GB2357234A - Safety apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety apparatus comprising a track (1) having a continuous surface and a clasp (2) for securing to a safety line, wherein the clasp is slideably mounted to the continuous surface of the track such that the clasp can travel substantially completely along the surface of the track. The track may be in the form of a belt for a safety harness or a safety rail or both.

Description

2357234 SAFETY APPARATUS This invention relates to safety apparatus for

securing apparatus or individuals to surfaces to prevent their loss injury or damage in the case of an accident.

It is well known in certain dangerous activities for a person to wear a harness about their body. The harness usually comprises a series of straps surrounding the body under the arms and/or between the legs and a hook device carried by these straps for attaching to a line or chain which in turn is secured to a permanently fixed point. Often the hook will incorporate a locking mechanism which allows the wearer to gradually release the attachment from the line in small amounts so as to move further away from the fixed point but remaining secured to it should he fall or be carried away from his desired location.

A disadvantage with this arrangement is that should the wearer require to turn or adjust his position his mobility is restricted by the single point of connection to the line. Should he turn, the line will wrap about his person and tangle restricting further movement. Also should he wish to travel any significant distance from his starting point he either needs a considerable length of line or to move the clasp connecting the line to a fixed position to another fixed position. The latter can result in a window where the wearer is not secured to the fixed point and may risk injury.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety apparatus which gives security with improved flexibility and mobility for the wearer.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a safety apparatus comprising a track having a continuous surface and a clasp for securing to a safety line, wherein the clasp is slideably mounted to the continuous surface of the track such that the clasp can travel substantially completely along the surface of the track.

Conveniently the track is provided in the form of a belt which may be fitted to a safety harness. Alternatively the track may be provided in the form of a rail, for example a continuous rail provided around the periphery of a boat, or a rail provided vertically or horizontally around building scaffolding.

Optionally a belt according to the present invention may be used in conjunction with a safety rail according to the present invention to provide additional flexibility and mobility for the wearer.

Where the track is a rail, it may be provided with one or more retractable stops which are biased to allow travel in one direction but close to prevent undesirable travel in an opposite direction. This adaptation is particularly suited to apparatus according to the present invention which is to be used 'In climbing applications. As the wearer ascends, the clasp can be dragged up past a number of stops. Should the wearer accidentally fall, then the clasp will meet the previous stop in an oppositely biased direction so that the stop does not open and the wearer's fall is broken.

The stops may take the form of simple hinged gates arranged in the path of the slideably mounted clasp, the gates being openable in a generally upward directlion but failing under gravity against a protrusion to prevent opening in a reverse direction. Preferably, there is some resilient bias against the gates opening. As an alternative the stops may be provided in the form of latch- type locks. The latter comprise resiliently biased poles which fit into recesses so as to block the path of the slideably mounted clasp. The provision of an upwardly angled surface facing the direction of upward travel of the slideably mounted clasp provides that the clasp, on meeting with the angled surface in the upward direction of travel, tends to draw the poles from the recesses. A substantially flat surface applied to the surface facing the direction of downward travel of the slideably mounted clasp acts simply as a fixed bar against the clasp as it travels in a downwards direction and thus is not withdrawn. Preferably, the stops may be manually opened to allow travel of the slideably mounted clasps in a downward direction.

Whilst the foregoing describes use of stops in vertical travel, they may equally be used for other directions of travel.

The geometry of the clasp and track must clearly be suitable to allow the track to be mounted by one outer surface to a fixed body. This can be achieved in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, the clasp is substantially C-shaped and is mounted around the free surface and sides of the track.

Protruding from the back of the C is a hook, loop or other suitably shaped protrusion for attaching to a standard safety line. Optionally, the ends of the C may curve inwardly into recessed grooves provided on the mounted surface of the track to provide better grip.

In other embodiments, the free surface of the track is substantially Cshaped and the clasp is mounted in the cup of the C. In these embodiments, the ends of the C may optionally curve inwardly into recessed grooves provided on the co-operating surface of the track to provide better grip. Preferably both the clasp and the track will be substantially C-shaped the ends of the outer C being curved around the ends of the inner C to provide strong grip between the clasp and track.

Other suitably profiled pairs of shapes will no doubt occur to the skilled addressee, for example, the clasp may be in a Figure 8, a T, a W or an S shape fitting into a complimentarily shaped cross-section track.

The clasp and track may be of any suitably strong material for carrying an average persons weight. For marine applications, suitable materials may be a non-corrosive metal such a stainless steel. Preferably the slideably communicating surfaces of the clasp and track will be provided with a low friction surface coating. Preferably the communicating surfaces will also be hard wearing. Suitable coatings include polytetraf]Ljoroethylene (PTFE) or high density polyethylene (HDPE).

For the purposes of exemplification, the invention will now be further described with reference to the Figures in which, Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the invention where the clasp travels over the track.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention where the clasp travels inside the track.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the invention incorporating a series of stops.

As can be seen from the Figures, the apparatus basically comprises a track 1, having slideably mounted thereon a clasp 2. The clasp 2 carries a hook, loop or other suitable device for attachment to a conventional safety line.

Figures 1 (a) and 2 (a) illustrate the side view of an externally mounted clasp and internally mounted clasp respectively. Figures 1 (b) and 2(b) show cross sectional views of an externally mounted clasp and internally mounted clasp respectively. Two variations on the internally mounted clasp are shown in Figure 2 (b) as an indication of how the geometry may be varied while achieving the same basic technical effect. Figures 1 (c) and 2(c) show a front view of an externally mounted clasp and internally mounted clasp respectively. Figures I (d) and 2(d) show perspective views of an externally mounted clasp and internally mounted clasp respectively where the track is provided in belt form.

In Figure 3 the inner body of a rail is provided with a series of latch type stops 4, each co-operating with a recess 5 in the wall of the rail. Each stop has an angled lower surface and is resiliently biased by some form of spring 6 into the corresponding recess 5. As the clasp 2 travels upwards it meets with and travels along the angled surface of the stop 4 exerting a load against the spring mechanism 6 and tending to draw the stop 4 from the recess 5. As the upper surface of the stop 4 is flat, there is no force exerted against the bias of the spring 6 and the clasp cannot pass. The stops 4 may however be moved to the open position by applying a manual force against the bias of the spring 6.

The foregoing represent just some embodiments of the invention variations of which will no doubt occur to the skilled reader. The examples are not intended to be limiting of the true scope of the invention as claimed in the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A safety apparatus comprising a track having a continuous surface and a clasp for securing to a safety line, wherein the clasp is slideably mounted to the continuous surface of the track such that the clasp can travel substantialk, completely along the surface of the track.

2. A safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the track is provided in the form of a belt for a safety harness.

3. A safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the track is provided in the form of a safety rail.

4. A safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising two tracks-, a first in the form of a rail and a second in the form of a belt for a safety harness, each having a clasp slideably mounted thereon, and a safety line for attaching to the two clasps.

5. A safety apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the rail is vertically mounted and is provided with one or more retractable stops which are biased to allow travel in one direction but close to prevent undesirable travel in an opposite direction.

6. A safety apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the stops comprise resiliently biased elements which fit into complementary recesses so as to block the path of the slicleably mounted clasp.

7. A safety apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the apparatus is made substantially from stainless steel.

8. A safety apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the intercommunicating surfaces of the clasp and track are provided with a low friction and/or high wear surface coating.

9. a safety apparatus substantially as described herein and with reference to figure 1, Figure 2 or Figure 3.

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