# US 5,341,896 A · Safety harness for tree climbers

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- Number: US 5,341,896 A
- Document ID: US5341896A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/001,754
- Filed: 1993-01-06
- Granted: 1994-08-30
- Earliest claimed: 1992-01-08
- Inventors: Joseph A. Amacker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5341896A

## CPC

- A63B 27/00: Apparatus for climbing poles, trees, or the like ({ropes A63B29/02;} safety belts for climbers A62B35/00)
- A01M 31/02: Shooting stands
- A62B 35/04: incorporating energy absorbing means
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
- A62B: DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING (valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; life-saving devices, apparatus or methods specially adapted for use in water B63C9/00; divers' equipment B63C11/00; specially adopted for use with aircraft, e.g. parachutes, ejector seats, {B64D17/00, B64D25/10}; rescue devices peculiar to mining E21F11/00)

## Abstract

A safety harness comprising a strap adapted to encircle the waist of a wearer and for coupling said strap about the waist of the wearer with a first and second lanyard connected to said strap adapted to encircle a tree. Each lanyard has an adjustable loop with a free end passed through a tubular slip collar.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A safety harness comprising:
a strap adapted to encircle the waist of a wearer;
means for coupling said strap about the waist of the wearer; and
a first and a second lanyard connected to said strap, each said lanyard adapted to encircle a tree, each said lanyard independently connectable to and disconnectable from said strap at independent positions on said strap located substantially adjacent each other and at the front of the wearer, and each said lanyard having an adjustable loop for encircling the tree, said loop formed by a free end passed through an Indian knot in the form of a tubular slip collar integrally formed with said lanyard at a midsection of said lanyard, said free end to be engaged by said slip collar when said lanyard is placed in tension.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The safety harness according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprises a pair of D rings mounted to one end of said strap wherein the opposite end of said strap is interlaced through said D rings to secure the strap around the waist of the wearer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The safety harness according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second lanyards comprises a first end anchored to said strap and a second end opposite said first end having a hook mounted thereto, said hook being removably attachable to a means for connecting said lanyard to said strap.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The safety harness according to claim 3, wherein each of said connecting means comprises a D ring pivotably affixed to said strap.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The safety harness according to claim 2, wherein each of said first and second lanyards comprises a first end anchored to said strap and a second end opposite said first end having a hook mounted thereto, said hook being removably attachable to a means for connecting said lanyard to said strap.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The safety harness according to claim 5, wherein each of said connecting means comprises a D ring pivotably affixed to said strap.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The safety harness according to claim 3, wherein said hook is rotatable with respect to the lanyard to which it is attached.

### Claim 8

A method of climbing a tree having at least one limb, comprising the steps of:
placing a safety harness around the waist of a climber, said safety harness comprising:
a strap adapted to encircle the waist of a wearer;
means for coupling said strap about the waist of the wearer; and
a first and second lanyard connected to said strap, each said lanyard adapted to encircle the tree, each said lanyard independently connectable to and disconnectable from said strap at independent positions on said strap located substantially adjacent each other and at the front of the wearer, and each said lanyard having an adjustable loop for encircling the tree, said loop formed by a free end passed through an Indian knot in the form of a tubular slip collar integrally formed with said lanyard at a midsection of said lanyard, said free end to be engaged by said slip collar when said lanyard is placed in tension;
encircling said tree with said first lanyard;
climbing said tree until said first lanyard is blocked by the limb;
encircling the tree with said second lanyard above the limb, independently of said first lanyard;
adjusting said adjustable loop in each said lanyard by pulling on said free end to shorten said loop and pulling on said lanyard to lengthen said loop, and engaging said free end by said slip collar by placing said lanyard in tension;
removing said first lanyard from the tree; and continuing to climb the tree.