Abstract:
In a safety connector device detachably connectable to a safety cable having a plurality of support brackets for supporting the safety cable. A pair of disk-like members are securely attached to end faces of a core member. At least three hook-like members: first, second and third hook-like members are movably supported by the core member, and are cooperated with the pair of disk-like members so that the safety cable is successively connected to and disconnected from the first, second, and third hook-like members in order when the device is moved along the safety cable, with the safety cable is connected to the first hook-like member. A mechanism is constituted so that a connection of the safety cable to the second hook-like member occurs prior to a disconnection of the safety cable from the first hook-like member when the first hook-like member is abutted against one of the support brackets, whereby the device can pass and clear the support bracket concerned during the disconnection of the safety cable from the first hook-like member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a safety connector device adapted for easy detachment to and detachment from a safety cable provided along an altitudinal passage.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     When a person walks along an altitudinal passage, such as a passage temporarily made on a tall structure on construction, a passage traversing a cliff or the like, a safety cable is provided along the altitudinal passage. The person is outfitted and bound with a safety strip having a karabiner or snap ring securely joined to the free end thereof, and the snap ring is connected to the safety cable, to thereby enable the hazard of falls to be minimized.  
         [0005]     The safety cable is supported by a plurality of support brackets, each of which is secured to the safety cable. Thus, when the snap ring encounters one of the support brackets, it cannot pass and clear the support bracket. In this case, the person must once disconnect the snap ring from the safety cable, before the support bracket can be bypassed. Then, the snap ring has to be again connected to the safety cable. Of course, the person may be subjected to the fall hazard during the bypass of the support bracket.  
         [0006]     For example, JP-09-511165-A (PCT/GB95/00734) and JP-2000-107307-A disclose safety connector devices which can pass and clear the support brackets without bypassing the support bracket. Nevertheless, the arrangements of these prior art safety connector devices are very complex, and thus the production of the devices is costly. Further, the operation of the devices is very troublesome.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a novel safety connector device featuring a simply arrangement, which can be produced at low cost, and which can be easily operated.  
         [0008]     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a safety connector device detachably connectable to a safety cable having a plurality of support bracket for supporting the safety cable. In the safety connector device, a pair of disk-like members is securely attached to end faces of the core member, and at least three hook-like members: first, second and third hook-like members are movably supported by the core member, and are cooperated with the pair of pair of disk-like members so that the safety cable is successively connected to and disconnected from the first, second, and third hook-like members in order when the device is moved along the safety cable, with the safety cable being connected to the first hook-like member. A mechanism is constituted so that a connection of the safety cable to the second hook-like member occurs prior to a disconnection of the safety cable from the first hook-like member when the first hook-like member is abutted against one of the support brackets, whereby the device can pass and clear the support bracket concerned during the disconnection of the safety cable from the first hook-like member.  
         [0009]     Preferably, the mechanism includes a pair of movable members movably attached to the respective disk-like members so that a first force, which is derived from the movement of the device along the safety cable, is generated and exerted on the second hook-like member to thereby cause the connection of the safety cable to the second hook-like member, and then so that a second force, which is derived from the movement of the device along the safety cable, is generated and exerted on the first hook-like member to thereby cause the disconnection of the safety cable from the first hook-like member.  
         [0010]     The movable members may be formed as dish-like members having substantially the same diameter as that of the disk-like members.  
         [0011]     Preferably, the disk-like members have a longer radial length than an effective radial length of the hook-like members.  
         [0012]     Each of the hook-like members may be movable between a closed position and an opened position for a connection of the safety cable to each of the hook-like members and a disconnection of the safety cable from each of the hook-like members. In this case, each of the hook-like members may be provided with an elastic member so as to be elastically biased to the closed position. Preferably, the hook-like members may be arranged around the core member at a regular intervals. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     The above objects and other objects will be more clearly understood from the description set forth below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an elevation view of an embodiment of the safety connector device according to the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a left side view of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view cut along the line III-III in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view cut along the line IV-IV in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is an elevation view of an embodiment of the safety connector device which is connected to the safety cable according to the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view cut along the line VI-VI in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view for explaining the operation of the safety connector device of  FIGS. 1 through 6 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is a plan view for explaining the operation of the safety connector device of  FIGS. 1 through 6 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 9  is a plan view for explaining the operation of the safety connector device of  FIGS. 1 through 6 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 10  is a plan view for explaining the operation of the safety connector device of  FIGS. 1 through 6 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 11  is an elevation view for explaining the operation of the safety connector device of  FIGS. 1 through 6 ; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 12  is an elevation view for explaining the operation of the safety connector device of  FIGS. 1 through 6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]     With reference to  FIGS. 1 through 12 , an embodiment of a safety connector device according to the present invention will be explained below.  
         [0027]     First, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a safety connector device  1  according to the present invention includes a cylindrical core member  11 , four hook-like members  201 ,  202 ,  203  and  204  rotatably supported by the cylindrical core member  11 , a pair of disk-like members  121  and  122  securely attached to the end faces of the cylindrical core member  11 , and a pair of dish-like members  301  and  302  rotatably mounted on stub-like shafts  51  and  52  which are integrally and outwardly protruded from the centers of the disk-like members  121  and  122 .  
         [0028]     The hook-like members  201 ,  202 ,  203  and  204  are identical to each other, and are substantially radially arranged around the cylindrical core member  11  at regular intervals. Also, the two hook-like members  201  and  203  are symmetrically arranged with respect to the center of the cylindrical core member  11 , and the two hook-like members  202  and  204  are symmetrically arranged with respect to the center of the cylindrical core member  11 .  
         [0029]     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each of the hook-like members  201 ,  202 ,  203  and  204  is formed as a rod member which has a middle portion ( 201   a,    202   a,    203   a,    204   a ), an outer terminal portion ( 211 ,  212 ,  213 ,  214 ) perpendicularly and integrally extending from the outer end of the middle portion ( 201   a,    202   a,    203   a,    204   a ), and an inner terminal portion ( 201   b,    202   b,    203   b,    204   b ) perpendicularly and integrally extending from the inner end of the middle portion ( 201   a,    202   a,    203   a,    204   a ). Note that each of the outer terminal portions  211 ,  212 ,  213  and  214  is longer than the corresponding inner terminal portion ( 201   b,    202   b,    203   b,    204   b ).  
         [0030]     As is apparent from  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the middle portions  201   a  and  203   a  of the hook-like members  201  and  203  extend through the wall of the cylindrical core member  11  in the immediate vicinity of the disk-like member  122 , and are rotatably supported by respective bearing blocks  55  and  57  securely attached to the inner wall face of the cylindrical core member  11 .  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , two tension springs  61  and  63  are provided in the cylindrical core member  11  so as to act on the respective inner terminal portions  201   b  and  203   b.    
         [0032]     In particular, for example, one end of the tension spring  61  is securely attached to the inner terminal portion  201   b,  and the other end of the tension spring  61  is securely attached to the inner wall face of the cylindrical core member  11 , whereby an elastic rotational force is exerted on the hook-like member  201 . Similarly, one end of the tension spring  63  is securely attached to the inner terminal portion  203   b,  and the other end of the tension spring  63  is securely attached to the inner wall face of the cylindrical core member  11 , whereby an elastic rotational force is exerted on the hook-like member  203 .  
         [0033]     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  4 , the disk-like member  121  has hook stoppers  131  and  133  securely attached to the inner wall face thereof, and the stoppers  131  and  133  are arranged so that the free ends of the outer terminal portions  211  and  213  of the hook-like members  201  and  203  are elastically abutted against the respective hook stoppers  131  and  133  due to the provision of the tension springs  61  and  63 . Namely, the elastically rotational movements of the hook-like members  201  and  203  are prevented due to the abutting of the outer terminal portions  211  and  213  against the stoppers  131  and  133 .  
         [0034]     On the other hand, as is apparent from  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the middle portions  202   a  and  204   a  of the hook-like members  202  and  204  extend through the wall of the cylindrical core member  11  in the immediate vicinity of the disk-like member  121 , and are rotatably supported by respective bearing blocks  56  and  58  securely attached to the inner wall face of the cylindrical core member  11 .  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , two tension springs  62  and  64  are provided in the cylindrical core member  11  so as to act on the respective inner terminal portions  202   b  and  204   b.    
         [0036]     In particular, for example, one end of the tension spring  62  is securely attached to the inner terminal portion  202   b,  and the other end of the tension spring  62  is securely attached to the inner wall face of the cylindrical core member  11 , whereby an elastic rotational force is exerted on the hook-like member  202 . Similarly, one end of the tension spring  64  is securely attached to the inner terminal portion  204   b,  and the other end of the tension spring  64  is securely attached to the inner wall face of the cylindrical core member  11 , whereby an elastic rotational force is exerted on the hook-like member  204 .  
         [0037]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the disk-like member  122  has hook stoppers  132  and  134  securely attached to the inner wall face thereof, and the stoppers  132  and  134  are arranged so that the free ends of the outer terminal portions  212  and  214  of the hook-like members  202  and  204  are elastically abutted against the respective hook stoppers  132  and  134  due to the provision of the tension springs  62  and  64 . Namely, the elastically rotational movements of the hook-like members  202  and  204  are prevented due to the abutting of the respective outer terminal portions  212  and  214  against the stoppers  132  and  134 .  
         [0038]     In short, as representatively shown in  FIG. 2 , the hook-like member  204  is movable between a closed position at which the outer terminal portion  214  is shown by a solid line and an opened position at which the outer terminal portion  214  is shown by a phantom line, as indicated by a double-headed arrow AR 1 . Although the hook-like member  204  usually stays at the closed position due to the elastic force of the tension spring  64  (see:  FIG. 4 ), it can be moved from the closed position to the opened position against the elastic force of the tension spring  64  by exerting an external force on the outer terminal portion  214  of the hook-like member  204 . Of course, the same is true for the remaining hook-like member  201 ,  202  and  203 .  
         [0039]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the respective stub-like shafts  51  and  52  include stub portions  51   a  and  52   a  on which the dish-like members  301  and  302  are rotatably mounted, and head portions  51   b  and  52   b  integrally formed at the free end of the stub portions  51   a  and  52   a.  Namely, the respective dish-like members  301  and  302  are rotatably restrained between the disk-like members  121  and  122  and the head portions  51   b  and  52   b  of the stub-like shafts  51  and  52 .  
         [0040]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the safety connector device  1  is provided with a shackle member  31  which is formed of shaped tongue elements  31   a  and  31   b  partially secured to each other. The shackle member  31  is used to connect the safety connector device  1  to a safety strip  70  with which a person is outfitted and bound. To this end, the shackle member  31  is formed with a hole  3 l c  so that the shackle member  31  can be detachably connected to a karabiner or snap ring securely joined to the free end of the aforesaid safety strip, as stated hereinafter.  
         [0041]     The shackle member  31  also functions a connector for connecting the dish-like members  301  and  302  to each other. Namely, the shaped tongue elements  31   a  and  31   b  are securely attached to the peripheral sides of the respective dish-like members  301  and  302  so that both the dish-like members  301  and  302  are simultaneously rotated around the respective stub-like shafts  51  and  52 .  
         [0042]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the disk-like member  121  has four stoppers  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  404  securely attached to the outer wall face thereof, and the stoppers  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  404  are arranged at regular intervals along a circle having the center of the disk-like member  121 . Each of the stoppers  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  404  features a gradual slope face GF and a sheer face SF, and are oriented along the aforesaid circle, as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0043]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the dish-like member  301  has a pair of leaf springs  321  and  322  which are securely supported by the inner wall face thereof so that the free ends of leaf springs  321  and  322  are slidably contacted with the outer wall face of the disk-like member  121 . The leaf springs  321  and  322  are symmetrically arranged with respect to the center of the dish-like member  301 , as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0044]     With the above-mentioned arrangement, when both the dish-like members  301  and  302  are rotated around the stub-like shafts  51  and  52  so that the free ends of the leaf springs  321  and  322  are defined as tailing ends, it is possible to ensure the full rotational movement of both the dish-like members  301  and  302 , because the free ends or trailing ends of the leaf springs  321  and  322  can clamber over the stoppers  401  and  403  and the stoppers  402  and  404  along the gradual slopes GF thereof.  
         [0045]     On the other hand, when both the dish-like members  301  and  302  are rotated around the stub-like shafts  51  and  52  so that the free ends of the leaf springs  321  and  322  are defined as leading ends, the rotational movement of both the dish-like members  301  and  302  is limited, because the free ends or leading ends of the leaf springs  321  and  322  abuts against either the sheer faces SF of the stoppers  401  and  403  or the sheer faces SF of the stoppers  402  and  404 .  
         [0046]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a safety cable  80  is provided along an altitudinal passage which may traverse a cliff, and the safety cable  80  is supported by a plurality of support brackets  90 , only one of which is representatively illustrated in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0047]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the support bracket  90  horizontally extends, and may be securely implanted in the cliff.  
         [0048]     As shown in  FIG. 8 , a safety strip  70  with which a person (not shown) is outfitted and bound has a karabiner or snap ring  71  securely joined to the free end thereof. The snap ring  71  is detachably connected to the shackle member  31  by using the hole  31   c.    
         [0049]     Next, an operation of the safety connector device is explained below.  
         [0050]     When the person intends to walk along the altitudinal passage in a direction indicated by an arrow AR 2  (see:  FIG. 5 ), the safety connector device  1  is connected to the safety cable  80  by using, for example, the hook-like member  203 , and is vertically suspended from the safety cable  80 , with the safety connector being oriented so that the dish-like member  302  is further apart from the person.  
         [0051]     Note that the connection of the safety cable  80  to the hook-like member  203  may be carried out by manually rotating the hook-like member  203  from the closed position to the opened position against the elastic force of the tension spring  63  (see:  FIG. 3 ).  
         [0052]     While the person walks along the altitudinal passage in the direction indicated by the arrow AR 2  (see:  FIG. 5 ), the safety connector device  1  is pulled by the safety strip  70  in a direction indicated by reference AR 3 , and is moved along the safety cable  80 .  
         [0053]     As shown in  FIG. 7  which is a perspective view, when the hook-like member  203  is abutted against the support bracket  90 , the movement of the safety connector device  1  along the safety cable  80  is temporarily stopped because the outer terminal portion  213  of the hook-like member  203  is abutted against the support bracket  90 . As a result, the safety connector device  1  is turned from the vertically-suspended position toward a horizontal position due to the pulling force exerted on the shackle member  31  by the safety strip  70 . Note that the safety strip  70  with the snap ring  71  is omitted from  FIG. 7  for the sake of convenience of illustration.  
         [0054]     As shown in  FIG. 8  which is a plan view, when the safety connector device  1  has reached the aforesaid horizontal position, the outer terminal portion  213  of the hook-like member  203  is abutted against the safety cable  80 , and then a part of the aforesaid pulling force (AR 3 ) is exerted as a rotational force on the safety connector device  1  so that the safety connector device  1  is turned around the outer terminal portion  213  of the hook-like member  203  in a direction indicated by an arrow AR 4 , to the free ends of the leaf springs  321  and  322  being abutted against the sheer faces SF of the respective stoppers  402  and  404 .  
         [0055]     As shown in  FIG. 9  which is a plan view, when the pressing force, which is exerted on the safety cable  80  by the outer terminal portion  202   a  of the hook-like member  202 , overcomes the elastic force of the tension spring  62  (see:  FIG. 4 ), the hook-like member  202  is rotated from the closed position to the opened position so that the hook-like member  202  is connected to the safety cable  80 . Then, the safety connector device  1  is further turned around the outer terminal portion  213  of the hook-like member  203  by a part of the pulling force (AR 3 ) in a direction indicated by an arrow AR 5 , so that the outer terminal portion  213  is pressed against the safety cable  80 .  
         [0056]     Thus, as shown in  FIG. 10  which is a plan view, when the safety connector device  1  is turned to a position at which the safety strip  70  is in parallel with the safety cable  80 , the hook-like member  203  is rotated from the closed position to the opened position so that not only can the safety cable  80  be disconnected from the hook-like member  203 , but also the safety connector device  1  can pass and clear the support bracket  90 .  
         [0057]     As is apparent from the foregoing, the connection of the safety cable  80  to the hook-like member  202  occurs prior to the disconnection of the safety cable  80  from the hook-like member  203 , and thus it is possible to ensure the safety of the walking person.  
         [0058]     As shown in  FIG. 11  which is an elevation view, after the safety cable  80  is disconnected from the hook-like member  203 , the safety connector device  1  returns from the horizontal position (see:  FIG. 10 ) to the vertically-suspended position due to the gravity. At this time, both the dish-like members  301  and  302  are rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow AR 6 , so that the free ends of the leaf springs  321  and  322  clamber over the respective stoppers  401  and  403  along the gradual slopes GF thereof.  
         [0059]     Then, as shown in  FIG. 12  which is an elevation view, the safety connector device  1  is again pulled by the safety strip  70  so that the free ends of the leaf springs  321  and  322  are abutted against the sheer faces SF of the respective stoppers  401  and  403 . Thereafter, when the safety connector device  1  encounters the next support bracket  90 , the aforesaid operation is repeated.  
         [0060]     In the above-mentioned embodiment, although the safety connector device is provided with the four hook-like members, a number of the hook-like members may be three or more than four. Also, although it is preferable that the number of the hook-like members is even, the number of the hook-like members may be odd.  
         [0061]     In the above-mentioned embodiment, a recess may be formed in the outerwall face of the disk-like member  121  as a substitute for each of the stoppers  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  404 . In particular, the recess is defined by a gradual sloop face corresponding the gradual slope face GF (see:  FIG. 1 ), and a sheer face corresponding the sheer face SF (See:  FIG. 1 ). In this case, when the dish-like member  301  is rotated with respect to the disk-like member  121  so that the free end of each of the leaf springs  321  and  322  is defined as the leading end, the free end concerned is abutted against the sheer face of any one of the recesses. When the respective recesses are substituted for the stoppers  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  404 , it is possible to narrow the spaces between the disk-like members  121  and  122  and the dish-like members  301  and  302 .  
         [0062]     Also, the respective disk-like members  121  and  122  may have the leaf springs  321  and  322  formed on the outer wall faces thereof, provided that the stoppers  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  404  are provided on the inner well faces of the dish-like members  301  and  302 . Also, in this case, each of the stoppers may be substituted for the aforesaid recess defined by the gradual sloop face and the sheer face.  
         [0063]     Further, respective ratchet mechanisms may be incorporated in the dish-like members  301  and  302  so that both the dish-like members  301  and  302  are unidirectionally rotated with respect to the disk-like members  121  and  122 . Of course, in this case, the stoppers  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  404 , the leaf springs  321  and  322  are eliminated.  
         [0064]     In the above-mentioned embodiment, although the disk-like members  121  and  122  have a radial length equivalent to an effective radial length of the hook-like members  201 ,  202 ,  203  and  204 , i.e., although the disk-like members  121  and  122  have a diameter which is substantially equivalent to that of a circle defined by the outer terminal portions  211 ,  212 ,  213  and  214  of the hook-like members  201 ,  202 ,  203  and  204  (see:  FIGS. 2, 3  and  4 ), the diameter of the disk-like members  121  and  122  may be further lengthened so that the support bracket  90  is sufficiently received between the disk-like member  121  and  122 , whereby it is possible to smoothly and surely turn the safety connector device from the vertically-suspended position (see:  FIG. 6 ) to the horizontal position (see:  FIG. 8 ).  
         [0065]     In this modified embodiment, the space between the disk-like members  121  and  122  may be widened so that the outer terminal portions  211 ,  212 ,  213  and  214  of the hook-like members  201 ,  202 ,  203  and  204  is further lengthened, whereby each of the hook-like members  201 ,  202 ,  203  and  204  can be easily rotated when the safety cable  80  is abutted and pressed thereagainst. In this case, it is preferable that guide members are provided along a peripheral inner wall portion of each of the disk-like members  121  and  122  so that the safety cable  80  can be abutted against each of the outer terminal portions  211 ,  212 ,  213  and  214  in the vicinity of the tip end thereof.  
         [0066]     Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, although each of the outer terminal portion  211 ,  212 ,  213  and  214  is perpendicularly extends from the corresponding middle portion ( 201   a,    202   a,    203   a,    204   a ), it may be suitably shaped so that each of the hook-like members  201 ,  202 ,  203  and  204  can be easily rotated when the safety cable  80  is abutted and pressed thereagainst.  
         [0067]     Finally, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description is of preferred embodiments of the device, and that various changes and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.