US2458943A

US2458943A - Safety attachment

Info

Publication number: US2458943A
Application number: US773141A
Authority: US
Inventors: Isaac D Houseman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-09-10
Filing date: 1947-09-10
Publication date: 1949-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 1966-01-11

Description

J 1949. l. D. HO'USEMAN 8,

SAFETY ATTACHMENT 1 Filed Sept. 10, 1947 VISAACDI. HOUSEMAN.

BY HTTO/F/Vfy Patented Jan. 11, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY ATTACHMENT Isaac Houseman, Cleveland, Ohio Application September 10,1947, Serial No. 773,141

3 Cl m This invention relates to a safety attachment for a workman when employed on a scafiolding or other support operatively disposed at the side of a wall or building structure; where such supporting equipment is used it has been the practice to provide a life line for the workman to manuall grasp in the event the scaffold for any reason drops or is displaced. However, it is apparent that if an accident occurs without warning or the workman is beyond the'reach of the life line, he will be unable to grasp the latter. The safety attachment herein disclosed provides a connection between the Workman and the life line, so that in the event of an accident, such as (a) the scaffold or support and/or its supporting means fall or break, (b) the scaffold or support is displaced (for exampladue to the raising of some equipment), or (c) the workman loses his balance and falls off the scalfold' the workman is automatically prevented from falling.

For purposes of illustrating the preferred application of the invention, the workman'is shown standing on a scaffold, which may be raised and lowered by suitable block and tackle, associated with a life line attached to and depending from a; a high point of the wall or building structure provide an (Ail) improved safety attachment for a workman, hav- 8:35

ing co-acting clamping elements for engaging the life line, one of the elements being movable and biased by a spring, whereby the attachment is adjustably connected to the life line, the workman being connected to the movable clamping element so that in the event of an accident the weight of his body operates through this element to effect a positive gripping of the life line by the clamping elements with sufficient pressure or grip to prevent the workman from falling.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved safety attachment embodying certain improvements in the form of construction shown in my co-pending application Ser. No. 745,566, filed May 2, 1947.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,

wherein r as Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective viewof a building structure and a scaffold suspended in operative relation thereto, showing a workman on the scaffold, the workman being connected to the life line byan attachment embodying my invention. a

'Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the clamping mechanism mounted in adjusted position on the life line, parts being broken away. I

Fig.3isatop plan view.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation looking toward the right of Fig.2. 1

Fig. 5 is an elevational view showing a modification.

In thedrawing, l indicates as an entirety a portion. of a building structure. 2 indicates as an entirety a scaffold adjust-ably suspended by the usual block-and-tackle 3 in operative relationto the structure I; 4 indicates'a safety or life line (preferably consisting of a rope) secured at its upper end to a high point of the structure or other elevated support and depending therefrom to a point adjacent or below the lowest position to which the scaffold may belowered. The life line 4 is preferably disposed midway between the opposite ends of the scaffold 2 and may be related thereto on its inner or outer side.

The safety attachment consists of a belt 5 suitably bound around the workmans body, a clamping mechanism indicated as an entirety at 6 and .a flexible connection 1 (such as a rope or chain) of anyv desired. length detachably connected at its opposite ends to the belt 5 and mechanism 6. The belt 5 may be provided with suitable straps 5a adapted to extend over the workmans shoulders to hold the belt in place; in the event the scaffold drops orthe Workman falls off therefrom and is suspended by the life line, as later set forth; the straps and belt together support the workman in suspended position without undue binding or pressure effect on his body, as would otherwise result if the belt 5 only were used. The clamping mechanism 6 consists of the following:' B-indicates a bar provided at its upper and lower ends with laterally extending pairs of arms 9, ll], which straddle the life line 4 to maintain it in position at. all'times, the outer ends of the arms 9 being reinforced by legs 9a. As the pairs of arms 9, ID, are relatively spaced, they guide the mechanism 6 endwise of the life line 4 when. being adjusted relative thereto. The parts referred to are preferably formed integrally,

and below the arms 9 is shaped to provide a clamping element H, the face of which is of concave shape and suitably knurled to insure frictional contact with the life line 4. By preference, the clamping element ll consists of a section of metal welded to the bar 8. l2 indicates a rocker of substantially bell-crank shape dis posed between the arms 9 and fulcrumed on a pivot pin [3 extending through alined openings formed. in the outer' end portions .of the arms 9. The pin I3 is provided at one end with a head Ba and with a device |3b-such as a cotter pinat its opposite end, the head |3a and device 13b serving to limit the endwise-movementof the pin but permitting it to be removed for cooperate with the clamping element II to engage the life line between them, the-outer face of the arm He is substantially concave in cross section and knurled to insure adequate frictional contact with the life line 4. Therother" arm Mb of the rocker I2 is connected to one endof :a spring M. The opposite-end of thespringti's anchored toa lug max integral-1y connected to one of the arms Hi. The spring l4 servesi fiGiPEOGk the rocker l2 counterclockwise, asviewed in Fig. 2-,, and thus-efiect engagement of-theclamping element 20; with the'life-xli'nelr As shown. the arm 12b is relatively long. as. compared- .to the arm. 12a toprovide adequate: leverage: in operation and the spring I4 is of a sizei-amii strength tomaintainthe clamping element 112a .againststhe life line and in opposition to the clamping :ele-

ment H under pressure-to secure thesmechanism '6 to thesliie linerl in-zany. adjusted-2 positiomthereof that is, the frictional: engagement: of the clamping elements H and .l-Za with life line I, under the influence of the spring L4,. exceeds: the tendency of the mechanism .6 due to. its' Weight and that of the connection 1 togravitate. .By swinging or rocking the'ro cker' 1:2" clockwismxthe clamping element 21a is :disengagedrifronr life line 4; when the life line '4 is .di'sengagedinathis manner, the mechanism 6 may be .bodily-..adjusted' endwise of the life line:v 15 indicates a link pivotally connected at its-upper: end-to: the outer end portion of the rocker arm 1222:; this connection is showntas a ring 11:6, buts-may con;- sist of a .clevis; The link tidependsdownwamdt- 1y, substantially in the" plane; of the? bar-1& and.

between the arms Ill to" a'point helowthe latter, thelower end of the link titer-minating-iinze ring i5a,'towhich. the outerzend of theconncction 1 is detachably connected by suitable iasterring means, such .as' a: snap hook 1:1". Where: a snap hook I! or other equivalent .diEVihExiS not used, the end port-ion of the flexible connection I may be inserted through the: ring I 5a; and tied into a knot. The linkr-l 5.- 1811 held. mthinvthe arms H1 by a pin t8 removably supported: in .aiined openings formed in the: outer end. portions of the arms It. By .preferencegthe pin. 1'8 is. provided withza. roller I811 to. reducefrictionnomthe link 15 during operation thereof to. rock the rocker: I'E". The mountin'giort'thes-pih [8 is preiier ably similar to thatprovided forthepivotpin. 1:3. The pins I3 and It are. removable sohthat when initially hanging or connectihg the mechanism 6' on the life line 4 the rocker" .|L2",. linl litand reeving the life line in: or through. the pairs-cf .75 m on arms 9, I 0, and between the clamping elements H, 12a. When the scaffold 2 is to be raised or lowered to a new working elevation, the link I5 is moved upwardly by the workman to rock the rocker l2, clockwise, in opposition to the spring I, to disengage the clamping elements I l, l2a, from the life line 4; the mechanism 6 is then adjusted endwise thereof to a new position and the link l5 released from the hand or hands of thevrc-rlnnan topermiti the spring M to operate the rocker l2 counter-clockwise, whereby the mechanism is re-engaged with the life line 4 and held in fixed relation thereto.

Operation.-When the mechanism 6 is initially connected to the life line, as above set forth, it is" adjusted thereon to the desired heighth. fliherworkmanmay then don the belt 5 and attach the flexible member I to the belt and to the ring l-5a-to insure his safety. In the event of an accident, such as herein referred to, it will be evident that the: weight of the workmans bodywill exert ;a downward pull through the connection; 1. andlink t5, and. the latter will rock the. rocker .countereclockwise and cause an increaseidigripping. efi'ect by the clamping elements ll, |:2a-,. on the life line 4, and hence prevent the worlnnan: from: falling beyond a level limited by'length-of the connectionv .i from the position v0t the mechanism 6*.

Fig.5? shows a. modified form of construction, wherein. the upperend of the. link 15 is provided withn-biturcations vNib which straddle the arm: lib of. the rocker t2? and: are pivotally and removably .cmmectedtheretmby the'pin t3.

Tothcsezskilled in the art to which my invention. relates .many changes in construction .andzwidely .difiering. embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without. departing: firom the spiritv and scope thereon. My disclosures. andithedescriptionherearerpurely'illustrative and are not intended to he'in' any;- sense'lirniting'.

Whatd? claim-is;

1. lnzsafety means fora workman while'working omascafiold, the. combination with .av safety line-oi? :a mechanism arranged to be adjustably supportedz on; said: safety line, saidv mechanism consisting "of-a: vertically disposed bar provided with, :upperand? lower alined pairs of laterally extending: arms: through which the safety line extends; .a; lever-.iulcrumed on and between said upperipair of. arms, clamping elements. carried by said bar and the inner arm of said lever in opposed relation and arranged? to engage and disengage. .said safety line, a spring connected to theioutel'marmof said; lever and arranged .to: swing .said'llevenin aidirecti'on .to eftect engagement of .saidielements with said; safety line under pressure. whereby'sazidi mechanism is adiustably fixed twandsupported: on said line, and an. operating rod piizotally connected to theouter arm of said lever and. depending therefrom. and through said lower. of arms. and guided thereby and adapted to be connected to-the workman, said rod when; moved: in a direction in opposition to the tensionofsaidespring serving to dis'en'gage the clamping elements from the safety line and when moved in the opposite direction due tothe weight 'of the wcrk'man .in falling, serving to efiect' a rigid clamping engagement of the clamping element's-with said-safety line; whereby the workman" is held i'n'a suspended position on said safety line.-

'2'. In safety means fora workmanwhile worka scafiold, the combination with a safety line, of a mechanism arranged to be adjustably clamped to the safety line, said mechanism consisting of a vertically disposed bar provided with upper and lower alined pairs of laterally extending arms through which the safety line extends. a lever fulcrumed on and between said upper pair of arms, clamping elements carried by said bar and the inner arm of said lever in opposed relation and arranged to engage and disengage said safety line, a spring connected to the outer arm of said lever and arranged to swing said lever in a direction to effect engagement of said clamping elements with said safety line under pressure, whereby said mechanism is adiustably fixed to and supported by said line, an operating rod pivotally connected to the outer arm of said lever and extending therefrom through said lower pair of arms and adapted to be connected to the workman, said rod when moved in a direction in opposition to the tension of said spring serving to disengage the clamping elements from said safety line and when moved in the opposite direction due to the weight of the workman in falling serving to efiect a rigid clamping engage- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 294,629 Jenkins Mar. 4, 1884 382,574 Westbrook May 8, 1888 462,081 Henning Oct. 27, 1891 926,430 Luckett June 29, 1909 1,576,210 Nickson Mar. 9, 1926