An energy absorber (10) for use in a fall arrest system includes an elongate member (11) having a proximal end (14), a distal end (12), and a line of weakness (15, 16) extending in a longitudinal direction (A) along at least a portion of the elongate member between the proximal end (14) and the distal end (12). The line of weakness (15, 16) is at least partially non-linear. In response to application of a predetermined force, the elongate member (11) is configured to tear along the line of weakness (15, 16), thereby at least partially absorbing energy of a user's fall.

An energy absorber (10) for use in a fall arrest system includes an elongate member (11) having a proximal end (14), a distal end (12), and a line of weakness (15, 16) extending in a longitudinal direction (A) along at least a portion of the elongate member between the proximal end (14) and the distal end (12). The line of weakness (15, 16) is at least partially non-linear. In response to application of a predetermined force, the elongate member (11) is configured to tear along the line of weakness (15, 16), thereby at least partially absorbing energy of a user's fall.

Locking systems and method of manufacturing the same are provided. A locking system for fall protection includes a braking lever. The braking includes a shock absorber. The shock absorber includes a plurality of coils. The shock absorber also includes a plurality of breakaway interfaces coupling the plurality of coils together. Each of the plurality of breakaway interfaces are configured to decouple two of the plurality of coils at a different force. At least one of the breakaway interfaces defines at least one deformable finger defined on one of the plurality of coils of the shock absorber interfacing with another coil of the shock absorber.

Locking systems and method of manufacturing the same are provided. A locking system for fall protection includes a braking lever. The braking includes a shock absorber. The shock absorber includes a plurality of coils. The shock absorber also includes a plurality of breakaway interfaces coupling the plurality of coils together. Each of the plurality of breakaway interfaces are configured to decouple two of the plurality of coils at a different force. At least one of the breakaway interfaces defines at least one deformable finger defined on one of the plurality of coils of the shock absorber interfacing with another coil of the shock absorber.

A multifunction NFPA escape and ladder belt having multiple functions for firefighter and rescue worker work. The belt includes a front buckle and right and left side buckles, straps coupling the left and right side buckles to the front buckle and to one another. At least one of said straps includes a stitched loop portion formed with a stitching pattern configured to fail, and for the loop portion to unfold, when the side straps are under a sufficient tension load exceeding the breaking strength of the stitching pattern; that failure will occur before a structural failure in any other element or component of the belt.

A multifunction NFPA escape and ladder belt having multiple functions for firefighter and rescue worker work. The belt includes a front buckle and right and left side buckles, straps coupling the left and right side buckles to the front buckle and to one another. At least one of said straps includes a stitched loop portion formed with a stitching pattern configured to fail, and for the loop portion to unfold, when the side straps are under a sufficient tension load exceeding the breaking strength of the stitching pattern; that failure will occur before a structural failure in any other element or component of the belt.

Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for a variable length self-locking lifeline system that prevents a user from falling off an elevated surface. In one example, a variable length self-locking lifeline system includes a processor and a lanyard. The lanyard is coupled between an anchor point and a user. One or more sensors determine, in real time, a current length and orientation of the lanyard as the lanyard responds to a user moving on an elevated surface. The processor is configured to trigger a locking mechanism to selectively lock the lanyard from further extension when a determined current length and current orientation exceeds a predefined safety perimeter of the elevated surface.

A fall protection and buffering device includes a retaining strip, a buffer strip, and a compensating arrangement. The buffer strip includes first and second textile layers overlappedly affixed with each other. The first and second textile layers are separated at one end of the buffer strip at the first strip section thereof and are affixed to top and bottom ends of the retaining strip respectively. The first and second textile layers are torn from each other sequentially along the buffer strip in response to a falling force applied to the retaining strip. The compensating arrangement has at least a binding section provided at the retaining strip to fasten the retaining strip in a folded state, such that the binding section compensates a tensile strength of the buffer strip for resisting a tearing between the first and second textile layers.

A self-braking pulley is disclosed for controlling a rate of extraction of a tether coupled with the pulley. The pulley comprises a pulley housing, a spool for receiving a tether, the spool being configured to rotate about a first axis, relative to the pulley housing, and a piston assembly comprising a chamber having a first and second chamber portion which are rotationally locked to the housing. The piston assembly further comprises a fluid disposed within the chamber, a piston which is arranged to move within the chamber along a second axis between the first and second chamber portions and at least one bore formed within the piston for fluidly coupling the first and second chamber portions. The pulley further comprises means for coupling rotational motion of the spool with reciprocating motion of the piston back and forth between the chamber portions, to cause the fluid to transfer between the chamber portions via the at least one bore as the spool rotates.

A self-braking pulley is disclosed for controlling a rate of extraction of a tether coupled with the pulley. The pulley comprises a pulley housing, a spool for receiving a tether, the spool being configured to rotate about a first axis, relative to the pulley housing, and a piston assembly comprising a chamber having a first and second chamber portion which are rotationally locked to the housing. The piston assembly further comprises a fluid disposed within the chamber, a piston which is arranged to move within the chamber along a second axis between the first and second chamber portions and at least one bore formed within the piston for fluidly coupling the first and second chamber portions. The pulley further comprises means for coupling rotational motion of the spool with reciprocating motion of the piston back and forth between the chamber portions, to cause the fluid to transfer between the chamber portions via the at least one bore as the spool rotates.