Safety Harness Locking Element for Ribcage Pressure Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard safety harnesses used in building construction activities pose a life-threatening risk due to high pressure on the ribcage and circulation impairment when a wearer falls, as the safety rope is secured to the back, and reconfiguring it to the chest compromises freedom of movement.
Innovation Solution
A safety harness device with a locking element that can be transferred from a working position on the back to a catch position on the chest, allowing the safety rope to move from the back to the chest during a fall, reducing pressure on the ribcage and maintaining freedom of movement during work activities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the safety rope is secured to the back region of the wearer, then freedom of movement for work activities is maintained, but the wearer experiences high pressure on the ribcage and circulation impairment in the event of a fall
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element is designed to dynamically change position between a first position (back region) during normal work activities and a second position (chest region) during a fall. This dynamic repositioning allows the system to adapt to different operational states, providing freedom of movement during work while preventing harmful pressure during falls.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element acts as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the safety rope and the wearer's body. It selectively engages with different attachment points (back region or chest region) depending on the situation, thereby controlling how forces are transmitted to the wearer's body.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the safety rope is secured to the chest side of the wearer, then the non-lethal time after falling is increased, but the freedom of movement of the arms is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element transitions dynamically from a static chest-mounted configuration to a dynamic system that can reposition to the back region during work activities. This allows the system to provide chest-region support when needed (increasing non-lethal time) while enabling free arm movement during normal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element serves as a controllable intermediary that can be positioned at different locations on the shoulder strap. When positioned at the chest region, it increases survival time; when positioned at the back region, it maintains freedom of movement. The intermediary can be selectively activated or deactivated based on operational needs.
3Productivity
If the locking element is fixed on the back portion, then work activities can be performed freely, but the wearer is at risk of life-threatening loading in case of fall
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element is designed with dynamic repositioning capability, allowing it to move from the back portion (optimizing productivity) to the chest portion (optimizing reliability) automatically or manually. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to maximize work efficiency during normal operations while ensuring safety during falls.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element functions as a controllable intermediary between the safety rope and the wearer, capable of being positioned at different locations. When fixed on the back portion, it enables free work activities; when repositioned to the chest portion, it enhances safety during falls by distributing load more favorably.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a safety harness device for catching a person if they fall, in particular in the case of construction activities, comprising at least one shoulder strap, which has a chest portion, a shoulder portion and a back portion, comprising a locking element for releasably attaching a safety rope, wherein the locking element can be transferred between a working position, in which the locking element is arranged on the back portion side of the shoulder strap, and a catch position, in which the locking element is arranged on the chest portion side of the shoulder strap.