Patent Publication Number: US-2017368386-A1

Title: Fall Protection and Buffering Device with Compensating Arrangement

Description:
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Field of Invention 
     The present invention provides a fall protection and buffering device with a compensating arrangement that reduces the tensile strength of a buffer strip and provides multiple compensating structures on a retaining strip to meet the current standards of ANSI Z359.14 of the United States and EN360 of European Union. 
     Description of Related Arts 
     In the circumstances that operation constructions at height to mitigate the effects of gravity and falling, such as rock climbing, mountaineering, construction, etc., there must be compensated fall protection suspension device for safety purpose. 
     However, prior inventions, such as Taiwan Pat. No. 091200907: “Improved anti-fall safety belt,” No. 101210703: “High altitude safety rope,” No. 099202772: “Safety work clothing and its buffer packets,” and No. 099104089: “Safe workwear with cushion bag,” all fail in the marginal test according to the current standards of ANSI Z359.14 of the United States and EN360 of European Union. The marginal test is also called “SRL-Leading Edge (SRL-LE),” where the test cables of the prior inventions are cut off by the R0.13 test steel plate and fail to ensure a reliable protection. As a result, these prior products are also having difficulty in remaining on the shelves. 
     Because of this, the present inventor has elaborately conducted his research and development and eventually come up with the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a fall protection suspension device which comprises a retaining strip, a buffer strip, and a compensating arrangement. 
     The retaining strip has a predetermined length between a top end and a bottom end. 
     The buffer strip comprises a first textile layer and a second textile layer overlappedly affixed with each other. The first textile layer and the second textile layer are separated and individually extended from one end of the buffer strip. The first textile layer at the end of the buffer strip is affixed to the top end of the retaining strip. The second textile layer at the end of the buffer strip is affixed to the bottom end of the retaining strip. An opening separated by the first textile layer and the second textile layer at the buffer strip faces toward the retaining strip. Accordingly, the falling force will tear the first textile layer and second textile layer away from each other to sequentially separate the first textile layer and second textile layer from one end of the retaining strip to another end thereof. 
     The compensating arrangement that fastens the retaining strip in a folded state, wherein the compensating arrangement has at least a binding section provided at the retaining strip to fasten the retaining strip in the folded state, such that the binding section compensates a tensile strength of the buffer strip for resisting a tearing between the first textile layer and the second textile layer. 
     Therefore, the present invention is able to improve on the single side tearing configuration of the buffer strip of the conventional device in response to a falling scenario. Testing shows that product based on the present invention meets the requirements of the marginal test, the SRL-Leading Edge (SRL-LE), according to the standards of ANSI Z359.14 of the United States and EN360 of European Union, which further reinforces its safety protection function. 
     Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. 
     These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fall protection and buffering device in a folded state according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the fall protection and buffering device in an unfolded state according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are perspective views of the first textile layer and the second textile layer of the buffer strip being torn according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a first alternative mode of the fall protection and buffering device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a second alternative mode of the fall protection and buffering device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the present invention comprises a retaining strip  1 , a buffer strip  2 , and a compensating arrangement. 
     The retaining strip  1 , which has a predetermined length between a top end and a bottom end, comprises an upper connection unit  11  extended from the top end and a lower connection unit  12 . The upper connection unit  11  of the retaining strip  1  is adapted for coupling with an anti-falling device (not shown in the figures) via the retaining ring. The lower connection unit  12  of the retaining strip  1  is adapted to couple with a cable (not shown in the figures) to fasten therewith, so as to connect to the safety belt to the user via the cable. 
     The buffer strip  2  has a predetermined length between two ends, wherein the length of the buffer strip  2  is not longer than the length of the retaining strip  1 . The buffer strip  2  comprises a first textile layer  2 A and a second textile layer  2 B overlappedly affixed with each other. The first textile layer  2 A and the second textile layer  2 B can also be sewed into one piece with at least a stitching line which preferably formed with a zigzag configuration. Alternatively, the yarns of the first textile layer  2 A and the second textile layer  2 B can be intertwined with each other to form a one piece weaving structure. Accordingly, the first textile layer  2 A and the second textile layer  2 B are separated and individually extended from one end of the buffer strip  2 . The first textile layer  2 A at the end of the buffer strip  2  is affixed to the top end of the retaining strip  1 . The second textile layer  2 B at the end of the buffer strip  2  is affixed to the bottom end of the retaining strip  1 . An opening separated by the first textile layer  2 A and the second textile layer  2 B at the buffer strip  2  faces toward the retaining strip  1 , such that the retaining strip  1  and the buffer strip  2  can be overlappedly folded by sections as shown in  FIG. 1 . The folded retaining strip  1  and buffer strip  2  are received in a receiving pocket C, which is preferably made of plastic, to form a buffer pack. When a falling force is applied to the retaining strip  1 , the retaining strip  1  and buffer strip  2  can be unfolded without interfering with each other. In particular, the falling force will tear the first textile layer  2 A and second textile layer  2 B away from each other to sequentially separate the first textile layer  2 A and second textile layer  2 B from one end of the retaining strip  1  to another end thereof as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In other words, the first textile layer  2 A and second textile layer  2 B will be unfastened with each other due to the falling force between the two ends of the buffer strip  2 . In one embodiment, the tensile strength for resisting the tearing between the first textile layer  2 A and second textile layer  2 B is 200-300 kg*area, in which the tensile strength meets or slightly lower than the minimum standard of ANSI Z359.14 of the United States and EN360 of European Union besides the SRL-LE marginal test standard. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the compensating arrangement is provided at the folding section of the retaining strip  1 , which refer to the retaining strip  1  being overlappedly folded from top to bottom or being overlappedly folded from bottom to top, wherein the compensating arrangement fastens the retaining strip  1  in a folded state in order to overlappedly fold the retaining strip  1  in sections. In particular, the compensating arrangement has a plurality of binding sections  31 ,  33  and a plurality of releasing sections  32 ,  34  alternating with the binding sections  31 ,  33 . In other words, two first binding sections  31  are respectively provided at two ends of the retaining strip  1  close to the two ends of the buffer strip  2  and the releasing section  34  is provided at a mid-section of the retaining strip  1  away from two ends of the buffer strip  2 . In one embodiment, a second releasing section  34  is provided between the two second binding sections  33 , the two first binding sections  31  are provided at two ends of the retaining strip  1  respectively, and two first releasing sections  32  is respectively provided between the first binding section  31  and the second binding section  33 . Accordingly, the releasing sections  32 ,  34  are the unfastening sections of the retaining strip  1  when the retaining strip  1  is folded, such that the releasing sections  32 ,  34  cannot compensate the tensile strength of the buffer strip  2  for resisting the tearing between the first textile layer  2 A and the second textile layer  2 B. The binding sections  31 ,  33  are fastening sections of the retaining strip  1  when the retaining strip  1  is folded, wherein the fastening sections of the retaining strip  1  are overlapped and affixed with each other via stitching to form a one piece attaching structure when the retaining strip  1  is folded. It is appreciated that the binding sections  31 ,  33  can be affixed via other affixing structure. The binding sections  31 ,  33  can sequentially compensate the tensile strength of the buffer strip  2  for resisting the tearing between the first textile layer  2 A and the second textile layer  2 B and can control the first releasing section  32  to enable to the retaining strip  1  to be unfolded, so as to provide a multistage buffering effect for the retaining strip  1  with the buffer strip  2 . Therefore, the device according to the present invention will be able to meet the current standards of ANSI Z359.14 of the United States and EN360 of European Union and the requirements of the SRL-LE marginal test. According to actual testing, the tensile strength of the first binding section  31 , i.e. the first binding section  31  close to the buffer strip  2 , is weaker than the tensile strength of the second binding section  33 , i.e. the first binding section  31  away from the buffer strip  2 , and the tensile strength of the second binding section  33  is weaker than the tensile strength of the buffer strip  2 . As a result, the safety protection function of the retaining strip  1  and the buffer strip  2  for coping with falling can be reinforced. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the buffer strip  2  further has a first strip section  21 , a second strip section  22 , and a third strip section  23  sequentially defined between the two ends of the buffer strip  2 . Accordingly, the first textile layer  2 A and the second textile layer  2 B are separated and individually extended from one end of the buffer strip  2  at the first strip section  21  thereof. The first textile layer  2 A at the outer end of the first strip section  21  of the buffer strip  2  is affixed to the top end of the retaining strip  1 . The second textile layer  2 B at the outer end of the first strip section  21  of the buffer strip  2  is affixed to the bottom end of the retaining strip  1 . The opening separated by the first textile layer  2 A and the second textile layer  2 B at the first strip section  21  of the buffer strip  2  faces toward the retaining strip  1 . When a falling force is applied to the retaining strip  1 , the retaining strip  1  and buffer strip  2  can be unfolded without interfering with each other. In particular, the falling force will tear the first textile layer  2 A and second textile layer  2 B away from each other to sequentially separate the first textile layer  2 A and second textile layer  2 B from the first strip section  21  through the second strip section  22  to the third strip section  23  as shown in  FIG. 5 . In other words, the first textile layer  2 A and second textile layer  2 B will be unfastened with each other due to the falling force along the first to third portions  21 ,  22 ,  23  of the buffer strip  2 . The tensile strength of the first strip section  21  is greater than the tensile strength of the second strip section  22 , and the tensile strength of the second strip section  22  is weaker than the tensile strength of the third strip section  23 . Therefore, the present invention provides the multistage buffering effect to enhance the safety factor for the device. 
       FIG. 6  further illustrates an alternative mode of the present invention, wherein the compensating arrangement only has one first binding section  31  provided at the retaining strip  1  from top to bottom. In particular, the retaining strip  1  is overlappedly folded, wherein the first binding section  31  has a plurality of horizontal stitches sequentially from top to bottom of the folded retaining strip  1 . The intervals between every two adjacent stitches can be the same or different to overlappedly affix the retaining strip  1  in the folded state. The horizontal stitches can be sequentially broken to separate or unfold the folded retaining strip  1  in response to the falling force applied thereto. Therefore, the binding area  31  can 
     The horizontal stitches of the first binding section  31  can sequentially compensate the tensile strength of the buffer strip  2  for resisting the tearing between the first textile layer  2 A and second textile layer  2 B and can release the fastening of the retaining strip  1  to enable to the retaining strip  1  to be unfolded, so as to provide a multistage buffering effect for the retaining strip  1  with the buffer strip  2  without hurting the user&#39;s body. 
     To sum up, the present invention has the feature that the retaining strip  1  is incorporated with the buffer strip  2  to provide a multistage buffering configuration, so as to improve the cushioning and buffering function of the buffer strip  2 . The feature and structure is completely new and novel to the prior arts and is an excellent and outstanding design. Besides, it has never been published or seen in the field of similar products, and therefore, meets the condition of patent application. Hence, it is submitted herein according to the law. However, the above descriptions are only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but not to be used to confine the scope of embodying the present invention, which means all equivalent varieties and modifications based on the appended claims of the present invention are within the scope of the present invention. 
     One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.