Safety line anchorage methods and apparatus

A base plate 110 is adapted to be secured to a support structure 20. A transverse plate 120 is secured to the base plate 110 and extends outward from the base plate 110. A slot 122 is formed in the transverse plate 120 to receive a ring 130. A notch 123 is formed in a sidewall of the slot 122 to seat the ring 130 within the slot 122. The ring 130 is adapted to anchor an end of a safety line 40 regardless of the orientation of the base plate 110 relative to the desired orientation of the safety line 40.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing an
 anchorage between two members, such as a safety line and a support
 structure.
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 Various occupations place people in precarious positions at relatively
 dangerous heights, thereby creating a need for fall-arresting safety
 apparatus. Such apparatus typically require a reliable safety line and
 reliable connections to both the support structure and persons working in
 proximity to the support structure. An object of the present invention is
 to provide an improved anchorage suitable for supporting a safety line in
 a variety of installation environments.
 One known type of fall arrest system connects a horizontal line to a
 support structure to support individual worker safety lines without
 substantially interfering with the worker's movements. Examples of
 horizontal safety line systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,975 to
 Riches et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,385 to Riches et al., U.S. Pat. No.
 5,224,427 to Riches et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,410 to Sharp et al.
 Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved
 anchorage suitable for use at the ends of safety lines used in this type
 of system.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention provides methods and apparatus for establishing a
 connection between two members. On a preferred embodiment of the present
 invention, a base plate is adapted to be mounted on a support structure,
 and a transverse plate extends outward from the base plate and supports a
 ring adapted to be connected to an end of a safety line. The ring is
 retained within a slot in the transverse plate, and a notch in the slot
 cooperates with tension in the safety line to discourage movement of the
 ring along the slot. 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 preferred embodiment anchorage or connector constructed according to the
 principles of the present invention is designated as 100 and in FIGS. 1-9.
 The connector 100 may be described in terms of a first plate 110, a second
 plate 120, and a ring 130.
 The first plate 110 is preferably made of steel and generally triangular in
 shape. Holes 111 are formed through the plate 110 proximate each corner of
 the triangular perimeter. The holes 111 provide a means for bolting or
 otherwise securing the plate 111 to a support structure.
 The second plate 120 is also preferably made of steel and generally
 triangular in shape. A slot 122 extends inward from one straight edge of
 the plate 120 toward an opposite corner of the triangular perimeter. A
 notch 123 extends into a sidewall of the slot 122, proximate the interior
 end thereof. A notch 125 extends into the edge of the plate 120 nearest
 the notch 123 in the slot 122.
 The slot 122 is sized and configured to receive the ring 130, which is
 preferably made of steel and has a solid and uninterrupted perimeter. The
 notch 123 in the slot 122 is also sized and configured to receive the ring
 130, and it discourages movement of the ring 130 along the slot 122
 (especially when the ring 130 is connected to a taut safety line extending
 away from the plate 120). The notch 125 in the edge of the plate 120
 provides clearance for the ring 130 and whatever is connected to the ring
 130.
 The connector 100 is assembled by inserting a distal portion of the second
 plate 120 through the ring 130 and then arranging the first plate 110 to
 span the open end of the slot 122 and thereby retain the ring 130 within
 the slot 122. The two plates 110 and 120 are arranged so that (1) the
 second plate 120 extends perpendicular to the first plate 110; (2) the
 interface between the first plate 110 and the second plate 120 extends
 between one of the holes 111 on the first plate 110 and the midpoint of an
 opposite, straight edge of the first plate 110; and (3) the notched edge
 of the plate 120 faces toward the hole 111 which is aligned with the
 interface. The plates 110 and 120 are secured to one another by welds 121
 or other suitable means.
 The resulting bracket 100 is both strong and durable. For example, the
 assembly process allows the ring 130 to be of solid construction. Also,
 the notch 123 in the slot 122 prevents deterioration of the bracket 100
 which might otherwise result from repetitive movement of the ring 130
 along the slot 122.
 The preferred embodiment bracket 100 is also versatile, as suggested by the
 installation scenarios shown in FIGS. 5-8. FIG. 5 shows a support
 structure 95 having a vertically extending surface to which the bracket
 100 is mounted by means of bolts 99. The ring 130 (depicted in solid
 lines) extends perpendicularly away from the vertical surface on the
 support structure 95, as if secured to a horizontally extending safety
 line (not shown). The ring 135a (depicted in dashed lines) extends away
 from the base plate at an angle of approximately thirty degrees relative
 to horizontal, as if secured to a safety line extending at a similar
 angle. The ring 135b (depicted in dashed lines) extends away from the base
 plate at an angle of approximately negative thirty degrees relative to
 horizontal, as if secured to a safety line extending at a similar angle.
 FIG. 6 shows a support structure 96 having an upwardly facing, horizontal
 surface to which the bracket 100 is mounted by means of bolts 99. The ring
 130 extends parallel to the vertical surface on the support structure 96,
 as if secured to a horizontally extending safety line (not shown). The
 ring 136a extends away from the base plate at an angle of approximately
 thirty degrees relative to horizontal, as if secured to a safety line
 extending at a similar angle. The ring 136b extends away from the base
 plate at an angle of approximately negative thirty degrees relative to
 horizontal, as if secured to a safety line extending at a similar angle.
 In this particular installation scenario, the bracket 100 may be mounted
 on the edge of a rooftop or on top of a post, for example.
 FIG. 7 shows a support structure 97 having an downwardly facing, horizontal
 surface to which the bracket 100 is mounted by means of bolts 99. The ring
 130 extends parallel to the vertical surface on the support structure 97,
 as if secured to a horizontally extending safety line (not shown). The
 ring 137a extends away from the base plate at an angle of approximately
 thirty degrees relative to horizontal, as if secured to a safety line
 extending at a similar angle. In this particular installation scenario,
 the bracket 100 may be mounted to the underside of a beam, for example.
 The ring 137b extends away from the base plate at an angle of
 approximately negative thirty degrees relative to horizontal, as if
 secured to a safety line extending at a similar angle. The ring 137c
 extends perpendicularly away from the base plate, as if secured to a
 vertically extending safety line. This particular orientation is shown to
 emphasize that the bracket 100 can be arranged to accommodate any safety
 line orientation between horizontal and vertical, regardless of the
 orientation of the support structure to which the bracket 100 is secured.
 Yet another example is shown if FIG. 8, where the bracket 100 is bolted to
 a support structure 98 having an inclined surface. The rings 130, 138a,
 and 138b show how the bracket 100 can still support any generally
 horizontal safety line (within thirty degrees of horizontal).
 FIG. 9 shows a preferred application for the bracket 100. In this
 application, the bracket 100 is a component of a horizontal safety line
 system of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,975 to Riches et al.,
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,385 to Riches et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,427 to
 Riches et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,410 to Sharp et al., which are
 incorporated herein by reference. As shown in FIG. 9, the bracket 100 is
 connected in series between a support structure 20 and the end of a
 horizontal safety line 40 (recognizing that an energy absorber may be
 connected in series with the safety line 40). The horizontal line 40 is
 also supported by intermediate brackets 90. A personal safety line 70 is
 interconnected between a worker's harness and a slotted coupling member 80
 which moves along the horizontal line 40 and is capable of traversing the
 intermediate brackets 90.
 The present invention may be described as an anchorage 100 of the type
 interconnected between a support structure 20 and a safety line 40,
 comprising: a base plate 110 adapted to be secured to the support
 structure 20; a transverse plate 120 secured to the base plate 110 and
 extending outward from the base plate 110; and a ring 130 captured within
 a slot 122 in the transverse plate 120 and surrounding an edge of the
 transverse plate 120, wherein the slot 122 is bounded by a sidewall having
 a notch 123 sized and configured to receive the ring 130. The slot 122
 extends to an edge of the transverse plate 120, and the base plate 110
 closes off the slot 122. The ring 130 is of solid, uninterrupted
 construction. Each said plate 110, 120 is steel, and the base plate 110 is
 secured to the transverse plate 120 by welding.
 The present invention may also be described as a universal bracket 100 for
 connecting an end of a safety line 40 to a support structure 20,
 comprising: a securing means 99, 110 for securing the bracket 100 to the
 support structure 20; a receiving means 130 for receiving the end of the
 safety line 40; and a supporting means 120, 122, interconnected between
 the receiving means 130 and the securing means 99, 110, for supporting the
 receiving means 130 at a particular location and in a desired orientation
 regardless of how the support structure 20 is oriented relative to the
 desired orientation. The securing means 99, 110 includes a base plate 110
 and at least one hole 111 extending through the base plate 110 to receive
 a fastener 99. The receiving means 130 includes a ring 130. The supporting
 means 120, 122 includes a transverse plate 120 extending outward from the
 base plate 110, and a slot 122 which extends inward from an edge of the
 transverse plate 120, and a notch 123 which extends into a sidewall of the
 slot 122 to seat the ring 130 within the slot 122.
 The present invention may also be described as a method of making an
 anchorage 100 of the type interconnected between a support structure 20
 and a safety line 40, comprising the steps of: forming a plate 120 with a
 slot 122 that extends inward from an edge of the plate 120; forming a
 solid, uninterrupted ring 130 to fit into the slot 122 and surround a
 portion of the plate 120; forming a base 110 to be secured to the support
 structure 20; and securing the base 110 to the plate 120 in such a manner
 that the ring 130 is captured within the slot 122. The securing step
 involves welding the base 110 to the plate 120.
 Although the present invention has been described with reference to a
 preferred embodiment and a particular application, 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. For
 example, the present invention may be used in other systems and/or
 environments to support lines which may not extend generally horizontally,
 for example. Thus, the scope of the present invention should be limited
 only to the extent of the following claims.