Lanyard

Abstract

The objective is to provide a lanyard with improved usability. [Solution] The device comprises a hook, a strap 12 to which the hook is connected at its tip, a winder 13 for winding up the strap 12, a connecting fitting 14, a shock absorber 15, and a connecting member 16, wherein the shock absorber 15 has a first connecting loop 15B and a second connecting loop 15C, the first connecting loop 15B and the second connecting loop 15C are provided on one end of the shock absorber 15 in the longitudinal direction, the winder 13 is connected to the connecting fitting 14, the shock absorber 15 is connected to the connecting fitting 14 by the second connecting loop 15C, and the first connecting loop 15B is connected to the connecting member 16 and temporarily connected to the connecting fitting 14.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lanyard for a fall arrest device used in high-place work.

Background Art

[0002] At a work site at a high place, in order to prevent the worker from falling in case of an accident, the worker is obliged to wear a fall arrest device and perform work. The worker locks a hook provided at one end of the lanyard of the fall arrest device to a mounting facility such as a main rope or a solid structure, and connects the other end to a harness or a body belt worn on his own body, thereby preventing a fall in case of accidentally stepping off.

[0003] A lanyard is used to connect a harness or a body belt worn by a worker to a mounting facility such as a structure. An example of such a lanyard is described in Patent Document 1. In the lanyard described in Patent Document 1 above, it is composed of a shock absorber, a winder, a strap, and a hook, and the lanyard is attached to the body belt by connecting the shock absorber to the body belt via an annular member. In this lanyard, the lanyard and the body belt are connected by passing the connection loop of the shock absorber through an annular member provided on the body belt, and it has a structure in which the lanyard is fixed to the body belt.

[0004] On the other hand, a lanyard configured to be detachably connected to a harness or a body belt is also known (hereinafter referred to as a "separable lanyard"). As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in this separable lanyard 100, a connection member 101 such as a carabiner or a connecting hook is provided at the proximal end, and the lanyard 100 can be attached and detached by connecting and separating this connection member 101 to the annular member 103 of the body belt 102. Note that FIG. 8 shows a state in which the strap 105 of the separable lanyard 100 is wound up.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3233702 Gazette [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] As shown in Figure 9, when the worker is not using the lanyard 100, the hook 104 is secured to the ring member 103 or hook hanger, etc. (hook resting state). In the hook resting state, the lanyard 100 is bent to form a loop portion 107. The ring-shaped portion 107 is configured such that a shock absorber 108 is located on one side, a winding device 106 is located at the bottom, and part of the strap 105 and a hook 104 are located on the other side. Reference numeral 105A denotes a protective cover provided on the hook connection portion of the strap 105. In this configuration, the ring-shaped section 107 would sway considerably due to the weight of the winding device 106 and other components located at the bottom, as the worker moved or performed tasks. This swaying ring-shaped section 107 would sometimes strike the worker's waist. This was bothersome and unpleasant for the worker.

[0007] The objective of this invention is to provide a lanyard with improved usability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The lanyard of the present invention comprises a hook, a strap to which the hook is connected at its tip, a retractor for winding up the strap, a connecting fitting, a shock absorber, and a connecting member, wherein the shock absorber has a first connecting loop and a second connecting loop, the first and second connecting loops are provided on one end of the shock absorber in the longitudinal direction, the retractor is connected to the connecting fitting, the shock absorber is connected to the connecting fitting by the second connecting loop, and the first connecting loop is connected to the connecting member and temporarily connected to the connecting fitting.

[0009] In the lanyard of the present invention, it is preferable that the temporary connection between the first connecting loop and the connecting fitting is released when an impact load exceeding a predetermined amount is applied to the lanyard body. In the lanyard of the present invention, it is preferable that the connecting fitting is provided with a pair of opposing latching pieces, and that the first connecting loop is temporarily connected to the connecting fitting by being sandwiched between the pair of latching pieces. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] In the lanyard according to the present invention, the first connecting loop and the second connecting loop of the shock absorber are provided on one end of the shock absorber in the longitudinal direction, respectively. By adopting this structure, the distance between the first connecting loop 15B and the second connecting loop 15C becomes shorter, as shown in Figure 1, compared to using a shock absorber 108 with connecting loops 108A and 108B at both ends in the longitudinal direction, as shown in Figure 7 (hereinafter referred to as the "conventional structure"). As a result, when the various components constituting the lanyard are arranged, the length occupied by the shock absorber in the total length of the lanyard is reduced to less than half of that of the conventional structure. In addition, the total length of the lanyard when the strap is retracted and shortened is shorter than when using a shock absorber of the conventional structure.

[0011] As a result, as is clear from Figures 6 and 9, the ring-shaped portion formed when the hook is in a resting state also becomes smaller. Furthermore, the positions of the various components in the ring-shaped portion are shifted, and the winding mechanism, which was located at the bottom of the ring-shaped portion in a lanyard using a conventional shock absorber structure, is now positioned on one side. As a result, even if the worker moves or performs tasks while the hook is stationary, the winding mechanism is located on the side, so the amplitude of the sway is small. Furthermore, since there are no heavy components at the bottom that would increase the sway, the sway of the ring-shaped section is suppressed. The fact that the ring-shaped section itself is smaller also contributes to suppressing its sway. As a result, the chances of the loop part bumping against the waist area of ​​the body during work or movement are greatly reduced, improving the user experience of the detachable lanyard.

[0012] Furthermore, the lanyard of the present invention employs a connecting fitting, which connects the second connecting loop of the winding device and the shock absorber, and also provides a temporary connection to the first connecting loop of the shock absorber. In the present invention, a temporary connection refers to a connection structure that is not released by the load applied during normal operation, but is released when a load exceeding a predetermined level is applied. If the lanyard components are simply arranged in series without connecting fittings, the load generated during normal operation will pull the shock absorber so that the first and second connecting loops move away from each other, resulting in a distance between the two connecting loops. Similarly, even when the hook is in a resting position, the weight of the lanyard will cause the two connecting loops to move further apart. In this case, the effect of changing the shock absorber's connecting loop structure from the conventional structure is reduced. As described above, in this invention, the two connecting loops of the shock absorber are connected and temporarily connected with connecting fittings, so that the two connecting loops are not pulled apart from each other during normal operation or when the hook is in a resting state, and can always be positioned close together.

[0013] Furthermore, by providing a connecting structure and a temporary connecting structure using connecting fittings, the load that normally occurs during operation is eliminated between the first and second connecting loops of the shock absorber, thus ensuring a higher level of safety. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a plan view showing the lanyard of this embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a front view showing the connection state of each component from the connecting member to the winding device, when the lanyard is viewed in the direction of arrow II. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the connecting fittings, with (A) being a plan view and (B) being a front view. [Figure 4]This is a diagram showing the lanyard of the present embodiment in a state where the strap is wound up. [Figure 5] This is a diagram showing the lanyard of the present embodiment attached to the body belt. [Figure 6] This is a diagram showing the hook resting state of the lanyard of the present embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a diagram showing a conventional separable lanyard. [Figure 8] This is a diagram showing the separable lanyard of FIG. 7 attached to the body belt. [Figure 9] This is a diagram showing the hook resting state of the separable lanyard of FIG. 8.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the lanyard of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 shows the state as viewed in the direction of arrow II in FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lanyard 10 of the present embodiment includes a hook 11, a strap 12, a winder 13, a connecting fitting 14, a shock absorber 15, and a connecting member 16.

[0016] The hook 11 is a member for locking the lanyard 10 of the present embodiment to attachment equipment such as a main rope or a solid structure. The hook 11 is disposed at the tip of the lanyard 10, and the base end of the hook 11 is connected to the tip of the strap 12. In the present embodiment, a connecting ring 11A is attached to the base end of the hook 11.

[0017] The strap 12 is made of a long flat woven fabric woven from high-strength synthetic fiber yarns and has a strength capable of withstanding the impact load when an operator falls. The hook 11 is connected to the tip of the strap 12. The connection between the hook 11 and the strap 12 is made by passing the strap 12 through the connecting ring 11A of the hook 11 and folding it back, and then overlapping and sewing this folded-back portion on the strap body. A protective cover 12A is attached to this connecting section. The protective cover 12A is made of a material such as resin or elastomer and is provided to prevent wear caused by contact between the hook and the folded-over section (eye section), and to prevent thread breakage or fraying of the sewing thread in the sewn area. The base end of the strap 12 is connected to the reel 13.

[0018] The winding mechanism 13 is a component for pulling out and winding up the strap 12. A winding shaft is provided inside the winding mechanism 13, and the base end of the strap 12 is connected to the winding shaft and wound around it. The winding mechanism 13 has a built-in winding spring that biases the strap 12 in the winding direction. By pulling the strap 12, the remaining portion of the strap 12 can be pulled out from the winding mechanism 13. Once the force in the pulling direction is released, the pulled-out strap 12 is wound back onto the winding mechanism 13 by the biasing force of the winding spring. The reel 13 of this embodiment is equipped with a locking mechanism that instantly stops the extension of the strap 12 when the strap 12 is pulled out at a speed exceeding a predetermined speed. By providing this locking mechanism, the fall distance in the event of a fall can be minimized. The base end of the winding device 13 is connected to the connecting fitting 14. In this embodiment, a connecting ring 13A is attached to the base end of the winding device 13.

[0019] The connecting fitting 14 is used for connecting the winding device 13 and the shock absorber 15 to the second connecting loop 15C and for temporary connection to the first connecting loop 15B.

[0020] As shown in Figure 3, the connecting fitting 14 is formed from a flat metal plate. The connecting fitting 14 consists of a connecting area 17 and a temporary connecting area 18. The connecting region 17 is composed of a rectangular region 17A adjacent to the temporary connecting region 18 and an arc-shaped region 17B adjacent to the rectangular region 17A and separated from the temporary connecting region 18. An elongated hole 17C is formed in the rectangular region 17A, and a roughly semicircular hole 17D is formed in the arc-shaped region 17B. Near the boundary with the rectangular region 17A, the arc-shaped region 17B is bent, and an incline is formed in the connecting fitting 14. The shock absorber 15 is connected to the connecting fitting 14 by passing its second connecting loop 15C through two holes 17C and 17D. The winding device 13 is connected to the connecting fitting 14 by passing its connecting ring 13A at the base end through the roughly semicircular hole 17D.

[0021] A long hole 18A is formed in the temporary connection area 18, and an opening 18B is formed that communicates with this long hole 18A. This provides a pair of opposing latching pieces 18C, 18C. The shock absorber 15 is temporarily connected to the connecting fitting 14 by having the first connecting loop 15B sandwiched between the pair of latching pieces 18C, 18C. The length of the opening 18B is preferably set to be within the range of 0.29 to 0.36 when the width of the first connecting loop 15B is set to 1. If it is below the lower limit, the temporary connection will be difficult to release, and there is a risk of impact on the human body when releasing it. If it exceeds the upper limit, it will be easy to release, and there is a risk that the temporary connection will be released even under loads such as those during normal work. From a safety standpoint, the range of 0.30 to 0.34 for the opening 18B is more preferable.

[0022] A temporary connection refers to a connection structure that has sufficient strength to not be released by the load generated by a worker's normal work, but is released when a large impact load exceeding a predetermined level, such as a fall, is applied. In this embodiment, the temporary connection between the first connecting loop 15B and the connecting fitting 14 is released when an impact load exceeding a predetermined level is applied to the lanyard 10. In the temporary connection area 18, it is preferable to coat the surface with resin to prevent wear of the first connecting loop 15B. In addition to the resin coating, other measures may be taken, such as providing a collar between the first connecting loop 15B and the latching pieces 18C, 18C.

[0023] The shock absorber 15 has the function of mitigating the impact that occurs when stopping a fall. The shock absorber 15 consists of two overlapping cushioning belts sewn together with stitching thread, which are folded multiple times and housed in a tearable cover 15A. As shown in Figure 2, the shock absorber 15 of this embodiment has a first connecting loop 15B and a second connecting loop 15C, and the cushioning belt is folded so that the first connecting loop 15B and the second connecting loop 15C are located on one end of the shock absorber 15 in the longitudinal direction. The first connecting loop 15B is connected to the connecting member 16. The first connecting loop 15B is also temporarily connected to the connecting fitting 14. The second connecting loop 15C is connected to the connecting fitting 14.

[0024] The connecting member 16 is a member for connecting the lanyard 10 of this embodiment to the waist belt worn by the worker. The connecting member 16 is positioned at the base end of the lanyard 10 and is connected to the first connecting loop 15B of the shock absorber 15. By connecting and disconnecting the connecting member 16 to the ring member of the waist belt, the lanyard 10 of this embodiment can be attached and detached. It is preferable to use a carabiner as the connecting member 16.

[0025] Figure 4 shows the strap in the retracted position. Figure 5 shows the lanyard of this embodiment attached to a waist belt. Figure 6 shows the hook of the lanyard of this embodiment in the resting position. As shown in Figure 4, in this embodiment, when the force in the pulling direction is released, most of the strap 12 is wound onto the winder 13 by the biasing force of the winding spring. In Figure 4, the portion that remains pulled out and is not wound up is the area to which the protective cover 12A is attached. As shown in Figure 5, the lanyard 10 of this embodiment is attached to the ring member 20 of the waist belt 19 with a carabiner 16. As shown in Figure 6, the lanyard 10 of this embodiment enters a hook-retained state by engaging the hook 11 with the ring member 20. In the hook-retained state, the lanyard 10 is bent to form a loop-shaped portion 21.

[0026] In the lanyard 10 of this embodiment, a carabiner 16, shock absorber 15, connecting fitting 14, and winding device 13 are located on one side of the ring-shaped portion 21, a part of the strap 12 and protective cover 12A are located on the bottom, and a hook 11 is located on the other side. In this configuration, the ring-shaped portion is smaller than that of the lanyard 100 using the conventional shock absorber 108 shown in Figure 9. The positions of the shock absorber, retractor, and strap are also shifted. In the conventional lanyard 100 using the shock absorber 108, the heavy retractor 106 was placed at the bottom of the ring-shaped portion 107, causing the ring-shaped portion 107 to sway significantly with body movement. However, in the lanyard 10 of this embodiment, the retractor 13 is placed on one side of the ring-shaped portion 21, and no heavy component is placed at the bottom. Furthermore, the ring-shaped portion 21 itself is smaller. With this configuration, even if body movement occurs, the swaying of the ring-shaped portion 21 is suppressed to a small extent.

[0027] <Effects that occur during a crash> When the lanyard 10 of this embodiment is used and an impact load is applied to the lanyard 10 due to a fall or other reason, the portion of the strap 12 that was wound around the retractor 13 is first pulled out. If the strap 12 is pulled out at a speed exceeding a predetermined speed, a locking mechanism provided in the retractor 13 is activated to prevent further pulling out. Next, the temporary connection between the temporary connection area 18 of the connecting fitting 14 and the first connecting loop 15B of the shock absorber 15 is released. Specifically, a load is applied to the temporary connection point between the pair of latching pieces 18C, 18C and the first connecting loop 15B, and the clamping of the pair of latching pieces 18C, 18C onto the first connecting loop 15B is released. As a result, the first connecting loop 15B is only connected to the carabiner 16. Next, the shock absorber 15 breaks. Specifically, the first connecting loop 15B and the second connecting loop 15C are pulled apart from each other. As a result, the cover 15A surrounding the shock absorber 15 tears, the binding threads of the cushioning belt are torn and sequentially break, and the two cushioning belts separate. The breaking force of the binding threads at this time absorbs and mitigates the impact of the fall to below the set impact load value. In this way, the impact load applied to the human body is reduced, and the impact on the human body is mitigated.

[0028] <Effects of this embodiment> According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. In the lanyard 10 according to this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the first connecting loop 15B and the second connecting loop 15C of the shock absorber 15 are provided on one end of the shock absorber 15 in the longitudinal direction, respectively. By adopting this structure, the distance between the first connecting loop 15B and the second connecting loop 15C becomes shorter, as shown in Figure 1, compared to using a conventional shock absorber 108 as shown in Figure 7. As a result, when the various components constituting the lanyard are arranged, the length occupied by the shock absorber 15 in the total length of the lanyard 10 is reduced to less than half of that in the conventional structure. In addition, the total length of the lanyard 10 when the strap 12 is wound onto the reel 13 and shortened is shorter than when using a conventional shock absorber 108.

[0029] As a result, as is clear from Figures 6 and 9, the ring-shaped portion 21 formed when the hook is in a resting state also becomes smaller. Furthermore, the positions of the various components in the ring-shaped portion 21 are shifted, and the retractor 13, which was located at the bottom of the ring-shaped portion in a conventional lanyard using a shock absorber, is now located on one side. Specifically, the carabiner 16, shock absorber 15, connecting fitting 14, and retractor 13 are located on one side of the ring-shaped portion 21, part of the strap 12 is at the bottom, and the hook 11 is located on the other side. As a result, even if the worker's body shakes when they are working or moving while the hook is in a resting state, the winding device 13 is located on the side, so the amplitude of the shaking is small. Also, since there are no heavy components at the bottom that would increase the shaking, the shaking of the ring-shaped part 21 is suppressed. Furthermore, the fact that the ring-shaped part 21 itself has become smaller also contributes to suppressing the shaking of the ring-shaped part 21. As a result, the opportunities for the ring-shaped part 21 to bump against the waist area of ​​the body during work or movement are greatly reduced, improving the usability of the detachable lanyard 10.

[0030] Furthermore, in the lanyard 10 according to this embodiment, a connecting fitting 14 is used to connect the winding device 13 and the second connecting loop 15C of the shock absorber 15, and the first connecting loop 15B of the shock absorber 15 is also temporarily connected using this connecting fitting 14. If the lanyard components are simply arranged in series without connecting fittings, the load generated during normal operation will pull the shock absorber so that the first and second connecting loops move away from each other, resulting in a distance between the two connecting loops. Similarly, even when the hook is in a resting position, the weight of the lanyard will cause the two connecting loops to move further apart. In this case, the effect of changing the shock absorber's connecting loop structure from the conventional structure is reduced. In this embodiment, as described above, the two connecting loops 15B and 15C of the shock absorber 10 are connected and temporarily connected by a connecting fitting 14. Therefore, during normal operation or when the hook is in a resting state, the two connecting loops 15B and 15C are not pulled away from each other and can always be positioned close together.

[0031] Furthermore, by providing a connecting structure and a temporary connecting structure using the connecting fitting 14, the load that normally occurs during operation is eliminated between the first connecting loop 15B and the second connecting loop 15C of the shock absorber 10, thus ensuring a higher level of safety.

[0032] <Variation> Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and any modifications or improvements that can achieve the objectives of the present invention are included in the present invention. In the above embodiment, the first connecting loop 15B is temporarily connected to the connecting fitting 14 by sandwiching it between a pair of latching pieces 18C, 18C, but the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, instead of the pair of latching pieces 18C, 18C, a low-strength connecting part is provided that is formed with low strength so that it breaks and the connection comes undone when an impact load exceeding a predetermined amount is applied to the lanyard body due to a fall or the like, and the first connecting loop 15B is passed through this low-strength connecting part to make a temporary connection. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 10 lanyards 11 hooks 12 straps 13 Winder 14 Connecting fittings 15 Shock absorbers 15B First connection loop 15C Second connection loop 16 Connecting Member

Claims

1. It comprises a hook, a strap to which the hook is attached at its tip, a winding device for winding the strap, a connecting fitting, a shock absorber, and a connecting member. The shock absorber has a first connecting loop and a second connecting loop, and the first connecting loop and the second connecting loop are provided on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the shock absorber. The winding device is connected to the connecting fitting, The shock absorber is connected to the connecting fitting by the second connecting loop, and the first connecting loop is connected to the connecting member and temporarily connected to the connecting fitting. A lanyard characterized by the following features.

2. The lanyard body is configured such that the temporary connection between the first connecting loop and the connecting fitting is released when an impact load exceeding a predetermined level is applied to it. The lanyard according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned connecting fitting is provided with a pair of opposing latching pieces. The first connecting loop is temporarily connected to the connecting fitting by being sandwiched between the pair of latching pieces. The lanyard according to claim 1 or 2.

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