US 9,320,924 B2Granted

Self-locking webbing connectable device attachment plate

AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.

InventorsParul Patel, Justin Patton, Ross Balquist, Brian Montgomery

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Abstract

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a safety interface device that securely attaches to a length of webbing, while simultaneously providing a plurality of non-intersecting apertures to couple to a corresponding plurality of safety devices. In some embodiments, the safety interface device may be retrofitted to a closed webbing on a pre-fabricated safety harness. In some exemplary embodiments, the element may be opened and closed by providing two pivotably coupled plates, permitting the webbing to be installed when the plates are opened, and secured when the plates are closed. Various embodiments, for example, provide a securing pin which automatically locks the device to the webbing when the device is closed around the webbing. In some embodiments, the device will be again locked in a secondary fashion whenever a safety device is attached to the interface plate. Thus, at least two distinct actions may be required to open the device.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A fall-protection safety apparatus for connecting a webbed safety harness to other devices, the apparatus comprising:

two pivotably-coupled complementary plates that slidably contact each other and rotate about a shared pivot between an open position and a closed position, each plate comprising:
a mating surface, upon which the slidable rotation occurs;
a plurality of device apertures, which are disposed so as to align with the corresponding plurality of device apertures of the complementary plate in the closed position, and when a device is inserted through one plate's device aperture and its aligned complementary plate's device aperture the complementary plates become locked in the closed position by the device;
and
an arm with a distal end, which meets a distal end of the complementary plate's arm in the closed position so as to form an attachment aperture to secure the webbing, and which allows a webbing to be introduced in the open position;
and
a spring-loaded securing pin, which automatically locks the complementary plates in the closed position when the plates are rotated into that closed position,
wherein in both the open and closed positions, at least one end of each of the plates remains in slidable contact with the other plate at a location other than the pivot point.

5 more elements

A fall-protection safety apparatus for connecting a webbed safety harness to other devices, the apparatus comprising:

a first plate having a mating surface;
a second plate, the second plate engaging the mating surface of the first plate along the second plate's mating surface;
a pivot connecting the first and second plates at a pivot location, the plates rotating about the pivot location, the plates being slidable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in both the open and closed positions, at least one end of each of the plates remains in slidable contact with the other plate at a location other than the pivot point;
a plurality of device apertures in each plate, the device apertures of the second plate being registered with those of the first plate when the apparatus is in the closed position;
a gate, the gate comprising:
an arm on one of the plates;
a gate mating location on the other plate, the gate being open when the apparatus is in the open position, permitting the insertion of a webbing, the gate being closed when the apparatus is in the closed position, providing secure capture of the webbing;
and
a control member locking the plate registration when the apparatus is in the closed position, the control member allowing the first and second plates to slide when the apparatus is in the open position.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/838,765Filed 15 Mar 2013
Published: US 2014/0262608 A118 Sep 2014
Granted: 26 Apr 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

A62B 35/0037
Details and accessories: attachments for lifelines and lanyards
F16B 45/035
Hooks with pivoting or elastically bending closing member: the hook forming a loop or ring when interlocked with the closing member, i.e. the…
F16B 45/06
Hooks; Eyes: hooks with two symmetrically-pivoting hook parts within the same locking cavity
Y10T 24/45236
Hook: multiple catch [e.g., with pivoted gate]