Patent Publication Number: US-6991201-B1

Title: Line support systems

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The subject invention generally and in various embodiments relates to line support systems, and more particularly to devices for supporting line or wire in a stable position. Hand line carriers for supporting lines or wires are generally known and used to support a line or lines to be carried by a technician. Hand line carriers are commonly attached to a technician climbing belt or body belt. These carrier devices generally release the line hanging through resilient arms of the carrier at the same amount of force regardless of the load to be supported. As such, existing hand line carriers may release line prematurely due to their construction. Another way of transporting a line or lines is for a technician to physically carry the line or lines. Yet another way is to loop the line directly through the belt of the technician. 
   It can be appreciated that commercial entities and other organizations that employ workers in elevated environments are aware of the potential risks attendant upon work performed in such environments. In view of this awareness, commercial entities and other organizations devote time and resources to promoting the safety of workers performing work in elevated environments to make the performance of work as safe as possible. Promoting safety of workers in elevated environments may involve instituting training programs and/or providing workers with a variety of support devices, support systems, backup devices and systems, and/or other means that promote the stability and safety of workers in elevated environments. Despite the best efforts of an organization to enhance the safety of its workers and reduce the risk of falling from elevated structures, for example, it is nonetheless difficult to eliminate all risks to workers performing work on such elevated structures. 
   Redundant systems for promoting safety of workers on elevated utility structures may thus sometimes be used. Such redundant systems can sometimes be beneficial in addition to the myriad of existing support systems, methods, devices and/or other apparatus employed by workers on elevated structures to reduce or mitigate risks associated with falling from utility structures, for example. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, there may be provided a line support. The line support may have a first support member with an elongate body and a second support member with an elongate body that may be secured to the first support member at a proximal end of the line support. The first and second support members may be positioned such that support may be provided by a biasing force at a distal end of the line support as the first and second support members may be resilient. The first and second support members may be in close proximity to one another substantially along their lengths when the first and the second support members are unoccupied. The line support may also have a sliding retainer that may be selectively positionable about the first and second support members and configured such that the biasing force may be selectively adjustable. 
   Embodiments of the present invention may include a line support system having a first support position and a second support portion that may be elongated and form a unitary body on a proximal end of the line support and may be separated at a distal end of the line support. The first and second support portions may be configured such that support may be provided by a biasing force at the distal end of the line support as the first support portion and the second support portion may be resilient. The first and second support portions may also be in close proximity to one another substantially along their lengths when the first and the second support portions are unoccupied. The line support may also comprise a sliding retainer that may be selectively positionable about the first and second support portions and configured such that the biasing force may be selectively adjustable. 
   Embodiments of the present invention may also include a line support with a first and second support means for providing a biasing force. The first and second means may be capable of supporting a line as the second means may be secured to the first means on a proximal end of the line support. The first and second means may also be in close proximity to the first means substantially along their lengths when the first and second means are unoccupied. The biasing force may be applied by the first and second means due to the first and second means being resilient. The line support may further include an adjustment means for providing a selectively adjustable biasing force. The adjustment means may also be selectively positionable about the first and second means. 
   Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying Figures, there are shown embodiments of the present invention wherein like reference numerals are employed to designate like parts and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of a line support of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the line support of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 2A  is an enlarged view of an encircled portion of the line support of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the line support of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the line support of  FIG. 1  wherein a line may be supported; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the line support of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a front view of an embodiment of a line support of the present invention wherein a line may be supported; 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the line support of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 7A  is an enlarged view of an encircled portion of the line support of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a cross section of a sliding retainer of the line support system of  FIGS. 1–5 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a cross section of a sliding retainer of the line support system of  FIGS. 6–7 ; and 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of the line support of  FIG. 5  as it may be employed. 
   

   DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to the drawings for the purposes of illustrating embodiments of the invention only and not for the purposes of limiting the same,  FIGS. 1–9  illustrate embodiments of the invention. 
     FIGS. 1–5  illustrate embodiments of a line support  10 . The line support  10  may include a first support member  20  and a second support member  30 . The line support  10  may be optionally suspended from a loop  40  that may releasably attach to securing structures  101  such as, for example, a climbing belt, a belt loop, a body belt, etc. as shown in  FIG. 10 . The first support member  20  and second support member  30  may also be configured to provide support to a line  100  when the line  100  is positioned between the two support members  20 ,  30  or behind the first support member  20  within a stirrup  50  (or stirrup  150  shown in  FIGS. 6–7 ). 
   First support member  20  may have an elongated construction and may be attached to second support member  30  by fasteners  22  at a first proximal end  23  of the first support member  20 . Fasteners  22  may be constructed from various suitable materials such as, for example, bolts, rivets, etc. First support member  20  may also be in close proximity to the second support member  30  substantially along the length of the first support member  20 . “Close proximity” is defined herein as being, for example, abutting or nearly abutting. First support member  20  may have a first outer surface  24  and a first inner surface  26 . First inner surface  26  may be used for supporting the line  100  when the line support  10  is employed as will be discussed in greater detail below. 
   Second support member  30  also may have an elongated construction and may have a shank  31  and a protrusion portion  37  located on a distal portion  32  of the second support member  30 . The second support member  30  may be attached to first support member  20  by fasteners  22  at a second proximal end  33  of the second support member  30 . The protrusion portion  37  on the distal portion  32  is located at a second distal end  35  of second support member  30  and may also be in close proximity to the first support member  20  on the first inner surface  26  substantially along the length of the second support member  30 . The phrase “substantially along the length of second support member  30 ” may be along most, but not all, of the length of second support member  30 . The protrusion portion  37  on the distal portion  32  may be resilient. The second proximal end  33  may extend beyond the first proximal end  23  such that the second proximal end  33  may be used to provide a slot  39  for optionally attaching the loop  40 . Loop  40  may have different configurations such as, for example, a rawhide strap, etc. and may or may not be needed to use the line support  10 . 
   Stirrup  50  may be provided near the second distal end  35  of the second support member  30  near the end of the shank  31 . A first stirrup portion  58  may be positioned on an opposite side of the second support member  30  from a second stirrup portion  56 . The first and second stirrup portions  58 ,  56  may form a loop extending outward from the end of the shank  31  of the second support member  30  to the protrusion portion  37 . Due to the configuration of the stirrup  50 , vertical support may be provided to the line  100  when the line  100  is positioned behind the first support member  20  and hung through the stirrup  50  or stirrup  150  (as illustrated in  FIGS. 6–7 ). 
   Alignment channels  66 ,  68  may also be provided at the second distal end  35  of the second support member  30 . First alignment channel  68  may be positioned on an opposite side of the distal portion  32  from second alignment channel  66 . The alignment channels  66 ,  68  may extend beyond the first and second distal ends  25 ,  35  of the first and second support members  20 ,  30 , respectively. Due to the configuration and position of the alignment channels  66 ,  68 , lateral support may be provided to the line  100  which may be secured to the line support  10  by the biasing force F. The line  100  may thus be prevented from moving side-to-side and potentially twisting out of the line support  10 . 
   Positioned around the first and second members  20 ,  30  and in partial contact with the first and second outer surfaces  24 ,  34 , may be a sliding retainer  70 . The sliding retainer  70  may be of different configurations such as, for example, a slipping wedge, etc. The sliding retainer  70  may have a securing mechanism  77  such as, for example, a thumbscrew, etc. Sliding retainer  70  may be freely positioned between the fasteners  22  and a sliding retainer stop  72  when the securing mechanism  77  is disengaged. The sliding retainer  70  may be secured to one or both of the first and second support members  20 ,  30  by engagement of the securing mechanism  77 . The closer that securing mechanism  77  may be secured to the slider retainer stop  72 , the greater the biasing force F that may be available to the line support  10 . Indication marks (not shown) may additionally be provided to communicate the biasing force F created for a given position of the sliding retainer  70  and may further relate the biasing force F to a number of lines or wires that can be carried up to some range of height or distance before the biasing force F would be overcome. 
     FIG. 8  illustrates embodiments of the sliding retainer  70 . As shown in  FIGS. 1–5 , sliding retainer  70  may be freely positioned between the fasteners  22  and sliding retainer stop  72  about the first and second members  20 ,  30 . The sliding retainer  70  may have an inner wall  76  that may be in close proximity with the first and second outer surfaces  24 ,  34  and an outer wall  74 . The securing mechanism  77  may be provided to be received in a threaded bore  75 . When the securing mechanism  77  is tightened against one of the first and second support members  20 ,  30 , the sliding retainer  70  will be retained in the selected position. 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 2A , the forward alignment channel  68  has a section removed for viewing purposes and the rear alignment channel  66  can be seen behind the first and second distal ends  25 ,  35  of the first and second support members  20 ,  30 , respectively. The distal portion  32  on the second distal end  35  of the second support member  30  may have the protrusion portion  37  provided for being in close proximity with the first distal end  25  on the first inner surface  26 . Due to the first and second proximal ends  23 ,  33  securing the first and second support members  20 ,  30  together, the first inner surface  26  of the first distal end  25  may be configured to be in close proximity to the protrusion portion  37  of the second distal end  35  when the area between the two is unoccupied. The protrusion portion  37  may be provided for increasing the grip of the biasing force F. The first and second inner surfaces  26 ,  36  may be in close proximity to one another substantially along their lengths, as the second support member  30  may not mirror the first support member  20 , when the line support  10  is not in an open position and may otherwise be unoccupied. 
   As can be seen in  FIGS. 4–5 , the line support  10  is employed and has the line  100  positioned between the first and second support members  20 ,  30 . In this embodiment, the line  100  may be retained in a supported position due to the biasing force F that may be provided by the line support  10 . To support the line  100 , the sliding retainer  70  may be positioned at the first proximal end  23  of the first support member  20  to minimize the force F required to overcome the biasing force F. The first distal end  25  of the first support member  20  may be pried back so as to open the area between the first inner surface  26  and the protrusion portion  37 . The first distal end  25  may additionally have a handle (not shown) or other structure for assisting in opposing the biasing force F by pulling the first distal end  25  away from the second distal end  35 . Once the area between the first and second distal ends  25 ,  35  is opened, the line  100  may be fed therethrough. Thereafter the biasing force F may be reapplied by releasing the first distal end  25  of the line support  10 . To increase the biasing force F, the sliding retainer  70  may be moved toward the first and second distal ends  25 ,  35  and secured by the securing mechanism  77 . As can be seen in the drawings, sliding retainer  70  has been positioned in close proximity to the sliding retainer stop  72 . As discussed above, the protrusion portion  37  may provide additional grip for the biasing force F supplied by the line support  10 . 
     FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate embodiments of a line support  110  of the invention as described below. The line support  110  may include a first support portion  120  and a second support portion  130 . The first support portion  120  and second support portion  130  may form a unitary body at a proximal end  123  while being separated at a first distal end  125  and a second distal end  135 . The line support  110  may be optionally suspended from a loop  140  that may releasably attach to securing structures  101  such as, for example, a climbing belt, a belt loop, a body belt, etc. The first support portion  120  and second support portion  130  may also be configured to provide support to the line  100  when the line  100  is positioned between the two support portions  120 ,  130  (as shown in  FIGS. 1–5 ) or behind the first support portion  120  within a stirrup  150 . 
   First support portion  120  may have an elongated construction and may form a unitary body with the second support portion  130  at the proximal end  123 . First support portion  120  may also be in close proximity to the second support portion  130  substantially along their lengths. First support portion  120  may have a first outer surface  124  and a first inner surface  126 . First inner surface  126  may be used for retaining the line  100  when the line support  110  is employed as will be discussed in greater detail below. 
   Second support portion  130  also may have an elongated construction and may have a shank  131  and a protrusion portion  137  located on a distal portion  132  of the second support portion  130 . The protrusion portion  137  may also be in close proximity to the first inner surface  126  of the first support portion  120  substantially along their lengths as the first and second support portions  120 ,  130  may not mirror one another. The protrusion portion  137  on the distal portion  132  may be resilient. The proximal end  123  may be used to provide a slot  139  for optionally attaching the loop  140 . Loop  140  may have different configurations such as, for example, a rawhide strap, etc. and may or may not be needed to use the line support  110 . 
   Stirrup  150  may be provided near the second distal end  135  of the second support portion  130  near the end of the shank  131 . A first stirrup portion  158  may be positioned on an opposite side of the second support portion  130  from a second stirrup portion  156 . The first and second stirrup portions  158 ,  156  may form a loop extending from the end of the shank  131  of the second support member  130  to the protrusion portion  137 . Due to the configuration of the stirrup  150 , vertical support may be provided to the line  100  when the line  100  is positioned behind the first distal end  125  of the first support member  120  and hung through the stirrup  150 . 
   Alignment channels  166 ,  168  may also be provided at the second distal end  135  of the second support portion  130 . First alignment channel  168  may be positioned on an opposite side of the distal portion  132  from second alignment channel  166 . The alignment channels  166 ,  168  may extend beyond the first and second distal ends  125 ,  135  of the first and second support portions  120 ,  130 , respectively. Due to the configuration and position of the alignment channels  166 ,  168 , lateral support may be provided to the line  100  which may be secured to the line support  110  by the biasing force F. The line  100  may thus be prevented from moving side-to-side and potentially twisting out of the line support  110 . 
   Positioned around the first and second portions  120 ,  130  and in partial contact with the first and second outer surfaces  124 ,  134 , may be a sliding retainer  170 . The sliding retainer  170  may be of different configurations such as, for example, a slipping wedge, etc. The sliding retainer  170  may have a securing mechanism  177  such as, for example, a rack of teeth, etc. Sliding retainer  170  may be freely positioned between sliding retainer stops  172  when the securing mechanism  177  is disengaged. The sliding retainer  170  may be secured to one or both of the first and second support portions  120 ,  130  by engagement of the securing mechanism  177 . The closer that securing mechanism  177  may be secured to the first and second distal ends  125 ,  135 , the greater the biasing force F. Indication marks (not shown) may additionally be provided to communicate the biasing force F created for a given position of the sliding retainer  170  and may further relate the biasing force F to a number of lines or wires that can be carried up to some range of height or distance before the biasing force F would be overcome. 
     FIG. 9  illustrates embodiments of the sliding retainer  170 . As shown in  FIGS. 6–7 , sliding retainer  170  may be freely positioned between the sliding retainer stops  172  about the first and second portions  120 ,  130 . The sliding retainer  170  may have an inner spring  179  that may be in close proximity with the first and second outer surfaces  124 ,  134  and an outer wall  174 . The securing mechanism  177  may be provided in conjunction with a complementary rack of teeth  127 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . When the securing mechanism  177  is engaged with the rack of teeth  127 , the sliding retainer  170  may be retained in the selected position. To reposition the sliding retainer  170 , the outer wall  174  may be pressed in a direction to disengage the securing mechanism  177  from the rack of teeth  127  and thus compress the spring  179 . When the disengaging pressure on the outer wall  174  may be released, the sliding retainer  170  may then return to a retained position as the spring  179  forces the securing mechanism  177  to engage the rack of teeth  127 . 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 7A , the forward alignment channel  168  has a section removed for viewing purposes and the rear alignment channel  166  can be seen behind the first and second distal ends  125 ,  135  of the first and second support portions  120 ,  130 , respectively. The distal portion  132  on the second distal end  135  of the second support portion  130  may have the protrusion portion  137  provided for being in close proximity with the first distal end  125  on the first inner surface  126 . Due to the proximal end  123  securing the first and second support portions  120 ,  130  together, the first inner surface  126  of the first distal end  125  may be configured to be in close proximity to the protrusion portion  137  of the second distal end  135  when the area between the two may be unoccupied. The protrusion portion  137  may be provided for increasing the grip of the biasing force F. The first and second inner surfaces  126 ,  136  may be in close proximity to one another substantially along their lengths when the line support  110  is not in an open position and may otherwise be unoccupied. 
   As can be seen in  FIGS. 6–7 , the line support  110  is employed and has the line  100  positioned behind the first support portion  120  and within the stirrup  150 . In this embodiment, the line  100  may be retained in a supported position due to the biasing force F that may be provided by the line support  110 . To support the line  100  in this configuration, the sliding retainer  170  may be positioned at the proximal end  123  of the line support  110 . In this configuration the line  100  may be first positioned through the second stirrup portion  156  and the first support portion  120  and then positioned out through the first stirrup portion  158  and the first support portion  120 . The line  100  that may be protruding from between the first stirrup portion  158  and the first support portion  120  may then be allowed to droop a given length depending on the requirements of the carrier. In this configuration, absent the line  100  slipping out of the position behind the first support portion  120 , the biasing force F may retain the line  100  in the line support  110 . To increase the biasing force F, the sliding retainer  170  may be moved toward the first and second distal ends  125 ,  135  and secured by the securing mechanism  177 . 
     FIG. 10  illustrates the line support  10  as it may be in use with a lineman  600  on a pole  700 . As discussed above, the line  100  may be positioned through the line support  10  and may thus be supported therein. The line support  100  may further be optionally suspended from the loop  40  that may releasably attach to the securing structure  101 . As can be seen in the drawing, the lineman  600  is free to work while strapped onto the pole  700  while having the line  100  conveniently positioned and supported. 
   Other methods of attaching the line supports  10 ,  110  are, within the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the invention. The line supports  10 ,  110  may attach directly to a belt or other securing structure. In addition, the line supports  10 ,  110  may also be carried by hand or otherwise configured to attach to different securing structures. 
   Further implementations for allowing the line supports  10 ,  110  to open for positioning the line  100  to allow the biasing force F to be applied are within the spirit and scope of the invention as well. The addition of an extra length of the first support  20 ,  120  beyond the second support  30 ,  130  may be implemented for this purpose, as well as other like implementations may be used to assist in the separation of the first support  20 ,  120  from the second support  30 ,  130 . 
   The distal portion  32 ,  132  of the second support  30 ,  130  may also be shaped in a myriad of different shapes to provide increased grip for the biasing force F. Also, protrusion portion  37 ,  137  may be positioned on the first support  20 ,  120 . Other shapes and designs may be employed for increasing grip on the line  100  when the line support  10 ,  110  is employed. 
   The embodiments of the invention represent significant improvements over line carrying devices. Those of ordinary skill in the art will, of course, appreciate that various changes in the details, materials and arrangement of parts which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by the skilled artisan within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.