

5. The suspension trauma relief strap assembly of claim 1, wherein each strap may withstand at least 500 pounds of weight.

6. A suspension trauma relief strap assembly for use with a full body harness having a first leg strap and a second leg strap, comprising:

a) a first strap having a first end and a second end, the first end including a first connector, the first connector being configured and arranged to engage the full body harness proximate the first leg strap;

b) a hook operatively connected to the second end;

c) a second strap having a third end, an intermediate portion, and a fourth end, the third end including a second connector, the second connector being configured and arranged to engage the full body harness proximate the second leg strap;

d) a plurality of closed loop arrangements operatively connected to the intermediate portion of the second strap, the plurality of closed loop arrangements being configured and arranged to receive the hook of the first strap, the hook of the first strap engaging one of the plurality of closed loop arrangements to connect the first strap and the second strap thereby forming a sling, the sling providing a surface upon which a worker may stand to relieve suspension trauma from pressure on the worker'"'"'s body by the full body harness.

7. The suspension trauma relief strap assembly of claim 6, further comprising a first housing and a second housing, the first strap being folded to fit inside the first housing and the second strap being folded to fit inside the second housing.

8. The suspension trauma relief strap assembly of claim 6, wherein the first connector and the second connector are each a loop formed by the respective end of each strap.

9. The suspension trauma relief strap assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of closed loop arrangements are portions of the second strap folded and secured to form loops with the second strap along the intermediate portion of the second strap.

10. A suspension trauma relief strap assembly for use with a full body harness having shoulder straps, leg straps, a seat strap, and a dorsal D-ring, the dorsal D-ring being operatively connected to the shoulder straps proximate a rear portion of the full body harness, the seat strap interconnecting the shoulder straps, the leg straps being operatively connected to the seat strap, wherein a worker donning the full body harness is suspended in a relatively upright position by the dorsal D-ring when a fall occurs, the dorsal D-ring pulling the full body harness upward relative to the worker, the full body harness placing pressure on the worker, comprising:

a) a first strap and a second strap, each strap having a first end, an intermediate portion, and a second end, the first end of each strap including a connector configured and arranged to engage one of the shoulder straps of the full body harness proximate the seat strap;

b) a hook operatively connected to the second end of one of the straps; and

c) a plurality of closed loop arrangements operatively connected to the intermediate portion of another of the straps, the hook of one strap being configured and arranged to engage the plurality of closed loop arrangements of the other strap, the engaged hook and closed loop arrangement interconnecting the first strap and the second strap forming a sling upon which the worker may stand to relieve the pressure of the full body harness on the worker.

11. The suspension trauma relief strap assembly of claim 10, wherein the first strap and the second strap each have a hook and a plurality of closed loop arrangements.

12. The suspension trauma relief strap assembly of claim 11, wherein the hook of the first strap engages the closed loop arrangement of the second strap to interconnect the first strap and the second strap forming a sling upon which the worker may stand.

13. The suspension trauma relief strap assembly of claim 11, wherein the hook of the first strap engages the closed loop arrangement of the first strap and the hook of the second strap engages the closed loop arrangement of the second strap, each strap forming a sling upon which the worker may stand.

14. A suspension trauma relief strap assembly for use with a full body harness, comprising:

a) a pair of straps, each strap having a first end, an intermediate portion, and a second end, each first end including a connector configured and arranged to engage the full body harness, the second end of one strap including a first connecting member, the intermediate portion of another strap including a second connecting member, the first connecting member and the second connecting member being configured and arranged to engage one another;

b) a first configuration formed by engaging the first connecting member of the one strap and the second connecting member of the another strap, the pair of straps forming a sling upon which a person donning the full body harness may stand.

15. The suspension trauma relief strap assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

a) the second end of the another strap including a first connecting member, the intermediate portion of the one strap including a second connecting member, the first connecting member and the second connecting member being configured and arranged to engage one another;

b) a second configuration formed by engaging the first connecting member of the one strap with the second connecting member of the one strap and engaging the first connecting member of the another strap with the second connecting member of the another strap, each strap forming a sling upon which a person donning the full body harness may stand.

16. The suspension trauma relief strap assembly of claim 15, wherein the first connecting member is a hook and the second connecting member is a plurality of closed loop arrangements.

17. A suspension trauma relief strap assembly for use with a full body harness, comprising:

a) a strap having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion;

b) a connector operatively connected to the first end and being configured and arranged to engage the full body harness;

c) a first connecting member operatively connected to the second end; and

d) a second connecting member operatively connected to the intermediate portion, the first connecting member and the second connecting being configured and arranged to engage one another to form a sling upon which a worker donning the full body harness may stand after a fall to relieve suspension trauma.

18. The suspension trauma relief strap assembly of claim 17, wherein the first connecting member is a hook and the second connecting member is a plurality of closed loop arrangements.

19. The suspension trauma relief strap assembly of claim 17, wherein a strap is operatively connected to each side of the full body harness.

20. The suspension trauma relief strap assembly of claim 19, wherein the first connecting member of one strap is operatively connected to the second connecting member of the other strap to form a sling upon which a worker donning the full body harness may stand after a fall to relieve suspension trauma.

21. A method of forming a sling upon which a worker donning a full body harness may stand after a fall to relieve suspension trauma, comprising:

a) releasing a first strap having a first connecting member;

b) releasing a second strap having a second connecting member;

c) interconnecting the first strap and the second strap by connecting the first connecting member and the second connecting member thereby forming a sling upon which the worker donning the full body harness may stand.

22. The method of claim 21, the first connecting member being a hook and the second connecting member being a plurality of closed loop arrangements, wherein the first strap and the second strap are interconnected by placing the hook through one of the plurality of closed loop arrangements.