Abstract:
A safety vest device. The device comprising a right buoyant pad, a center buoyant pad being connected by a first shoulder strap and a left buoyant pad being connected by a second shoulder strap. The device also comprises a right leg strap having an end connected to the right buoyant pad and another end that is connected to the center buoyant pad. Also included is the left leg strap having an end connected to the left buoyant pad and another end that is connected to the center buoyant pad. Also included may be an attaching device that attaches the right buoyant pad to the left buoyant pad. Further, the device may include a ring member attached to the center buoyant pad, and wherein the ring member is configured to attach to a safety lanyard that includes a dielectric component. The device may further comprise a lower strap attached at a first end to the right foam pad and attached at a second end to the left buoyant pad. The lower strap is configured to be inserted through an eyelet in the second end of the left leg strap and through an eyelet in the second end of the right leg strap.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation in part application of my presently pending patent application Ser. No. 10/067,865, filed on Feb. 8, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to a safety vest. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this invention relates to a buoyant life vest with a safety harness.  
           [0003]    In the offshore and marine industries, workers are required to wear a buoyant life vest in the event they are knocked overboard. In the case of dock side workers, the workers may be over land at times and over water at other times. Government regulations generally require that a worker wear a buoyant life vest when his or her work takes the worker over water. Hence, if a worker is knocked from his/her working position over a body of water, the worker will already be wearing a buoyant life vest in order to keep the worker afloat.  
           [0004]    Another safety device that is employed by workers in the offshore and marine industries is the safety harness. Many times, the worker will be working at heights from several feet above the water line or ground level to several hundred feet from the water line or ground level. The safety harness is designed to catch the worker in the case where the worker is inadvertently knocked, tripped, falls, etc from his/her working position.  
           [0005]    Additionally, the worker may be involved with projects that are adjacent lines which have an electrical current running there through. In such cases, contact between the electrical power line and safety line may result in serious injury and/or death to the worker.  
           [0006]    Prior art devices include buoyant life jackets, flotation life vest, etc. Additionally, prior art devices include safety harnesses that are worn by the worker. Despite these devices, there is a need for a life vest that can be used as a buoyant life jacket as well as a safety harness. Also, there is a need for a safety harness that is ergonomically designed, strong, rugged, and durable so that upon application, the worker may be safely caught to prevent serious injury or death. There is also a need for a safety line in conjunction with a safety harness that can protect a worker from possible shock. These, as well as many other needs, will be evident from a reading of the Summary of Invention and Description that follows.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    A safety vest device is disclosed. The device includes a right buoyant pad, a center buoyant pad being connected by a first shoulder strap and a left buoyant pad being connected by a second shoulder strap. The device also comprises a right leg strap having a first end that is connected to the right buoyant pad and a second end that is connected to the center buoyant pad. Also included is the left leg strap having a first end connected to the left buoyant pad and a second end that is connected to the center buoyant pad.  
           [0008]    The device may also contain means for attaching the right buoyant pad to the left buoyant pad. Further, the device may include a ring member attached to the center buoyant pad, and wherein the ring member is configured to attach to a safety line. The ring member is attached to the back side of the center buoyant pad. The attaching means is positioned on the front side of the left and right buoyant pads. Therefore, the D-ring and the attaching means are positioned radially opposite. The device may further comprise a lower strap attached at a first end to the right foam pad and attached at a second end to the left buoyant pad. The lower strap is configured to be inserted through an eyelet in the second end of the left leg strap and through an eyelet in the second end of the right leg strap.  
           [0009]    The life vest device may further comprise first means, operatively attached to the right leg strap, for adjusting the length of the right leg strap as well as second means, operatively attached to the left leg strap, for adjusting the length of the left leg strap. In one of the embodiments, the adjusting means is a nesting type buckle. In a preferred embodiment, the adjusting means is a tongue-belt type buckle. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, the buoyant material of the pads is constructed of foam. In one preferred embodiment, the straps, such as the first strap, second strap, right leg strap and left leg strap, are coated with a polyurethane or resin compound.  
           [0010]    Additionally, a safety lanyard is also disclosed, and wherein the safety lanyard comprises a shock absorber means that extends to a dielectric lanyard. The dielectric lanyard has a core webbing member that is encapsulated with a polyurethane type of compound. A resin compound may also be used. The coating is applied with use of a die and wherein the core webbing is pulled through the die and the coating material is extrusion blow molded thereon.  
           [0011]    A process for producing a safety lanyard is also disclosed. The process includes pulling a webbing material through a die and extrusion blow molding a coating by the die about the webbing material. Next, a shock absorber means is attached to a fist end of the coated webbing material, a first hook is attached to the shock absorber means, and a second hook is attached to a second end of the coated webbing material so that a safety lanyard is produced.  
           [0012]    An advantage of the present invention includes the combining of the buoyant life vest with a safety harness. Another advantage is the design may prevent serious injury to the worker if the safety harness is used i.e. in the case of a fall, the novel life vest design may prevent the worker from serious injury or death. Yet another advantage is that both the buoyant life vest and the harness are durable and can withstand significant impact loads in the case where a worker falls. Another advantage is that the safety vest device is easy to don by the worker.  
           [0013]    Still yet another advantage is that the device is user friendly so that the worker intuitively knows how to don the buoyant life vest with harness. Another advantage is the full encircling double chest straps across the front buoyant pads. Yet another advantage is that the safety vest device is still buoyant and able to keep the worker afloat in a proper position, even with the inclusion of the harness. In other words, the harness is not so heavy and bulky as to interfere with the buoyancy of the buoyant life vest.  
           [0014]    A feature of the present invention is having the D-ring member attached to the center foam panel. In this position, the D-ring member and safety line are positioned in the back of the worker, away from the workers line of sight. Another feature is use of an adjustable buckle member so that a variety of worker sizes can be accommodated.  
           [0015]    Yet another feature is that multiple types of buckles can be employed with the life vest herein disclosed including but not limited to side release, nesting and tongue buckles. Still yet another feature is that in-water removal of the safety vest is made easier due to use of the side release buckle, tongue buckle and/or nesting buckle, with the side release buckle, tongue buckle and nesting buckle being intuitively easy for the worker to use.  
           [0016]    Still yet another feature is the right leg member has a first end attached to the right foam pad and a second end attached to the center foam pad. The left leg member has a first end attached to the left foam panel and a second end attached to the center foam panel. During use of the harness, the weight of the worker will be distributed to the worker&#39;s torso and legs. This type of weight distribution allows for the device to be rated for greater weight since the weight during use is distributed about the entire device. Another feature is the use of grommeted legs with tongue buckles in a second embodiment. Still yet another feature is that the buoyant panels may be joined as a continuous unit so that the vest surrounds the upper torso of the worker.  
           [0017]    Another feature is the use of an encapsulated webbing, and wherein the webbing can be encapsulated with a polyurethane type of compound. Another feature is that the coated webbing will prevent contamination from soil, debris, hydrocarbons, etc., since the coating is generally impermeable and coating can be easily cleaned. Also, the coating will prevent degradation of the webbing since the webbing is protected from wear, tear, as well as natural forces such as humidity and heat.  
           [0018]    Yet another feature is the dielectric lanyard that contains a coating can act as an insulator in the case that the webbing comes into contact with an electrical current. Thus, in situations where a worker dons a safety harness with safety line, and the worker comes into contact with power lines, the safety lanyard will insulate the worker from electrical shock thereby preventing serious injury. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of this invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a back view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of this invention being worn by a worker as seen from a front position.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment seen in FIG. 3, as seen from a back position with a worker suspended from a safety line attached to the life vest device.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a front view of the fastening plate of the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a front view of the D-ring plate of the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 is a front view of the D-ring of the present invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8 is a front view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 9 is a back view of the second preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 10A is schematic illustrating a coated webbing strap of the present invention.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of the coated webbing strap taken along line  10 B- 10 B in FIG. 10A.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 11A is a isometric view of the safety lanyard of the present invention.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of the safety lanyard taken along line  11 A- 11 A in FIG. 11A. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a front view of one embodiment of this invention will now be described. The safety vest device  2  includes a buoyant lift vest and adjustable harness as will be described. The safety vest device  2  has a left buoyant pad  4 , a center buoyant pad  6 , and a right buoyant pad  8 . The buoyancy pads are also referred to as flotation pads and/or panels. The floatation pads are constructed of foam, as is well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, and in the preferred embodiment, the foam is available from Rubutex, Inc. under the trademark Ensolite. It should also be noted that the pads  4 ,  6 , and  8  may also be referred to as panels.  
         [0033]    The flotation pad  4  has a first opening  10  there through, a second opening  12  there through, and a transverse opening  14  there through, with the openings designed to receive the webbing as will be more fully described later in the application. The floatation pad  8  has reciprocal openings, namely, a first opening  16  there through, a second opening  18  there through, and a transverse opening  20  there through, with the openings designed to receive the webbing as will be more fully described later in the application. The center floatation pad  6  has the four diagonal openings there through, namely,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 .  
         [0034]    The webbing strap  30  connects from the opening  12  to the opening  10 , then from the opening  10  through openings  24  and  26 , as shown. In the preferred embodiment, the webbing strap is a polyester webbing commercially available from Southern Weavers, Inc. under the name polyester webbing. A second webbing strap  32  is included, with the webbing strap  32  connecting through the opening  14 , with the webbing strap  32  extending to the opening  20  on the pad  8 . The third webbing strap  34  is included, which extends from opening  18 , to opening  16 , to opening  22 , to opening  28 . This feature is also seen in FIG. 2.  
         [0035]    Referring again to FIG. 1, the harness of the present device  2  will now be described. The left harness section  40  includes a webbing strap  42  that has a first end  44  attached via attaching means  46   a  to the strap  30 . The attaching means  46   a , illustrated in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is a nesting buckle available from Niagra Safety Products, Inc. under the name Two Bar Slide Buckle. These buckles are also known as parachute buckles or mating buckles. The webbing strap  42  has a second end  48  that is attached to the third webbing strap  34  with similar attaching means  46   b.    
         [0036]    The right harness section  50  includes the webbing strap  52  that has a first end  54  attached via attaching means  56   a  to the strap  34 . The attaching means  56   a  in this embodiment is a nesting buckle available from Niagra Safety Products, Inc. under the name Two Bar Slide Buckle, as previously noted. These buckles are also known as parachute buckles or mating buckles. The webbing strap  52  has a second end  58  that is attached to webbing strap  30  with similar attaching means  56   b.    
         [0037]    In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, webbing strap  42  has contained thereon an eyelet section  60  so that the third webbing strap  34  fits there through which aids in keeping the strap  34  in proper position relative to webbing strap  42 . As illustrated by the numeral  66 , the loop formed via webbing strap  42  is the area where the worker will insert his left leg.  
         [0038]    With reference to the right harness section  50 , and as illustrated by the numeral  62 , the loop formed via webbing strap  52  is the area where the worker will insert his right leg. The webbing strap  52  contains an eyelet section  64  so that the webbing strap  30  fits there through which aids in keeping the webbing strap  30  in proper position relative to webbing strap  52 . FIG. 1 also depicts a lower connecting strap  68  that connects the strap  42  to strap  52 . The strap  68  keeps the left harness section  40  and the right harness section in a proper orientation with respect to each other.  
         [0039]    Referring now to FIG. 2, a back view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 will now be described. It should be noted that like numbers appearing in the various figures refer to like components. Thus, FIG. 2 depicts a side release buckle  72   a  on the right flotation pad  8  that will cooperate and mate with the reciprocal side release buckle  72   b  on the left flotation pad  4 , as is well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. The side release buckles  72   a ,  72   b  are available from YKK Products, Inc. under the name Side Release Buckles. Also, the pad  8  contains nesting buckle  74   a  and the pad  4  contains a receptacle nesting buckle  74   b , with the nesting buckles being commercially available from Niagra Safety Products, Inc. as previously described. The side release buckle  72   a  is attached to a fastening plate  75   a , with the fastening plate  75   a  having a passage for webbing strap  34  therethrough. The side release buckle  72   b  is attached to a fastening plate  75   b , with the fastening plate  75   b  having a passage for webbing strap  30  therethrough. The webbing strap  32  is operatively attached to fastening plate  75   c , with the webbing strap  34  fitted through fastening plate  75   c . The webbing strap  32  is also operatively attached to fastening plate  75   d , with the webbing strap  30  fitted through fastening plate  75   d . Fastening plates  75   a ,  75   b ,  75   c ,  75   d  are commerically available from Web Rite Safety, Inc. under the name two-bar slider. A more detailed illustration can be seen in FIG. 5.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 2 also depicts the D-ring  80  that is mounted on the back side of pad  6 . The D-ring  80  is affixed to a D-ring plate  82 , with D-ring plate  82  having openings therein which allow for the straps  30 ,  34  to be appropriately crisscrossed, as shown, and oriented there through. A more detailed illustration of the D-ring  80  may be seen with reference to FIG. 7. The D-ring  80  may be affixed to pad  6  by inserting the straps  30 ,  34  through openings in the D-ring plate  82  as shown in FIG. 2 and as is well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Other means for affixing the D-ring  80  to the D-ring plate  82  include glue, mechanically fasteners, staples, nuts &amp; bolts, etc. The D-ring plate  82  may also be attached to center pad  6  by glue, mechanically fasteners, staples, nuts &amp; bolts, etc. A more detailed view of the D-ring plate  82  may be seen in FIG. 6.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a second embodiment, which is the preferred embodiment of this invention, being worn by a worker as seen from a front position. Thus, the webbing strap  30  acts as the left shoulder strap and the webbing strap  34  acts as the right shoulder strap for the safety vest device  2 . The pad  4  is attached to the pad  8  via side release buckle  72   a ,  72   b  and nesting buckle  74   a ,  74   b . This gives double chest straps thereby better securing the vest device to the upper torso of the worker. This is important in the event the worker is tossed from an elevated position into the water so as to better secure the safety vest device  2  onto the worker. Once in the water, the buoyancy of the pads will keep the worker afloat.  
         [0042]    Additionally, under the scenario that the worker falls from an elevated structure and the safety line is used to prevent the worker from hitting the ground and/or water, the full encircling double chest straps provide a secure and padded structure to adsorb the impact load force on the worker&#39;s torso. This ergonomic design feature may aid in preventing serious injury or death to the worker&#39;s torso. Further, FIG. 3 depicts the left harness section  40  that includes the webbing strap  42  as well as the right harness section  50  that includes the webbing strap  52 . The worker&#39;s right leg is positioned through the leg loop area  62  and the worker&#39;s left leg is positioned through the leg loop area  66 .  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 3 also depicts use of the tongue buckle  47   a  for the adjustment and fixing the webbing strap  42 . Additionally, FIG. 3 shows the tongue buckle  57   a  for adjustment and fixing the webbing strap  52 . The tongue buckles  47   a ,  57   a  have a metal frame with a moveable tongue, seen at  47   b  and  57   b , for fastening the two ends of the webbing strap, as is well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. The tongue  47   b  can fit through openings  47   c ,  47   d  formed in the webbing strap  42  and the tongue  57   b  can fit through openings  57   c ,  57   d  formed in the webbing strap  52 . The preferred embodiment of FIG. 3 is identical to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 except for the tongue buckles. It has been found that the tongue buckles  47   a ,  57   a  are generally easier for workers to adjust and/or tighten, even though some workers prefer the nesting buckles.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, as seen from the back, in the position of a worker suspended from the safety line  90  attached to the life vest device  2 . FIG. 4 depicts a safety line  90  that is attached to the D-ring  80 . The safety line  90  may be attached to the D-ring  80  with a hook member  92  having a safety latch as is well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Note that in the position seen in FIG. 4, the safety line  90  is out of the line of sight of the worker and in fact placed on his back side. Thus, the side release buckles  72   a ,  72   b  and the nesting buckles  74   a ,  74   b  are positioned on a front side of the left and right buoyant pads, while the D-ring  80  is positioned on the back side of the center buoyant pad. In this position, the D-ring  80  is positioned radially opposite the buckles  72   a ,  72   b ,  74   a ,  74   b . The safety vest device  2  can be worn by the worker with safety line  90  attached without interfering with the workers line of sight or his arms.  
         [0045]    In the case where the worker had a safety line  90  attached to the D-ring  80 , and the worker was knocked from his position, the novel life vest device  2  will catch the worker in the position seen in FIG. 4. Due to the novel construction, the worker is safely held within the safety vest device  2 . In the case of a fall, the pads  4  and  8  act to pad and adsorb the shock of the load force as well as distribute the weight about the torso. The harness sections  40 ,  50  keep the upper life jacket from slipping off and the worker can be brought to safety. It should also be noted that in one embodiment not shown, the three panels  4 ,  6 , and  8  may be formed as a continuous unit fitted about the torso of the worker.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 5 is a front view of the fastening plate  75  of the present invention. The fastening plate  75  has a first passage  100  for placement of a webbing strap, a second passage  102  for placement of a webbing strap, and a third passage  104  that may have a strap for fastening to the nesting buckles, as is readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. The fastening plate is commercially available from Web Rite Safety, Inc.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 6 is a front view of the D-ring plate  82  of the present invention. The D-ring plate  82  has a top opening  106  there through for placement of the webbing straps. Also, the D-ring plate  82  has the first pair of openings  108 ,  110  so that the webbing strap may be looped through as is well understood by those of ordinary skill. The D-ring plate  82  also contains the second pair of openings  112 ,  114  so that the webbing strap may be looped through as is well understood by those of ordinary skill.  
         [0048]    In FIG. 7, the D-ring  80  of the present invention is illustrated. The circular opening  116  is for placement of the hook and the rectangular opening  118  will have the webbing straps placed therethrough so that the D-ring  80  is connected to the D-ring plate  82  as is well understood by those of ordinary skill.  
         [0049]    Referring now to FIG. 8, a front view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described. As noted earlier, like numbers in the various figures refer to like components. In this embodiment, the strap  52  connects through connector plate  130 . A strap  132  is also connected through the connector plate  130  thereby attaching the strap  132  to the right pad  8 . The strap  132  extends through a first square ring  134 . The strap  132  then extends to the center buyount pad  6  and is connected in the same manner that strap  34  of the first embodiment (such as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2) was connected to center pad  6 . Essentially, the main difference between the first embodiment (seen in FIGS. 1 through 7) and the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9 is the use of the square ring  134  and its connection with strap  132 . By having the square ring  134 , the user of the vest is allowed more freedom of movement since the strap  132  can move relative to the square ring  134 . As seen in FIG. 8, the square ring  134  will be attached to the right buoyant pad  8  with the top looped strap  136 .  
         [0050]    The strap  42  connects through the connector plate  138 . A strap  140  is also connected through the connector plate  138 . The strap  140  extends through a first square ring  142  thereby attaching the strap  140  to the left pad  4 . The strap  140  then extends to the center buoyant pad  6  and is connected in the same manner that strap  30  of the first embodiment (such as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2) was connected to the center pad  6 . Referring again to FIG. 8, the square ring  142  will be attached to the left buoyant pad  4  with the top looped strap  144 . With the square ring  142 , the user of the vest is allowed more freedom of movement since the strap  140  can move relative to the square ring.  
         [0051]    In FIG. 9, a back view of the second preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 will now be described. The looping strap  136  is shown disposed through the opening  16  in right pad  8 . A front strap  146  is disposed through the first fastener plate  75   a  and then through the second fastener plate  75   c . A bottom strap  152  loops around the bottom of right pad  8 . With reference to the left pad  4 , the looping strap  144  is shown disposed through the opening  10  in left pad  4 . A front strap  154  is disposed through the first fastener plate  75   b  and then through the second fastener plate  75   d . A bottom strap  160  loops around the bottom of left pad  4 . Note that side release buckle  72   a  is shown, along with cooperating side release buckle  72   b , as well as nesting buckle  74   a  and cooperating nesting buckle  74   b.    
         [0052]    Referring now to FIG. 10A, a schematic illustration showing a coated webbing strap  170  of the present invention will now be described. Thus, the webbing strap  170  comprises a webbing core  172  which is a typical webbing strap made of nylon material. The webbing core  172  is coated with a polyurethane type of compound  174  or other types of thermoplastics. Methods of applying the coating to the webbing include heat sealing a polyurethane compound about the webbing core  172 .  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 10B depicts a cross-sectional view of the coated webbing strap  170  taken along line  10 B- 10 B in FIG. 10A. The FIG. 10B cross-section depicts the polyurethane coating  174  encapsulating the webbing core  172 .  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 11A is isometric view of the safety lanyard  180  of the present invention. The safety lanyard  180  includes a first hook member  182  that is attached to a shock absorber means  184  for absorbing a sudden shock force. For instance, if the worker is tied to the safety lanyard  180 , and the worker falls, the initial force will produce a sudden force once the safety lanyard is pulled taunt. Hence, a shocker adsorper means  184  is added so that the tension in the safety lanyard  180  is gradually pulled taunt, rather than having to absorb the entire shock force. Shock absorber means are commercially available. A shock absorber means was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,410 to Casebolt entitled SHOCK ABSORBER SAFETY SYSTEM FOR WORKERS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME and is incorporated herein by express reference.  
         [0055]    The dielectric lanyard portion  186  connects at a first end  188  to the shock absorber means  184  and at a second end  190  to the second hook member  192 . In one preferred embodiment, the first hook member  182  connects to the D-ring on the safety vest, and the second hook member  192  connects to support structure in the case where the worker would fall, as is well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Hence, in the instance where the worker is working near a power line, accidentally contacting the power line could seriously injure or kill the worker with prior art safety lines. According to the teachings of the present invention, electrical shock would be prevented when a power line comes into contact with the dielectric lanyard due to the insulating properties of dielectric lanyard.  
         [0056]    Referring now to FIG. 11B, a cross-section of the safety lanyard  180  taken along line  11 B- 11 B will now be described. The portion shown in FIG. 11B is the dielectric portion. Hence, the dielectric lanyard consist of a core webbing  194  that is encapsulated by a polyeurathane coating  196  formed by placing a webbing core in a mold and extrusion molding the webbing through a die.  
         [0057]    A process for producing a safety lanyard is also disclosed. The process includes pulling a webbing material through a die and extrusion blow molding a coating by the die about the webbing material. Next, a shock absorber means is attached to a fist end of the coated webbing material, a first hook is attached to the shock absorber means, and a second hook is attached to a second end of the coated webbing material so that a safety lanyard is produced.  
         [0058]    Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the scope of the invention which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.