Personal fall limiter arrangement and user connection arrangement therefor

• US 9,238,156 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2011
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mine Safety Appliances Company (MSA Safety, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MSA Technology, LLC (MSA Safety, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wu, Jeffrey, Zhan, James, Apel, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAVCHAVADZE, COLLEEN MARGARET
• Application Number:
  US13/223,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20130015017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,601 Days
• Field of Search: 182/3, 244/59, 244/99, 245/00, 246/34
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 35/0037 Attachments for lifelines and lanyards lifelines, lanyards A62B35/0043
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 35/0075 Details of ropes or similar equipment, e.g. between the secured person and the lifeline or anchor

Abstract

A personal fall limiter arrangement having a user connection arrangement, including: a body attached to at least a portion of the frame and having a recess configured to receive at least a portion of a user connector; at least one tab pivotally attached to a first portion of the body; and at least one biasing member engaged with the at least one tab and configured to urge the at least one tab towards a locked (or closed) position; wherein, in operation, the at least one tab is pivotal between: (1) an open position to permit passage of at least a portion of the user connector into or out of the recess; and (2) the locked position to prevent passage of at least a portion of the user connector out of the recess.

Claims

1. A personal fall limiter arrangement, comprising:

at least one hub rotatably attached to a frame;

at least one braking assembly configured to brake rotation of the at least one hub;

at least one line having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to a portion of the at least one hub, and the second end configured for attachment to a connector; and

a user connection arrangement, comprising;

(i) a body attached to at least a portion of the frame and having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a U-shaped recess configured to receive at least a portion of a user connector, having an opening defined in the top surface of the body, and a bottom positioned adjacent the bottom surface of the body;

(ii) at least one tab pivotally attached to a first portion of the body; and

(iii) biasing member engaged with the at least one tab and configured to urge the at least one tab from an open position towards a locked position;

wherein, in operation, the at least one tab is pivotal between;

(1) the open position to permit passage of at least a portion of the user connector through the opening and into or out of the recess; and

(2) the locked position to prevent passage of at least a portion of the user connector through the opening and out of the recess,

wherein, in the locked position, at least a portion of a lower surface of the at least one tab defines a bearing surface preventing removal of the portion of the user connector from the recess, and

wherein the a biasing member is positioned coaxial with respect to a rotational axis of the at least one tab.

2. The personal fall limiter arrangement of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the lower surface of the at least one tab is shaped, such that the at least one tab is pivotal to remove the portion of the user connector from the recess.

3. The personal fall limiter arrangement of claim 1, wherein the at least one tab is pivotal to the open position, thereby forming a passage through which the portion of the user connector can pass.

4. The personal fall limiter arrangement of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an upper surface of the at least one tab is sloped to facilitate urging the at least one tab to the open position.

5. The personal fall limiter arrangement of claim 1, wherein the at least one tab includes an upper tab portion extending beyond an outer surface of the body, wherein the upper tab portion is configured to be contacted by a user to pivot the at least one tab.

6. The personal fall limiter arrangement of claim 1, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.

7. The personal fall limiter arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a locking arrangement configured to maintain the at least one tab in the locked position.

8. The personal fall limiter arrangement of claim 1, wherein the user connector comprises a D-ring connector having a curved portion and a substantially linear attachment portion, and wherein at least a portion of the curved portion of the D-ring connector is configured to be positioned in the recess.

9. The personal fall limiter arrangement of claim 1, wherein the recess is shaped so as to urge the user connector towards the at least one tab.

10. A personal fall limiter arrangement, comprising:

at least one hub rotatably attached to a frame;

at least one braking assembly configured to brake rotation of the at least one hub;

at least one line having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to a portion of the at least one hub, and the second end configured for attachment to a connector; and

a user connection arrangement, comprising;

(i) a body rigidly attached to at least a portion of the frame and having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a U-shaped recess configured to receive at least a portion of a user connector, having an opening defined in the top surface of the body, and a bottom positioned adjacent the bottom surface of the body;

(ii) a first tab pivotally attached to a first portion of the body;

(iii) a first biasing member engaged with the first tab and configured to urge the first tab in a first direction from an open position towards a locked position;

(iv) a second tab pivotally attached to a second portion of the body in a mutually opposed position with respect to the first tab; and

(v) a second biasing member engaged with the second tab and configured to urge the second tab from an open position towards a locked position;

wherein, in operation, the first tab and the second tab are pivotal between;

(1) the open position to permit passage of at least a portion of the user connector through the opening and into or out of the recess; and

(2) the locked position to prevent passage of at least a portion of the user connector through the opening and out of the recess,

wherein, in the locked position, at least a portion of a lower surface of at least one of the first tab and the second tab defines a bearing surface preventing removal of the portion of the user connector from the recess, and

wherein the first biasing member is positioned coaxial with respect to a rotational axis of the first tab, and the second biasing member is positioned coaxial with respect to a rotational axis of the second tab.

11. The personal fall limiter arrangement of claim 10, wherein the first tab includes a first protrusion, and the second tab includes a second protrusion, wherein the first protrusion extends substantially adjacent the second protrusion.

12. The personal fall limiter arrangement of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the lower surface is shaped, such that the first tab, the second tab, or the first tab and the second tab is pivotal to remove the portion of the user connector from the recess.

13. The personal fall limiter arrangement of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first tab and the second tab is pivotal to the open position, thereby forming a passage through which the portion of the user connector can pass.

14. The personal fall limiter arrangement of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of an upper surface of at least one of the first tab and the second tab is sloped to facilitate urging the first tab, the second tab, or the first tab and the second tab to the open position.

15. The personal fall limiter arrangement of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first tab and the second tab includes an upper tab portion extending beyond an outer surface of the body, wherein the upper tab portion is configured to be contacted by a user to pivot the first tab, the second tab, or the first tab and the second tab.

16. The personal fall limiter arrangement of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first biasing member and the second biasing member comprises at least one spring.

17. The personal fall limiter arrangement of claim 10, further comprising a locking arrangement configured to maintain the first tab and the second tab in the locked position.

18. The personal fall limiter arrangement of claim 10, wherein the user connector comprises a D-ring connector having a curved portion and a substantially linear attachment portion, and wherein at least a portion of the curved portion of the D-ring connector is configured to be positioned in the recess.

19. The personal fall limiter arrangement of claim 10, wherein the recess is shaped so as to urge the user connector towards at least one of the first tab and the second tab.