Load bearing device including overload indicator

An overload indicator calibrated to provide an indication of a load borne by the overload indicator that exceeds a load bearing capacity established for the overload indicator, the overload indicator comprising:

• a link;
• the link including a strand of wire form material having first and second portions, the first portion having a first thickness containing a first amount of wire form material in a perpendicular cross-section passing through a length of the strand;
• the second portion including a diminished segment having a second amount of wire form material in a perpendicular cross-section passing through the diminished segment;
• the diminished segment having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness, wherein the first portion has a connector selected from the group consisting of a disconnectable connector and a welded portion;
• wherein the second amount of wire form material is calibrated in such a manner as to establish a projected peak load, which, when borne by the overload indicator, can have sufficient force to break the overload indicator proximate the diminished segment to indicate that a project load capacity less than established peak load has been exceeded.

A method of making a load bearing device calibrated to provide an indication of a load borne by the load bearing device that exceeds a load bearing capacity established for the load bearing device, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) securing an overload indicator to first and second connectors of a load bearing device such that the overload indicator will provide an indication of a load borne by the load bearing device that exceeds a load bearing capacity established for the load bearing device;
• the overload indicator being calibrated to provide an indication of a load borne by the overload indicator that exceeds the load bearing capacity established for the overload indicator;
• the overload indicator including a link;
• the link including a strand of wire form material having a first portion having a first thickness containing a first amount of wire form material in a perpendicular cross-section passing through a length of the strand;
• the first portion being adjacent to a second portion;
• the second portion including a diminished segment having a second amount of wire form material in a perpendicular cross-section passing through a length of the strand which is less than the first amount of wire form material, wherein the first portion has a connector selected from the group consisting of a disconnectable connector and a welded portion;
• wherein the second amount of wire form material is calibrated in such a manner as to establish a projected load, which, when borne by the overload indicator, will create a sufficient force to break the overload indicator proximate the diminished segment.

A method of making an overload indicator for incorporation into a load bearing device to provide an indication of a load borne by the load bearing device that exceeds a load bearing capacity established for the load bearing device, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a link;
• the link including a strand of wire form material having first and second ends, the first and second ends defining a gap between the respective first and second ends;
• the link further including a connector selected from the group consisting of a disconnectable connector and a welded portion;
• the strand of wire form material having a first portion having a first thickness containing a first amount of wire form material in a perpendicular cross-section passing through a length of the strand;
• the first portion being adjacent to a second portion having the same thickness;
• and
• b) modifying the link by diminishing the amount of wire form material in the second portion so that the second portion includes a diminished segment having a second amount of wire form material in a perpendicular cross-section passing through a length of the strand which is less than the first amount of wire form material, wherein the second amount of wire form material is calibrated in such a manner as to establish a projected load, which, when borne by the second segment, can have sufficient force to break the modified welded link proximate the diminished segment.