Patent Publication Number: US-6902032-B2

Title: Technician catcher

Description:
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION 
   A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its figures contain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to safety devices and methods for use by a technician and other person of similar occupation when climbing a pole, such as poles carrying telephone lines or electrical power lines. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In the telecommunications or electronics industry, it is common practice for a technician (also referred to as a “linesman”) to climb a pole to install equipment, to repair broken or damaged communications equipment, to test equipment, and/or other work-related reasons. In order to safely and effectively climb a pole and perform line work, the technician must maintain and properly utilize various types of climbing equipment. To utilize the various types of climbing equipment, the technician must also have the skills and the physical ability to sustain a great strain on their legs and back while the technician climbs and/or maintains a position about the pole. 
   Conventional climbing equipment employed by a technician typically includes a pair of gaffs, a body belt, and/or a safety strap. In general, the gaff is a sharp blade protruding from the inside of the foot about mid-foot level and having straps that secure about the leg and/or feet of a technician. To climb, the technician drives one of the gaffs into the pole, steps up onto the gaff, and then drives the other gaff into the pole at a higher position. The technician continues taking steps up or “gaffs up” the pole until reaching a desired height. 
   The body belt is secured around the waist of the technician. The body belt includes pockets for carrying tools and rings (e.g., “D-rings”) for attaching the safety strap. The safety strap typically includes a hook (e.g., snap buckle) at each end and a buckle for adjusting its length. During climbing, both hooks of the safety strap are attached to the same ring of the body belt on the left hip. Once in a position to perform line work, the technician releases one end of the safety strap from the body belt and wraps the safety strap around the pole. The technician then reattaches the end of the safety strap to the right D-ring on the body belt, thus allowing the technician to use his hands at the desired working elevation. Thus, the technician uses the safety strap for climbing as well as supporting the technician in his working position about the pole. 
   During elevated line work, both gaffs are pressed into the pole and the technician leans back against the safety strap. This position allows the weight of the technician to be supported by the gaffs and the tension in the safety strap. An error in technique or defect in equipment, however, may result in serious injury to the technician. For example, there are times when a gaff dislodges or “cuts out” from the pole. If one or both of the gaffs cuts out, the technician may (i) fall straight down from atop the pole, (ii) rotate downward and fall on the head, (iii) get one or more gaffs back into the pole, and (iv) may reach out to grab/hug the pole. In many of these scenarios, the technician may, and often does, sustain injury such as to the knees, back, and/or arms. 
   Safety devices have been proposed for supporting the weight of the technician to prevent accidents as described above; however, the usefulness of such safety devices depends upon the willingness of the technician to use them which in turn relies upon wnether such devices are conveniently and easily used in the field. As an alternative to climbing the pole, some technicians resort to using ladders or bucket trucks to perform elevated line work so as to avoid the risk of injury from a fall. This solution requires the purchase and maintenance of additional equipment and, thus, results in increased expenses for the technician&#39;s employer. In addition, work related injuries still occur when using and transporting a ladder of the size necessary to reach the top of a pole. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention addresses the above-described needs, and other needs, by providing a portable safety device that catches and supports a technician who has fallen from a columnar member, such as a pole, a tree trunk, and the like. According to an embodiment, a technician catcher safety device includes a frame having a pair of main lever arms interconnected by a central connecting portion. Each main lever arm divergently extends from the central connecting portion such that the frame extends about a variety of circumferences of a columnar member, that is, the technician catcher can easily be positioned about a portion of the circumference of many different sized columnar members. Each main lever arm includes an elbow at an end opposite the central connecting portion, and the elbow connects the main lever arm to an upwardly, extending arm. The upwardly, extending arm typically has an angle of approximately greater than thirty degrees (30°) and less than one hundred fifty degrees (150°) relative to the central connecting portion, such that the upwardly, extending arms are relatively perpendicular and/or angled towards the central connecting portion. When both a downward force and an inward force are exerted near the ends of the lever arms, such as when a technician has fallen and a safety strap of the technician is caught by the safety device, the pair of main lever arms securely engage the columnar member to support a suspended weight, such as the weight of the fallen technician. That is, the forces exerted near the ends of the lever arms squeeze the main lever arms together so that the technician catcher comes to a secure position on the pole to support the weight of the fallen technician. 
   In another embodiment, each of the main lever arms of the technician catcher safety device includes an upper surface, a lower surface, an inward surface, and an outward surface, and the inward surface includes one or more toothed gaffs. Typically, the toothed gaffs have an interior angle relative to the inward surface and the central connecting portion of about thirty five degrees or greater. In another embodiment, the technician catcher includes one or more ridge-like gripping surfaces along the inward surface of each main lever arm. In another embodiment the technician catcher safety device further includes chain means secured to one of the main lever arms and a mating link supporting arm. The chain means include a linked chain securely attached at a first end of the linked chain to the one of the main lever arms. The link supporting arm pivotally secures at an end to the other main lever arm and has a clip at an opposite end of the link supporting arm. In general, the end of the link supporting arm is positioned on a portion of the other main lever arm substantially opposite the chain means, such that the clip detachably engages a link of the linked chain to securely adjust the technician catcher into a desired position about the columnar member. 
   This invention further includes a method for ascending a columnar member to a desired working elevation and/or positioning the technician catcher safety device described in the above and other embodiments so that the safety device engages a columnar member such as a pole or a tree trunk. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other embodiments, objects, uses, advantages, and novel features of this invention are more clearly understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying figures, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective top view of a technician catcher safety device according to an embodiment of this invention; 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  are perspective side views of the technician catcher safety device of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective top view of another technician catcher safety device according to an embodiment of this invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective top view of an alternate technician catcher safety device according to an embodiment of this invention; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective side view of an elevated, secured technician with the technician catcher safety device of  FIG. 1  positioned below and proximate to a safety strap secured to the technician according to an embodiment of this invention; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective top view of the elevated, secured technician with the technician catcher safety device of  FIG. 1  positioned below and proximate to the safety strap secured to the technician according to an embodiment of this invention; 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective side view of the technician catcher safety device of  FIG. 1  supporting the safety strap of a fallen technician according to an embodiment of this invention; 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective top view of the technician catcher safety device of  FIG. 1  supporting the safety strap of a fallen technician according to an embodiment of this invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective top view of the technician catcher safety device of  FIG. 1  including attached gaffs according to another embodiment of this invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective side view of an attached gaff of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective top view of an alternate technician catcher safety device according to an embodiment of this invention; and 
       FIG. 12  is a flowchart of a method for using the technician catcher safety device according to an embodiment of this invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure). Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the schematics and the like represent conceptual views of illustrative structures embodying this invention. 
   In the claims hereof any element expressed as a means for performing a specified function is intended to encompass any way of performing that function including, for example, a combination of elements that performs that function. The invention as defined by such claims resides in the fact that the functionalities provided by the various recited means are combined and brought together in the manner that the claims call for. Applicant thus regards any means that can provide those functionalities as equivalent as those shown herein. 
   This invention is directed to a portable safety device (herein also referred to as a “technician catcher safety device” and a “safety device”) that catches and supports a technician who has fallen from a columnar member, such as a pole, a tree trunk, and the like. In an embodiment, a technician catcher safety device includes a frame having a pair of main lever arms interconnected by a central connecting portion. Each main lever arm divergently extends from the central connecting portion such that the frame extends about a variety of circumferences of a columnar member, that is, the frame can easily be positioned about a portion of the circumference of many different sized columnar members. Each main lever arm includes an elbow at an end opposite the central connecting portion, and the elbow connects the main lever arm to an upwardly, extending arm. The upwardly, extending arm typically has an angle of ninety degrees or less relative to the central connecting portion, such that the upwardly, extending arms are relatively perpendicular and/or angled towards the central connecting portion. When both a downward force and an inward force are exerted near the ends of the lever arms, such as when a technician has fallen and a safety strap of the technician is caught by the safety device, the pair of main lever arms securely engage the columnar member to support a suspended weight, such as the weight of the fallen technician. In various other embodiments, the technician catcher safety device further includes toothed gaffs, a lanyard tether, and/or chain means with a support link arm to better position the frame upon and/or about the columnar member. Still further, this invention includes methods for positioning a technician catcher safety device so that the safety device engages a columnar member and/or for catching a fallen technician. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A, and  2 B, a technician catcher safety device  100  includes a frame made from a pair of main lever arms  110  interconnected by a central connecting portion  120 . Each main lever arm  110  divergently extends outward from the central connecting portion  120  such that the frame extends about a variety of circumferences of a columnar member, such as a pole, a tree trunk, and the like. The angle of divergence of the main lever arms  110  depends upon a variety of factors, such as the length of the central connecting portion  120 , the shape of the central connecting portion  120 , the length of each main lever arm  110 , and a range of circumferences for which the safety device  100  is intended to be used for. Each main lever arm  110  includes an elbow  125  at an end opposite the central connecting portion  120 . The elbow  125  connects the attached main lever arm  110  to an upwardly, extending arm  130  that has an angle α (shown as reference numeral  210  in FIG.  2 A). As shown in  FIG. 1 , the angle a has a value of approximately seventy degrees (70°) relative to the central connecting portion  120  such that the upwardly, extending arm  130  functions as a “hook.” The angle α, however, could alternatively be any range from about more than thirty degrees (30°) to about less than one hundred twenty degrees (120°). 
   As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the central connecting portion  120  has a substantially rectangular or square-shape; however, as one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates, the central connecting portion  120  may take on a variety of shapes. For example,  FIG. 3  shows a technician catcher safety device  300  with a pair of main lever arms  310  and a central connecting portion  320  having a substantially “U”-shape; and  FIG. 4  shows a technician catcher safety device  400  with a pair of main lever arms  410  and a central connecting portion  420  also having a substantially “U”-shape. Similarly, the upwardly, extending arms  130  may take on a variety of shapes (polygonal and/or non-polygonal). For example,  FIG. 2B  shows an upwardly, extending arm  230  having a shepard&#39;s hook shape; and  FIG. 4  shows an upwardly, extending arm  430  having a triangular shape with the base portion curved towards a top surface of the main lever arm  110  and towards the central connecting portion  120 . In this way the extending arm  430  has a spiral-like shape for increased securement of the technician. 
   In a preferred embodiment, a first internal width  132  of the ends of the main lever arms opposite the central connecting portion  120  is approximately fifteen (15) inches, a second internal width  122  of the central connecting portion  120  is approximately seven (7) inches, the length  112  of each main lever arm  110  is approximately twenty-three (23) inches, the angle α is approximately seventy (70°) degrees, and the length  225  of the upwardly extending arms is approximately six (6) inches. Alternatively, as one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates, these measurements may vary so long as the technician catcher safety device  100  supports the weight of a fallen technician as herein described. In addition, the technician catcher safety device  100  may be manufactured using any appropriate material that can support the weight of a technician (as well as an increased weight applied with the force of a fall) and also withstand a wide range of temperatures, humidity, moisture, and other environmental conditions. For example, the technician catcher safety device  100  can be formed of steel tubing, titanium, aluminum, and other appropriate, light-weight metals. The technician catcher safety device  100  may also have a durable finish coating, such as polyurethane powder. Alternatively, the technician catcher safety device  100  could be constructed of other appropriate metal, polymer, plastic, composite, ceramic, glass, crystal, and/or other appropriate materials and combination capable of being used as herein described. 
   Typically, the technician catcher safety device  100  is used as generally shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . When performing elevated work, a technician  510  positions the technician catcher safety device  100  below and proximate to a safety strap  520  extending about a pole  530 . Examples of elevated work include, but are not limited to installation, maintenance, testing, and/or other types of repair work on suspended equipment, such as terminals, wire pouches, J-hooks, network cable, transformers, and/or other types of hardware and equipment used by the telecommunications and/or electrical industry. In general, the pole  530  may be any type of pole, such as for example, a telephone pole, an electrical pole, a tree trunk, and the like. In most cases, the pole  530  is tapered, such that a diameter of an upper portion of the pole  530  is less than the diameter of a lower portion of the pole  530 . 
   As shown, the technician  510  wears a body belt  522  secured about the technician&#39;s waist. The body belt  522  includes a pair of locking members, shown as D-ring  524 . The D-rings  524  or alternate locking members (not shown) engage corresponding attachment members  526  (also shown as D-rings) on the ends of the safety strap  520 . The safety strap  520  extends around the pole  530  and connects with the body belt  522  worn by the technician  510 . When the D-rings  524  of the body belt  522  are engaged with the attachment members  526  of the safety strap  520 , the technician  510  may use the safety strap for climbing as well as supporting the technician  510  in a desired working position on the pole  530 . In addition, the technician  510  utilizes gaffs  540  having a bladed portion  542  that are driven into and that penetrate the pole  530  to prevent the feet of the technician  510  from slipping and to assist with climbing. When the technician  510  is in the desired working position to perform elevated work, the weight of the technician  510  is supported by the gaffs  540  and by the safety strap  520  such that the technician may freely use his hands to perform the elevated work. 
   Once the technician  510  reaches a desired working position on the pole  530 , the technician  510  positions the technician catcher safety device  100  below and proximate to the safety strap  520  with a center of the central connecting portion  120  facing the technician&#39;s body such that the upwardly extending arms  130  are positioned on the side of the pole  530  opposite the technician&#39;s body. The technician catcher safety device  100  is positioned by when the technician  510  pushes the technician catcher safety device to wedge the main lever arms  110  about the circumference of the pole  530  to frictionally engage the pole  530  such that the technician catcher safety device  100  maintains a desired position below and proximate to the safety strap  520  as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate exploded perspective side and top views of the technician catcher safety device  100  supporting the safety strap  520  of a fallen technician (not shown). When the technician falls, the safety strap  520  is caught by the main lever arms  110 , and the safety strap  520  moves and/or slides towards an inside surface of the elbow  120 . When the safety strap  520  slides to the elbow  120 , the weight of the fallen technician exerts a downward force f 1  (shown as reference numeral  710 ). This downward force f 1  acts on the elbow  120  and creates a responsive upward force f 2  (shown as reference numeral  720 ). This responsive force f 2  acts on the central portion  120 . In addition, the safety strap  520  exerts two additional forces f 3  and f 4  (shown, respectively, as reference numerals  810  and  820  in  FIG. 8 ) on or proximate to the ends of the main lever arms  110  proximate to the elbow  120 . These forces, f 3  and f 4  squeeze the ends of the main lever arms  110  together such that the technician catcher safety device  100  frictionally engages the pole  530  to a secured, stationary position. The technician catcher safety device  100  thus supports the weight of the fallen technician and prevents the technician from falling to the ground (or alternate lower surface). The technician catcher safety device  100  helps prevent or reduce resultant injuries that may have been caused by the impact of the fall to the ground. 
   In addition to the above described embodiments, the technician catcher safety device  100  may further include one or more toothed gaffs  900  along an inward surface of the each main lever arm  110  as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The toothed gaff  900  is adapted for biting engagement into the wood or other material of the pole  530 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the toothed gaff  900  has a generally triangular shaped surface  905  having a hypotenuse  910  extending from a surface of the main lever arm  110  at an angle β (shown as reference numeral  930 ) of preferably at least fifteen degrees. The leg  920  opposite angle β may be a curved, bladed surface having a tip  925  for further facilitating biting into the material of the pole. Further, the toothed gaff  900  may retract into the inward surface of the main lever arm  110  such that the toothed gaff  900  is only extended when positioned about the pole  530 . Alternatively, the toothed gaffs may extend at different angles and/or have different shapes so as to firmly secure the technician catcher safety device  100  to the pole  530  when the toothed gaffs  900  further engage the material of the pole  530  when the technician  510  falls. In another alternative embodiment, the inward surface of the technician catcher  100  may include a bladed edge that similarly engages the material of the pole  530 . 
   Still further, the technician catcher safety device  100  may further include one or more ridge-like gripping surfaces  1100  along an inward surface of the each main lever arm  110  as shown in FIG.  11 . Each of the ridge-like gripping surfaces  1100  facilitate engagement of the material of the pole  530  when the technician  510  falls; however, the ridge-like gripping surface  1100  may be safety handled by the technician  510  such as when the technician  510  uses a hand to grip the main lever arm  110  and to carry the technician catcher  100  up the pole  530 .  FIG. 11  also shows chain means secured to one of the main lever arms  110  and a mating link supporting arm  1114 . The chain means include a linked chain  1110  securely attached at a first end of the linked chain to the one of the main lever arms  110 . The link supporting arm  1114  pivotally secures  1116  at an end to the other main lever arm  110  and has a clip  1112  at an opposite end. In general, the end of the link supporting arm  1114  is securely positioned by arm engagement means  1118  on a portion of the other main lever arm  110  substantially opposite the chain means, such that the clip  1112  detachably engages a link of the linked chain  1110  to securely adjust the technician catcher  100  into a desired position about the pole  530 . The arm engagement means  1118  may include a nut, a bolt, a screw, a rivet, and/or welding to secure the link supporting arm  1114  to the main lever arm  110 . In addition, the arm engagement means  1118  and the chain means may by adjustable up or down the length of main lever arm  110  to better secure about various circumferences of the pole  530 . 
   In addition to the above embodiments, this invention includes a method of positioning the technician catcher safety device and/or a method of supporting or otherwise holding a fallen technician using the technician catcher safety device as herein described. As shown by the flowchart of  FIG. 12 , the method may include the technician donning a climbing belt and safety strap on the technician&#39;s waist as well as putting on additional safety equipment (e.g., hard hat), tools, and the technician catcher safety device [block  1210 ]. The technician places himself at the base of the pole [block  1220 ] and dons the foot gaffs [block  1230 ]. Thereafter, the technician places his/her hands on the side of the pole opposite his/her face [block  1240 ] and initiates a hand-over-hand ascent up the pole [block  1250 ]. Once the technician reaches a desired working elevation (e.g., the desired work position), then the technician ensures that the safety strap is secured around the pole and may lean back on the strap and use the secured foot gaffs to support the technician&#39;s weight to maintain the position [block  1260 ]. Thereafter, the technician uses a free hand to position the technician catcher safety device below and proximate to the safety strap [block  1270 ]. If the technician should fall, then the technician catcher safety device catches the technician and supports the weight of the suspended technician from the safety strap. 
   Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. For example, the main lever arms  110  may take on alternate shapes, such that they may be curved, flexible, or otherwise designed to position, support, or otherwise hold a fallen technician. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.