Self-Locking Dorsal Brace for Even Safety Harness Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fall-protection safety harnesses often distribute load unevenly, leading to discomfort and potential strain on the shoulders, especially during extended use, and require complex installation or factory retrofitting of additional components.
Innovation Solution
A self-locking dorsal brace with a fastener that attaches to the dorsal plate and waist strap, allowing for manual installation and distribution of load from the shoulders to the waist, using a rigid elongate member made of materials with a flexural modulus of at least 1.0 GPa, and a self-locking mechanism that secures to the dorsal plate without additional fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional safety harness is used without a dorsal brace, then the structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but the load distribution is uneven causing shoulder strain and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The safety harness is divided into functional modules: the basic harness components (shoulder straps, waist strap, dorsal plate) and the optional dorsal brace component. This segmentation allows users to add or remove the brace based on comfort needs without affecting the core harness functionality, resolving the contradiction between comfort and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The dorsal brace acts as an intermediary load-transfer component between the dorsal plate and waist strap. It mediates the force distribution by providing an additional load path that redirects shoulder load to the waist, improving comfort while maintaining the simplicity of the original harness structure through a single add-on component.
2Ease of operation
If a dorsal brace with self-locking fastener is manually installed, then the installation is easier and requires no specialized tools, but the fastening mechanism must be sufficiently reliable to support fall arrest loads
Solution Approach 1:
The dorsal brace features a self-locking fastening mechanism that automatically secures itself to the dorsal plate without requiring tools or specialized installation procedures. The user simply attaches the brace, and the self-locking mechanism engages to provide a reliable connection capable of supporting fall arrest loads, thus achieving both easy installation and high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening mechanism transitions from an unfastened state to a locked state through a simple user action, changing the mechanical parameters of the connection (from disconnected to locked). This parameter change enables the system to achieve reliable fastening through a simple operational change rather than complex installation procedures.
3Strength
If a rigid elongate member with high flexural modulus is used for the dorsal brace, then the load transfer capability is improved, but the material selection and manufacturing become more constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The dorsal brace utilizes composite material construction, combining rigid elongate members with high flexural modulus (such as fiberglass-reinforced plastics or carbon-fiber composites) to achieve the necessary load transfer capability. These composite materials provide both the required mechanical strength and flexibility in manufacturing, allowing the brace to be molded into the desired shape while meeting performance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The design specifies a minimum flexural modulus parameter (at least 1.0 GPa) for the rigid elongate member material, establishing a clear material selection criterion that balances load transfer performance with manufacturing feasibility. This parameter-based approach allows manufacturers to select from multiple materials that meet the threshold, maintaining ease of manufacture while ensuring adequate strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A fall-protection safety harness including left and right shoulder straps and a waist strap, and a dorsal plate mounted on the left and right shoulder straps at a dorsal crossing point. A dorsal brace for use with such a harness, the brace comprising a self-locking fastener at the upper end of the dorsal brace. The fastener is fastenable, and self-locking, to the dorsal plate, and a lower end of the dorsal brace is connectable to the waist strap. Methods of equipping a safety harness with the dorsal brace.