Dorsal pad assembly for use with a safety harness

• US 7,073,627 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2004
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DB Industries LLC (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: D B Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Casebolt, Scott C., Wolner, J. Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, HUGH B
• Application Number:
  US10/821,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20050067222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 182 3- 7, 182/36, 244/151.R, 119/96, 119/857, 119/770
• US Class Current: 182/3
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 35/0031 Belt sorting accessories, e.g. devices keeping the belts in comfortable positions
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 35/0037 Attachments for lifelines and lanyards lifelines, lanyards A62B35/0043

Abstract

A preferred embodiment safety harness includes two straps operatively connected to a D-ring, which is operatively connected to a biasing mechanism urging the D-ring to an upright position. The safety harness may also include an impact indicator for providing indication when the D-ring has been subjected to a force and a wear pad for reducing wear on the straps of the safety harness.

Claims

1. A safety harness, comprising:

a) a first strap and a second strap;

b) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being a connected operating position to a safety device; and

c) a spring member operatively connected to the D-ring, wherein the spring member urges the D-ring to the first position.

2. The safety harness of claim 1, further comprising an impact indicator operatively connected to the D-ring, wherein the impact indicator provides indication when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.

3. The safety harness of claim 2, wherein the force is at least 500 pounds.

4. The safety harness of claim 2, wherein the impact indicator is an indication mark on the D-ring that is exposed when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.

5. The safety harness of claim 2, wherein the impact indicator is an ink filled pellet that stains the straps when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.

6. The safety harness of claim 2, further comprising a dorsal pad assembly interconnecting the straps and the D-ring.

7. The safety harness of claim 1, further comprising a wear pad operatively connected to the D-ring, the wear pad reducing wear on the straps.

8. A safety harness, comprising:

a) a first strap and a second strap;

b) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps; and

c) an impact indicator operatively connected to the D-ring, the impact indicator providing indication when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.

9. The safety harness of claim 8, wherein the impact indicator is an indication mark on the D-ring that is exposed when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.

10. The safety harness of claim 8, wherein the impact indicator is an ink filled pellet that stains the straps when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.

11. The safety harness of claim 8, wherein the impact indicator is a clip member.

12. The safety harness of claim 8, further comprising a dorsal pad assembly interconnecting the straps and the D-ring, the dorsal pad assembly including the impact indicator.

13. The safety harness of claim 12, wherein the impact indicator is a change in appearance of the dorsal pad assembly thereby providing visual indication that the D-ring has been subjected to a force.

14. The safety harness of claim 12, wherein the impact indicator is a clip member.

15. The safety harness of claim 8, further comprising a biasing mechanism operatively connected to the D-ring, the D-ring having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being a connected operating position to a safety device, the biasing mechanism urging the D-ring to the first position.

16. The safety harness of claim 15, wherein the biasing mechanism is a spring member.

17. The safety harness of claim 15, wherein the biasing mechanism is an elastic member.

18. A safety harness having a first strap and a second strap, comprising:

a) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being a connected operating position to a safety device;

b) means for urging the D-ring to the first position; and

c) a dorsal pad assembly, the dorsal pad assembly including means for urging the D-ring to the first position.

19. The safety harness of claim 18, further comprising means for providing indication that the D-ring has been subjected to a force.

20. The safety harness of claim 19, wherein the dorsal pad assembly includes the means for providing indication that the D-ring has been subjected to a force.

21. A dorsal pad assembly for use with a safety harness having a first strap and a second strap, comprising:

a) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being a connected operating position to a safety device;

b) a biasing mechanism operatively connected to the D-ring, the biasing mechanism urging the D-ring to the first position; and

c) an impact indicator operatively connected to the D-ring, the impact indicator providing indication when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.

22. A dorsal pad assembly for use with a safety harness including straps, comprising:

a) a D-ring having a bar portion, a first position, and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being a connected operating position to a safety device;

b) a D-ring clip having a cavity, the bar portion of the D-ring being positioned within the cavity and being engaged by the D-ring clip;

c) a dorsal pad having slots and a D-ring connector portion, the straps of the harness being routed through the slots, the D-ring connector portion having a second cavity, the D-ring clip being positioned within the second cavity and being engaged by the dorsal pad; and

d) a biasing mechanism interconnecting the D-ring clip and the dorsal pad, the biasing mechanism applying a force on the D-ring clip thereby urging the D-ring to the first position, wherein when the D-ring is placed in the second position and the biasing mechanism urges the D-ring to the first position.

23. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 22, further comprising a catch operatively connected to the D-ring clip, the catch extending into the cavity of the D-ring clip and releasably holding the bar portion of the D-ring within the cavity.

24. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 23, wherein the catch releases the bar portion when a force is exerted upon the D-ring thereby providing visual indication that the D-ring has been subjected to a force.

25. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 24, the force being at least 500 pounds.

26. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 22, further comprising lips operatively connected to the dorsal pad proximate the second cavity, the straps of the harness being routed over the lips, the lips protecting the straps from the D-ring clip as the D-ring clip pivots within the second cavity thereby reducing wear on the straps of the harness.

27. A method of securing a safety harness donned by a user to a connector of a safety device, comprising:

a) constantly urging a D-ring operatively connected to straps of the safety harness to an upright position relative to the user, the D-ring having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being a connected operating position to a safety device;

b) securing the connector of the safety device to the D-ring in the upright receiving position and;

c) performing tasks proximate the safety device, the D-ring being in the second position and being constantly urged to the first position.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising disconnecting the connector from the D-ring, the D-ring returning to the first position.

29. A dorsal pad assembly for use with a safety harness having a first strap and a second strap, comprising:

a) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being an impact indicator position; and

b) a mechanism operatively connected to the dorsal pad assembly, the mechanism substantially holding the D-ring in the first position and allowing the D-ring to be in the second position when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.

30. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 29, wherein the mechanism is a biasing mechanism.

31. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 29, wherein the mechanism is a clip member.

32. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 29, wherein the second position provides indication that the D-ring has been subjected to a force.

33. A dorsal pad assembly for use with a safety harness having a first strap and a second strap, comprising:

a) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being an impact indicator position; and

b) means for substantially holding the D-ring in the first position and allowing the D-ring to be in the second position when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.

34. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 33, wherein the means is a biasing mechanism.

35. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 33, wherein the means is a clip member.

36. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 33, wherein the second position provides indication that the D-ring has been subjected to a force.

37. A safety harness, comprising:

a) a first strap and second strap;

b) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps and having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being a connected operating position to a safety device; and

c) an elastic member operatively connected to the D-ring, wherein the elastic member urges the D-ring to the first position.

38. A safety harness, comprising:

a) a first strap and second strap;

b) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps and having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being a connected operating position to a safety device;

c) a biasing mechanism operatively connected to the D-ring, wherein the biasing mechanism urges the D-ring to the first position; and

d) a dorsal pad assembly interconnecting the straps and the D-ring.

39. The safety harness of claim 38, wherein the dorsal pad assembly includes the biasing mechanism.

40. The safety harness of claim 39, wherein the dorsal pad assembly includes a impact indicator.

41. The safety harness of claim 40, wherein the impact indicator is a change in appearance of the dorsal pad assembly thereby providing visual indication that the D-ring has been subjected to a force.