Method of Adjusting a Strap of a Safety Harness

• US 20100242233A1
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DB Industries LLC (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: D B Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Wolner, J. Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,794,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/197
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2557 with strap length adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 35/0031 Belt sorting accessories, e.g. devices keeping the belts in comfortable positions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/21 Strap tighteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4086 Looped strap

Abstract

A method of adjusting a length of at least one safety harness strap with an adjuster comprises positioning the adjuster at a desired location along the at least one strap, winding the at least one strap about the shaft, and locking the shaft with the locking mechanism to prevent rotation in an unwinding direction. The at least one strap is selected from the group consisting of at least one shoulder strap, at least one chest strap, at least one waist strap, at least one seat strap, and at least one leg strap. The adjuster includes a base, a shaft rotatably operatively connected to the shaft and defining a slot configured and arranged to receive the at least one strap, and a locking mechanism interconnecting the base and the shaft. The locking mechanism allows rotation of the shaft in one direction and prevents rotation of the shaft in an opposite direction.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting a length of at least one strap of a safety harness with an adjuster, the at least one strap being selected from the group consisting of at least one shoulder strap, at least one chest strap, at least one waist strap, at least one seat strap, and at least one leg strap, the adjuster including a base, a shaft rotatably operatively connected to the shaft and defining a slot configured and arranged to receive the at least one strap, and a locking mechanism interconnecting the base and the shaft, the locking mechanism allowing rotation of the shaft in a first direction and preventing rotation of the shaft in a second opposite direction, comprising:

positioning the adjuster at a desired location along the at least one strap;

winding the at least one strap about the shaft; and

locking the shaft with the locking mechanism to prevent rotation in an unwinding direction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjuster is positioned proximate an intermediate portion of the at least one strap, the at least one strap has a first portion proximate one side of the adjuster and a second portion proximate an opposing side of the adjuster, and the first and second portions of the at least one strap are wound about the shaft.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjuster is positioned proximate an end of the at least one strap and a portion of the at least one strap proximate the end is wound about the shaft.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjuster interconnects first and second straps of the safety harness, the first strap is wound about the shaft, and the second strap is operatively connected to the base.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the adjuster includes a male portion and a female portion, the male portion including the shaft, the female portion being configured and arranged to releasably engage the male portion, the first strap being connected to the male portion and windable about the shaft, the second strap being connected to the female portion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjuster is operatively connected to the at least one chest strap.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one chest strap includes a first portion and a second portion, the adjuster interconnecting the first and second portions.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the adjuster includes a male portion and a female portion, the male portion including the shaft, the female portion being configured and arranged to releasably engage the male portion, the first portion being connected to the male portion and windable about the shaft, the second portion being connected to the female portion, the first and second portions being disconnected by disconnecting the male portion from the female portion.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjuster is operatively connected to the at least one shoulder strap.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjuster interconnects the at least one shoulder strap and the at least one seat strap.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjuster is operatively connected to the at least one waist strap.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one waist strap includes a first portion and a second portion, the adjuster interconnecting the first and second portions.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the adjuster includes a male portion and a female portion, the male portion including the shaft, the female portion being configured and arranged to releasably engage the male portion, the first portion being connected to the male portion and windable about the shaft, the second portion being connected to the female portion, the first and second portions being disconnected by disconnecting the male portion from the female portion.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjuster is operatively connected to the at least one leg strap.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one leg strap includes a first portion and a second portion, the adjuster interconnecting the first and second portions.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the adjuster includes a male portion and a female portion, the male portion including the shaft, the female portion being configured and arranged to releasably engage the male portion, the first portion being connected to the male portion and windable about the shaft, the second portion being connected to the female portion, the first and second portions being disconnected by disconnecting the male portion from the female portion.