Fall-Protection Harness Linkage to Keep Lifelines Clear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fall-protection devices suffer from issues such as lifelines traveling under the user's arm, causing increased injury risk, and housings contacting the head or neck, leading to discomfort and potential tangling or obstruction.
Innovation Solution
A fall-protection device with at least one housing and a lifeline, featuring a bracket pivotally connected to the housing and an attachment member rotatable relative to the bracket, allowing the lifeline to extend and retract without contacting the user's underarm or head, and preventing housing collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the lifeline is connected directly to the housing, then the device structure is simple, but the lifeline travels under the user's arm causing increased injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into multiple functional components: housing, bracket, attachment member, and connector. The bracket and attachment member create intermediate connection points that redirect the lifeline path away from the user's underarm, distributing forces more safely across the torso while maintaining relatively simple overall structure.
2Reliability
If the housing is positioned overhead for anchor connection, then the fall protection function is effective, but the housing contacts the user's head and neck causing discomfort and distraction
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment member provides rotational freedom about a second axis that is inclined relative to the first axis of the bracket. This multi-axis rotation capability allows the housing to be positioned in three-dimensional space, enabling effective overhead anchor connection while preventing contact with the user's head and neck through proper spatial orientation.
3Reliability
If twin housings are used on the back of the user, then the fall protection coverage is improved, but the housings come in contact with each other causing tangling and obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is pivotally connected to the housing, allowing it to rotate about a first axis. The attachment member is rotatably connected to the bracket, allowing rotation about a second axis inclined to the first. These dynamic, multi-axis rotation capabilities enable twin housings to maintain proper spacing and alignment on the user's back, preventing contact, tangling, and obstruction while providing comprehensive fall protection coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A fall-protection device for use with a safety harness of a user includes at least one housing. The fall-protection device further includes at least one lifeline extending from the at least one housing and configured to be connected to an anchor. The fall-protection device further includes at least one bracket pivotally connected to the at least one housing and pivotable relative to the at least one housing about a first axis. The fall-protection device further includes an attachment member rotatably connected to the at least one bracket and rotatable relative to the at least one bracket about a second axis inclined to the first axis. The attachment member is configured to be directly or indirectly connected to the safety harness.