CN111712306A

CN111712306A - Safety belt connecting point

Info

Publication number: CN111712306A
Application number: CN201880088805.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 约翰·保罗·杜托伊特
Original assignee: Elsa Knight Atkinson
Current assignee: Elsa Knight Atkinson
Priority date: 2018-02-07
Filing date: 2018-02-07
Publication date: 2020-09-25
Also published as: ZA202005477B; WO2019157537A1

Abstract

A safety belt connection point (10) for connecting a rope (20) to a safety belt and a fall arrest device or rope access descender is provided. In particular, the invention relates to a connection point (10) for connecting a lanyard to a fall arrester, a rope access opening or a rope safety belt. The connection point (10) includes a body (12), a connection portion (14) for connecting the body (12) to a safety belt, and one or more friction holes (18) defined in the body (12) that are configured and dimensioned to receive a cord (20) passing therethrough twice in a loop configuration and in a friction fit, the loop configuration closing under the friction provided by the friction fit when the cord (20) is in tension, thereby acting as a shock absorber.

Description

Safety belt connecting point

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a safety belt attachment point for attaching an attachment or a rope to a safety belt. In particular, the invention relates to a safety belt connection point for connecting a lanyard (langard) to a fall arrester, a rope access opening or a rope rescue safety belt.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a safety belt connection point comprising:

a main body;

a connecting portion for connecting the main body to a safety band; and

one or more friction holes defined in the body, the one or more friction holes being configured and dimensioned to receive a cord passing therethrough twice in a loop configuration and in a friction fit, the loop configuration closing under the friction provided by the friction fit when the cord is in tension, thereby acting as a shock absorber.

It will be appreciated that when a friction hole is provided, the annular structure may be in the form of a ring. Further, it is understood that when two or more friction holes are provided, the loop structure may be in the form of a hairpin loop.

A second connection portion may be provided for connecting any other device or devices to the body. The one or more devices may be selected from, but not limited to: a safety hook, a rope and a support structure. The second connection portion may be of conventional D-ring construction.

The connecting portion may be in the form of a slit defined in the body for allowing a strap of the safety band to pass therethrough. The slit may be defined between the D-ring structure and the friction hole. Thus, the strap may enter and pass through the slit from a first side of the body and then enter and pass through the opening of the D-ring structure from a second side of the body.

The body may be of any geometry, preferably U-shaped in side view, with the connecting portion located near the middle of the curvature of the body, such that, in use, the D-ring structure and the bore portion of the body comprising the one or more friction bores extend away from the person wearing the safety band, thereby providing easy access to the friction bores and the D-ring structure. The body may be made of any suitable rigid and/or resilient material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, alloys, aluminum alloys, carbon, and plastics.

Alternatively, the body may be configured to be flat, wherein the connecting portion may be located at a first end region of the body, the second connecting portion is located at a second end region of the body opposite the first end region, and the one or more friction holes are located between the connecting portion and the second connecting portion.

In a first embodiment of the invention, a pair of friction holes may be defined in the body to allow the cord to be woven through the friction holes twice, typically in a wavy manner. In a wavy manner, the rope may enter a first friction hole of the pair of friction holes from the entry side of the body and exit the first friction hole on the exit side of the body, and then, the rope may enter a second friction hole of the pair of friction holes from the exit side of the body and exit the second friction hole of the pair of friction holes on the entry side of the body. The cord may be braided/arranged to form a hairpin loop between the respective friction holes such that the length of the cord forming the hairpin loop is greater than the distance between the pair of friction holes.

In a second embodiment of the invention, four friction holes may be defined in the body, allowing the cord to be woven through the friction holes in a generally undulating fashion to form three loop-like structures. The intermediate loop structure may be larger and may be a hairpin loop wherein the length of the cord forming the hairpin loop is greater than the distance between the friction holes forming the hairpin loop.

In a third embodiment of the present invention, five friction holes may be defined in the body for allowing the first cord to be braided/arranged through the friction holes four times to form three loop structures similar to the second embodiment. The fifth friction aperture and the middle friction aperture may allow the second cord to be received transverse to the first cord therethrough and through a central shock absorbing hairpin loop formed by the first cord.

It should be appreciated that the number of friction holes may be provided in a variety of configurations to accommodate one of a plurality of cords with or without shock rings.

Drawings

The safety belt connection point according to the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are three-dimensional schematic views of a safety belt attachment point according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the safety band attachment point showing the dimensions of the hole portion and features shown therein;

FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional schematic view of an alternative version of a safety belt connection point;

fig. 5 includes: (A) FIG. 4 is a side view, and (B) FIG. 4 is a plan view, both indicating the dimensions of features shown therein;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the safety belt attachment point shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the safety band attachment point shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the safety belt attachment point as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 9 is a rear view of the safety belt attachment point as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the safety belt attachment point of FIG. 7 including a cord;

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the safety belt attachment point of FIG. 9 including a cord;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the safety belt attachment point of FIG. 8 including a cord;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the safety belt attachment point of FIG. 6 including a cord;

FIG. 14 is a top view of the safety band attachment point of the belt including the safety band of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the safety band attachment point of the belt including the safety band shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the safety band attachment point of FIG. 12 of a belt including a safety band;

FIG. 17 is a rear view of the safety band attachment point of FIG. 11 including a belt for the safety band;

FIG. 18 is a top view of the safety belt attachment point of FIG. 14 including a second cord;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the safety belt attachment point of FIG. 15 including a second cord;

FIG. 20 is a side view of the safety belt attachment point of FIG. 16 including a second cord;

FIG. 21 is a rear view of the safety belt attachment point of FIG. 17 including a second cord;

FIG. 22 is a top view of the safety band attachment point shown in FIG. 18 including a safety hook;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the safety band attachment point of FIG. 19 including a safety hook;

FIG. 24 is a side view of the safety band attachment point of FIG. 20 including a safety hook; and

FIG. 25 is a rear view of the safety band attachment point of FIG. 21 including a safety hook.

Detailed Description

Reference is now made in general to reference numeral 10, which illustrates an embodiment of a safety belt attachment point in accordance with the present invention. The safety band attachment point 10 comprises a main body 12, an attachment portion in the form of a slit 14 defined in the main body 12 for allowing a strap 16 of a safety band (not shown) to pass therethrough, thereby attaching the main body 12 to the safety band. Defined in the body 12 are one or more friction holes 18, the friction holes 18 being configured and dimensioned to receive a cord 20 passing through them twice in a loop-like configuration and in a friction fit, the loop-like configuration closing under the friction provided by the friction fit when the cord 20 is in tension, thereby acting as a shock absorber. When two or more friction holes 18 are provided, the loop structure may be in the form of a hairpin loop 22 (as shown in fig. 7).

As best shown in fig. 1 and 2, a second connection portion in the form of a D-ring structure 24 is provided for connecting any other device or devices to the body 12. The one or more devices may be selected from, but not limited to: a snap hook (as shown in fig. 22-25), a cord, and a support structure (not shown). In the connected state, the weight of the person can be supported by the support structure, preferably via a rope and/or a safety hook 26 connected to the D-ring structure 24.

The slit 14 is defined in the body 12 between the D-ring structure 24 and the one or more friction holes 18. Slit 14 may be configured to have varying dimensions to allow varying sized band(s) 16 to pass therethrough.

The body 12 is made of any rigid and/or resilient material, typically stainless steel.

In fig. 1 and 2, the body 12 is configured in a U-shape in side view, with the slit 14 located substantially in the middle of the bend 28 of the U-shaped body 12. Thus, the D-ring structure 24 and the bore portion 30 of the body 12 defining the one or more bores 18 are on either side of the bend 28 and hence the slit 14 such that, in use, the D-ring structure 24 and the bore portion 30 extend away from a person wearing the safety band (not shown), thereby allowing the person easy access to the one or more friction bores 18 and the D-ring structure 24.

The hole portion 30 has five friction holes 18.1 to 18.5 defined therein in a trapezoidal arrangement. Four of the five friction apertures 18.1-18.4 are configured and dimensioned to allow the cord 20 to weave therethrough in a generally undulating manner (as best seen in fig. 10-13). In a wave-like manner, the cord 20 enters the first friction hole 18.1 from the entry side 32 of the body 12 and exits the first friction hole 18.1 on the exit side 34 of the body 12, and then the cord 20 enters the second friction hole 18.2 from the exit side 34 of the body 12 and exits the second friction hole 18.2 on the entry side 32 of the body 12. As explained above, the wave-like pattern continues until the cord 20 is woven through all four friction holes 18.1 to 18.4. The cord 20 is braided to form a hairpin loop 22 between the friction hole 18.2 and the friction hole 18.3, such that the length of the cord 20 forming the hairpin loop 22 is greater than the distance between the friction hole 18.2 and the friction hole 18.3. Referring to fig. 18-21, the fifth friction hole 18.5 is sized and configured to allow the second cord 36 to be received transversely therethrough relative to the braided cord 20. A second cord 36 is arranged through the hairpin loop 22. The trapezoidal arrangement of the friction holes 18.1 to 18.5 defined in the hole portions 30 allows for an even distribution of the tension exerted by the cord in use. Thus, and referring to fig. 3, the radial distance between the centers of the friction hole 18.1 and the friction hole 18.2, the radial distance between the centers of the friction hole 18.2 and the friction hole 18.3, and the radial distance between the centers of the friction hole 18.3 and the friction hole 18.4 are 120 °, respectively, while the centers of the friction hole 18.1, the friction hole 18.5, and the friction hole 18.4 are equally spaced. The friction holes 18.1-18.5 may be configured with varying sizes to accommodate varying diameters of the cords 20 passing therethrough. Typically, each of the friction holes 18.1 to 18.5 is sized to have a diameter of 11 mm.

As best seen in fig. 14-17, drawstring 16 enters and passes through slit 14 from a first side 38 of body 12, and then enters and passes through opening 46 of D-ring structure 24 from a second side 40 of body 12 opposite first side 38, thereby allowing the securing strap to be connected to body 12. The slits may be sized to have a width of +/-minimum 3mm to maximum 5mm and a length of +/-minimum 25mm to maximum 50mm, respectively. The D-ring structure 24 is sized to have a width and length of +/-70 mm by 70mm minimum, respectively.

Alternatively, and with reference to fig. 4 and 5, the body 12 is configured to be flat, with the slit 14 defined at a first end region 42 of the body 12, and the D-ring structure 24 disposed at a second end region 44 of the body 12 opposite the first end region 42. One or more friction holes 18 defined in the body 12 are located between the slit 14 and the D-ring structure 24. Defined in the body 12 are a pair of friction apertures 18.1 and 18.2 shaped and configured to receive a cord 20 woven twice therethrough, typically in an undulating manner as described above. The cord 20 is braided to form a hairpin loop 22 between the pair of friction holes 18.1 and 18.2 such that the length of the cord 20 forming the hairpin loop 22 is greater than the distance between the pair of friction holes 18.1 and 18.2. The pair of friction holes 18.1 and 18.2 may be configured with varying dimensions to accommodate varying diameters of the cord 20 passing therethrough. Typically, each friction hole 18.1 and/or 18.2 is dimensioned with a diameter of 11 mm. The distance from the centre of each friction hole 18.1 and 18.2 is 17 mm. The slit 14 is dimensioned to have a width of 5mm and a length of up to 55 mm. The D-ring structure 24 is dimensioned to have a width of 44mm and a length of 34 mm.

In use, the friction hole 18 allows one or

more cords

20 and 36 to be connected to the safety belt via the safety belt connection point 10 without the use of cumbersome knots traditionally tied when using a traditional D-ring. In the event that the cord 20 is stretched as a result of a person falling, the hairpin loop 22 closes under the frictional force provided by the friction hole 18, wherein the resistance to movement of the cord 20 relative to the friction hole 18 increases as the hairpin loop 22 closes, allowing the hairpin loop 22 to close gradually, thus acting as a shock absorber in the event of a fall, thereby reducing the likelihood of injury to the user.

Although only certain embodiments of the invention have been described herein, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other modifications, variations and possibilities of the invention are possible. Accordingly, such modifications, variations and possibilities are considered to be within the spirit and scope of the invention and thus form part of the invention as described and/or exemplified herein. It should also be understood that examples are provided to further illustrate the present invention and to assist those skilled in the art in understanding the present invention, and are not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.

The applicant believes that the safety belt attachment point according to the invention allows a cord or lanyard to be attached to the safety belt without the use of cumbersome knots, thereby providing the user with greater freedom of movement and therefore greater comfort. The harness attachment point also helps to reduce injury due to the rope being able to be pulled taut from a fall, as the harness attachment point provides a shock absorbing function. The safety belt attachment point allows for the attachment of multiple cords and for easy adjustment of the cords. The harness attachment points distribute the tensile load more evenly along the harness attachment points, avoiding the risk of the traditional knot being untied, avoiding the user bearing the weight of multiple traditional knots, and reducing the likelihood of rope tangling. The safety belt attachment point provides a safer, more efficient and more convenient way of attaching a rope or lanyard to the safety belt.

Claims

1. A safety belt connection point, the safety belt connection point comprising:

a main body;

a connecting portion for connecting the main body to a safety band; and

one or more friction holes defined in the body, the one or more friction holes configured and dimensioned to receive a cord passing therethrough twice in a loop configuration and in a friction fit, the loop configuration closing under the friction provided by the friction fit when the cord is in tension.

2. The safety band attachment point of claim 1, wherein the loop structure is in the form of a loop when a friction hole is defined in the body.

3. The safety band attachment point of claim 1, wherein the loop structure is in the form of a hairpin loop when two or more friction holes are defined in the body.

4. A safety belt attachment point as claimed in any one or more of claims 1 to 3, wherein a second attachment portion is provided for attaching any other one or more devices to the main body, such as a rope, a support structure or a safety hook.

5. The harness connection point of claim 4 wherein the second connection portion is in the form of a conventional D-ring configuration.

6. A safety band connection point as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the connection portion is in the form of a slit defined in the body for allowing a strap of the safety band to pass therethrough.

7. The safety band attachment point of claim 6 wherein the body is U-shaped in side view.

8. The safety band attachment point of claim 7, wherein the attachment portion is located near the middle of the bend of the U-shaped body such that, in use, the second attachment portion and the aperture portion of the body including the one or more friction apertures extend away from a person wearing the safety band.

9. The safety belt connection point as claimed in any one or more of claims 4 to 6, wherein the body is configured to be flat.

10. The safety belt connection point of claim 9, wherein the connection portion is defined at a first end region of the body and the second connection portion is defined at a second end region of the body opposite the first end region.

11. The safety belt connection point of any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein four friction holes are defined in the body, the four friction holes configured to form a trapezoidal arrangement.

12. The safety band attachment point of any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein five friction holes are defined in the body.

13. A connection point according to the present invention substantially as herein described.