Connector for a personal safety device

A connector includes a bolt and another structural member which cooperate to form a closed loop about portions of two otherwise separate articles. The bolt extends through at least one flange on a first article and through opposite ends of the other structural member to form a closed loop about the two articles. A radially extending flange is rigidly secured to an intermediate portion of the bolt and cooperates with a head at one end of the bolt to capture both the flange on the first article and a first end of the other structural member therebetween. A spring biases an opposite, second end of the bolt through a second end of the structural member and preferably through another flange on the first article, as well. A latching mechanism selectively prevents movement of the bolt in opposition to the force exerted by the spring, which must be overcome in order to release the second article from the first article. In one application, the connector is mounted on a personal safety device to effect a serial connection between a person and a support structure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for interconnecting
 two articles in series with one another.
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 Connectors are suitable for various purposes and in various applications.
 For example, fall-arresting safety devices require a reliable safety line
 and reliable connections to both the support structure and the person
 working in proximity to the support structure.
 Typically, one or more deceleration devices is connected in series with the
 safety line. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,906 to Feathers discloses a
 safety anchorage device which controls pay-out of a safety line. This
 prior art anchorage device is selectively connected to a support
 structure, and the safety line is selectively connected to a person (via a
 body harness, for example). In the event of a fall, the safety line and
 the other parts of the anchorage device cooperate to safely bring the
 person to rest.
 Another exemplary safety device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,110 to
 Wolner. This prior art safety device similarly controls pay-out of a
 safety line during normal work activity and/or in the event of a fall. In
 this patent, however, the device is shown anchored to the body harness,
 and the safety line is shown connected to the support structure. An object
 of the present invention is to provide an improved connector suitable for
 use in various applications, including fall-arrest systems.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention provides connection methods and apparatus suitable
 for various purposes, including connecting a personal safety device in
 series between a person and a support structure. On a first embodiment of
 the present invention, the distal end of a bolt is inserted though one end
 of a U-shaped member and through spaced apart tabs on a safety device. The
 distal end of the bolt is then selectively threaded through an opposite
 end of the U-shaped member. A stop is rigidly secured to an intermediate
 portion of the bolt to retain one of the tabs between the stop and the end
 of the U-shaped member nearer the bolt. A spring is disposed between the
 stop and the head of the bolt to bias the bolt toward the other tab (and
 the threaded end of the U-shaped member).
 On a second embodiment of the present invention, the distal end of the bolt
 is simply inserted through the opposite end of the U-shaped member. The
 spring biases a lever toward an orientation which prevents withdrawal of
 the bolt from the opposite end of the U-shaped member. When the lever is
 moved out of the way, and the bolt is withdrawn from the opposite end of
 the U-shaped member, the lever may be released to hold the bolt in this
 open configuration.
 The connectors of the present invention are convenient to use and reliable
 in use. They are suitable for use with various sorts of existing devices
 and are believed to be particularly well-suited for incorporation into
 safety devices. Additional features and/or advantages of the present
 invention may become more apparent from the detailed description which
 follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 A first connector constructed according to the principles of the present
 invention is designated as 100 in FIGS. 1-3. The connector 100 includes a
 structural member 110 and a bolt 120 which cooperate to releasably connect
 a personal safety device 90 (with safety line 98) in series between a
 support structure 80 and a person's harness 70, as shown in FIG. 3.
 Exemplary prior art safety devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
 5,351,906 to Feathers and U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,110 to Wolner, which are
 incorporated herein by reference.
 The structural member 110 is preferably made of steel and may be described
 as a U-shaped member having an intermediate base portion, and opposite
 ends or legs 112 and 114 which extend from opposite ends of the base
 portion and parallel to one another. The base portion is covered by a
 protective sleeve 116 which is preferably made of plastic. A slot 118 is
 provided in the first end 112 of the member 110 (FIG. 2), and a threaded
 hole is provided in the second end 114 of the member 110.
 The bolt 120 is preferably made of steel and has a shaft 121 which extends
 perpendicular to the ends 112 and 114 of the member 110. A first end 122
 of the bolt 120 is provided with a head having a diameter which is greater
 than the diameter of the shaft 121. A second, opposite end 124 of the bolt
 120 is provided with external helical threads which mate with the threaded
 hole in the second end 114 of the member 110.
 The second end 124 of the bolt 120 is inserted through the slot 118, then
 through a hole in a first flange or tab 92 on the device 90, and then
 through a helical coil spring 130. A stop 140 is then rigidly secured to
 an intermediate portion of the shaft 121 on the bolt 120, in such a manner
 that the spring 130 is compressed between the stop 140 and the flange 92.
 The stop 140 has a relatively larger diameter than the shaft 121 of the
 bolt 120 and may be described as a shoulder on the bolt 120. The second
 end 124 may then be selectively inserted through a hole in a second flange
 or tab 94 on the device 90, and threaded through the hole in the second
 end 114 of the member 110.
 The threads on the second end 124 of the bolt 120 and inside the hole in
 the second end 114 of the member 110 provide a means for selectively
 connecting the second end 124 of the bolt 120 to the second end 114 of the
 member 110. The spring 130 cooperates with the stop 140 to provide a means
 for biasing the second end 124 of the bolt 120 to remain connected to the
 second end 114 of the member 110. The stop 140, the first end 112 of the
 member 110, and the head of the bolt 120 cooperate to provide a means for
 securing the connector 100 to the first flange 92. The slot 118 in the
 first end 112 of the member 110 provides a means for pivoting the
 connector 100 relative to the first flange 92 when the second end 122 of
 the bolt is free of the second flange 94.
 Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternative arrangements may
 be used to perform one or more of the aforementioned functions. For
 example, the first end 112 of the member 110 may be hinged relative to the
 remainder thereof to facilitate pivoting of the connector 100 relative to
 the first flange 92. Also, the bias of the spring 130 may operate (in the
 absence of threads) to facilitate connection of the second end 124 of the
 bolt 120 to the second end 114 of the member 110. On one alternative
 embodiment, for example, the second end 124 of the bolt 120 is devoid of
 threads and has an outside diameter which is less than the inside diameter
 of the threaded hole. Thus, even when the shaft 121 is not threaded into
 the threaded hole, the spring 130 biases the second end 124 to remain in
 the hole. Another option is to use a cotter pin or other latching device
 to further discourage undesired removal of the bolt end 124 from the
 member end 114.
 Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the connectors of the
 present invention may be used at various locations in various personal
 safety systems. For example, FIG. 3 shows the connector 100 attached to
 the personal safety device 90 and releasably connected to a harness 70 in
 the same manner as and/or by means of a D-ring, for example. A safety line
 98 (or 98') emanates from the device 90 and is releasably connected to a
 support structure 80. This arrangement is advantageous because it
 facilitates convenient locking into and out of discrete anchorages (81 and
 82, for example) on the support structure. However, the connectors of the
 present invention may be used in other arrangements according to the needs
 dictated by a particular situation and/or the preferences of the persons
 involved.
 Another connector constructed according to the principles of the present
 invention is designated as 200 in FIGS. 4-8. The connector 200 similarly
 includes a structural member 210 and a bolt 220 which cooperate to
 releasably connect a personal safety device 90' in series between a
 support structure and a person's harness (in a manner similar to the first
 embodiment 100). The device 90' is identical to the device 90 except for a
 nub 209 which projects from the device 90' proximate the tab 94.
 The structural member 210 is identical to the structural member 110 except
 that the hole 216 is not provided with internal threads. The bolt 220 is
 preferably made of steel and has a shaft 221 which extends perpendicular
 to the ends 212 and 214 of the member 210. A first end of the bolt 220 is
 provided with a head having a diameter which is greater than the diameter
 of the shaft 221. A knob 222 affixed to the first end of the bolt 220. A
 second, opposite end 224 of the bolt 120 is tapered and sized for
 insertion through the openings 216 and 218 in the respective ends 212 and
 214 of the member 210.
 During assembly of the connector 200, the second end 224 of the bolt 220 is
 inserted through the slot 218 in the first end 214 of the member 210, then
 through a hole in a first flange or tab 94 on the device 90', then through
 a hole in a lever 250, then through a helical coil spring 230, then
 through a stop 240, and finally through a hole in a second flange or tab
 92 on the device 90'. The stop 240 is then rigidly secured to an
 intermediate portion of the shaft 221 (by pin 242, for example), such that
 the spring 230 is compressed between the stop 240 and the flange 94, and
 the second end 224 of the bolt 220 cannot be removed from the hole in the
 tab 92. The stop 240 has a relatively larger diameter than the shaft 221
 of the bolt 220 and may be described as a shoulder on the bolt 220. The
 spring 230 bears against the stop 240 and thereby urges the second end 224
 of the bolt 220 through the hole 216 in the second end 212 of the member
 210.
 The lever 250 may be described generally as L-shaped. A first segment 254
 extends generally transverse to the bolt 220, and is disposed on the shaft
 221 and captured between the stop 240 and the first tab 94 on the base
 90'. A second segment 255 extends generally parallel to the bolt 220 and
 pivots into and out of engaging positions relative to the stop 240 on the
 bolt 220. The second segment 255 and the first segment 254 define an acute
 angle of approximately eighty degrees therebetween. The nub 209 on the
 device 90' projects into the rounded end of a tombstone-shaped opening in
 the second portion 255.
 FIG. 6 shows the connector 200 in a stable, closed loop configuration,
 wherein the second end 224 of the bolt 220 extends through the hole 216 in
 the second end 212 of the member 210. The spring 230 biases both the bolt
 220 and the lever 250 to remain in their respective positions shown in
 FIG. 6. The end 257 of the second segment 255 of the lever 250 is disposed
 within the path of the stop 240 and thereby prevents the bolt 220 from
 moving against the bias of the spring 230.
 FIG. 7 shows the connector 200 in an intermediate and unstable
 configuration, wherein the second segment 255 of the lever 250 has been
 pivoted toward the device 90', thereby providing clearance for the bolt
 220 to be moved against the bias of the spring 230.
 FIG. 8 shows the connector 200 in a stable, open loop configuration,
 wherein the second end 212 of the member 210 is free of the bolt 220, and
 the bolt 220 is held open (and the spring 230 held more fully compressed)
 by the lever 250. In this regard, the stop 240 is disposed inside the
 tombstone-shaped opening in the second segment 255 and bears against the
 squared end of same. In this configuration, the second end 212 is
 available for insertion through an appropriate anchor on a building,
 harness, or other desired article. The bolt 220 may be released simply by
 moving the second segment 255 of the lever toward the device 90'
 (preferably with the second end 212 of the member 210 aligned with the tab
 92.
 The spring 230 and the stop 240 cooperate to provide a means for biasing
 the second end 224 of the bolt 220 to remain within the second end 212 of
 the member 210. The lever 250 cooperates with the spring 230 and the stop
 240 to provide a means for selectively preventing removal of the second
 end 224 of the bolt 220 from the second end 212 of the member 210. The
 lever 250 alternatively cooperates with the spring 230 and the stop 240 to
 provide a means for selectively holding the bolt 220 in a retracted
 position. The stop 240, the first end 214 of the member 210, and the head
 222 of the bolt 220 cooperate to provide a means for securing the
 connector 200 to the first flange 94. The slot 218 in the first end 214 of
 the member 210 provides a means for pivoting the connector 200 relative to
 the first flange 94 when the second end 224 of the bolt 220 is free of the
 second flange 92.
 Another aspect of the present invention is the provision of built-in
 connectors or latching devices on personal safety equipment. In other
 words, a safety device constructed according to the principles of the
 present invention may be connected directly about a rod or safety line
 secured to a support structure, thereby eliminating the need for an
 interconnecting snap hook or other discrete component. In this regard, the
 connection between the stop 140 or 240 and the bolt 120 or 220 is intended
 to be permanent, and thus, the present invention may be seen to provide
 both the safety device and the connecting means as a unit.
 Those skilled in the art will further recognize that the present invention
 may also be described in terms of a method. With reference to the first
 embodiment 100, for example, the present invention may be described in
 terms of a method of connecting a personal safety device in series between
 a person and a support structure. A bolt is inserted through a first end
 of a U-shaped member and through a first flange on the personal safety
 device. A coil spring is positioned on the bolt and retained in place by
 rigidly mounting a stop on an intermediate portion of the bolt. A second
 end of the U-shaped member is disposed about a suitable anchorage and/or
 inserted through a desired opening (such as a bracket on the support
 structure or a D-ring on a body harness), and then is aligned with a
 second flange on the personal safety device. A distal end of the bolt is
 then inserted through the second flange and biased to remain engaged with
 the second end of the U-shaped member.
 Although the present invention has been described with reference to
 preferred embodiments and particular applications, this disclosure will
 enable those skilled in the art to recognize additional embodiments and/or
 applications which fall within the scope of the present invention.
 Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be limited only to
 the extent of the following claims.