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EP-4061491-B1 - SAFETY HARNESS WITH SELF-LOCKING DORSAL BRACE

EP4061491B1EP 4061491 B1EP4061491 B1EP 4061491B1EP-4061491-B1

Inventors

  • MCLEOD, Christopher S.
  • SAFE, NATHAN W.
  • SCHLANGEN, DAVID A.
  • SHAVER, Stephen D.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20201117

Claims (13)

  1. A fall-protection safety harness (1), comprising: left and right shoulder straps (2, 3) that overlap and cross at a dorsal crossing point (10); a dorsal plate (300) mounted on the left and right shoulder straps (2, 3) at the dorsal crossing point (10); a waist strap (5); and, a dorsal brace (100) comprising a self-locking fastener (150) at the upper end (101) of the dorsal brace (100), the fastener (150) being self-locked to the dorsal plate (300) and a lower end (140) of the dorsal brace (100) being connected to the waist strap (5); wherein the self-locking fastener (150) at the upper end (101) of the dorsal brace (100) comprises: an elongate beam (151) that extends in a generally lateral direction from an upper end (101) of an elongate, generally vertical member (105) of the dorsal brace (100); at least one spar (153, 154) that extends generally upward from the elongate beam (151); at least one strut (155, 156) that extends in a generally lateral direction from an upper end of the at least one spar (153, 154); at least one shelf (157, 159) that extends generally forward from at least a portion of the at least one strut (155, 156); at least one tab (163, 166) that extends generally upward from at least a portion of the at least one shelf (157, 159); and a forwardly-protruding locking hook (170) that comprises a flange (171) that extends generally forward from a forward edge of the elongate beam (151) and a locking lip (173) that extends generally downward from a forward edge of the flange (171).
  2. The safety harness (1) of claim 1 wherein an elongate, generally vertical member (105) of the dorsal brace (100) and the self-locking fastener (150) at the upper end (101) of the dorsal brace (100) are portions of a single, integral, molded body (320) that consists essentially of an organic polymeric material exhibiting a flexural modulus of at least 1.0 GPa, to 10.0 GPa.
  3. The safety harness (1) of claim 1 or 2 wherein the elongate beam (151), the at least one spar (153, 154), and the at least one strut (155, 156), at least partially define a forward-rearward through-opening (310) that is configured to allow the left and right shoulder straps (2,3) of the safety harness (1) to extend therethrough when the safety harness (1) is worn by a human user.
  4. The safety harness (1) of claim 1 wherein the self-locking fastener (150) at the upper end (101) of the dorsal brace (100) comprises two spars, struts, shelves, and tabs, a left spar (153) that extends generally upward from a left end of the elongate beam (151); a left strut (155) that extends in a generally laterally-inward direction from an upper end of the left spar (153); a left shelf (157) that extends generally forward from at least a portion of the left strut (155);and a left tab (163) that extends generally upward from at least a portion of the left shelf (157); and,a right spar (154) that extends generally upward from a right end of the elongate beam (151); a right strut (156) that extends in a generally laterally-inward direction from an upper end of the right spar (154); a right shelf (159) that extends generally forward from at least a portion of the right strut (156);and a right tab (166) that extends generally upward from at least a portion of the right shelf (159).
  5. The safety harness (1) of claim 4 wherein laterally-inwardmost terminal ends of the left and right struts (155, 156), the left and right shelves (157, 159), and the left and right tabs (163, 166), define a generally vertically oriented slot (42) that is configured to allow the left and right shoulder straps (2, 3) of the safety harness (1) to be passed therethrough during a process of installing the dorsal brace (100) on the safety harness (1).
  6. The safety harness (1) of claim 1 wherein the dorsal plate (300) comprises a forward-rearward through-opening (310) that is shaped and sized to receive portions of the self-locking fastener (150) of the dorsal brace (100) thereinto so that the self-locking fastener (150) is fastened, and self-locked, to the dorsal plate (300).
  7. The safety harness (1) of claim 6 wherein the through-opening (310) of the dorsal plate (300) comprises an upper, laterally-extending lintel (315) and a lower, laterally-extending sill (311), with the lintel (315) and the sill (311) respectively defining upper and lower edges of the through-opening (310).
  8. The safety harness (1) of claim 7 wherein the self-locking fastener (150) of the dorsal brace (100) and the upper lintel (315) of the dorsal plate (300) are configured so that when the self-locking fastener (150) is fastened, and self-locked, to the dorsal plate (300), a rear surface (165, 168) of the at least one upwardly-extending tab (163, 166) of the fastener (150) forwardly abuts a forward surface (317) of the upper lintel (315) of the dorsal plate (300).
  9. The safety harness (1) of any of claims 6 to 8 wherein when the self-locking fastener (150) of the dorsal brace (100) is fastened to the dorsal plate (300), the forward-rearward through-opening (310) of the dorsal plate (300) is at least partially aligned, along a forward-rearward direction, with a forward-rearward through-opening (310) defined by the elongate beam (151), the at least one spar (153, 154), and the at least one strut (155, 156) , of the fastener (150), so that the left and right shoulder straps (2, 3) of the safety harness (1) extend through the aligned portions of the through-openings (310) of the dorsal plate (300) and the fastener (150) when the safety harness (1) is worn by a human user.
  10. The safety harness (1) of any of claim 6 to 9 wherein the harness (1) comprises a dorsal D-ring (40) that is pivotally connected to the dorsal plate (300) and wherein the harness (1) further comprises a sleeve (330) configured to receive an elongate member of a connector (400).
  11. The safety harness (1) of any of claim 6 to 10 wherein the dorsal plate (300) comprises: a rigid main body (320) comprised of molded organic polymeric material and exhibiting a flexural modulus of from 1.0 GPa to 10.0 GPa; a flexible upper extension that is overmolded onto, and extends upwardly from, an upper portion of the rigid main body (320), and is comprised of an organic polymeric material with a flexural modulus of less than 1.0 GPa; and, a flexible lower extension that is overmolded onto, and extends upwardly from, a lower portion of the rigid main body (320), and is comprised of an organic polymeric material with a flexural modulus of less than 1.0 GPa; and, wherein portions of the rigid main body (320) of the dorsal plate (300) circumscribe all four sides of the forward-rearward through-opening (310) of the dorsal plate (300).
  12. The safety harness (1) of any of claims 1 to 11 wherein the lower end (140) of the dorsal brace (100) is removably connected to the waist strap (5) by way of being connected to a rear waist-strap plate (7) that is mounted on the waist strap (5).
  13. A method of equipping the fall-protection safety harness (1) of claim 1 with the dorsal brace (100), the method comprising: manually pressing the self-locking fastener (150) of the upper end (101) of the dorsal brace (100) forwardly against the dorsal plate (300) that is mounted on left and right shoulder straps (2, 3) of the harness (1) at a dorsal crossing point (10) of the left and right shoulder straps (2, 3) so that the fastener (150) fastens, and self-locks, to the dorsal plate (300) thus causing the upper end (101) of the dorsal brace (100) to be connected to the harness (1); and, manually connecting the lower end (140) of the dorsal brace (100) to the waist strap (5) of the harness (1).

Description

Background Safety harnesses are often used to reduce the likelihood of a user experiencing a fall, and/or to safely arrest the user in the event of a fall. Such harnesses are often used in combination with one or more of a self-retracting lifeline (e.g., a personal self-retracting lifeline), an energy-absorbing lanyard, and other fall-protection equipment. US 2016/0089554 A1, for example, discloses a safety harness comprising shoulder straps, a waist strap, and a weight distribution assembly interconnecting the shoulder straps and the waist strap, the weight distribution assembly being configured and arranged to transfer a load from proximate the shoulder straps to proximate the waist strap. Summary In one aspect there is provided a fall-protection safety harness as set out in claim 1. The fall-protection safety harness includes left and right shoulder straps and a waist strap, a dorsal plate mounted on the left and right shoulder straps at a dorsal crossing point, and a dorsal brace comprising a self-locking fastener at the upper end of the dorsal brace. The fastener is self-locked to the dorsal plate, and a lower end of the dorsal brace is connected to the waist strap. The self-locking fastener at the upper end of the dorsal brace comprises an elongate beam that extends in a generally lateral direction from an upper end of an elongate, generally vertical member of the dorsal brace , at least one spar that extends generally upward from the elongate beam, at least one strut that extends in a generally lateral direction from an upper end of the at least one spar, at least one shelf that extends generally forward from at least a portion of the at least one strut, at least one tab that extends generally upward from at least a portion of the at least one shelf, and a forwardly-protruding locking hook that comprises a flange that extends generally forward from a forward edge of the elongate beam and a locking lip that extends generally downward from a forward edge of the flange. Also disclosed are methods of equipping the safety harness with such a dorsal brace. These and other aspects will be apparent from the detailed description below.. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a rear view in generic representation of an exemplary fall-protection safety harness with which a dorsal brace as disclosed herein may be used.Fig. 2 is a rear view in generic representation of an exemplary fall-protection safety harness equipped with an exemplary dorsal brace, as worn by a user.Fig. 3 is a side-rear view of an exemplary dorsal brace fastened to an exemplary dorsal plate.Fig. 4 is a magnified view of an upper portion of an exemplary dorsal brace, and an exemplary dorsal plate to which the dorsal brace is fastened.Fig. 5 is a side view (viewed along the lateral direction) of the upper portion of an exemplary dorsal brace, and an exemplary dorsal plate to which the dorsal brace is fastened.Fig. 6 is a side-rear view of an upper portion of an exemplary dorsal brace and a portion of an exemplary dorsal plate, in preparation for being fastened together.Fig. 7 is a side-front view of an upper portion of an exemplary dorsal brace, and a portion of an exemplary dorsal plate to which the dorsal brace is fastened.Fig. 8 is a side-rear isolated view of an upper portion of an exemplary dorsal brace.Fig. 9 is a side-front isolated view of the upper portion of the dorsal brace of Fig. 8.Fig. 10 is a rear isolated view of the upper portion of the dorsal brace of Fig. 8.Fig. 11 is a side isolated view (viewed along the lateral axis, from the left) of the upper portion of the dorsal brace of Fig. 8.Fig. 12 is a side-front view of a portion of an exemplary dorsal plate to which a dorsal brace may be fastened.Fig. 13 is a side-rear view of an exemplary dorsal plate.Fig. 14 is a side-rear exploded view showing a main body, and upper and lower extensions, of the exemplary dorsal plate of Figs. 12 and 13.Fig. 15 is a side-rear view of an exemplary dorsal plate with a D-ring pivotally soft-connected thereto, and comprising an exemplary, integral sleeve into which is inserted an elongate member of an exemplary connector.Fig. 16 is a side-rear view of another exemplary dorsal plate, with a D-ring pivotally hard-connected thereto, and comprising an exemplary sleeve that is pivotally hard-mounted on the dorsal plate.Fig. 17 is a side-rear view of another exemplary dorsal plate, with a D-ring pivotally hard-connected thereto, and comprising another exemplary sleeve that is pivotally hard-mounted on the dorsal plate, and into which is inserted an elongate member of an exemplary connector. Like reference numbers in the various figures indicate like elements. Some elements may be present in identical or equivalent multiples; in such cases only one or more representative elements may be designated by a reference number but it will be understood that such reference numbers apply to all such identical elements. Unless otherwise indicated, all figures