614results about "Mountaineering" patented technology

An improved fall protection system has been developed. The system functions by: (1) arresting the fall of such users, thereby protecting them from impact with the ground which could cause serious injury or death; (2) providing a method of recovery and escape from a fall-arresting device by providing a user with a controlled descent back to the ground or to a lower place of safety at a safe and gradual rate of descent; (3) providing greater simplicity and wearer comfort in fall-arresting and self-recovery devices; and (4) incorporating gear storage capability into such protective devices, in order to eliminate the need to wear a separate gear storage pack, vest, tool belt, or other such garment or accessory.

A fall protection safety device including a braking mechanism comprises a first component, a second component configured and arranged to move relative to the first component, and at least one magnet operatively connected to one of the components and another of the components being at least partially made of a non-ferromagnetic and electrically conductive material. The at least one magnet and the non-ferromagnetic and electrically conductive material creating an electromagnetic field force when the second component moves at a rate greater than a predetermined rate relative to the first component.

A combination descender, pulley, and force limiting rope brake for rope rescue has a supporting plate having a one-way pulley sheave rotatably mounted thereto for free-wheeling rotation of the sheave in only a first rotational direction. A fixed brake member is mounted rigidly to the supporting plate. A movable brake member is pivotally mounted to the supporting plate. A pinching opening is defined by the gap. The rope passes in a first direction through the gap when the sheave is free-wheeling in the first rotational direction. The movable brake member translates relative to the fixed brake member in cooperation with rotation of the sheave. Rotation-under-load of the sheave in an opposite rotational direction urges translation of the movable brake member towards the fixed brake member from an open position, wherein the pinching opening is open sufficiently to allow the rope to freely pass therethrough, to a closed position wherein the movable brake member closes the pinching opening so as to frictionally pinch the rope at a preset minimum opening of the pinching opening.

A finger supporting structure (F) includes a grip portion and a finger supporter (T) formed thereto. The grip portion is of an elongated bar shape and has adequate length and thickness for a hand to grasp. The grip portion is either all or part of a grasping member of an implement or all or part of a gripping member (G) having internal hole to receive the grasping member of an implement. The finger supporter (T) is a laterally extending projection rigidly formed, in one piece, on the grip portion. The finger supporter (T) is angled to be inclined with respect to the axis (X) of the grip portion in order that the resultant force of the muscles of the digits and hand can be generated and exerted to the optimal. The finger supporting structure (F) is embodied in the grasping members of various implements and thereby provides gripping parts (H) having finger supporter (T) of the implements.

An arborist's climbing rope in which an eye splice having a splice tuck can be formed at one end includes in one embodiment a core of polypropylene, a first braided tubular sheath of nylon disposed about the core and a second braided tubular sheath of a polyester disposed about the first braided tubular sheath, the core cross-sectional diameter being in the range of 1 to 10% of the total cross-sectional diameter of the arborist's climbing rope. In forming the eye splice a portion of the core is intentionally removed near the eye splice to form a space within the first tubular sheath where the core has been removed and the splice tuck is buried in and substantially completely fills the space within the first tubular sheath where the core has been intentionally removed.

A personal safety device comprises a “smart” safety lanyard capable of automatically contacting emergency response personnel. A “smart” lanyard of the subject invention comprises a strap with one or more fall arrest mechanisms or break away mechanisms operably attached thereto. A trigger mechanism also operably attached to the safety lanyard can detect when the fall arrest or break away mechanism has been deployed. A personal communication device operably attached to both the strap and to the trigger mechanism can automatically contact response personnel when the lanyard has been deployed.

The abrasion resistance of organic fiber based ropes and cords is increased by a outer woven cover of tapes of high molecular weight and more preferably ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene

A safety apparatus for use by a worker on an elevated structure is disclosed. The purpose of the apparatus is to arrest the fall of the worker should they fall. Broadly the apparatus comprises at least two support posts having an upper end and a lower end supported on the structure and spaced apart from each other on the structure. Each support post has an I-shaped cross sectional configuration. The apparatus also includes a clamp on the lower end of each support post for clamping the post to the structure. The clamp itself comprises a base plate fast with the support post, a secondary plate or clamping plate spaced beneath the base plate, and fastening elements for drawing the two plates, towards each other with a member of the structure firmly clamped there between. The base plate projects laterally outwardly from the post on two opposed sides of the post, and defines at least one slot aperture on each said opposed side of the post through which the fastening elements are passed. Each post also has connecting formations towards the upper end thereof and an overhead safety line extending between said posts at a height of 1.7 to 2.0 metres above the member on which the posts are mounted. Each worker who works on the structure is fitted with a harness and a safety lead that can be releasably clipped to the safety line. This arrests the workers should they fall.

A full body Gait Training Harness for children with disability may be modified for adult use to assist a trainer to teach functions such as walking with a proper gait and crawling. Shoulder straps attached to a torso-encircling belt cross at the trainee's back to eliminate slippage, allowing use on those who have no arms. Leg loops secure the harness to the thighs, rather than through the crotch, for a more secure and comfortable fit. Leg stabilization straps between the leg loops and the shoulders provide tension to encourage development of a proper gait and to prevent crossing of the trainee's legs. Shoulder handles allow a trainer to support a trainee from above without stooping, while a back handle may be used to lift a trainee or support them in a crawling position. Walking extension straps attached to the shoulders allow trainee independence while the trainer retains control.

A horizontal lifeline support system for use with a rebar stub or stud extending from a building structure. The system includes a stanchion having an elongated body, the body having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end having an aperture therein, the aperture being adapted for accepting the rebar stud or stub on the building structure, and at least one guy member, the guy member having a pair of opposite ends, one of the ends of the guy member being connected to the top end of the stanchion and the opposite end having a clamp attaching the second end of the guy member to the building structure.

A retractable fall arrest device comprises a unit housing, a spring sub-assembly, a brake/clutch sub-assembly, and a drum assembly. The spring and brake/clutch sub-assemblies each include shaft portions which extend into the housing and are removably connected together or to the drum assembly, and support the drum assembly in the housing. The spring and brake/clutch assembly are themselves removably connected to the unit housing. Finally, the unit housing comprises two wall members (i.e., clam shells) which are removably connected together. This fall arrest device allows for replacement of any of the four constituent components of the device in the field, thus reducing the down time between repairs or recertification of a particular fall arrest device.

The present invention relates to a transponder comprising an antenna structure (31) configured to receive an incoming signal with RF power of a first frequency f₁ and to retransmit the incoming signal as a transparent output signal with RF power of a second frequency f₂ when hit by the incoming signal. The transponder further comprises: an amplifier (39) configured to provide an amplified transparent output signal based on the incoming signal; a frequency converter (35) configured to frequency convert the incoming signal into the transparent output signal; and a first frequency filter (33) connected to the antenna structure. The first frequency filter is tuned to the first frequency f₁ to avoid amplifying incoming signals with RF power of frequencies other than the first frequency f₁. The transponder further comprises a sensor (S) configured to respond to physical stimulus for generating a control signal as output response, and an activator for selectively activating or deactivating the possibility to retransmit based on the control signal of the sensor.

A multi part clamp for fall protection use on a standing seam roof. One component of the clamp is a clamp body with a slot formed within. This slot that may be so designed to allow attachment to multiple styles of standing seam roofs without having to slide the clamp body onto an end of a seam. Another component of the clamp is a pressure bar so designed as to apply pressure to the standing seam without puncturing or tearing the seam metal. Another component is one or more fasteners may be directed through the clamp body to apply pressure and secure the pressure bar to the roof seam and further secure the clamp to the standing seam. Another component is an attachment bracket on the clamp body for attaching a safety fall arrest system or harness to the clamp that is capable of maintaining load in four directions.

An improved fall arrest lanyard apparatus and method for decelerating and arresting a user from impacting the ground after a fall, along with an integrated, deployable etrier. After the fall sequence has ended, the user may orient himself in a comfortable position using the deployed etrier so as to prevent or relieve the effects of suspension trauma while the user awaits rescue.

A preferred embodiment safety harness includes two straps that are operatively connected at a juncture and a D-ring proximate the juncture. A retrofittable, removable back panel padding is configured and arranged to accommodate the straps and the D-ring to aid in the comfort in donning the safety harness.

One embodiment of the present invention relates to an assisted braking belay system with a housing, camming mechanism, and clutch mechanism. The housing may include a substantially enclosed rope channel through which a rope may extend to the climber. The camming mechanism is moveably coupled to the housing and configured to automatically engage a camming surface upon the rope across the rope channel if the rope translates through the channel at a particular acceleration rate. The clutch mechanism may function as a secondary locking mechanism to engage the camming surface of the camming mechanism upon the rope across the rope channel.

An apparatus for assisting in finding an article such as a golf ball (2) includes a housing (3) containing a laser diode (4) for radiating an excitation beam (5) in the UV or IR bands. The apparatus has a receiving lens (9) for receiving a return beam (8) sent back from the golf ball (2) by the fluorescent coating on the ball. The return beam (8) falls on a photodiode receiver (10) after passing through two filters (11, 12) which filter out incident sunlight. Processing means (15) processes the signal received by the receiver and drives an indicator (18) in the form of a beeper or flashing light which indicates that the golf ball (2) has been sensed by the apparatus.

A rescue lanyard is described herein to be used with a safety harness worn by a person. The lanyard comprises a main strap having a first attachment portion for attaching the main strap to a structure and a second attachment portion for attaching the main strap to the harness, and a secondary strap secured to the main strap adjacent the first attachment portion and having a third attachment portion to be attached to the harness via an emergency descent control device. In a safety mode of operation, the first attachment portion of the main strap is attached to the harness and the second attachment portion is attached to a structure so as to retain the person wearing the harness during a fall. In a self rescue mode of operation following a fall, while the person hang from the main strap, the third attachment portion is first attached to the harness via the emergency descent control device and the main strap is then cut so as to allow the person to descent from the structure using the descending device. The emergency control device includes a rope, a rope friction controller having an attachment portion for securing the device to the harness, a rope friction controller for selectively applying friction on the rope, and a safety element for applying friction on the rope so as to prevent movement thereof in the rope friction controller in a panic mode of operation.

The invention presents devices for controlled descent from buildings. Such a device includes a housing having a primary spool about which a cord is wound, a payload coupler for attaching a harness assembly to the housing, and an unwind control assembly for controlling the rate of exit of the cord from the housing. An inventive device kit may include a convertible storage unit used to protectively store a device and which, upon deployment, may be used as a protective helmet. In using an inventive device, a user attaches the device to a fixture in a building, dons a harness and the converted helmet, attaches the device to the harness, and exits the building from a window or roof.

A safety vest incorporates a safety harness between a vest inner lining and a vest outer shell with attachment couplers and rings incorporated in the vest in vest pockets that store the attachment couplers and rings out of sight in communicating between harness and a lanyard external to the vest. Thus, the attachment rings are stored in vest pockets except during use, making the vest appear as a normal garment suitable for general wear off a work location or during general harness nonuse periods. Storing the rings in vest pockets also avoids the rings becoming annoyances or hazards. The harness is multiuse and versatile with attachment rings and couplers in various locations on the harness so a wearer can move between different applications, including a ring on the dorsal back for use in fall arrest, rings on waist sides so the vest can be used for work positioning, a coupler at the sternum, a ring at the waist buckle for repel attachments, and leg straps for support below the waist when required. In each case, the attachment ring is conveniently stored out of sight during nonuse in a vest pocket. The safety harness can be inspected through the lumbar pocket.

This disclosure describes embodiments of novel line dispensing devices and methods for dispensing and retracting a line of a line dispensing device.

The present invention is an improved mechanically expanding climbing aid which includes one or more pair of opposed cam members pivoting with crossed radii on eccentric bearings. The eccentric bearings are mounted on a single high strength shaft. The invention is specifically configured to be placed in cracks having side that are spaced under 1 cm.

Improvements in fall protection are disclosed, including a method for providing fall protection for human and non-human loads in elevated environments. The load is equipped with a safety harness and lanyard apparatus having first and second lanyards attached thereto. A method is disclosed for providing fall protection for human and non-human loads in an elevated environment wherein the load is primarily supported by an aerial lift vehicle or structure generally adjacent to a second structure. The method includes the steps of: (1) connecting a safety lanyard apparatus to the load, said safety lanyard apparatus including first and second lanyards, each of said first and second lanyards having one end connected to the load and an opposing connectable free end, said first lanyard incorporating a means for automatic release of said connectable free end thereof in response to a predetermined tensional force; (2) connecting said first lanyard connectable free end to the aerial lift vehicle; (3) connecting said second lanyard connectable free end the structure, whereby the application of a tensional force, greater than or equal to a predetermined force, to said first and second lanyard ends results in activation of said means for automatic release thereby separating said connectable free end of said first lanyard from said safety lanyard apparatus thereby leaving said load suspended from said structure.

In one aspect of the invention, a vacuum anchor assembly for anchoring a fall protection system to a surface of an anchorage structure comprises an anchor member having an air input connector, a venturi, and a seal member incorporated into the anchor member. The air input connector is configured and arranged to receive air from a pressurized air source. The venturi is in fluid communication with the air input connector and is configured and arranged to receive air and create a vacuum therefrom. The seal member is in fluid communication with the venturi and is configured and arranged to receive the vacuum and resulting suction and create a seal between the anchor member and the surface of the anchorage structure sufficient to operatively connect the anchor member to the surface of the anchorage structure with the vacuum and resulting suction created within the anchor member.

A line connector for a personal fall protection system includes a carabiner having a loop portion that at least partially defines an opening. The opening is configured to receive a mating component of the personal fall protection system. The line connector also includes at least one sensor. Each at least one sensor includes a coil disposed around the loop portion of the carabiner. The line connector further includes a control unit coupled to the at least one sensor. The control unit is operable to send an excitation signal to the at least one sensor and determine whether the line connector is coupled to the mating component based on a response signal received from the at least one sensor.

The invention relates to An anchoring device that is intended for, for example, the roof of a building. The inventive device comprises: a base which is used to fix to roofing; a hook element which is mounted to the base at one end thereof and which comprises a hook ring at the other end; a tilting mechanism which, in the event of an impact, enables the hook element to tilt in a normal plane in relation to the plane of extension of the base; a damping mechanism which is used to absorb energy during the tilting of the hook element. The damping mechanism comprises a trigger mechanism that can be used to prevent the hook element from tilting when the element is subjected to a force having an intensity that is lower than a pre-determined threshold. The aforementioned trigger mechanism comprises a removable part which is different from the other elements making up the damping mechanism.

A safety belt includes a connecting member including a rope, an attaching portion connected to a first end of the rope and arranged to be attached to a body belt worn around a body of a worker, a hook connected to a second end of the rope, and a load detection portion arranged to detect whether or not a load is applied to the connecting member and to output a load detection signal. The safety belt also includes a control device that includes a receiver unit arranged to receive the load detection signal, a control unit arranged to determine a status of the worker or a status of the safety belt based on the load detection signal, and a notification unit arranged to provide a notification in accordance with control by the control unit corresponding to the determined status.

A fall arrest assembly that includes a rotational drum, at least one pawl and a catch is provided. The rotational drum is configured to rotate in response to a movement of a lifeline. The least one pawl is in rotational communication with the rotational drum. The at least one pawl is further configured to pivot about a pivot connection in response to select rotational velocities of the rotational drum. The at least one pawl is also configured to engage the catch when the at least one pawl pivots in response to the select rotational velocities of the rotational drum to stop the rotation of the rotational drum and movement of the lifeline. An elastic bushing for each pivot connection is also used. Each elastic bushing is positioned about an associated pivot connection of an associated pawl. The elastic bushings deform in shape as an associated pawl engages the at least one portion of the catch.

Disclosed is a restraint system for a vehicle, such as a wheeled vehicle, boat, or fixed or rotary winged aircraft. The system includes a control system integrated into the harness and strap of the restraint. This permits crewmembers to lock and unlock the restraint from a body worn control panel. Other auxiliary equipment also be operated from the control panel. In another embodiment, wiring for a communication system is integrated into the harness and strap.

The invention is directed to an airbag system and, more particularly, to such a system employed as a rescue or life-saving system to enable a person to survive an avalanche. In a particular embodiment, the invention relates to an airbag system utilized with a backpack to be worn by a skier, snowboarder, hiker, or snowmobiler, for example. Instead of relying upon compressed gas cartridges or cylinders to inflate the airbag(s), the invention inflates the airbag(s) with ambient air only. In a particular embodiment, air is supplied to the airbag by means of a battery-powered electrical motor.