Motion-stopping safety system for workers

• US 5,036,949 A
• Filed: 04/27/1990
• Issued: 08/06/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Inventors: Crocker, Clarence L., Woodard, Ward Jr., Hewett, Howard C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): MACHADO, REINALDO
• Application Number:
  US07/515,375
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 182/3, 182/5, 182/45, 248/237, 248/231.7, 248/228, 248/229, 248/128, 269/249
• US Class Current: 182/3
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 35/04 incorporating energy absorbing means
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/12 Devices or arrangements allowing walking on the roof or in the gutter
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/3261 Safety-nets; Safety mattresses; Arrangements on buildings for connecting safety-lines jumping-sheets, jumping-mattresses A62B1/22
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/3276 Arrangements on buildings for connecting safety-lines fastening devices for devices for lowering persons from buildings A62B1/04
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/3295 Guide tracks for safety lines arrangements for bypassing safety track supports without life line disconnection A62B35/0087

Abstract

A motion-stopping safety system for persons, workers, and in one embodiment for roof workers. A gripping anchor for gripping a structural member useful in such systems. In one embodiment a gripping anchor has a C-shaped body member with facing members secured thereto and a line connection device, e.g. an opening or a clevis, shackle, or metal loop, connected to the body member. In one embodiment a motion-stopping safety system uses two or more such anchors between which extend a rope, line, cable, etc., and to which a person'"'"'s safety tether is movably or immovably attached.

Claims

1. A motion-stopping safety system for arresting motion of a worker connected to the system for limiting the extent of that motion, and for securement in a work area to a structural member or members in the work area as its perimeter, or extending thereabout, the system comprising

two gripping anchors spaced apart and removably secured to the structural member or members,

a cable tied between the two gripping anchors;

a worker'"'"'s line connected to the cable and for connection to a belt or harness secured to the worker, the worker'"'"'s line of pre-determined length for limiting the extend of the worker'"'"'s motion, and

the gripping anchors each comprising

a C-shaped body member having an upright member having a top and a bottom, a top arm member extending outward from the top of the upright member and a bottom arm member extending outward from the bottom of the upright member,

a top facing member secured to the top arm,

a bottom facing member secured to the bottom arm,

adjustable securement means movably disposed through the top facing member and the bottom facing member for securing the gripping anchor to the structural member, and

line connection means on the body member for connecting thereto a safety line.

2. The motion-stopping safety system of claim 1 wherein the worker'"'"'s line is immovably connected to the cable.

3. The motion-stopping safety system of claim 1 wherein the gripping anchors'"'"' adjustable securement means is one or more bolts threadedly engaged and extending through one of the facing members.

4. The motion-stopping safety system of claim 1 wherein each facing member of the gripping anchors has one or more bolts therethrough.

5. The motion-stopping safety system of claim 1 wherein each gripping anchor also includes

a middle facing member secured to the upright member of the C-shaped body member.

6. The motion-stopping safety system of claim 1 wherein the gripping anchors'"'"' line connection means is shackle movably connected to the C-shaped body member.

7. The motion-stopping safety system of claim 1 wherein the top facing members of the gripping anchors are substantially normal to their respective top arms and the bottom facing member are substantially normal to their respective bottom arms.

8. The motion-stopping safety system of claim 2 wherein the middle facing members are substantially normal to their respective upright members of the C-shaped body member.

9. A motion-stopping safety system for arresting motion of a worker connected to the system for limiting the extend of that motion, and for securement in a work area to a structural member or members in the work area at is perimeter, or extending thereabout, the system comprising

two gripping anchors spaced apart and removably secured to the structural member or members,

a cable tied between the two gripping anchors,

a worker'"'"'s line immovably connected to the cable and for connection to a belt or harness secured to the worker, the worker'"'"'s line of pre-determined length for limiting the extent of the worker'"'"'s motion, and

the gripping anchors each comprising

a C-shaped body member having an upright member having a top and a bottom, a top arm member extending outward from the top of the upright member and a bottom arm member extending outward from the bottom of the upright member,

a top facing member secured to the top arm,

a middle facing member secured to the upright member of the C-shaped body member,

a bottom facing member-secured to the bottom arm, all the facing members disposed substantially normal to the body member,

one or more bolts threadedly engaged and extending through one of the facing members movably disposed through the top facing member and the bottom facing member for securing the gripping anchor to the structural member, and

a shackle movably connected to the body member for connecting thereto a safety line.