Patent ID: 6474442
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: A62B

Abstract:
A personnel safety device (10) adapted to be installed in use on a fixed elongate support element (50) in a manner which allows translational movement of the device (10) along said elongate support element (50), said device (10) comprising a body member (11) having a bore (12) for receiving said elongate support element (50), a slipper (20) mounted on said body member (11), said slipper (20) having a control surface (21) oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said bore (12), and connecting means (30) connected at one end to said slipper (20) and being adapted at the other end for connection to a personnel safety harness, said slipper (20) being movable in response to sudden loading of the connecting means (30) between a first position in which the control surface (21) allows free passage of the elongate support element (50) through the bore (12) and a second position in which the control surface (21) grips the elongate support element (50) firmly relative to the body member (11), in which said slipper (20) maintains the control surface (21) in the orientation substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said bore (12) throughout movement of the slipper (20) between said first and second positions and characterized in that the body member is provided with ramp surfaces (17, 18) engageable by the slipper (20), said ramp surfaces (17, 18) being adapted to effect movement of the slipper (20) between the first and second positions.