Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B1/00—Devices for lowering persons from buildings or the like
  • A62B1/06—Devices for lowering persons from buildings or the like by making use of rope-lowering devices
  • A62B1/14—Devices for lowering persons from buildings or the like by making use of rope-lowering devices with brakes sliding on the rope
• • 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
  • A62B35/0043—Lifelines, lanyards, and anchors therefore
  • A62B35/005—Vertical lifelines

Definitions

• the present invention concerns an individual safety device against falls during working at height. More in detail, the present invention concerns a movable fall- prevention device for a securing support and, in particular, flexible and vertical securing supports, such as cables and ropes.
• Fall-prevention devices are known in the art, to which the user can connect by a harness.
• Such fall-prevention devices comprise a restraining groove in which a securing support is held, such as a cable or rope.
• a securing support such as a cable or rope.
• the device In case of fall, the device is prevented from sliding by a lever that, through a locking cam, engages the rope thus locking the sliding thereof inside the device.
• the lever rotates between an open position, in which the cable can be inserted/removed in/to from the device, and a closed position in which the lever, and in particular the locking cam thereof, is engaged with the cable to prevent the sliding thereof as a consequence of the user's fall.
• Known fall-prevention devices such as that described in EP 1359980, further comprise a stop limiting the rotation of the lever in an intermediate position, when moving from the closed position to the open position, thus guaranteeing the device movement along the securing support and, at the same time, preventing the securing support from coming out from the device.
• this kind of fall- prevention devices has a stop for the lever contact and allows the stopping thereof in the intermediate position, the user might inadvertently release the fall-prevention device from the securing support constituting the "lifeline".
• the stop in the intermediate position the stop is in contact with a lever surface not allowing to effectively prevent the stop movement and, therefore, the user can inadvertently move the stop from its operative position, in which the lever rotation is limited.
• the movement of the stop from its operative position allows the lever to move to its open position and then allows the fall-prevention device to be removed from the securing cable or rope.
• the device described in US5265696 is provided with a stop and, in particular, with a locking lever (sleeve lock).
• a locking lever lever lock
• the lever does not allow to prevent effectively the stop from moving and, therefore, the user can inadvertently move the stop from its operative position in which it limits the lever rotation.
• Object of the present invention is to increase the safety level given by known fall-prevention devices.
• object of the present invention to provide a movable fall-prevention device which is particularly safe, reliable and simple to use and implement.
• object of the present invention is to provide a movable fall-prevention device able to be used very safely without possibility for the user, in case of distraction, to inadvertently handle the device so that the latter is unintentionally opened and therefore comes out from the lifeline (securing supporting).
• One of the lever ends comprises a locking cam and the other free end comprises a hole intended to receive a karabiner, or similar connecting elements.
• the device further comprises a stop movable between an operative position, in which it limits the rotation of the lever in an intermediate position, when the lever is moved from the closed position to the open position, and a release position in which it allows the rotation of the lever in the open position.
• the limit can be retracted, i.e. moved from the operative position and therefore not interfere with the lever movement towards its own open position.
• the lever comprises at least one abutment surface cooperating, in the intermediate position, with at least one corresponding engaging surface of the stop to lock the stop to its own operative position (that is to prevent its movement to the release position).
• the abutment surface is tilted by an angle substantially comprised between 90° and 135° with respect to the movement path of the stop (and in particular of its engaging surface) from the operative position towards the release position.
• the angle is measured from the path to the lever anticlockwise.
• the expression "tilted by an angle substantially comprised between 90° and 135°” is herein and in the following used to denote the abutment surface being substantially perpendicular to the stop path (and therefore directed substantially perpendicular to the path), otherwise it is tilted with respect to the perpendicular of an angle up to about 45°.
• the abutment surface is substantially perpendicular to the path or is tilted by an angle substantially up to 45° with respect to the path perpendicular.
• the presence of an abutment surface having the afore said arrangement with respect to the limit movement and in the intermediate position being intended to cooperate, i.e. to intercept a corresponding engaging position of the stop, allows to effectively hamper the stop movement from its operative position to the release position, thus allowing the safety level given by the fall-prevention device to be considerably increased.
• the at least one abutment surface interferes with the stop and hampers the movement thereof to the release position.
• the stop movement is hampered due to the presence of the abutment surface interfering with the stop (by intercepting the path of its movement towards the release position), which constitutes a surface blocking the stop movement to the release position.
• the stop is rotationally movable.
• the arrangement of the abutment surface of the lever with respect to the circular path, and therefore the angular values mentioned before, can be referred to the tangent to the stop movement path.
• the rotation movement of the stop allows its simple activation between the operative position and the release position and the arrangement of the abutment surface substantially perpendicular to the tangent to the path in the intermediate position (or tilted by an angle up to about 45° with respect to the perpendicularity condition) allows to obtain an efficient and safe locking of the stop in its operative position.
• the abutment surface is designed substantially complementary to the engaging surface of the stop.
• substantially complementary is meant that the abutment and engaging surfaces intended to cooperate one with another, have such shape to determine an effective reciprocal engagement and thus avoid undesired sliding effects one to another.
• the lever comprises at least one second abutment surface.
• the lever comprises at least two abutment surfaces, and in particular a first and a second abutment surfaces cooperating with at least two engaging surfaces of the stop.
• the presence of two or more abutment surfaces allows to improve the effectiveness in locking the stop in the operative position and thus to prevent it from moving towards the release position.
• a first abutment surface can be intended to limit the lever rotation in the intermediate position and a second abutment surface is intended to limit the stop rotation towards the release position.
• the at least two abutment surfaces are tilted one to another. More in detail, according to an aspect of the present invention, at least one first abutment surface is arranged in accordance with the afore discussed angular arrangement with respect to the path, and at least one second abutment surface is tilted with respect to the first abutment surface.
• the presence of two or more reciprocally tilted abutment surfaces allows to effectively prevent the stop from moving from its operative position to the release position, thus allowing to considerably increase the safety level the fall-prevention device provides.
• the lever comprises at least two abutment surfaces, for example a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface, which are perpendicular to one another, so that to take a substantially stepped shape.
• the perpendicularity between the two abutment surfaces and in particular the substantially stepped shape allows both to stop the lever rotation towards its open position (by an abutment surface) and to prevent effectively any movement of the stop when the lever is in the intermediate position (by another abutment surface).
• the at least two abutment surfaces are substantially wedge-shaped.
• the two or more surfaces can be tilted by an inner acute angle, and thus to form a wedge intended to cooperate with two or more engaging surfaces of the stop, for example which are arranged to form a seat substantially complementary to the wedge.
• other relative tilts of the first and second abutment surfaces are not excluded from being used, provided that at least one abutment surface is arranged with respect to the stop movement path discussed above.
• the shape of the two or more surfaces herein described referring to the lever can be applied to the two or more engaging surfaces of the stop, and vice versa.
• the engaging surfaces of the stop can be wedge-shaped and the abutment surfaces of the lever can be seat-shaped to accommodate at least part of the wedge.
• the two or more abutment surfaces and/or the two or more engaging surfaces can be blent to one another, for example by a curvature radius or one or more straight line segments.
• the stop comprises an activating arm to drive the movement of the stop from the operative position towards the release position.
• the activating arm is preferably activated manually by the user.
• the activating arm is arranged outside of the device body when the stop is in the operative position thus allowing it to be manually driven, and the body of the device is shaped to house the activating arm for at least part of the movement between the operative position and the release position.
• the activating arm can be activated by the user only for a portion of its movement from the operative position to the release position. It follows that the complete movement of the stop in its release position can be completed by the contact with another device element and preferably by the lever.
• the profile of the activating arm is at the edge of the device body before the release position is reached. In other words, after a portion of the movement driven by the user from the outside of the device body, the activating arm is still housed inside the device body.
• At least part of the lever is contacting the stop, preferably a back surface of the stop, to guide at least part of the movement thereof towards the release position.
• Another aspect of the present invention further relates to a use method of the fall- prevention device and, in particular, to a method for installing/removing the fall- prevention device to the securing support.
• the method according to the invention can be applied to a fall-prevention device comprising a main body having a passage for the insertion/removal of the securing support in/from a restraining groove, wherein the securing support is restrained through a lever rotating between an open position and a closed position.
• One of the lever ends comprises a locking cam and the other free end comprises a hole intended to receive a karabiner, or similar connecting elements.
• the device further comprises a stop movable between an operative position, in which it limits the rotation of the lever in an intermediate position, when the lever is moved from the closed position to the open position, and a release position in which it allows the rotation of the lever in the open position.
• the method provides the step of moving the stop from its operative position towards the release position in order to rotate the lever from the closed position to the open position, thus allowing the insertion/removal of the securing support in/from the groove of the device.
• the user carries out the step of moving (preferably by rotating) the stop towards the release position only partially by directly activating the stop, and particularly an activating arm of the stop.
• the step of moving the stop towards the release position provides for guiding the stop at least for part of the travel by the device lever.
• the activating arm of the stop can be activated by the user only for a portion of its movement from the operative position to the release position. It follows that the complete movement of the stop in its release position can be completed by the contact with another device element and preferably by the lever.
• a step follows wherein the movement of the stop towards the release position is guided by at least part of the lever rotated towards its own open position.
• the lever is contacting the stop, preferably a back surface of the stop, and is rotated to the open position to guide at least part of the movement of the stop towards the release position.
• the method thus allows to increase the safety the device provides, by preventing the user from moving it to the release position only through the stop activation.
• the method needs also the subsequent activation of the lever that guides the stop to the release position.
• Figure 1 is an overall view depicting the use of the fall-prevention device according to the invention.
• Figures 2, 3 and 4 are some views of a possible embodiment of the fall- prevention device according to the invention, in which figure 2 is a plant view, figure 3 is a side view from the top of the lever, whereas figure 4 is a top view;
• Figure 5 is another plant view depicting the fall-prevention device in the open position of the lever and in the release position of the stop, in which the secondary plate has been omitted for a better visualization;
• FIG. 6a-e depict the various steps of connecting the fall-prevention device according to the invention to the securing cable
• Figure 7 shows the fall-prevention device before its connection to the cable in an intermediate position
• Figure 7a is an enlarged view of the lever and stop in the intermediate position, in which the part of the spring has been omitted for ease of illustration;
• Figures 8a-e depict the various steps of removing the fall-prevention device according to the invention from the securing cable;
• Figure 9 shows the fall-prevention device connected to the cable in an intermediate position
• Figure 10 shows another possible embodiment of the fall-prevention device according to the present invention.
• Figure 10a is an enlarged view of the lever and stop in the intermediate position, in which the part of the spring has been omitted for ease of illustration.
• FIG. 10a a possible embodiment of the fall-prevention device 1 according to the present invention will be described hereinafter. What described referring to these figures applies also to an embodiment depicted in figure 10, different from the embodiment of figures 1-9 only for the different shape of the abutment surfaces 80a, 80b of the lever 16 and for the respective engaging surfaces 53a, 53b of the stop.
• the movable fall-prevention device 1 is generally part of individual equipment protecting against high falls and denoted with numeral reference 2 which comprises, in addition to said fall-prevention device 1, a harness 3 comprising at least one anchoring ring 4 with a hooking karabiner 5, or similar connecting elements.
• the fall-prevention device 1 is then intended to be removably connected to a vertical securing support 6 fastened, for example, to a service post 7.
• the movable fall-prevention device 1, hereinafter also referred only as fall- prevention device, in its use position, i.e. connected to the harness 3, can be voluntarily moved upwards HA or downwards BA by normally sliding (i.e. at the user's climb or descent speed) along a cable or rope 6 (preferably substantially vertical), which constitutes the securing support.
• the movable fall- prevention device blocks on the cable 6. It will be understood that the user 8 will be therefore able to climb or descend along a post 7 by leaving the fall-prevention device to slide upwards HA or downwards BA along the safety cable 6, while he/she will be assured against falls since the fall-prevention device 1 is blocked on the cable 6 constituting the securing support.
• the fall-prevention device 1 comprises a main body la comprising a passage 40 for the insertion/removal of the securing support 6 in/from a groove or hollow profile 9, preferably straight having axis YY' and intended to receive the securing cable 6.
• a securing cable 6 preferably straight having axis YY' and intended to receive the securing cable 6.
• the securing cable 6 is restrained in the groove 9 by a lever 16 provided with a locking cam 10 designed to engage the cable 6 and prevent the sliding thereof inside the groove, de facto determining the blocking of the fall-prevention device on the cable 6, in case of fall.
• the body la of the device comprises a main plate 12a and a secondary plate 12b facing to one another.
• the two plates 12a, 12b can be constrained to one another as known, or be made in one piece.
• the hollow profile 9 is constituted by the wall 1 la of the main plate 12a, whose first side edge 13a is bent parallel to said wall, so that to form a preferably semicircular groove 9, whereas the second side edge 14a is in the wall plane and curved.
• the groove preferably has semicircular profile with vertical axis ( ⁇ ') and substantially has the size of the cable or rope 6 both intended to be housed in its inside.
• the lever 16 comprising the locking cam 10 is constrained to the device 1 so that to be rotationally movable with respect to a transversal axis XX'.
• the lever 16 is preferably rotatable around a pivot constrained to the body la of the device.
• the second side edge 14a of the main wall 12a can be shape to be a substantially circular lower ramp having radius Rl centered on the axis XX'.
• the body of the movable fall-prevention device comprises, in addition to the main plate 12a described before and forming the groove 9, a secondary plate 12b.
• the latter is integral with the main body to be parallel thereto and is spaced out of a distance (d) in order to constitute a space (e) between the two plates intended to move the lever 16, in addition to the longitudinal passage 40 for the insertion/removal of the cable 6.
• the secondary plate is configured substantially identical to the wall 1 la of the main plate 12a.
• it is constituted by a wall 1 lb and comprises a first straight side wedge 13b, whereas the second side edge 14b is in the wall plane and curved to constitute a lower ramp.
• the passage 40 is limited laterally by the first edge 13b of the main plate 12a and the first edge 13a of the secondary plate 12b. Obviously, the passage width is larger than the diameter of the cable or rope 6, both intended to be engaged therein. According to a possible embodiment, it has to be noticed that the passage 40 extends parallel to the axis YY' of the groove 9.
• the above mentioned lever 16 is arranged so as to be rotationally movable around the transversal axis XX', preferably at a pivot allowing such rotation. It is arranged so that to move inside the body la between the two plates 12a, 12b in the space (e) formed between the main plate 12a and the secondary plate 12b.
• the lever 16 is rotatably assembled around an axis or pivot 21 extending between the two plates so that its hooking end 16" protrudes outside of the ramps 14a, 14b of the two plates 12a, 12b.
• the lever 16 substantially comprises the locking cam 10 substantially at one of the ends (locking end 16') and a hooking hole 23, substantially at the other free end (hooking end 16"), intended to receive a karabiner 5 or similar means connecting to the user and, in particular, to the user's harness.
• the hooking hole 23 is cylindrical and its axis QQ' is arranged at a distance LI from the axis XX' greater than the value of the radius Rl of the ramp summed to radius of the hole 23, so that its peripheral wall 24 is at a distance L2 from the axis XX' greater than the radius Rl .
• the lever 16 comprises a cam 10, for example comprising a locking ramp 25, to guarantee the locking of the fall-prevention device 1 on the securing device 6.
• the lever 16 can then take, by rotation around the XX' axis, two limit positions: an open position as depicted in figures 5, 6d, 8d, and a closed position as depicted in figures 2, 6a, 8e.
• the locking cam 10 In the closed position, the locking cam 10 is in contact with the securing cable 10 thus determining the locking thereof due to the friction generated thereon.
• the fall-prevention device 1 comprises two stops 28, 29 to limit the angular displacement of the lever 16, downwards by a lower stop 28, and upwards by an upper stop 29.
• the lower stop 28 can be made through a cylindrical spacer extending between the two plates 12a, 12b in the lower area, whereas the upper stop 29 can be made through another upper cylindrical spacer connecting the upper portion of the two plates 12a, 12b.
• the lever 16 is continuously biased towards its closed position by a spring, preferably a torsion spring 27 (visible in figures 3 and 4).
• a spring preferably a torsion spring 27 (visible in figures 3 and 4).
• the latter is useful, on the one hand, to keep the fall-prevention device 1 in position on the securing cable 6 when the karabiner 5 is positioned and removed and, on the other hand, it is useful to guarantee the locking of the device 1 in case of fall even before the karabiner 5 secures in turn the lever rotation downwards, i.e. towards its closed position.
• the fall-prevention device 1 comprises a stop 50, preferably a rotationally movable stop, movable between an operative position, in which it limits the rotation of the lever 16 in an intermediate position, when the lever 16 is moved from the closed position to the open position, and a release position in which it allows the rotation of the lever 16 in the open position.
• a stop 50 preferably a rotationally movable stop, movable between an operative position, in which it limits the rotation of the lever 16 in an intermediate position, when the lever 16 is moved from the closed position to the open position, and a release position in which it allows the rotation of the lever 16 in the open position.
• the device 1 comprises a movable and retractable stop 50 for the lever 16, which is intended to limit the rotation of the latter upwards in an intermediate position.
• the stop 50 is constituted by a rotating by a rotating pawl 50.
• the stop 50 is biased in its operative position by the spring 27. It has to be noticed that, although only one spring 27 acting on the limit 50 and the lever 16 is provided for biasing these components respectively in their operative position and closed position, distinct elastic elements can be used to bias the two components independently.
• the stop 50 is intended both to limit the rotation of the lever 16 in an intermediate position and to prevent, due to its shape, the securing support 6 from disengaging inconveniently through the passage 40.
• the stop 50 (or pawl) further comprises a safety arm 51 preventing the insertion/removal of the securing support 6 in/from the passage 40 when the stop 50 is in the operative position and allowing the insertion/removal of the securing support 6 in/from the passage 40 when the stop 50 is in the release position.
• the pawl thanks to its lateral safety arm 51, constitutes an obstacle locking the undesirable disengagement of the securing support 6 through the passage 40.
• the operative position of the stop 50 corresponds to a closed position of the passage 40, whereas the release position of the stop allows the insertion/removal of the securing support 6 in/from the passage 40.
• the pawl constituting a further safety system of the device is biased in its operative and closed stop position by a spring 27, which can advantageously be the same spring biasing the lever 16 in the closed position.
• the stop 50 further comprises an activating arm 55.
• the arm 55 is designed so that to protrude outside of the body la of the device when the stop 50 is in the operative position.
• the stop 50 comprises an engaging portion 53 comprising at least one engaging surface 53a, 53b that, as better detailed in the following, is intended to engage the lever 16 and, in particular, an abutment portion 80 of the lever 16 in the intermediate position.
• the abutment portion 80 of the lever 16 comprises at least one abutment surface 80a intended to cooperate, in the intermediate position, with at least one corresponding engaging surface 53a of the stop 50 to lock the stop 50 in its operative position.
• the engaging surface 53 and in particular the at least one engaging surface 53a, is preferably arranged on a lower arm 52 of the stop 50, preferably at one end of the lower arm.
• the pawl (stop) is constituted by three arms, i.e. a lateral safety arm 51 intended to lock the undesirable disengagement of the securing support 6 through the passage 40, a lower arm 52 comprising the engaging portion 53 that engages the lever 16 and is intended to limit the lever rotation in an intermediate position (when the lever is rotated from the operative position towards the closed position), as well as an activating arm 55.
• the pawl (stop) is assembled as rotationally movable around a transversal axis (pivot) 58 arranged between the main plate and the secondary plate in the upper part of the fall-prevention device, substantially in the extension of the first edge 13b of the secondary plate.
• the lateral safety arm 51 goes beyond the edge 13b until it reaches the edge 13a, thereby blocking the passage 40 when the pawl is in the operative position and acting as stop for the lever 16.
• the stop is rotated to the release position, the safety arm 51 clears the passage 40.
• the stop 50 is movable and retractable between an operative position named “safety position", which blocks the passage 40 and limits the lever rotation in its intermediate position, and an idle release position.
• safety position which blocks the passage 40 and limits the lever rotation in its intermediate position
• idle release position an operative position
• the user by simply acting on the stop and in particular on the activating arm 55 to move it from its operative position to the release position and allow the lever 16 to pass from its intermediate position to its open position.
• the body of the device la is shaped to house the activating arm for at least part of the movement between the operative position and the release position.
• the activating arm can be activated by the user only for a portion of its movement from the operative position to the release position. It follows that the complete movement of the stop in its release position can be completed only by the contact with the lever 16 at its own back surface 52b.
• the movement driven by the user on the outside of the device of the activating arm can be carried out only until the profile P of the arm 55 is at the side walls 15a, 15b of the device (see figures 6b, 6c and figures 8b, 8c).
• the activating arm 55 is housed inside the body 1 a of the device.
• the stop can be advantageously provided with a roll 56, or similar element to aid the sliding, at its safety arm 51 to guarantee a better guide of the securing support 6 at the upper end of the groove 9.
• the stop 50 limits the rotation of the lever 16 in such position by an abutment portion 80 of the lever cooperating with the engaging portion 53 of the stop 50 that, as mentioned, is preferably arranged at a lower arm 52 of the stop.
• the lever 16 comprises at least one abutment surface 80a for an engaging surface 53a of the stop 50.
• the abutment surface 80a limits the rotation of the stop 50 away from its own operative position towards the release position.
• the presence of the abutment surface 80a allows to prevent the rotation movement of the stop towards the release portion when the intermediate position of the lever 16 has been reached.
• the lever 16 and in particular its abutment portion 80 comprises a first abutment surface 80a and a second abutment surface 80b.
• the first abutment surface 80a is adapted to limit the rotation of the stop 50 away from its own operative position towards the release position.
• the first abutment surface 80a and a second abutment surface 80b are substantially perpendicular to one another.
• the first abutment surface 80a is adapted to limit the rotation of the stop 50 towards the release position
• the second abutment surface 80b is adapted to limit the rotation of the lever 16 in the intermediate position when the latter is rotated from the open position to the closed position.
• the abutment portion 80 of the lever 16 takes a substantially stepped form allowing to effectively avoid any movement of the stop 50 when the lever 16 is in the intermediate position in engagement with the engaging portion 53 of the stop 50.
• the two abutment surfaces 80a, 80b substantially are wedge-shaped and are intended to cooperate with the engaging surfaces 53a, 53b of the stop 50.
• the at least two abutment surfaces 80a, 80b are tilted one to another.
• the abutment surface 80a in the intermediate position of the lever 16, is arranged substantially perpendicular to the movement path T of the stop 50 from the operative position to the release position.
• the abutment surface 80a is tilted by an angle a substantially equal to 90° with respect to the movement path T of the stop 50.
• the abutment surface 80a provides an effective obstacle for the undesirable movement of the stop 50, for example as a consequence of an unintentional activation of the activating arm 55 by the user.
• substantially perpendicular to the path herein means that the abutment surface 80a is arranged substantially perpendicular to the movement direction, and in particular substantially perpendicular to the tangent T' to the path, or perpendicular to the direction of the velocity vector, the engaging portion 53 of the stop and in particular the engaging portion 53a intended to cooperate with the abutment surface 80a.
• the stop is preferably rotationally movable, in this case (such as for example visible in the figure), the movement path will be circular.
• the abutment surface 80a can be arranged as tilted by an angle substantially comprised between 90° and 135° with respect to the movement path T of the stop (and in particular of its engaging surface) from the operative position towards the release position.
• the abutment surface 80a can be arranged substantially perpendicular to the path T of the stop (and therefore substantially directed along the perpendicular to the path), as in the embodiment of figures 1-9, or it is tilted with respect to the perpendicular to the path by an angle up to about 45° (as in the embodiment of figure 10). In other words, the abutment surface 80a is substantially perpendicular to the path or is tilted by an angle up to 45° with respect to the path perpendicular.
• the abutment surface 80a in the intermediate position of the lever 16, is arranged as tilted by an angle a substantially equal to 135° with respect to the movement path T of the stop 50 from the operative position to the release position.
• the abutment surface 80a in the intermediate position of the lever 16, is arranged as tilted by an angle equal to 135° with respect to the tangent of the movement path T of the stop 50 from the operative position to the release position.
• the lever comprises a second abutment surface 80b intended to cooperate with a second engaging surface 53b of the stop 50.
• the first and the second abutment surfaces 80a, 80b are tilted to one another to form an inner acute angle and thus to form a wedge intended to cooperate with two engaging surfaces 53a, 53b of the stop.
• the abutment portion 80 is designed substantially complementary to the engaging surface 53 of the stop 50.
• the abutment portion 80 and the engaging portion 53 both intended to contact one another in the intermediate position can be, for example, both step-shaped and complementary to one another, or can be wedge-shaped and intended to cooperate with a corresponding seat, in order to achieve the effect of efficiently prevent the undesirable movement of the stop towards the release position.
• the engaging portion 53 arranged at the end of the lower arm 52 has a substantially stepped-shape able to couple with the abutment portion 80 also substantially stepped, through the two abutment surfaces 80a,80b substantially perpendicular to one another.
• the abutment portion 80 is arranged on a lateral arm 16a of the lever 16.
• the abutment portion 80 and in particular the at least one abutment surface 80a is arranged at the end of the arm 16a.
• the arm 16a extends laterally from the lever 16, preferably in a portion comprised between the rotation axis of the lever and the hooking hole 23.
• the lateral arm 16a of the lever 16 has a substantially curved shape, preferably substantially circular, that follows the profile of the body la of the device at the edges 14a, 14b of the plates.
• the lever 16 comprises a seat 16b designed to accommodate at least part of the stop 50 (as visible in figures 6c and 8c) and, in particular, the lower arm 52 when the latter is rotated towards the release position.
• the seat 16b is arranged under the lateral arm 16a of the lever 16 and, in particular, between the rotation axis of the lever and the point from which the lateral arm 16a extends from the profile of the lever 16.
• the device 1, during the use, can be in three different possible positions, which will be better detailed in the following.
• the figures 6a, 8a show the open position in which the cable 6 can be inserted/removed in/from the device.
• the lever 16 In such a position, the lever 16 is in its open position and the stop 50 is in the release position.
• the intermediate position of the lever 16 is, for example, visible in figures 7, 9 and 10 in which the stop 50 is in its own operative position.
• the abutment portion 80 provided with the at least one abutment surface 80a allows to effectively prevent the undesirable movement of the stop away from its own operative position.
• the locking position is, for example, visible in figure 6e in which the lever 16 is in its own closed position with the locking cam 10 in contact with the cable, and the stop 50 is in its own operative position.
• the fall-prevention device 1 is in the open position while the cable is inserted and removed.
• the fall- prevention device when used as connected to the cable, can be used during climb or descent.
• the user rotates the lever 16 upwards (HA) in accordance with Rib (anticlockwise rotation).
• the lever 16 reaches the intermediate position, i.e. the portion 80 abuts on the end 53 of the arm 52.
• the lever 16 prevents the cable from releasing the groove 9 and, when the lever 16 is released, the latter rotates again downwards in accordance with (R2), thus causing the fall-prevention device to lock on the cable.
• Figures 6a-e depict the various steps of connecting (assembling) the fall-prevention device according to the present invention to the securing cable.
• a karabiner 5 is advantageously connected to the hole 23 and connects the device to the user's harness, so that the tool is constrained to the user and cannot be lost.
• the user operates, for example by leaning the first plate 12a of the fall-prevention device 1 in the palm of the right hand, the activating arm 55 of the stop downwards according to Rla (clockwise) to disengage the passage 40 for the cable.
• the body la of the device 1 is shaped so that the upper surface of the activating arm 55 (and in particular the upper profile (edge) P of the activating arm) is arranged at the upper profile (edge) 15a, 15b of the device body before reaching the release position.
• the lateral arm 16a of the lever 16 is designed so that, in the open position of the lever 16, it contacts the stop and, in particular, the lower arm 52 to move it to the release position, as shown in figure 6d.
• the stop 50 and in particular the safety arm 51 disengages the passage 40 completely, the coupling of the fall-prevention device with the cable 6 is thus possible.
• the user then engages the cable 6 in the groove 9 and releases the lever 16 and the stop 50 that, due to the spring 27, will move to the close position and the operative position, respectively, as depicted in figure 6e.
• the method of connecting the fall-prevention device 1 to the cable therefore comprises the user's action both onto the stop 50 and the lever 16.
• the lever 16 is biased by the spring 27 and turns downwards in accordance with (R2) until the locking cam 25 tightens the cable 6 by restraining it in the groove 9, while the stop blocks the passage 40 by means of its safety arm 51.
• the fall-prevention device 1 In the position depicted in figures 6e, 8a, the fall-prevention device 1 is locked so that to avoid any undesirable descent downwards (BA) and prevent the user's fall, but it might be moved upwards (HA) up to its intermediate position of engagement with the stop, by the rotation of the lever 16 upwards in accordance with (Rib).
• Figures 8a-e depict the various steps of removing the fall-prevention device according to the present invention from the cable.
• the user rotates the stop 50 in accordance with (Rla) towards the release position, as shown in figure lb.
• the lever 16 can be rotated in accordance with (Rib), as shown for example in figure 8c, until the abutment portion 80 of the lever 16 engages the back surface 52b (or back) of the arm 52 of the stop 50 and the stop 50 is involved in completing its rotation and then the open position of the lever is reached.
• the movement of the lever 16 to its own open position terminates the movement of the stop to its own release position, as shown in figure 8d.
• the fall-prevention device can be disengaged from the cable 6 and the stop and the lever 16 can be both released, as shown in figure 8e.
• the process of removing the fall-prevention device from the cable according to the present invention is particularly safe thanks to a necessary sequential and consecutive action on the arm 55 of the stop 50 and on the lever 16, to cause the removal of the fall-prevention device.
• the only rotation of the lever 16 is not sufficient to unlock the fall-prevention device.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Emergency Lowering Means (AREA)
• Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)
• Earth Drilling (AREA)
• Revetment (AREA)
• Telephone Function (AREA)
• Forklifts And Lifting Vehicles (AREA)
• Helmets And Other Head Coverings (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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Cited By (2)

Citations (3)

• 2015
  • 2015-10-27 IT ITUB2015A004778A patent/ITUB20154778A1/it unknown
• 2016
  • 2016-10-26 EP EP16809522.2A patent/EP3368164B1/en active Active
  • 2016-10-26 ES ES16809522T patent/ES2940474T3/es active Active
  • 2016-10-26 WO PCT/IB2016/056428 patent/WO2017072667A1/en unknown
  • 2016-10-26 PL PL16809522.2T patent/PL3368164T3/pl unknown

Patent Citations (3)

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