Carabiner Divider Layout for Multi-Anchor Fall Arrest Connection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fall arrest systems require improved carabiners and components that facilitate secure connections to multiple anchor points, ensuring ergonomic operation without the risk of injury during activities at height.
Innovation Solution
A carabiner divider with a frame and an openable gate, featuring a central body portion and multiple connection portions that divide the carabiner into areas for secure attachment of harness components and fall arrest devices, preventing accidental gate opening or sliding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a carabiner is used to connect to multiple anchor points, then the user can be secured to multiple fall arrest devices simultaneously, but the complexity of the connection system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carabiner is divided into multiple distinct connection areas by dividing members, creating separate zones for different connection purposes. This segmentation allows multiple anchor points to be connected simultaneously while maintaining organizational simplicity and reducing the complexity of managing multiple connections.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the carabiner interior are designated with specific qualities or functions through the dividing members. Each connection area can be optimized for specific types of connections (e.g., harness straps vs. fall arrest devices), allowing versatile multi-point connection while maintaining local simplicity and ease of use.
2Reliability
If a divider is added to organize connection areas, then accidental entanglement is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing members are inserted into the carabiner to create separate connection areas, physically preventing harness straps and fall arrest devices from entangling with each other. This segmentation approach improves reliability by eliminating entanglement risks while adding minimal structural complexity through simple insertable dividers.
Solution Approach 2:
The dividing members act as intermediary elements that organize and separate connections without requiring fundamental changes to the carabiner structure. These intermediaries prevent harmful entanglement effects while maintaining the overall simplicity of the carabiner design.
3Reliability
If a two-stage or three-stage gate opening mechanism is used, then accidental gate opening is prevented, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The gate mechanism requires preliminary actions (twisting or sliding) before the gate can be opened. This preliminary action ensures that accidental openings are prevented while the multi-step process remains manageable for users. The divider also helps by organizing connections to reduce the likelihood of accidental gate activation.
Data Source
AI summary
A divider for a carabiner in a fall arrest system, the carabiner having a frame; and an openable gate and configured to be moved between an open position and a closed position, the divider comprising a body having: (i) a central body portion; and (ii) a plurality of connection portions extending from the central body portion and configured to attach the divider to at least a portion of the frame, wherein the plurality of connection portions are spaced and divide the carabiner into a plurality of areas for connection of the at least one component of the harness arrangement and the at least one fall arrest device.