US 7,111,707 B2Granted

Sliding anchorage device

OwnerEric W. Reevesinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An anchorage safety device for steelworkers. The safety device is configured to be slidably coupleable to a flanged structural beam to which a lanyard may be attached to secure a workman against a fall. The anchorage device includes an elongate cross-member having a plurality of apertures formed there-through to allow adjustment of the anchorage device to accommodate various beams, a lanyard attachment apparatus, affixed to the mid-point of the cross-member, for receiving a clip of a workman's lanyard; and opposed first and second clamps for coupling the device to the flange of a beam. The clamps include a ratchet pawl having first and second teeth for selectively engaging the cross-member apertures. The worker needs only one hand to release the ratchet pawl from the apertures by simultaneously applying pressure on an enlarged engagement surface of the ratchet pawl and a clamp housing surface that is opposed to the enlarged engagement surface. Since both forces must be simultaneously applied in opposite directions, inadvertent disengagement of the clamp from the cross-member is obviated.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An anchorage device for securing a workman to a flanged structural member, said anchorage device comprising:

(a) an elongated cross-member defining a plurality of longitudinally-spaced apertures;
(b) first and second clamps located on said cross-member, and adapted to engage respective opposing flanges of the structural member, said first clamp being slidably mounted for movement along said cross-member relative to said second clamp;
(c) an adjustable pawl attached to said first clamp, and comprising:
(i) a locking tooth adapted for residing in a selected one of said plurality of apertures of said cross-member, thereby releasably locking said first clamp in a fixed clamp-locking position on said cross-member relative to said second clamp;
and
(ii) a first engagement portion for receiving a manual force applied in a first direction to move said pawl and said locking tooth relative to said cross-member;
(d) a pawl housing attached to said first clamp adjacent said pawl and defining a second engagement portion for receiving a manual force applied in a second direction opposite the first direction;
and
(e) whereby said first clamp is releasable for free sliding movement along said cross-member by applying in the second direction manual force to said housing at the second engagement portion, thereby disengaging said locking tooth from said cross-member;
and applying in the first direction manual force to said pawl at the first engagement portion, thereby moving said locking tooth out of the selected aperture and away from said cross-member.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/215,191Filed 30 Aug 2005 · continuation
Priority: 13 Jul 2002
Published: US 2006/0054388 A116 Mar 2006
Granted: 26 Sep 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

E04G 21/3261
Safety or protective measures for persons during the construction of buildings: safety-nets; Safety mattresses; Arrangements on buildings for…
E04G 21/3276
Safety-nets; Safety mattresses; Arrangements on buildings for connecting safety-lines: arrangements on buildings for connecting safety-lines
A62B 35/0081
Safety belts or body harnesses; Similar equipment for limiting displacement of the human body, especially in case of sudden changes of motion:…
A62B 35/04
Safety belts or body harnesses; Similar equipment for limiting displacement of the human body, especially in case of sudden changes of motion:…

Family

Application60/395,429Us provisional application · filed 13 Jul 2002
Application10/620,146Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Jul 2003
US 2006/0054388 A1Pre-grant publication · published 16 Mar 2006
US 6,962,234 B1Parent of this continuation
US 7,111,707 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.