US-12623100-B2 - Fall arrest system

US12623100B2US 12623100 B2US12623100 B2US 12623100B2US-12623100-B2

Abstract

A fall arrest system is disclosed. In one aspect, a structure may include a collar on the roof portion of the structure. A U or V-shaped anchor point has leaves or legs of the U or V-shape attached to spaced-apart locations on the collar. A cable may be attached to the anchor point and extended off the roof and down a side of the structure proximate to a ladder. A distal end of the cable may be tensioned by a cable tensioner. A rope grab may be attached to the cable. A pulley or similar structure may be used at the edge of the roof and side to protect the cable from rubbing against the edge. In use, a person attaches to the rope grab and climbs the ladder to the top of the structure.

Inventors

James M. Adermann
Spencer Westerbeek

Assignees

HOG SLAT, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240510

Claims (11)

1 . A fall arrest system comprising: a cable; and an anchor point coupled to a first end of the cable, the anchor point comprising: a first portion delimiting a cable aperture configured to allow attachment to the cable; a first leg and a second leg, both legs extending from the first portion such that a U or V shape is formed, each leg configured to attach to a continuous circular peak ring at spaced apart locations on the ring, such that stress on the peak ring is spread out so that such stress does not deform the peak ring, wherein the first leg comprises; a first generally planar leg portion, the first generally planar leg portion extending from the first portion in a first plane; and a second leg portion spaced from the first portion and extending in a second plane angled relative to the first plane, the second leg portion delimiting at least one aperture configured to receive a fastener to attach the anchor point to the peak ring; and the second leg is substantially a mirror image of the first leg to form the U or V shape.
2 . The fall arrest system of claim 1 , wherein the cable comprises a stainless-steel cable.
3 . The fall arrest system of claim 1 , further comprising a rope grab on the cable and capable of moving up and down the cable.
4 . The fall arrest system of claim 3 , wherein the rope grab is configured to allow movement based on a center of gravity position relative to the rope grab.
5 . The fall arrest system of claim 1 , further comprising a cable tensioner coupled to the cable at a second end of the cable.
6 . The fall arrest system of claim 5 , wherein the cable tensioner is configured to attach to a ladder.
7 . The fall arrest system of claim 1 , further comprising a cable guide having a u-shaped channel configured to allow the cable to rest therein.
8 . The fall arrest system of claim 7 , further comprising a rope grab on the cable and capable of moving up and down the cable and capable of passing through the cable guide without having to be disengaged from the cable.
9 . The fall arrest system of claim 7 , wherein the cable guide comprises a back portion defining a back cut-out and a front portion comprising a front cut-out, wherein the front and back cut-outs are shaped to fit around a ladder rung.
10 . The fall arrest system of claim 9 , wherein the front and back cut-outs both include a generally flat portion and an arcuate portion.
11 . The fall arrest system of claim 9 , wherein the front and back cut-outs are configured to fit around a round rung.

Description

PRIORITY APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/465,319, filed May 10, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND I. Field of the Disclosure The technology of the disclosure relates generally to a safety mechanism such as a fall arrest system, which may be used to assist individuals operating at heights. II. Background There are many situations where an individual may need to be positioned on top of a tall structure. Such situations abound in the agricultural setting where silos, feed bins, hopper tanks, bulk feed tanks, rooftops, and the like are common. Responsive to the risk of bodily harm that may occur should a person fall from such heights, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has promulgated several rules to promote safety. In particular, there are several rules relating to safety associated with ladders on the sides of structures. In the past, a cage could be used with a ladder to prevent a fall. That is, a person climbing a ladder was also enclosed in a surrounding cage structure such that if the person slipped or released the ladder, downward motion was prevented by the confining nature of the cage. Such fall-prevention devices have been deemed inadequate by OSHA, and OSHA now mandates that there be a fall arrest system associated with such ladders and structures. In essence, a fall arrest system arrests or stops a fall after the fall has begun. Several commercial products have been sold to address the OSHA rule. However, there remains room for innovation associated with fall arrest systems. SUMMARY Aspects disclosed in the detailed description include a fall arrest system. In particular, a structure may include a collar on the roof portion of the structure. A U or V-shaped anchor point has leaves or legs of the U or V-shape attached to spaced-apart locations on the collar. A cable may be attached to the anchor point and extended off the roof and down a side of the structure proximate to a ladder. A distal end of the cable may be tensioned by a cable tensioner. A rope grab may be attached to the cable. A guide, pulley, or similar structure may be used at the edge of the roof and side to protect the cable from rubbing against the edge. In use, a person attaches to the rope grab and climbs the ladder to the top of the structure. In this regard, in one aspect, a fall arrest system is disclosed. The fall arrest system includes a cable. The fall arrest system further includes an anchor point coupled to a first end of the cable, the anchor point comprising a first leaf and a second leaf configured to attach to a peak collar at spaced apart locations. In another aspect, a cable guide is disclosed. The cable guide includes a back portion comprising a back cut-out configured to fit over a portion of a ladder rung and a front portion comprising a front cut-out configured to fit over a remaining portion of the ladder rung to secure the cable guide to the ladder rung, the front portion further comprising a U-shaped channel configured to allow a rope grab to transition past the cable guide without necessitating detaching the cable guide from a cable held in the U-shaped channel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a structure that may be subject to a safety rule and benefit from aspects of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure of FIG. 1 with a fall arrest system of the present disclosure attached thereto, including exploded portions 2A-2D; FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for using the fall arrest system of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded isometric view of one cable guide adapted for use with an HSI-brand style ladder rung; and FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded isometric view of another cable guide adapted for use with a round ladder rung. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and illustrate the best mode of practicing the embodiments. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the disclosure and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims. It will be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of