Weight bearing fall protection connector having a wireless fall indicator

A weight bearing fall protection connector comprising:

• a first connection member configured to be coupled to a first piece of fall protection equipment;
• a second connection member configured to be coupled to a second piece of fall protection equipment, the first and second connection members being rotatably fixed to each other, wherein the first connection member is configured for movement relative to the second connection member to transfer the weight of a worker in a fall event between a ready position when the fall event has not occurred and a fall position in an instance in which the first connection member is coupled to the first piece of fall protection equipment, the second connection member is coupled to the second piece of fall protection equipment, one of the first or second pieces of fall protection equipment are properly worn by the worker, and the fall event has occurred;
• a breakable component operably connected to the first connection member and having a retaining condition wherein the breakable component maintains the first connection member in the ready position and a broken condition wherein the breakable component allows the first connection member to move to the fall position after the breakable component has been broken by a weight transfer from a fall event;
• and
• a wireless fall indicator comprising:
• a wireless transmitter, and
• a switch configured to activate the wireless transmitter in response to movement of the first connection member from the ready position to the fall position, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal indicating that the worker has fallen when the wireless transmitter is activated by the switch.

A weight bearing fall protection connector for connecting one piece of fall protection equipment to another piece of fall protection equipment to transfer the weight of a worker in an event of a fall, the connector comprising:

• a first connection member including a first connection portion configured to attach the first connection member to one piece of fall protection equipment;
• a second connection member including a second connection portion configured to attach the weight bearing fall protection connector to another piece of fall protection equipment, the first and second connection members rotatably fixed to each other and configured to transfer the weight of a worker in a fall event and for movement relative to each other between a ready position where the weight bearing fall protection connector has not experienced a fall event while connected to a worker and a fall position where the weight bearing fall protection connector has experienced a fall event while connected to a worker;
• a breakable component operably connected to the first and second connection members and having a retaining condition wherein the breakable component maintains the connection members in the ready position and a broken condition wherein the breakable component allows the connection members to move to their fall position after the breakable component has been broken by a weight transfer from a fall event;
• and
• a wireless fall indicator comprising:
• a wireless transmitter, and
• a switch configured to activate the wireless transmitter in response to movement of the connection members from the ready position to the fall position, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal indicating that a worker has fallen when the wireless transmitter is activated by the switch,
• wherein the switch includes one of:
• a magnetic reed switch that is actuated in response to movement of the connection members from the ready position to the fall position, or
• a pair of electrical contacts that are spaced from each other with the connection members in the ready position and pressed against each other by the stop surfaces with the connection members in the fall position.