US 6,698,544 B2 · Fall protection lanyard apparatus

Abstract

A fall protection lanyard apparatus incorporating an automatic emergency release is disclosed. Competing concerns of fall protection (for the load) and on-demand emergency release (for the aerial lift) are each enabled by providing the first lanyard with a quick release mechanism and the second lanyard with a release triggering mechanism. The lanyard apparatus is adapted for attachment to a human or non-human load. The first lanyard incorporates a quick-release mechanism, which, upon activation, results in the separation of the connectable end portion thereof. The second lanyard incorporates a mechanism for activating the quick-release upon application of a predetermined force thereon. The lanyard apparatus provides total fall protection during the transfer of a load to a structure in any elevated environment while providing an on-demand quick-release in emergency situations.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A safety apparatus for providing fall protection for a load in an elevated environment, said safety apparatus comprising:

a load bearing lanyard assembly, including first and second lanyards, each lanyard terminating in an end portion, said first lanyard end portion adapted to be secured to a first load supporting structure, said second lanyard end portion adapted to be secured to a second load supporting structure;
means for connecting said lanyard assembly to an external load;
said first lanyard including means for disconnecting said end portion thereof upon activation thereof;
and
means for activating said means for disconnecting said first lanyard end portion in response to a tensional force exceeding a predetermed threshold value between said first and second lanyard ends.

2 more elements

A safety apparatus for providing fall protection for human and non-human external loads in an elevated environment, said safety apparatus comprising:

a lanyard assembly including first and second connected lanyard segments, said first lanyard segement terminating in a first free-end portion, said second lanyard segemnt terminating in a second free-end portion;
means, disposed between said first and second free-end portions, for connecting said lanyard assembly to an external load;
said first free-end portion including means for connecting to a first-load supporting structure;
said second and free-end portion including means for connecting to a second load supporting structrure;
said first lanyard segment including means for releasing said free-end thereof upon activation;
and
means for activating said means for releasing said first lanyard free-end portion in response to a tensional force exceeding a predetermined threshold value applied to said first and second lanyard free-ends.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fall protection lanyard apparatus

Life of this patent

Fall protection lanyard apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9