Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B35/00—Safety belts or body harnesses; Similar equipment for limiting displacement of the human body, especially in case of sudden changes of motion
  • A62B35/0006—Harnesses; Accessories therefor
  • A62B35/0025—Details and accessories
  • A62B35/0037—Attachments for lifelines and lanyards
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
  • A44B11/00—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts
  • A44B11/02—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts frictionally engaging surface of straps
  • A44B11/06—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts frictionally engaging surface of straps with clamping devices
  • A44B11/12—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts frictionally engaging surface of straps with clamping devices turnable clamp
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
  • A44B13/00—Hook or eye fasteners
  • A44B13/0029—Hook or eye fasteners characterised by their way of fastening to the support
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T24/00—Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
  • Y10T24/47—Strap-end-attaching devices
  • Y10T24/4764—Ring-loop

Definitions

• Such apparatus usually includes a safety line interconnected between a support structure and a safety harness donned by a person working in proximity to the support structure.
• a connector may be used to interconnect the safety line and the full-body safety harness as well as provide a connection for other attachments to the safety harness.
• a safety harness may also include a D-ring that can be used, for among other things, to couple a rescue system to the safety harness after a fall event. The D-ring should be accessible yet not hinder the user during normal operations.
• a D-ring keeper assembly includes a D-ring and a base member.
• the D-ring has a mid-portion, a first end portion and a second end portion.
• the mid-portion is configured and arranged to provide a connection point to the D-ring.
• the D-ring further has at least one post that extends between the first and second end portions.
• the base member is configured and arranged to be coupled to a webbing.
• the at least one post of the D-ring is pivotally in communication with the base member.
• the base member further includes at least one locking tab that is configured and arranged to lock the position of the D-ring in relation to the base member.
• this D-ring keeper assembly includes a D-ring and a base member.
• the D-ring has a mid-portion, a first end portion and a second end portion.
• the mid-portion is curved in generally a C-shape.
• the D-ring further has at least one post that extends between the first and second end portions.
• the base member is configured and arranged to be slidably coupled to a webbing.
• the at least one post of the D-ring is pivotally in communication with the base member.
• the base member is further configured and arranged to lock the D-ring in one of an activated position and a stored position in relation to the base member.
• the D- ring assembly includes a D-ring and a base member.
• the D-ring has a mid-portion, a first end portion and a second end portion.
• the mid-portion is curved in generally a C-shape.
• the D-ring further has at least one post that extends between the first and second end portions.
• the base member is configured and arranged to be slidably coupled to a webbing of a safety harness.
• the at least one post of the D-ring is pivotally in communication with the base member.
• the base member further includes at least one locking tab that is configured and arranged to lock the D-ring in one of an activated position and a stored position in relation to the base member.
• the activated position of the D-ring is generally perpendicular to the stored position of the D-ring in relation to the base member.
• Figure 1 is a front view of a D-ring keeper assembly coupled to a safety harness donned by a user of one embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 2A is a side perspective view of the D-ring keeper of Figure 1 with its D- ring in an activated position;
• Figure 2B illustrates the D-ring keeper of Figure 1 with its D-ring in a stowed configuration
• Figure 3 A illustrates a side perspective view of a base member of the D-ring keeper assembly of Figure 1 in one embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 3B is a front view of the base member of Figure 3 A;
• Figure 3C is an end view of the base member of Figure 3A;
• Figure 4A is a front view of the D-ring keeper assembly of Figure 1;
• Figure 4B is a cross-sectional side view of the D-ring keeper along line 4B-4B.
• Embodiments of the present invention provide a D-ring keeper assembly 100 for use with a safety harness 60 donned by a user 50 as illustrated in Figure 1.
• One of the features of the D-ring keeper 100 is that it can be, as illustrated in Figure 1, coupled to chest strap 200 (or chest webbing) of the safety harness 60.
• Placing a D-ring 102 in front of the user 50 provides some benefits.
• One benefit is that if a fall event occurs, the user 50 can help guide and attach a safety lanyard (not shown) to the D-ring 102 for a rescue.
• the D-ring keeper assembly 100 is further designed, as discussed below, to be selectively positioned along the chest webbing 200. Moreover, allowing the D-ring keeper assembly 100 to move relative to the chest webbing 200 allows the D-ring 102 to be centered regardless of the length of the chest webbing 200. In addition, this feature allows the D-ring 102 to be self centered during a fall event.
• the D-ring keeper assembly 100 includes a D- ring 102 and a base member 120. In embodiments, the base member 120 is configured to provide an activated position and a stored position for the D-ring 102.
• the D-ring 102 includes a mid-portion 102c, a first end portion 102a and a second end portion 102b.
• the mid-portion 102c of the D-ring 102 is curved in generally a C-shape.
• the D-ring 102 further has a first post 104 and a second post 106.
• the first and second posts 104 and 106 extend between the first and second end portions 102a and 102b in a spaced configuration.
• the mid-portion 102c is designed to be attached to a lifeline or lanyard via connector (not shown) if a fall event occurs and a rescue is required.
• the D-ring 102 in the stored position in relation to the base member 120 is illustrated in Figure 2B.
• the D-ring 102 would be in the closed position during normal use of the safety harness 60.
• the base member 120 selectively holds the D-ring 102 in either the stored position or the activated position as discussed further in detail below.
• the base member is illustrated in Figures 3A through 3C.
• the base member 120 includes a base plate 120a.
• the base plate 120a has a front edge 122a and opposed back edge 122b, a first side edge 122c and an opposed second side edge 122d as best illustrated in Figure 3B.
• the base member 120 further has a first side wall 120b that extends from the first side edge 122c of the base plate 120a and a second side wall 120c that extends from the second side edge 122d of the base plate 120a as best illustrated in Figure 3A.
• Along the back edge 122b extends a back wall 120d.
• the back wall 120b further extends between the first side wall 120b and the second side wall 120c.
• the base plate 120a further includes parallel spaced first and second slots that generally extend a select distance between the first side edge 122c and the second side edge 122d.
• the back wall 120d further includes a third slot 125 that is also positioned in a parallel fashion with the first and seconds slots 121 and 123. Extending from a surface of the base plate 120a between the second and third slots 123 and 125 is a holding plate member 124.
• the holding plate member 124 is also positioned generally parallel with the first, second and third slots 121, 123 and 125.
• the first side wall 120b and the second sidewall 120c further include aligned locking tabs 130a and 130b that extend out of an inner surface of the respective first and second sidewall s 120b and 120c towards each other.
• the holding plate member 124 and the base plate 120a form a curved surface 127 that generally matches the radius of curvature of the second post 106 of the D-ring 102 between the holding plate member 124 and the back wall 120d. This is best illustrated in the cross-sectional side view in Figure 4B.
• the cross-sectional side view in Figure 4B is along the line 4B-4B on D-ring keeper assembly 100 in Figure 4 A.
• the second post 106 of the D- ring is positioned to engage the curved surface 127.
• Webbing 200 is routed through the third slot 125, over the second post 106 of the D-ring 102, through the second slot 123 and then through the first slot 121.
• This arrangement couples the D-ring 102 to the keeper base member 120.
• the D-ring 102 pivots about the curved surface 127.
• the aligned locking tabs 130a and 130b on the respective first and second side walls 120b and 120c are positioned to selectively lock the D-ring 102 in either an activated position in relation to the base member 120 or a stored position in relation to the base member 120.
• the locking tabs 130a and 130b selectively prevent movement of the D-ring 102 in relation to the base plate 120a without a select force that causes the D-ring to pass over the locking tabs 130a and 130b.
• the base member 120 is made of semi-pliable material that allows the tabs 130a and 130b to be moved out away from each other under a select force and then return to their original position after the force is removed.
• the select force is applied to the locking tabs by rotation of the D-ring 102.
• the user locks the D-ring 102 in the stored position by forcibly rotating the D-ring until the first and second end portions 102a and 102b are positioned past the locking tabs 130a and 130b.
• the locking tabs 130a and 103b are then positioned to prevent the D-ring 102 from moving.
• the D-ring 102 In the stored position, the D-ring 102 is in a position that does not interfere with normal operations of the user (i.e. it is unlikely to get hung up on objects).
• the D-ring 102 In the stored position, the D-ring 102 is positioned generally parallel with the base plate 120a of the base member 120. If a fall event occurs, and a rescue attempt is to be attempted via the D-ring keeper assembly 100, the D-ring 102 is rotated in relation to the base member 102 with enough force to once again move the locking tabs 130a and 130b of the base member 120 away from each other.
• the D-ring 102 In the activated position, the D-ring 102 is generally positioned perpendicular to the base plate 120a of the base member 120. This position allows easy access to couple a connector such as, but not limited to, a carabiner that is coupled to a lifeline or lanyard.
• a connector such as, but not limited to, a carabiner that is coupled to a lifeline or lanyard.
• another feature of the D-ring keeper assembly 100 is that it can be positioned at any location along the chest webbing 200.
• the D-ring keeper assembly 100 can be positioned for convenience or for optimal position during a rescue.
• This feature is illustrated in the cross-sectional view in Figure 4B.
• the webbing 200 is routed through the third slot 125, over the second post 106 of the D-ring 102, through the second slot 123 and then through the first slot 121 of the base member 120.
• This arrangement allows the base member 120 to move along the length of the webbing 200 via pulling or pushing on the D-ring keeper assembly 100. Friction between the webbing 200 and the base member 120 holds the D-ring keeper assembly 100 in a static relationship to the webbing 200 until sufficient force is applied to the D-ring keeper assembly 100.
• the D-ring keeper assembly 100 is illustrated as being attached to a chest webbing 200, the D- ring keeper assembly 100 can be attached to any webbing and is not limited to a chest webbing 200 of a safety harness 60.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Emergency Lowering Means (AREA)
• Clamps And Clips (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (1)

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Citations (2)

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• 2015
  • 2015-07-31 US US14/815,018 patent/US9993669B2/en active Active
• 2016
  • 2016-06-07 AU AU2016274504A patent/AU2016274504B2/en active Active
  • 2016-06-07 EP EP16730644.8A patent/EP3307399B1/en active Active
  • 2016-06-07 WO PCT/US2016/036201 patent/WO2016200801A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2016-06-07 CN CN201680034039.2A patent/CN107810032B/zh active Active
  • 2016-06-07 JP JP2017563953A patent/JP6779240B2/ja active Active
  • 2016-06-07 CA CA2988737A patent/CA2988737A1/en not_active Abandoned

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