Packed Decelerator Tether for Fall Arrest Force Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional safety harnesses face a dilemma in providing maneuverability while minimizing the risk of injury from falls, as longer tethers reduce arrest force but increase discomfort, and shorter tethers compromise user mobility, leading to potential injuries even with safety harnesses.

Innovation Solution

The Decelerator Packed Tether system, constructed with tubular webbing and elastic bungee cords, maintains deceleration off-line to control tether length and arrest force, incorporating a deployment stitch and optional GPS locator or fall escape ladder to enhance safety and user comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the tether length is increased to provide user maneuverability, then ease of operation is improved, but the maximum arrest force increases causing greater injury risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser maneuverabilityVSAvoidarrest force injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The tether is divided into multiple segments: a first length portion and a second length portion that can be selectively deployed. This segmentation allows the tether to provide full length for maneuverability when needed, while only deploying the necessary length during a fall to control arrest force. The tether includes a deployment mechanism with a deployment stitch that transitions the tether from a compact first configuration to an extended second configuration during falling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tether transitions from a static fixed-length design to a dynamic variable-length design. The deployment mechanism allows the tether to change its effective length based on operational conditions - remaining compact during normal use for maneuverability, then extending during a fall event. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between needing long tether for mobility and short tether for safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the tether length is shortened to minimize arrest force, then safety is improved, but user maneuverability is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearrest force injury riskVSAvoiduser maneuverability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The first length portion of the tether is nested within or alongside the second length portion in a compact configuration. This nesting allows the tether to maintain a small profile during normal use, providing user maneuverability without the tether being taut. When a fall occurs, the nested portions are deployed sequentially, providing the necessary tether length while controlling the deployment rate to manage arrest force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The tether is pre-configured in a compact first configuration that provides adequate length for user maneuverability during normal activities. The deployment mechanism is pre-positioned so that upon fall detection, the tether can transition to its extended second configuration. This preliminary compact configuration allows full maneuverability while the deployment system is ready to provide safety-length tether when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If break away stitches are used to reduce arrest force, then safety is improved, but the tether length increases causing higher maximum arrest force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearrest force injury riskVSAvoidtether length

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

A deployment mechanism acts as an intermediary between the user and the anchor point. This mechanism controls the rate and manner of tether deployment during a fall, mediating the force transmission. Rather than relying solely on break-away stitches at the end of a long tether, the deployment mechanism actively manages the deceleration process, providing a more controlled and potentially safer arrest force profile.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This solution provides a safer, more comfortable, and maneuverable safety harness experience by minimizing the maximum arrest force during falls, reducing injury risk, and allowing manufacturers to control tether length for liability management.

Implementation Method 1

at least three elasticized bungee cords (10) inserted inside said tubular webbing (150)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11198027B2Decelerator packed tether as an intermediate article of manufacture

Publication Date: 2021.12.14 GREEN MULLINS SHERRY

AI summary

A Decelerator Packed Tether constructed with a Bungee Section and a Deployment Section in a combination of materials which, when combined as herein described, and a fall is experienced by the user, the maximum arrest force is one that will present the least amount of impact on the user conventional safety harnesses.