Fall restraint equipment component and method for manufacturing the same

• US 8,261,393 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2009
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safe Rack LLC
• Original Assignee: Safe Rack LLC
• Inventors: Honeycutt, Robert W., Mefferd, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartmann, Gary S
• Application Number:
  US12/468,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20100031456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 182/17, 182/100, 182/106, 182/141, 182/228.1, 182/241, 14/695, 14/711, 14/713, 256/1, 256/47
• US Class Current: 14/71.3
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 39/06 of tubes in openings, e.g. rolling-in
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/14 of ramps, gangways or outboard ladders ; Pilot lifts
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/00 Stairways, ramps, or like structures mounting or marking-off stairways E04F21/26; of temporary use during building construction E04G27/00; means for facilitating access to swimming pools E04H4/144; means for facilitating access to swimming pools E04H4/144; appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00; Balustrades; Handrails ladders permanently attached to fixed structures E06C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/112 of metal or with an upper layer of metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/181 Balustrades
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49936 Surface interlocking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49996 Successive distinct removal operations

Abstract

A post to be used in conjunction with a gangway or other fall restraint equipment where the post defines an aperture having an upper portion and a lower portion such that the upper portion is configured to allow a link of a chain to pass there through while the lower portion allows the link to pass through in one orientation but prevents the link from passing through in a second orientation traverse to the first orientation.

Claims

1. A gangway comprising:

a base tread;

a first upright post connected to the base tread, wherein the first upright post is formed from a first continuous piece of metal defining a first aperture having a first aperture first portion configured to allow two adjacent links of a plurality of chain links to pass through the first aperture first portion and having a first aperture second portion configured to allow one of the two adjacent links exhibiting a first orientation to pass through the first aperture second portion and to prevent another of the two adjacent links exhibiting a second orientation from passing through the first aperture second portion; and

a tread support operatively connected to the base tread in a manner that allows the tread support to rotate with respect to the base tread about an axis defined by the base tread, wherein the tread support is configured to connect to a distal end of the plurality of chain links.

2. The gangway of claim 1 further comprising a second upright post connected to the base tread, wherein the second upright post is formed from a second continuous piece of tubular metal defining a second aperture first portion configured to allow two adjacent links of a second plurality of chain links to pass through the second aperture first portion and having a second aperture second portion configured to allow one of the two adjacent links of the second plurality of chain links exhibiting the first orientation to pass through the second aperture second portion and to prevent another of the two adjacent links of the second plurality of chain links exhibiting the second orientation from passing through the second aperture second portion.

3. The gangway of claim 1 wherein preventing the another of the two adjacent links from passing through the first aperture second portion facilitates maintenance of the tread support in a fixed position.

4. The gangway of claim 2 wherein preventing the another of the two adjacent links of the second plurality of chain links from passing through the second aperture second portion facilitates maintenance of the tread support in a fixed position.

5. The gangway of claim 1 wherein the tread support comprises a plurality of self-leveling steps.

6. The gangway of claim 1 comprising a support structure connected to the base tread in a manner that allows the support structure to rotate with respect to the base tread about the axis defined by the connection of the support structure to the base tread.

7. The gangway of claim 6 wherein the tread support is connected to the support structure.