GB2399564A

GB2399564A - Safety system for retaining tools

Info

Publication number: GB2399564A
Application number: GB0305323A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clive Prosser
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-03-07
Filing date: 2003-03-07
Publication date: 2004-09-22
Also published as: GB0305323D0

Abstract

A safety system, particularly suitable for workers in the building trade, comprises a housing (4) which is secured to a harness or belt (2) worn by a worker. Each housing comprises a reel on which a flexible cord (6) is wound. Means are provided for releasably securing the flexible cords (6) to tools (7, 8, 9). The cord may be unwound from the reel so that the tool can be used, and then the cord is automatically rewound onto the reel when the external force on the cord is released. The reel may be controlled by a spring secured to the housing. Means are preferably provided for locking the reel mechanism after the cord has been extended.

Description

SAFETY SYSTEM FOR RETAINING TOOLS

This invention relates to a safety system for retaining tools, and in the preferred embodiment provides a safety system which ensures safe retention of tools without materially interfering with the use of those tools.

Within the building industry it is recognised that items dropped from a substantial height represents a serious danger to those working below. For this r eason, regulations require those working on building sites to wear protective helmets.

However, such protective helmets are only a partial answer to the problem of injury caused by tools which have been dropped. A tool striking some part ofthe body other than the head may cause substantial injury especially if the tool is heavy or pointed.

Also, significant damage may be caused to materials or existing structures if they are hit by a heavy tool dropped from a substantial height.

Whilst it is recognised in some activities (for example off-shore sailing) that tools can be retained against loss by means of lanyards or the like, this technique is not suitable for use in the building industry for a number of reasons. In particular, if a lanyard is to be long enough to allow a substantial degree of freedom of movement of the tool, it will be sufficiently long to be an inconvenience to the workman. The problem is particularly acute if the workman has need of several tools in which case the several lanyards necessary are liable to become entangled with each other and may themselves present a safety hazard in terms of tripping the workman.

The present invention provides a safety system for retaining tools which obviates the disadvantages of conventional lanyard systems, as outlined above.

According to one aspect ofthe present invention there is provided a safety system for retaining a tool, a safety system comprising a flexible cord for attachment to the tool; a housing containing a reel for the cord, the reel permitting the cord to be unwound therefrom by pulling; means for automatically rewinding the cord onto the reel when no external force is applied to the cord; and means of securing the housing to the clothing of a worker or to a belt or harness worn by a worker.

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The unreeling and re-winding of the cord may be controlled by a spnng secured to the reel and the housing.

Preferably the housing is secured to a harness or belt worn by a worker by suitable means, for example a short length of flexible material. With such an arrangement a minimum of inconvenience is caused to the worker by the presence of a safety system, and yet one or more tools can be made available for immediate use.

When a tool is required the worker grasps the tool and extends his arm to bring the tool into the required working position. This automatically results in unreeling ofthe cord attached to the tool. When the tool is no longer required the worker simply moves it back to its approximate starting location and the cord will automatically be re-wound on the reel.

Preferably, the reel can be locked relative to the housing in the position corresponding to the cord being at least partially unwound so that if several operations must be completed with a particular tool the re-winding mechanism will not exert continuous pull on the cord. Under these circumstances, even if the tool is dropped it will only fall to the limit of the unwound cord.

The invention will be better understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of safety system according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawing there is illustrated a worker 1 wearing a safety harness 2. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art safety harnesses 2 are cornnon]y worn by workers who have to work at height. The safety harness 2 will be secured to an appropriate fixing by means of a lanyard or a fall arresting device.The harness 2 provides a number of D-rings 3 which provide anchor points for the safety systems according to the preferred embodiment. Several D-rings 3 are provided. in the alternative, other forms of anchors may be provided on the harness. As illustrated, each D-ring has secured thereto a housing 4. Each housing 4 is secured to its associated D-ring by short length the flexible cord 5. Each housing 4 contains a reel upon which, in the configuration of the components illustrated in the drawing, is wound a length of thin flexible cord 6. The cord 6 may, for example, have a length of one metre of which 900mm is normally wound on the reel and 100mm normally extends from the reel. The free end of each cord 6 is secured to a tool 7,8 or 9. The nature of the tools will vary according to the job which the workman is effecting.

Preferably, means are provided for releasably securing the cord to its associated tool so that one tool may be substituted for another. Any suitable means for releasab]y securing the cord to a tool may be provided. In one preferred embodiment of the invention a suitable nipple is provided on each too] and a quick release fitting of the general type used for releasably connecting of compressed air lines is provided on the end of the cord. With such an arrangement, the quick release fitting may be released fiom the nipple of one tool by pulling on a sleeve provided on the quick release fitting, and the quick release fitting may be engaged to the nipple of another tool by pushing it onto the nipple. However, alternative arrangements are possible. In particular, the free end of the cord may be provided with a fitting which can engage a hole provided in a tool. The fitting may, for example, be a hook with a spring loaded keeper or a karabiner fitting.

In each housing 4 the reel is connected to the housing by a spring which allows relatively firee unwinding of the cord fiom the reel and automatic rewinding of the cord onto the reel when tension is removed firom the cord. Preferably, means are provided for locking the reel relative to the housing in any desired position. This will enable, for example, enable the cord to be fully extended and the reel locked in order to provide freedom of movement for use of the tool. It wild also enable the cord to be fully wound onto the reel and the reel locked so that a heavy tool may be released and will not result in unreeling of the cord.

Normally, tools not in use will be kept in close proximity to the associated housing so that they are immediately available for grasping by the worker. If a particular tool is required to perform only a single operation the worker will probably extend his arm to bring the tool to the required position, effect the operation, and then move the tool back to approximately its rest position thereby allowing the cord to be re- wound. If several operations must be performed with the tool the worker will probably extend the tool to its use position and then lock the associated reel to its housing so that no tension is applied to the cord. The tool can then be used freely as if it were connected to the worker by a fixed lanyard. After such usage, the reel is released and will automatically re-wind the cord as the tool is resumed to its storage position.

If desired the reel mechanism may be of the automatic inertia type commonly used for roller blinds. With such mechanisms if the cord is pulled quickly from the reel and is immediately released, the reel will lock with the cord extended. The reel may subsequently be released by again pulling the cord and then releasing it slowly.

It will be noted that the invention provides tool retention which is as secure as existing fixed lanyard systems, but obviates the disadvantages of known systems as outlined above. In particular, it will be observed that even though the worker illustrated in the drawing has a total of three tools secured by three separate devices, there is little or no danger that the retairung devices will become entangled with each other. This is in contrast with the position which would arise if the tools are retained by respective fixed lanyards. Additionally, because the proposed system avoids the safety hazards associated with fixed lanyards (in particular the possibility that they will become entangled with other equipment or will trip the operator), the system of the present invention may be utilized in applications where safety lanyards would not be acceptable, for example in the building trade and in particular in the scaffolding trade. In addition to providing a safe means of tool retention the present invention allows a worker to use both hands for tasks not requiring tools whilst still keeping tools handy for immediate use. This feature will also be of considerable assistance to scaffolders. Finally, in addition to the safety aspects of the present invention, the invention offers considerable convenience in that because a tool cannot be dropped a worker will not be obliged to descend to a lower level to recover a tool which he has dropped Previously, the recovery of dropped tools has been a significantinconvernence and has wasted time whilst tools are recovered.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A safety system for retaining a tool, the safety system

comprising: a flexible cord for attachment to the tool; a housing containing a reel for the cord, the reel permitting the cord to be unwound therefrom by pulling; means for automatically rewinding the cord onto the reel when no external force is applied to the cord; and means of securing the housing to the clothing of a worker or to a belt or harness worn by a worker.
2. A safety system according to Claim 1 wherein the unreeling and rewinding of the chord is controlled by a spring secured to the reel and the housing.
3. A safety system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 including means for securing the housing to a harness or belt worn by a worker.
4. A safety system according to Claim 3 wherein the securing means comprises a short link for flexible material.
5. A safety system according to any preceding Claim including means for locking the reel relative to the housing in a position corresponding to the cord being at least partially unwound.
6. A safety system according to any preceding Claim including means for locking the reel relative to the housing in a position corresponding to the cord being substantially wound onto the reel.
7. A safety system according to any preceding Ciann including means for releasably securing the cord to its associated tool.
8. A safety system according to Claim 7 wherein the releasable securing means comprises a nipple and a quick release fitting for receiving the nipple, the nipple being engageable with a quick release fitting by pushing the nipple into the fitting and being releasable from the fitting by manipulating a sleeve forming part of the fitting.
9. A safety system according to any of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the releasable securing means comprises a hook having a spring loaded keeper.
10. A safety system according to any of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the releasable securing means comprises a karabiner fitting.
11. A safety system according to any preceding Claim wherein the real mechanism is of an automatic inertia type in which, if the cord is pulled quickly from the reel and immediately released, the reel will lock with the cord extended and in which the reel may subsequently be released by again pulling on the cord and releasing it slowly.
12. A safety system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.