CONNECTOR WITH GATE

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector for works at height, rescue or mountaineering, including climbing, in which an electronic component is present on the closing screwgate, such as an integrated circuit of the radio-frequency type, usable for the identification via computer systems and in which information relating to the connector itself and its use can be written.

Claims

1-5. (canceled)

6. A connector comprising: a hook-shaped body; a finger connected to the hook-shaped body and oscillating between a closed condition, in which it is engaged with one end of the body, and an open condition, in which it is separate from the one end of the body, in opposition to an elastic action of a spring; and a screwgate coupled with the finger for locking the finger in the closed condition, wherein the screwgate comprises a proximity communication element or tag associated with the screwgate and/or with the finger.

7. The connector of claim 6, wherein the proximity communication element or tag is of a radio-frequency type.

8. The connector of claim 6, wherein the proximity communication element or tag employs near field communication.

9. The connector of claim 6, wherein the proximity communication element or tag comprises an electronic circuit integrated into or associated with a polymeric or elastomeric layer.

10. The connector of claim 6, wherein the proximity communication element or tag comprises an electronic circuit integrated into or associated with a polymeric or elastomeric layer.

11. The connector of claim 6, wherein the proximity communication element or tag is substantially configured as a ring.

12. The connector of claim 11, wherein the ring is housed in a groove formed inside or outside the screwgate.

Description

[0024] These features, the effects resulting therefrom and the advantages achieved by the invention, will be more apparent from the description below of an example embodiment thereof, illustrated with reference to the attached figures provided by way of indication and not limitation, wherein:

[0025] FIG. 1 (a) shows a connector in accordance with the invention in a closed condition;

[0026] FIG. 1 (b) shows a connector in accordance with the invention in an open condition;

[0027] FIG. 2 shows the connector screwgate of FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b);

[0028] FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the connector screwgate in FIG. 1 (a);

[0029] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a detail in FIG. 3;

[0030] FIG. 5 is a diagram of another detail of the previous connector.

[0031] With reference to the drawings listed above, FIG. 1(a) shows a connector indicated as a whole with the reference numeral 1, in accordance with the invention.

[0032] The connector 1 has a general substantially “D”-profile but could be configured differently, for example circular, oval, oblong and anything else known in the art.

[0033] The connector comprises a lever finger 2, oscillating with respect to a fulcrum 3 located at one end 5a of the hook-shaped body 5 of the connector; the free end 2a of the oscillating finger 2 is intended to rest on the second end 5b of the hook-shaped body 5 of the connector 1, in the closed condition of the latter.

[0034] The finger 2 oscillates in opposition to the elastic action of a spring 7 housed therein, which when at rest keeps the finger 2 in a closed condition (FIG. 3).

[0035] On the finger 2 there is applied a security screwgate 10 of the connector 1, which is also movable between an advanced condition for locking the finger 2 in the closed condition (FIG. 3), and a retracted position in which it allows the oscillations of the lever finger 2 (as in FIG. 1(b)).

[0036] For this purpose, the screwgate 10 and the finger 2 are mutually coupled by means of an interlock and spring mechanism 8; the screwgate 10 is also preferably provided with an external knurling 13, which facilitates its grip with the phalanges of a user's fingers. As an alternative to (or in combination with) the spring mechanism 8, the screwgate 10 and the finger 2 can be coupled by means of a thread.

[0037] In accordance with the invention, an element or tag 15 for radio-frequency proximity communications (e.g., NFC) can be applied on the screwgate 10.

[0038] As is well known, proximity communication is a receiving/transmitting technology that provides wireless, contactless connectivity between a transmitter and a receiver, via short-range radio frequencies RF) (usually up to a maximum of 10 cm). For the sake of brevity, reference is made to the extensive technical and scientific literature on the subject, citing as one of the first examples of this type of device the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,288.

[0039] The technology enables a two-way communication: when two apparatuses, circuits or devices (also called initiator and target) are brought closer within a few centimetres (typically 4 cm), a peer-to-peer network is created between the two apparatuses and both can send and receive information.

[0040] The technology usually operates at a frequency of 13.56 MHz and can reach a maximum data rate of 424 kbits/s.

[0041] NFC can be implemented directly via an integrated circuit (chip), or via a special external card that is connected to the initiator device.

[0042] Preferably, in the connector 1 the tag 15 is configured in the form of a ring 16 made of polymeric (e.g. polypropylene, ABS, polyethylene) or elastomeric material (e.g. silicone, polyurethane, rubber) or comprising an elastomeric matrix, so as to be resistant to external agents (water, dust, humidity, electrostaticity, etc.) and suitable for absorbing shocks or various stresses, protecting the electronic circuit(s) 17 embedded therein. According to a preferred embodiment, the ring 16 has a thickness such that it is flush with the outer one of the adjacent parts of the screwgate 10, such as the knurling 13 and the tang 10a.

[0043] For this purpose, in the screwgate 10 there is an annular groove 18 having a depth substantially equal to the radial thickness of the ring 16, so that the latter can be housed inside the groove 18.

[0044] From the foregoing, it is possible to understand how the connector 1 solves the technical problem underlying the invention outlined above.

[0045] In fact, the presence of the tag 15 allows information to be exchanged with the electronic circuit 17 inside it; this information may be of various kinds, for example a unique code of the tag, a number, batch and/or date of manufacture, the owner of the connector 1, or even the number of times and/or the time of use and so on.

[0046] As already explained, in fact, the radio-frequency devices are capable of two-way communication with appropriate transceivers, today also consisting of mobile phones 20, as schematically shown in FIG. 5.

[0047] The data contained in the electronic circuit 17 of the tag 15 can therefore be read whenever desired, with a normal computer reader or even a portable device 20.

[0048] The data can also be updated in the same way, i.e., via a transceiving apparatus, exploiting the two-way characteristic of the proximity communication.

[0049] Obviously, these functions can be increased and can be integrated with other solutions.

[0050] For example, one might think of including among the data in the tag 15 also those for linking to an Internet page or website or database, in order to expand the content and the amount of information that can be consulted.

[0051] In this case, when the tag 15 on the connector is read with a mobile phone, the opening of a document or of an application on the Internet network is activated where the information can be consulted.

[0052] It should also be pointed out that the positioning of the tag 15 on the screwgate 10 allows to limit the stresses to which it is subjected, since in the use of the connector the screwgate 10, being arranged on the closing finger 2, is not particularly stressed by the ropes, pulleys, descenders, harnesses or other tools, which are used with the connector to secure people in working or mountaineering manoeuvres.

[0053] Any stresses on the connector 1 caused by shocks, falls and the like are in no case transmitted to the ring 16 arranged on the screwgate 10 and nor to the finger 2 or the body 5 of the connector.

[0054] On the basis of these teachings, the persons skilled in the art will be able to develop or implement further functions and characteristics of the connector according to the invention.

[0055] For example, the use of RFID tags or other solutions equivalent to the proximity communication technology is believed to fall within the scope of this teaching.

[0056] The characteristics of the invention and of its variants nevertheless fall within the scope of the following claims.