Safety Line Apparatus

Abstract

A safety line traveller (1) for a fall protection system has a first component (2) in sliding engagement with a safety line (40), and a second component (3) which hinders sliding contact of the traveller with the safety line (40). The first and second components (2,3) are normally held in a sliding configuration in which the second component (3) is spaced from the safety line (40) and the first component (2) provides sliding contact with the safety line. The first and second components (2,3) are reconfigurable to an alternative configuration in which the second component (3) engages with the safety line (40) in order to hinder sliding of the traveller (1) on the safety line (40).

Claims

1-29. (canceled)

30. A safety line traveller for a fall protection system, the safety line traveller comprising: a slide element; and a brake element connected to the slide element and movable relative to the slide element between a first position and a second position in response to a force applied to the brake element, wherein, in the first position, the brake element is configured to be spaced apart from a safety line to permit a sliding movement of the slide element along the safety line, and wherein, in the second position, the brake element is configured to be engaged with the safety line to prevent the sliding movement of the slide element along the safety line.

31. The safety line traveller according to claim 30, wherein the brake element is biased to the first position by at least one biasing arrangement.

32. The safety line traveller according to claim 31, wherein the at least one biasing arrangement is a compression spring having a first end engaging a shoulder on the brake element and a recess on a base of the slide element.

33. The safety line traveller according to claim 31, wherein the at least one biasing arrangement is a detent arrangement, which is released by the force acting on the brake element.

34. The safety line traveller according to claim 30, wherein the brake element moves linearly relative to the slide element between the first position and the second position.

35. The safety line traveller according to claim 34, wherein the brake element comprises a tongue that is movably received within a slot on the slide element.

36. The safety line traveller according to claim 34, wherein the tongue has an aperture configured for connecting to a tether.

37. The safety line traveller according to claim 34, wherein the tongue has an opening configured to receive a fixing connected to the slide element, and wherein the fixing delimits movement of the brake element between the first position and the second position.

38. The safety line traveller according to claim 34, wherein the brake element further comprises an arcuate brake structure having a first end connected to the tongue and a second, free end.

39. The safety line traveller according to claim 38, wherein the arcuate brake structure tapers in a direction from the first end toward the second end.

40. The safety line traveller according to claim 38, wherein the arcuate brake structure has a gripping surface having one or more gripping projections configured for contacting the safety line when the brake element is in the second position.

41. The safety line traveller according to claim 38, wherein the arcuate brake structure is received between a pair of arcuate slide structures extending from a base of the slide element.

42. The safety line traveller according to claim 41, wherein each of the arcuate slide structures has a smooth sliding surface configured for contacting the safety line in the first position.

43. The safety line traveller according to claim 41, wherein the arcuate slide structures are connected to each other by a bridge.

44. The safety line traveller according to claim 41, wherein a slot is defined between a base of the slide element and a free end of each of the arcuate slide structures, and wherein the slot is narrower than a width of the safety line.

45. The safety line traveller according to claim 44, wherein the brake element and the slide element define a nesting space configured to permit a passage of a second safety line traveller through the slot and the nesting space in a direction of travel along the safety line.

46. A safety line traveller for a fall protection system, the safety line traveller comprising: a slide element having a base and a pair of spaced apart arcuate slide structures connected to the base; and a brake element having a tongue extending through a slot in the base of the slide element and an arcuate brake structure connected to the tongue and positioned between the arcuate slide structures, wherein the brake element is movable relative to the slide element between a first position and a second position in response to a force applied to the tongue of the brake element, wherein, in the first position, the arcuate brake structure of the brake element is configured to be spaced apart from a safety line to permit a sliding movement of the arcuate slide structures of the slide element along the safety line, and wherein, in the second position, the arcuate brake structure of the brake element is configured to be engaged with the safety line to prevent the sliding movement of the arcuate slide structures of the slide element along the safety line.

47. The safety line traveller according to claim 46, wherein the brake element is biased to the first position by at least one biasing arrangement.

48. The safety line traveller according to claim 46, wherein the arcuate brake structure has a gripping surface having one or more gripping projections configured for contacting the safety line when the brake element is in the second position, and wherein each of the arcuate slide structures has a smooth sliding surface configured for contacting the safety line in the first position.

49. The safety line traveller according to claim 46, wherein the arcuate brake structure has a gripping surface having one or more gripping projections configured for contacting the safety line when the brake element is in the second position, and wherein each of the arcuate slide structures has a smooth sliding surface configured for contacting the safety line in the first position.

50-69. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] Various non-limiting embodiments or aspects of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompany drawings, in which:

[0068] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a safety line traveller in accordance with some non-limiting embodiments or aspects of the present disclosure;

[0069] FIG. 2 is a side view of the safety line traveller shown in FIG. 1;

[0070] FIG. 3 is an end view of the safety line traveller of FIG. 1 mounted to a safety line;

[0071] FIG. 4a is an end view of the safety line traveller of FIG. 1 mounted to a safety line and showing the traveller in a sliding configuration;

[0072] FIG. 4b is an end view of the safety line traveller of FIG. 1 mounted to a safety line and showing the traveller in a braking configuration;

[0073] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two identical safety line travelers mounted to the same horizontal safety line; and

[0074] FIG. 6 is an end view of two identical safety line travelers mounted to the same horizontal safety line in a relationship orientation where they can by-pass one another on the safety line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0075] Referring to the drawings and according to some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, there is shown, in FIGS. 1 and 2, in exploded view, a safety line traveller 1 including a first component in the form of a slider element 2 and a second component in the form of a brake element 3. The brake element 3 includes a tongue 4 provided with an aperture 5 which acts as a connection element to an end of a tether (not shown) which is connected to a user's harness. The tongue 4 also is provided with an upwardly orientated slot 6. At the distal end of the tongue 4 is an arcuate structure 7 which tapers from a relatively broad root portion 7a to a relatively narrower tip portion 7b. The underside of the arcuate structure is provided with a roughened gripping surface 8 having gripping projections 9.

[0076] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the tongue 4 of the brake element 3 projects through a slot 10 provided in a base structure 13 of the slider element 2. This is such that the user can clip their tether connector through the connection aperture 5 of the tongue 4 when the tongue 4 is projecting through the slot 10. A fixing 11 projects through a bore 12 provided in the base structure 13 and also passes through the upwardly elongate slot 6 provided in the brake element 3. This cooperation means that the brake element 3 can slide upwardly and downwardly (linearly) relative to the slider element 2 being guided by the fixing 11 sliding in the slot 6 and the tongue 4 sliding in the slot 10. In normal use, the brake element 3 is held to be biased upwardly (away from the base of the slider 2) by means of compression springs 15, 16 which act on shoulder 17 provided on the underside of the arcuate structure 7 of the brake element, and spring receiving recesses 18 provided on the base of the slider element 2. This ensures that the brake element 3 is normally biased away from the base of the slider element 2 so as to not contact the safety line during normal travel of the traveller 1 along the safety line. In this state the gripping projections 9 do not contact the safety line and are spaced away from internally facing surfaces of structures 20, 21 of the slider element 2, in order to facilitate sliding of the slider element on the safety line.

[0077] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the arcuate structure 7 of the brake element 3 is mounted to be received within the longitudinal extent of the slider element 2 to be bounded at opposed ends (in the direction of travel of the traveller) by mirrored spaced arcuate structures 20, 21, each of which taper from a relatively broad root portion 20a, 21a, connected to the slider base 13, to a relatively narrower tip portion 20b, 21b. The internally facing surfaces of the structures 20, 21 are smooth to facilitate sliding of the slider element on the safety line. The tip portions 21a, 21b of the structures 20, 21 are connected by a bridge 22 which also defines an edge 24 of a slot 23. The other edge of the slot 23 is defined by an edge 25 of the slider element. The dimensions of the slot 23 are such that the slider cannot be pulled off the safety line i.e. the width of the slot is narrower than the dimeter of the safety line 40 (see for example FIG. 3).

[0078] In use, the user is tethered to the traveller 1 and is able to move along the surface of the building with the traveller sliding along safety line 40. In this situation the brake element 3 is biased out of contact of the safety line 40 by means of the normal action of the springs 15, 16. In the event of a fall, the user's tether will pull against the connection aperture 5 in the tongue 4 of the brake element 3 and a force will act against the springs 15, 16 thereby compressing the springs. In so doing, the gripping projections 9 on the underside of the arcuate structure 7 of the brake element 3 will engage with the safety line 40 and halt the travel of the traveller along the safety line 40. This prevents the users fall acting to carry the user in zip line fashion along the safety line 40 as it sags under his weight of the fall and inhibits the user from travelling over the edge of the building and risking the building edge sawing at the uses tether line. This avoids the deleterious consequences that could otherwise result from such action.

[0079] The embodiment described uses a set of biasing springs 15, 16 to hold the brake surface and gripping projections 9 away from engagement with the safety line 40 until deployed in to braking engagement as a result of a user falling. It will readily be appreciated by the skilled addressee that this could be accomplished by other means. For example, instead of the use of biasing springs, the brake element 3 could be held in the slide permitting configuration by a detent or other means which detent is overcome by the user's fall. For example, a breakable pin or detent could be used to hold the brake element 3 in the normal position (permitting sliding of the traveller 1) and the users falling could pull on the tongue 4 causing the detent force to be overcome (for example breaking a detent pin) and causing the brake element 3 to move to the braking configuration halting movement of the traveller 1 along the line 40.

[0080] Another feature of the embodiments or aspects described herein is the facility to enable two like travelers to pass one another on the same safety line without the need to disengage either traveller from the safety line. This is achieved by virtue of the safety line traveller having a safety line encompassing structure which is shaped and configured such that a nesting space is dimensioned to accommodate a like shaped and dimensioned traveller, in an inverted position, in the nesting space. This passing configuration is shown in FIG. 6. The nesting space enables an inverted traveller to pass through the nesting space in the direction of travel of the traveller. The nesting space is defined by the safety line encompassing structure which has a curved structure tapering from a relatively broad root portion to a narrower tip portion.

[0081] It should be noted that the above-mentioned non-limiting embodiments or aspects illustrate rather than limit the disclosure, and that those skilled in the art will be capable of designing many alternative embodiments or aspects without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed in parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claims. The word “comprising” and “comprises”, and the like, does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in any claim or the specification as a whole. In the present specification, “comprises” means “includes or consists of” and “comprising” means “including or consisting of”. The singular reference of an element does not exclude the plural reference of such elements and vice-versa. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.