US-20260124478-A1 - PASS THROUGH BUCKLE COVER KEEPER

US20260124478A1US 20260124478 A1US20260124478 A1US 20260124478A1US-20260124478-A1

Abstract

A buckle cover keeper for a pass through buckle including a larger buckle and a smaller buckle structured to be releasably coupled together may include a cover keeper body having a shape corresponding to an outer perimeter of the larger buckle. The cover keeper body is structured to be coupled to the larger buckle. The buckle cover keeper may include at least one tab coupled to the cover keeper body and extending inwardly from the cover keeper body. The at least one tab is structured to create an area between the at least one tab and a top surface of the larger buckle when the cover keeper body is coupled to the larger buckle. The area is structured to receive an outer edge of the smaller buckle when the smaller buckle is coupled to the larger buckle.

Inventors

Ivan D. Lopez

Assignees

WERNER CO.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251105

Claims (20)

1 . A buckle cover keeper for a pass through buckle including a larger buckle and a smaller buckle structured to be releasably coupled together, the buckle cover keeper comprising: a cover keeper body having a shape corresponding to an outer perimeter of the larger buckle, the cover keeper body being structured to couple to the larger buckle; and at least one tab coupled to the cover keeper body and extending inwardly from the cover keeper body, wherein the at least one tab is structured to create an area between the at least one tab and a top surface of the larger buckle when the cover keeper body is coupled to the larger buckle, and wherein the area is structured to receive an outer edge of the smaller buckle when the smaller buckle is coupled to the larger buckle.
2 . The buckle cover keeper of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tab is structured to press the smaller buckle against the top surface of the larger buckle when the smaller buckle is coupled to the larger buckle.
3 . The buckle cover keeper of claim 1 , wherein the cover keeper body and the at least one tab are molded from a flexible elastomeric material.
4 . The buckle cover keeper of claim 1 , wherein the cover keeper body and the at least one tab are formed as a single piece of material.
5 . The buckle cover keeper of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tab includes a first tab disposed on a first side of the cover keeper body, a second tab disposed on a second side of the cover keeper body, and a third tab disposed on a third side of the cover keeper body.
6 . The buckle cover keeper of claim 5 , wherein the cover keeper body is rectangular, wherein the first side and the second side of the cover keeper body are short sides of the cover keeper body, and wherein the third side of the cover keeper body is a long side of the cover keeper body.
7 . The buckle cover keeper of claim 1 , wherein the buckle cover keeper is overmolded on the larger buckle.
8 . A safety harness comprising: a first portion of webbing; a second portion of webbing; a pass through buckle including a larger buckle coupled to the first portion of webbing and a smaller buckle coupled to the second portion of webbing, wherein the larger buckle and the smaller buckle are structured to be releasably coupled together; and a buckle cover keeper comprising: a cover keeper body having a shape corresponding to an outer perimeter of the larger buckle, the cover keeper body being structured to be coupled to the larger buckle; and at least one tab coupled to the cover keeper body and extending inwardly from the cover keeper body, wherein the at least one tab is structured to create an area between the at least one tab and a top surface of the larger buckle when the cover keeper body is coupled to the larger buckle, and wherein the area is structured to receive an outer edge of the smaller buckle when the smaller buckle is coupled to the larger buckle.
9 . The safety harness of claim 8 , wherein the cover keeper body and the at least one tab are molded from a flexible elastomeric material.
10 . The safety harness of claim 8 , wherein the buckle cover keeper is overmolded on the larger buckle.
11 . The safety harness of claim 8 , wherein the at least one tab presses the smaller buckle against the top surface of the larger buckle when the smaller buckle is coupled to the larger buckle.
12 . The safety harness of claim 8 , wherein the at least one tab includes a first tab disposed on a first side of the cover keeper body, a second tab disposed on a second side of the cover keeper body, and a third tab disposed on a third side of the cover keeper body.
13 . The safety harness of claim 8 , wherein the at least one tab extends inwardly for a first distance and additionally extends inwardly for a second distance, wherein, along the first distance, the at least one tab is adjacent to the top surface of the larger buckle, and wherein, along the second distance, the at least one tab is spaced from the top surface to define the area.
14 . The safety harness of claim 8 , wherein the area has a thickness that is smaller than the thickness of the smaller buckle.
15 . A safety harness comprising: a first portion of webbing; a second portion of webbing; a pass through buckle including a larger buckle coupled to the first portion of webbing and a smaller buckle coupled to the second portion of webbing, wherein the larger buckle and the smaller buckle are structured to be releasably coupled together; and a buckle cover keeper comprising: a cover keeper body having a shape corresponding to an outer perimeter of the larger buckle, the cover keeper body having an upper surface and a lower surface defining a groove therebetween that receives the outer perimeter of the larger buckle; and at least one tab coupled to the cover keeper body and extending inwardly from the cover keeper body.
16 . The safety harness of claim 15 , wherein the at least one tab extends inwardly for a first distance and additionally extends inwardly for a second distance, and wherein, along the first distance, the at least one tab is adjacent to a top surface of the larger buckle.
17 . The safety harness of claim 16 , wherein, along the second distance, the at least one tab is spaced from the larger buckle to define a slot.
18 . The safety harness of claim 17 , wherein a thickness of the slot is smaller than a thickness of the smaller buckle.
19 . The safety harness of claim 15 , wherein the at least one tab includes a first tab disposed on a first side of the cover keeper body, a second tab disposed on a second side of the cover keeper body, and a third tab disposed on a third side of the cover keeper body.
20 . The safety harness of claim 15 , wherein the buckle cover keeper is overmolded on the larger buckle.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/717,348, filed November 7, 2024, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The disclosed concept relates generally to accessories for harnesses in fall protection systems, and in particular, to a pass through buckle cover keeper for use with a pass through buckle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In fall protection systems, a worker typically wears a safety harness. At one or more connection points on the harness, one portion of webbing is releasably coupled to another portion of webbing on the harness. One of the most economical options for making such connections is a pass through buckle. A pass through buckle includes a larger buckle coupled to a first portion of the webbing and a smaller buckle coupled to a second portion of the webbing. The larger buckle includes an opening through which the smaller buckle can pass when the smaller buckle is rotated on a side with respect to the larger buckle. After passing the smaller buckle through the opening of the larger buckle, the smaller buckle is rotated so that it is flat with respect to the larger buckle. In this orientation, the smaller buckle cannot pass back through the opening of the larger buckle. In this orientation, the larger buckle and the smaller buckle are considered to be connected, and thus, the first and second portions of the webbing are connected via the pass through buckle. By rotating the smaller buckle on its side with respect to the larger buckle, the smaller buckle can then be passed back through the opening of the larger buckle to disconnect the smaller buckle from the larger buckle, and thus disconnect the first and second portions of webbing from each other. However, the webbing of the harness can shift, pushing and pulling the first and second portions of webbing in various directions and angles. In some circumstances, the movement of the webbing can cause a connection between the larger and smaller buckles to become loose and in some cases disconnect. For example, the first and second portions of webbing being pushed toward each other can cause the smaller buckle to separate from the larger buckle and rotate on its side such that it can inadvertently be pulled back through the opening of the larger buckle and cause the smaller buckle to disconnect from the larger buckle. There is room for improvement in connection points for harnesses. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with an aspect of the disclosed concept, a buckle cover keeper for a pass through buckle including a larger buckle and a smaller buckle structured to be releasably coupled together includes: a cover keeper body having a shape corresponding to an outer perimeter of the larger buckle, the cover keeper body being structured to couple to the larger buckle; and at least one tab coupled to the cover keeper body and extending inwardly from the cover keeper body, wherein the at least one tab is structured to create an area between the at least one tab and a top surface of the larger buckle when the cover keeper body is coupled to the larger buckle, and wherein the area is structured to receive an outer edge of the smaller buckle when the smaller buckle is coupled to the larger buckle. In accordance with an aspect of the disclosed concept, a safety harness includes: a first portion of webbing; a second portion of webbing; a pass through buckle including a larger buckle coupled to the first portion of webbing and a smaller buckle coupled to the second portion of webbing, wherein the larger buckle and the smaller buckle are structured to be releasably coupled together; and a buckle cover keeper including: a cover keeper body having a shape corresponding to an outer perimeter of the larger buckle, the cover keeper body being structured to couple to the larger buckle; and at least one tab coupled to the cover keeper body and extending inwardly from the cover keeper body, wherein the at least one tab is structured to create an area between the at least one tab and a top surface of the larger buckle when the cover keeper body is coupled to the larger buckle, and wherein the area is structured to receive an outer edge of the smaller buckle when the smaller buckle is coupled to the larger buckle. In accordance with an aspect of the disclosed concept, a safety harness includes: a first portion of webbing; a second portion of webbing; a pass through buckle including a larger buckle coupled to the first portion of webbing and a smaller buckle coupled to the second portion of webbing, wherein the larger buckle and the smaller buckle are structured to be releasably coupled together; and a buckle cover keeper comprising a cover keeper body having a shape corresponding to an outer perimeter of the larger buckle, the cover keeper body having an upper surface and a lower surface defining a groove therebetween that receives the outer perimeter of the larger