A wearable lightweight fire fighter's personal escape system and method includes a rope, having a distal and proximal end, organized in parallel segments disposed in an inner pouch. The inner pouch is entirely contained in an outer pouch that is appointed to be removably attached to a belt or harness, worn by a fire fighter. The proximal end of the rope exits through an opening in the inner pouch and outer pouch and is attached directly to a lightweight hook, or optionally enters a belay device. The hook has a sharp point for creating a purchase point on soft surfaces, a hook opening having sufficient diameter to surround radiators, steam pipe and the like, and capture rope that surrounds substantial objects. The hook has a central opening appointed for holding a firefighting tool to aid in creating a substantial object. The fire fighter escapes by creating a purchase point and repelling at a high speed or at a controlled speed by adjusting belay friction.

A harness configured for being removably attachable to a body of a user has an optional pair of leg straps, an optional belt strap, and a shoulder strap. The shoulder strap has a front portion attached to a front end of each leg strap and a rear portion attached to a rear end of each leg strap. At least a portion of the shoulder strap has an energy absorbing element formed integrally therein having a tearable webbing material with at least two bound, load-bearing webbing components configured to tear from one another.

A harness configured for being removably attachable to a body of a user has an optional pair of leg straps, an optional belt strap, and a shoulder strap. The shoulder strap has a front portion attached to a front end of each leg strap and a rear portion attached to a rear end of each leg strap. At least a portion of the shoulder strap has an energy absorbing element formed integrally therein having a tearable webbing material with at least two bound, load-bearing webbing components configured to tear from one another.

A fall-protection apparatus that includes a computing device configured to detect a mechanical command signal, and methods of using such an apparatus.

A wearable lightweight fire fighter's personal escape system and method includes a rope, having a distal and proximal end, organized in parallel segments disposed in an inner pouch. The inner pouch is entirely contained in an outer pouch that is appointed to be removably attached to a belt or harness, worn by a fire fighter. The proximal end of the rope exits through an opening in the inner pouch and outer pouch and is attached directly to a lightweight hook, or optionally enters a belay device. The hook has a sharp point for creating a purchase point on soft surfaces, a hook opening having sufficient diameter to surround radiators, steam pipe and the like, and capture rope that surrounds substantial objects. The hook has a central opening appointed for holding a firefighting tool to aid in creating a substantial object. The fire fighter escapes by creating a purchase point and repelling at a high speed or at a controlled speed by adjusting belay friction.

A wearable lightweight fire fighter's personal escape system and method includes a rope, having a distal and proximal end, organized in parallel segments disposed in an inner pouch. The inner pouch is entirely contained in an outer pouch that is appointed to be removably attached to a belt or harness, worn by a fire fighter. The proximal end of the rope exits through an opening in the inner pouch and outer pouch and is attached directly to a lightweight hook, or optionally enters a belay device. The hook has a sharp point for creating a purchase point on soft surfaces, a hook opening having sufficient diameter to surround radiators, steam pipe and the like, and capture rope that surrounds substantial objects. The hook has a central opening appointed for holding a firefighting tool to aid in creating a substantial object. The fire fighter escapes by creating a purchase point and repelling at a high speed or at a controlled speed by adjusting belay friction.

A device for storing a rope for a descender includes the rope, a rope drum, and a dimensionally stable rope bag, wherein the rope has a diameter of less than or equal to 8 mm and is at least partially wound on the rope drum in such a way that a first end of the rope can be unwound from the rope drum, and wherein the rope drum is disposed in the rope bag in such a way that the first end of the rope can be led out of an opening) of the rope bag. Furthermore, an assembly includes a descender and the above-mentioned device, wherein the descender includes a centrifugal brake configured such that a rope passing through the descender can be slowed down in its motion, and wherein the rope of the device is passed through the descender.

A device for storing a rope for a descender includes the rope, a rope drum, and a dimensionally stable rope bag, wherein the rope has a diameter of less than or equal to 8 mm and is at least partially wound on the rope drum in such a way that a first end of the rope can be unwound from the rope drum, and wherein the rope drum is disposed in the rope bag in such a way that the first end of the rope can be led out of an opening) of the rope bag. Furthermore, an assembly includes a descender and the above-mentioned device, wherein the descender includes a centrifugal brake configured such that a rope passing through the descender can be slowed down in its motion, and wherein the rope of the device is passed through the descender.

In a descending apparatus for emergency escape, a first winding part around which a wire rope is wound and a second winding part positioned above the first winding part and rotating to allow the wire rope unwound from the first winding part to be re-wound therearound to generate braking power are configured on an inner side of a case, a decelerating device controlling a descending rate of the descending apparatus by reducing a rotation rate of the second winding part by the braking power generated according to rotation of the second winding part when the wire lope is unwound as the descending apparatus descends are configured on both sides of the first and second winding parts, and an operating lever adjusting a descending rate of the descending apparatus by controlling a rotation rate of the second winding part according to an operation of an escaper when descending using the descending apparatus is configured at an upper portion of the case, and a handle 46 is provided to allow the wire rope to be wound therearound to re-use the descending apparatus.

Since a structure of the descending apparatus is simplified, in case of an emergency, an escaper, without being panicked, may simply operate the descending apparatus to descend to the ground, and thus, an accident may be prevented. Also, when using the descending apparatus, the escaper may easily adjust a speed during descending and quickly operate such as adjust a speed, stop, and the like, during descending to cope with various dangerous situations that may occur during descending, and thus, safety of using the descending apparatus may be enhanced. In addition, after the descending apparatus is used, the unwound wire rope may be wound again, and the wound wire may not be unwound, whereby the descending apparatus may be used again.

In a descending apparatus for emergency escape, a first winding part around which a wire rope is wound and a second winding part positioned above the first winding part and rotating to allow the wire rope unwound from the first winding part to be re-wound therearound to generate braking power are configured on an inner side of a case, a decelerating device controlling a descending rate of the descending apparatus by reducing a rotation rate of the second winding part by the braking power generated according to rotation of the second winding part when the wire lope is unwound as the descending apparatus descends are configured on both sides of the first and second winding parts, and an operating lever adjusting a descending rate of the descending apparatus by controlling a rotation rate of the second winding part according to an operation of an escaper when descending using the descending apparatus is configured at an upper portion of the case, and a handle 46 is provided to allow the wire rope to be wound therearound to re-use the descending apparatus.

Since a structure of the descending apparatus is simplified, in case of an emergency, an escaper, without being panicked, may simply operate the descending apparatus to descend to the ground, and thus, an accident may be prevented. Also, when using the descending apparatus, the escaper may easily adjust a speed during descending and quickly operate such as adjust a speed, stop, and the like, during descending to cope with various dangerous situations that may occur during descending, and thus, safety of using the descending apparatus may be enhanced. In addition, after the descending apparatus is used, the unwound wire rope may be wound again, and the wound wire may not be unwound, whereby the descending apparatus may be used again.