Lanyard
AssigneeMilwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
InventorsAndrew G. Wagner, Trent T. Bauters
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lanyard with attachment members such as a tool holding member, tether key, or carabiner, is provided. The lanyard includes one or more elastic cords within a sheath. The sheath has a much lower elasticity than the elastic cord. The higher spring constant or modulus of elasticity of the sheath limits the total extended length of the lanyard in operation. The elastic cords stretch to absorb the energy of falling equipment up to the length of the outer sheath. The attachment members may be attached to the sheath or may include components of the sheath and or the elastic cord. The lanyard allows for an elastic response to absorb the energy of a falling tool and a restraint to the total extended length of the lanyard.
Claims20
A lanyard comprising:
- a sheath comprising:
- a first end coupled to a first attachment member;
- a second end coupled to a second attachment member, wherein a linear distance between the first end and the second end of the sheath defines a length of the sheath;
- and
- an elastic cord having an un-tensioned length within the sheath between the first end and the second end, wherein the un-tensioned length of the elastic cord increases between 38% and 115% until the elastic cord extends to the length of the sheath.
A lanyard comprising:
- an elastic cord extending between a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the elastic cord comprises elastic strands;
- and
- a sheath surrounding the elastic cord and coupled to the elastic cord at the first end and at the second end, the sheath comprising less than 80 strands of nylon for every 20 elastic strands in the elastic cord.
A carabiner, comprising:
- a body comprising:
- a first end;
- and
- a second end;
- and
- a gate pivotably coupled to the first end of the carabiner, the gate configured to clasp the second end of the carabiner in a closed position,
- wherein rotation of the gate to an open position defines a minimum wall separation distance between the gate in the open position and walls of the carabiner and a gate separation distance between the second end of the carabiner and the gate, wherein the minimum wall separation distance is greater than the gate separation distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.