Patent Publication Number: US-2023158347-A1

Title: Anchor device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/930,124, filed Nov. 4, 2019, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This application pertains to attachment of personal safety (or “fall prevention”) lines to connection points, such as those which may be employed on structures such as cargo containers typically transported in the holds and on the decks of cargo ships. Devices of this type commonly have a proximal handle-based mechanism gripped by a worker, and a long wand extending from the handle to a distal anchoring mechanism on the other end of the wand. A personal safety line connects the worker (who typically is wearing a safety harness to which the line is attached) and the anchoring mechanism. To avoid the need for the worker to approach the edge of the container and reduce the risk falling from the container, the worker uses the length of the wand to insert the mechanism into the connection point from a distance, then activates a locking feature of the mechanism to affix the anchoring mechanism to the connection point. The worker, secured in case of fall by the personal safety line, may move about the top of the container. To release the anchoring mechanism, the worker uses the handle to disengage or otherwise unlock the anchoring mechanism. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, an anchor device comprises an anchoring mechanism. The anchoring mechanism comprises a connection point for a personal safety line, and multiple jaws coupled to each other to expand when tension is applied to the connection point. The multiple jaws contract when compression is applied to the connection point, typically manually; or when a cable is employed to apply force to the connection point in the opposite direction, essentially compressing the cable. 
     In another embodiment, an anchor device comprises a hollow wand, a handle-based mechanism connected to a proximal end of the wand, and an anchoring mechanism connected to a distal end of the wand. A cable is connected to the handle-based mechanism and runs within the hollow wand. The other end of the cable is connected to the anchoring mechanism. The anchoring mechanism comprises a connection point for a personal safety line, and multiple jaws coupled to each other to expand when tension is applied to the connection point. The multiple jaws contract when tension is applied to the cable within the wand. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective exploded view of a portion of one embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a right side exploded view of the portion of the embodiment of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIGS.  3  and  4    are respective front views of the portion of  FIGS.  1  and  2    shown inserted into a connection point.  FIG.  3    illustrates an unlocked state and  FIG.  4    represents a locked state. 
         FIG.  5    is a partial cutaway and cross-sectional perspective view of the inserted, unlocked state of  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIGS.  3 - 5    shown inserted and locked into an alternative location on a connection point. 
         FIG.  7    is a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a wand anchor as a whole. 
         FIG.  8    is an enlarged portion of  FIG.  7   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The particular embodiments described in this application are only examples of possible implementation of the principles first disclosed here. In particular, the dimensions implied by the embodiments are only illustrative and not definitional unless specifically noted as such. All of the text appearing on the figures is incorporated by reference as if set out in full below. 
     An example of a known anchor device is a wand anchor shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,745 (Vandelinde), the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference only for purposes of providing context, vocabulary, and background to the problem solved by the subject of this application. 
     Referring briefly to  FIG.  7   , an embodiment of an anchor device  100  comprises an anchoring mechanism  10 , an optional wand  20  and an optional handle  30 . The anchoring mechanism  10  and handle  30  are connected to distal and proximal ends of wand  20 , respectively. The embodiment of  FIG.  7    is particularly preferred in the cargo container situation described above. However, in other applications, anchoring mechanism  10  may be employed alone, that is, without wand  20  and handle  30 . If used, wand  20  is typically about three feet in length to provide a worker with a safe distance between their location at the handle  30  and the intended or actual location of the anchoring mechanism  10  which is adjacent the edge of a container, potentially at dangerous height above the ship deck or water surface. Regardless of length, wand  20  is hollow and has running within itself a release cable  21  which is mechanically connected to anchoring mechanism  10  and handle  30  as described further below. A personal safety line (not shown) may connect the worker (not shown), wearing a safety harness to which the personal safety line is attached, and the anchoring mechanism  10 . As depicted in  FIG.  7   , the worker has inserted mechanism  10  into a connection point (not shown), and put the mechanism into its locked position, as explained further below. 
     Turning to  FIGS.  1 - 6   , anchoring mechanism  10  is attached to the distal end of wand  20  and may be generally described as comprising an upper portion  11  and a lower portion  12  separated by a mounting plate  13 . In general, lower portion  12  is inserted into a structure  200  until mounting plate  13  rests upon the structure  200 . One advantage of the embodiment illustrated in the Figures is that it may be employed at multiple locations on a connection point, as best illustrated by considering  FIGS.  3 - 5    as compared to  FIG.  6   .  FIGS.  3 - 5    show a connection to the upper face of the structure while  FIG.  6    shows a connection to the side face of the same structure. To accommodate these different locations, optional bumpers  40  lie on opposite sides of the lower surface of mounting plate  13 . Bumpers  40  may be sized and positioned so that they touch the outer face of structure  200  when a relatively smaller opening is used to engage structure  200 , as illustrated in  FIG.  6   ; and further so that they fit inside the opening of structure  200  when a relatively larger opening is used to engage structure  200 , as illustrated in  FIG.  5   . The bumpers  40  may be sized and positioned so that they contact structure  200  when inside the opening to provide a more secure fit. 
     Referring specifically to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , upper portion  11  comprises a ring  14 , which is coupled (preferably by a pivot mount  29 ) to a central shaft  22 . Central shaft  22  is biased by spring  23  between collar  27  and upper mount  24 . A central collet  25  fits underneath upper mount  24  within central opening  31  of mounting plate  13 . Upper mount  24  is designed to be attached (such as by two screws  26  or equivalent means) to mounting plate  13  such that it may pivot in the plane of mounting plate  13 . Specifically, handle  30  and wand  20 , if used, may be operated “left” and “right” within a range of ±45 degrees from a neutral position during use. Thus, the device as a whole may be used to access connection points on left or right corners of containers. This enables the worker to deploy the device when they are not proximate either edge of the container, to reduce the risk of falling, and then rotate the wand to either side so that it is out of the worker&#39;s way. When the worker desires, they may rotate the wand back to the neutral position, then deploy the handle  30  so that release cable  21  causes the anchoring mechanism  10  to disengage. A spring-biased pin  28  combines with various detent points  15  on the upper surface of mounting plate  13  to fix the position of the wand  20  along the angle of rotation. 
     Referring briefly again to  FIG.  7   , upper mount  24  is also designed to accept and pivotably attach wand  20 , such as by a cotter pin or the like. The pin allows wand  20  to pivot to a vertical position when desired. Release cable  21  passes from the interior of wand  20  through the interior of upper mount  24 , and then upward within spring  23  along central shaft  22 , to a point at which the distal end of release cable  21  is fixed to collar  27 . It should be noted that  FIGS.  1 - 2    are schematic only, and thus for purposes of depiction only, the distal end of wand  20  is below mounting plate  13 . 
     Returning to  FIGS.  1 - 5   , lower portion  12  comprises two pairs of expandable locking jaws  41 ,  42 , each pair including two pivoting outwardly curved jaws  41   a,    41   b  and  42   a,    42   b,  respectively. Each pair of locking jaws  41 ,  42  is generally identical to the other, and they lie on opposite sides of a mounting bracket  43 . Each pivoting jaw ( 41   a,    41   b  and  42   a,    42   b ) is pivotably attached to mounting bracket  43  at one end. Each pivoting jaw on the same side of the device (such as  42   a,    42   b  as illustrated in  FIGS.  3  and  4   ) is toothed or otherwise arranged to mate with each other. The other end of each pivoting jaw ( 41   a,    41   b  and  42   a,    42   b ) is also pivotably connected to one end of a pair of linkages  44   a,    44   b  which are themselves connected to each other and to a central binding post  45 . The binding post  45  connects the pairs of linkages  44   a,    44   b  on opposite sides to each other, and also to connector link  46  (through a hole  46   a ) that permits the reciprocal, vertical movement of each pair of linkages  44   a,    44   b.  The other, upper end of connector link  46  is connected to central shaft  22  which has extended through central opening  31  in plate  13 . The mechanism includes various sleeves, screws, bearings, washers, etc. that function according to their typical principles and therefore are not described further. 
     The result is that upper portion  11  and lower portion  12  are mechanically connected to each other. More specifically, tension applied to ring  20  will be transferred through central shaft  22  to connector link  46  and thus linkages  44   a,    44   b.  Thus, tension applied to ring  20  (such as by the bias of spring  23 , or by a force pulling on a safety line attached by carabiner or the like clipped to ring  20 ) pulls central shaft  22  upward and therefore causes both pairs of expandable jaws  41 ,  42  to widen and lock the mechanism in place, as best seen by comparing  FIGS.  3  and  4    (note the difference in location of collar  27  relative to upper mount  24 , and also the difference in location of central coupling  45  between the two figures). 
     This behavior contrasts with the operation of a type of wand anchor which employs an anchor plate as an attachment for the carabiner or other connection to the user, and normally-expanded spring-biased jaws. The anchor plate is not directly coupled to any portion of a mechanism controlling the position of the jaws, i.e, the jaws are pulled together by a cable within the wand shaft during insertion of the jaws into the connection point. Once the jaws are located, the cable is released and the spring biases the jaws into place. While the anchor plate is attached to the apparatus so that it may pivot around the central vertical axis, forces acting on it have no direct influence on the jaws used to hold the device to the connection point. The anchor plate is simply a static connection to the apparatus as a whole, not a contributor to the amount of tension applied to ultimately force the jaws outward and thus secure the apparatus to the connection point. 
       FIG.  8    illustrates a preferred, optional handle  30 . As mentioned above, handle  30  is attached to the proximal end of wand  20  and receives release cable  21  from the hollow interior of wand  20 . A worker may operate lever  32 , to which release cable  21  is attached, to put release cable  21  under tension and thereby overcome the bias of spring  23  to push the pairs of expandable locking jaws  41 ,  42  into their contracted position as shown in  FIGS.  3  and  5   . This allows for insertion or removal of the jaws into the connection point, as described above. 
     Handle  30  also comprises a secondary lock  33  which holds the lever  32  in the locked position when the device is in use. Secondary lock  33  is held against lever  32  to prevent motion of lever  32  by a spring loaded trigger lock  34 , which must be depressed prior to the lever  32  being operable. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the wand  20  and handle  30  are not employed and the anchoring mechanism  10  is inserted manually and then locked by pulling manually on ring  14 , as described above. Manually pushing down on the spring, using ring  14 , for example, unlocks anchoring mechanism  10 . A variation on this embodiment employs a release cable  21 , but the cable need not be housed in a wand  20 .