Self-Retracting Lanyard with Fall Detection and Controlled Descent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional self-retracting lanyards do not provide adequate warning to users approaching dangerous locations and lack a means for users to initiate controlled descent without assistance after a fall, leading to potential injuries and increased rescue costs due to the need for separate harness-based devices.
Innovation Solution
A self-retracting lanyard system with an alarm device that detects angles relative to a vertical axis and generates alerts, and a manual control allowing users to initiate controlled descent, integrated with a wearable electronic device for emergency communication and rescue assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional self-retracting lanyards are used without additional warning devices, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of fall prevention is insufficient due to lack of warning to users approaching dangerous locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the warning function and communication function into the existing lanyard system by integrating an alarm device that detects angle changes and a wireless transmitter that sends alerts to a mobile device. This merging approach enhances fall prevention reliability by providing proactive warnings without requiring completely separate warning systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The lanyard system is enhanced with multi-functionality by incorporating both angle detection for warning purposes and wireless communication capabilities. The same lanyard structure serves both its original fall arrest function and the new warning/communication functions, reducing the need for entirely separate devices.
2Reliability
If separate harness-based rescue devices are used, then the reliability of rescue operation is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the rescue initiation capability into the lanyard system itself through a manual control mechanism that the user can operate to trigger controlled descent. This eliminates the need for separate harness-based rescue devices while maintaining reliable rescue operation through integrated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The lanyard system enables self-service rescue by allowing the user to independently initiate controlled descent through the manual control mechanism. The user can self-rescue without requiring external assistance or separate rescue equipment, improving reliability while reducing system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If no manual control for controlled descent is provided, then the device complexity is low, but the ease of operation is reduced because users cannot initiate descent without assistance
Solution Approach 1:
The manual control mechanism enables users to independently initiate controlled descent without requiring assistance from others. This self-service capability significantly improves ease of operation by allowing users to control their own descent, while the control mechanism itself remains relatively simple in design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides timely warnings to users approaching unsafe zones, enables self-initiated controlled descent, and facilitates emergency communication, reducing the risk of injury and rescue costs by integrating alert and communication functionalities within the lanyard.
Implementation Method 1
an accelerometer, a processor or programmable circuit, and a non-transitory program storage medium on which are stored instructions executable by the processor or programmable circuit to perform operations including receiving a measurement from the accelerometer, comparing the measurement to a threshold, detecting that the user of the self-retracting lanyard has fallen based on a result of the comparing
Data Source
AI summary
A self-retracting lanyard system includes a self-retracting lanyard having a main body and a retractable line, a harness connected to the retractable line and wearable by the user of the self-retracting lanyard, and an electronic device disposable on the harness. The electronic device includes an accelerometer, a processor or programmable circuit, and a non-transitory program storage medium on which are stored instructions executable by the processor or programmable circuit to perform operations including receiving a measurement from the accelerometer, comparing the measurement to a threshold, detecting that the user of the self-retracting lanyard has fallen based on a result of the comparing, and instructing a wireless transmitter to transmit a wireless signal in response to the detection that the user has fallen.