Fall arresting device connector

A system comprising:

• a safety harness comprising a strong point for connecting the safety harness to additional safety equipment;
• at least one fall arresting device, each fall arresting device comprising a connection point;
• and a connector comprising:
• a pin having a locking notch;
• and
• a base defining a first side and a central longitudinal axis, the first side of the base comprising:
• a plurality of first-side receiving portions extending outwardly from the base and spaced apart from each other to define a plurality of first-side openings for receiving one or more connection points of respective ones of the fall arresting devices, the plurality of first-side receiving portions comprising:
• a first receiving portion defining a first receiving channel, the first receiving portion defining a first end of the first side;
• a second receiving portion defining a second receiving channel, the second receiving portion defining a second end of the first side;
• and
• a third receiving portion defining a third receiving channel, the third receiving portion positioned between the first and second receiving portions, the pin slidably connected to the plurality of first-side receiving portions and spanning the plurality of first-side openings and extending through the first, second, and third receiving channels when the pin is in a fully closed configuration;
• and
• a locking mechanism connected to the third receiving portion, the locking mechanism configured to releasably engage with the locking notch of the pin when the pin is in the fully closed configuration to prevent the pin from being slidably withdrawn through the third receiving channel,
• the connection point of the at least one fall arresting device received by one of the plurality of first-side openings on the first side of the connector, wherein the pin, when in the fully closed configuration, connects the connection point to the connector to prevent the at least one fall arresting device from being disconnected from the connector,
• the strong point of the of the safety harness releasably secured to a second side of the connector,
• wherein the locking notch comprises a first locking notch defined along a shaft of the pin, the shaft of the pin further defining a second locking notch separate and distinct from the first locking notch, the locking mechanism configured to releasably engage with the second locking notch of the pin when the pin is in a partially closed configuration to prevent the pin from being slidably withdrawn through the third receiving channel so that the pin spans a first opening of the plurality of first-side openings defined by the first and third receiving portions but not a second opening of the plurality of first-side openings defined by the second and third receiving portions;
• and
• wherein the first opening and second opening are adjacent to the third receiving portion and do not extend beyond the central longitudinal axis of the base.

A method comprising:

• positioning a pin of a connector in a fully open configuration,
• the connector comprising:
• a pin having a locking notch;
• and
• a base defining a first side and a central longitudinal axis, the first side of the base comprising:
• a plurality of first-side receiving portions extending outwardly from the base and spaced apart from each other to define a plurality of first-side openings for receiving one or more connection points of respective ones of fall arresting devices, the plurality of first-side receiving portions comprising:
• a first receiving portion defining a first receiving channel, the first receiving portion defining a first end of the first side;
• a second receiving portion defining a second receiving channel, the second receiving portion defining a second end of the first side;
• and
• a third receiving portion defining a third receiving channel, the third receiving portion positioned between the first and second receiving portions, the pin slidably connected to the plurality of first-side receiving portions and spanning the plurality of first-side openings and extending through the first, second, and third receiving channels when the pin is in a fully closed configuration;
• and
• a locking mechanism connected to the third receiving portion, the locking mechanism configured to releasably engage with the locking notch of the pin when the pin is in the fully closed configuration to prevent the pin from being slidably withdrawn through the third receiving channel;
• wherein, when the pin of the connector is in the fully open configuration, the pin is received by only the first receiving channel and does not span the plurality of first-side openings;
• positioning a first connection point of a first fall arresting device within a first opening of the plurality of first-side openings, the first opening defined by a separation distance between the first receiving portion and the third receiving portion;
• slidably advancing the pin to a partially closed configuration wherein the pin is received by the first and third receiving channels and spans a first opening of the plurality of first-side openings defined by the first and third receiving portions but not a second opening of the plurality of first-side openings defined by the second and third receiving portions, the pin captures the first connection point of the first fall arresting device to prevent the first fall arresting device from being disconnected from the connector;
• positioning a second connection point of a second fall arresting device within the second opening of the plurality of first-side openings;
• and
• slidably advancing the pin to the fully closed configuration where the pin is received by the first, second, and third receiving channels and spans the plurality of first-side openings, the pin captures the second connection point of the second fall arresting device to prevent the second fall arresting device from being disconnected from the connector,
• wherein the locking notch comprises a first locking notch defined along a shaft of the pin, the shaft of the pin further defining a second locking notch separate and distinct from the first locking notch, wherein when in the partially closed configuration, the locking mechanism releasably engages the second locking notch of the pin to prevent the pin from being slidably advanced or withdrawn through the third receiving channel;
• and
• wherein the first opening and second opening are adjacent to the third receiving portion and do not extend beyond the central longitudinal axis of the base.