GB2576292A

GB2576292A - Safety harness with ascender

Info

Publication number: GB2576292A
Application number: GB1808077.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jones Keith; Mark Edmondson Christopher
Original assignee: Heightec Group Ltd
Current assignee: Heightec Group Ltd
Priority date: 2018-05-18
Filing date: 2018-05-18
Publication date: 2020-02-19
Also published as: GB201808077D0

Abstract

A full body harness comprising adjustable upper straps 3, waist straps 2, waist padding 4, and thigh straps 1, forming the harness section, which is joined at the upper shoulder or chest section to the lower waist and thigh sections via an upper d-ring attachment point 6 and a lower D-ring attachment point 5, fitted to a webbing loop which secures the thigh and waist sections int a sitting position when connected to a rope descender, and is joined via a connector 16 to attachment point 6 by an ascender with a body 7, a channel 10 for receiving rope, a cam 11, which is pivotally mounted on a pivot 12 for enaging rope . A thicker section of webbing 15 may assist in limiting the movement of the ascender body, and alternative fixings in the form of buckles, extra webbing or the linking member strap being formed into a figure of 8 may provide additional strength and fixing means.

Description

Safety harness with ascender

The invention relates to a safety harness for supporting the body of the user with an ascender or rope clamp mounted thereon.

Safety harnesses for working at height are known. Such harnesses typically comprise a series of straps encircling the users thighs, waist and shoulders. Attachment points are provided for the connection of ropes, lanyards etc. typically these will comprise a metal D-hng. Attachment points are typically situated at the front of the waist to hold the user in a sitting position when connected to a rope descender for abseiling etc. A further attachment point is situated around the centre of the chest such that it will hold the user upright when they are suspended from it. Rope access work involves using several different attachment points and an ascender or rope clamp mounted between the waist and chest attachment points. Such ascenders typically comprise a body with a channel for receiving the rope and a pivoting cam for engaging the rope. Several holes are provided in the body so that the ascender may be linked to a harness or other equipment using karabiners, screwlinks or similar connectors. Historically, ascenders were made to fit between a lower body harness comprising waist and thigh straps and a shoulder harness. Such a combination does not meet the requirements for a harness for work at height as it does not provide a chest D-ring.

Work at height harnesses which include an ascender mounted on the chest are known, however these usually comprise an ascender designed for the separate lower body harness and shoulder harness combination, described above, attached over the front of other harness components. As such the ascender does not sit flat against the chest area making it less comfortable, more difficult to use and requires extra karabiners to attach it or close the harness increasing the weight and complexity of the assembly. This complexity also increases the chances of incorrect assembly which can be weaker or otherwise inherently dangerous.

To reduce the complexity the ascender may be sewn in or otherwise integrated with the harness. However, this means that the ascender cannot be removed when not required or replaced if one or the other is worn or damaged, textile harnesses typically degrade faster than metal ascenders. As mentioned previously, separate ascenders typically do not sit flat when used in this manner. Further, many manufacturers simply place the ascender into the connector which joins the shoulder straps to the waist. The webbing of the harness is then cut and abraded as it is trapped between the connector and ascender during use.

At least one manufacturer provides a harness with the ascender comprising a load bearing component of the harness. Although this addresses some of the problems above the ascender still cannot be removed when not required or for replacement. Additionally the ascender still contains holes for attachment so although the chance of incorrect use is reduced, it is not removed. The ascender also needs to be of a size and strength suitable for a harness component and the capacity to develop small, lightweight versions is limited.

The invention seeks to solve these problems by providing a harness to which a chest ascender can be fitted in such a way that it aligns correctly, can be removed or replaced as required, does not damage the webbing between 2 metal components and allows the harness to be fastened and removed with only 1 connector thereby also preventing the ascender from being loaded as a harness component.

According to the prevent invention there is provided a rope clamp and associated safety harness, said harness having a linking member between waist and chest D-ring, said ascender being configured with at least one engaging means such that the lower portion forms an operative connection with said linking member proximal to the waist and at least one further engaging means such that the upper portion forms an operative connection with said linking member proximal to the chest.

Preferably said linking member is substantially comprised of textile webbing.

Preferably said linking member incorporates a karabiner, screwlink or similar connector.

Preferably said linking member may have at least one engaging section to form an operative connection with at least one said engaging means to restrict the movement of the ascender along the linking member.

Preferably said engaging means are orientated substantially parallel to the back of the ascender such that when fitted the ascender lies flat against the linking member or users chest.

Preferably at least one engaging means may be configured so as to further engage with other harness elements for example D-rings.

Preferably at least one of said engaging means is in the form of an aperture.

Preferably at least one of said apertures may be openable such that the linking member may be inserted at a point along its length.

Preferably said engaging means may be linked with a strap such that the linking member is enclosed between the strap and the body of the ascender.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the harness

Figure 2 is a front view of the ascender

Figure 3 is a rear view of the ascender fitted to the harness linking member

Figure 4 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the ascender

Figure 5 is a rear view of an alternative embodiment of the ascender fitted to an alternative embodiment of the harness linking member

The harness shown in figure 1 comprises straps 1 encircling the users thighs, straps 2 encircling the users waist and straps 3 passing over the shoulders. All straps containing adjustment means allowing the harness to be fitted to different sizes of user. Padding 4 may be provided on the rear of waist straps 2 for increased comfort. A metal D-ring attachment point 6 is mounted in the centre of the chest for attachment of lanyards etc. A further metal D-ring attachment point 5 is fitted to a webbing loop 17 situated at the front of the waist such that it hold the user in a sitting position when connected to a rope descender for abseiling etc. A linking member in the form of a strap 13 with a connector 16 linking attachment point 6 and webbing loop 17. To put on the harness, the user disconnects connector 16 so that the shoulder straps 3 may be folded over the rear of the waist straps 2. The user then steps through waist straps 2 and into thigh straps 1, these straps are then adjusted to provide a close fit. Shoulder straps 3 are then passed over the head and connector 16 connected into webbing loop 17. Shoulder straps 3 can then be adjusted to provide a close fit.

The ascender comprises a body 7 with a channel 10 for receiving the rope and a cam 11 for engaging the rope, pivotally mounted on a pivot 12.

In a first embodiment said ascender body 7 having an aperture 8 above the cam and a further aperture 9 below the cam. Linking member strap 13 has additional webbing sewn to it in order to form a loop in the end and to provide a thicker section 15 that will engage the lower aperture 9 limiting the movement of the ascender body 7.

The ascender is fitted to the harness linking member 13 by unthreading buckle 14 then passing the end of the linking member strap through aperture 8 around D ring 6 then back through aperture 8 so as to form a loop around D-ring 6. Buckle 14 is then re-threaded in order to securedly fix the end of the linking member strap. The other, loop, end of said linking member strap is then passed through aperture 9 so that karabiner 16 can pass through the loop end.

In an alternative embodiment shown in figures 4 and 5 the aperture 19 above the cam is in the form of a hook. Linking member strap 13 is in the form of a loop with additional webbing sewn to it in order to provide a thicker section 15 that will engage the lower aperture 9 limiting the movement of the ascender body 7. The ascender is fitted to the harness linking member 13 by passing the free end through aperture 9 so that connector 16 can pass through the loop. Hook shaped aperture 19 is then passed around either one or both sections of webbing in the strap 13 above thicker section 15.

In a further embodiment (not shown) the apertures in the ascender body are equipped with lockable opening means. The linking member strap is in the form of a figure of 8 with a loop around the chest D-ring and the other loop around the karabiner. The ascender is fitted by opening the apertures and passing them around either around or through both loops. The opening means are then closed and locked

In an additional further embodiment (not shown) the apertures are linked by a strap equipped with releasable closing means. The linking member strap is again in the form of a figure of 8. The ascender is fitted by releasing the closing means then passing the strap between the chest D-ring and the karabiner, following the path of the linking member strap. The releasable closing means are then closed thereby securing the ends of the strap.

Claims

1. A rope clamp and associated safety harness, said harness having a linking member between waist and chest D-ring, said ascender being configured with at least one engaging means such that the lower portion forms an operative connection with said linking member proximal to the waist and at least one further engaging means such that the upper portion forms an operative connection with said linking member proximal to the chest.

2. A harness according to claim 1 wherein said linking member is substantially comprised of textile webbing.

3. A harness according to any preceding claim wherein said linking member incorporates a karabiner, screwlink or similar connector.

4. A harness according to any preceding claim wherein said linking member incorporates a buckle such that one end may be threaded around harness or rope clamp elements before being securedly affixed via the buckle.

5. A harness according to claims 1 to 3 wherein the linking member is in the form of figure of 8 such that the engaging means of the rope clamp may each engage with a loop of the linking member.

6. A rope clamp and associated harness according to any preceding claim wherein said linking member may have at least one engaging section to form an operative connection with at least one said engaging means to restrict the movement of the ascender along the linking member.

7. A harness according to claim 6 wherein said engaging section is formed by attaching additional webbing to the linking member.

8. A rope clamp and associated harness according to claim 6 wherein said engaging means are orientated substantially parallel to the back of the ascender such that when fitted the ascender lies flat against the linking member or users chest.

9. A rope clamp according to claims 7 or 8 wherein at least one engaging means may be configured so as to further engage with other harness elements for example D-rings.

10. A rope clamp according to claims 6 to 8 wherein at least one of said engaging means is in the form of an aperture.

11. A rope clamp according to claim 10 wherein at least one of said apertures may be openable such that the linking member may be inserted at a point along its length.

12. A rope clamp according to claim 10 wherein at least one of said apertures is hook shaped such that it may be passed around either one or both sections of webbing in the linking member.

13. A rope clamp and associated harness according to claim 1 wherein said engaging means may be linked with a strap such that the linking member is enclosed between the strap and the body of the ascender.

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