Patent Abstract:
A remotely attachable personal fall arrestment apparatus includes a self-retracting lanyard (SRL) having an upwardly protruding carabineer connector ring which has a gate link that is pivotable open to expose a downwardly protruding upper front hook link which is attachable to an anchor member such as a rebar or bolt eye located above a work site, and a lifeline retractably extendable downwardly from the SRL and releasably attachable to a safety body-harness worn by a worker The apparatus includes an SRL remote attachment device comprising a pole having an upper end which supports the connector ring, and a gate link operating mechanism that has a flexible cable deployed downwardly along the pole and having a lower end which may be grasped and tensioned to open the gate link and enable the hook link hook an anchor member, and released to allow a spring to close and lock the gate link.

Full Description:
The present application claims priority of and to U.S. provisional application No. 61/929,056, filed Jan. 18, 2014, and incorporates by reference the entire contents of that application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to safety apparatus for protecting against injurious or potentially fatal falls of workers such as construction workers or window washers working at elevations of more than a few feet above the ground. More particularly, the invention relates to a personal fall arrestment apparatus which includes a self-retracting lanyard (SRL) and a remotely operable attachment device for the SRL that enables the anchoring connector ring of the SRL to be remotely attachable by a workman to fixed anchor members located at elevations above the reach of a workman. 
     B. Description of Background Art 
     Federal and state safety regulations such as those promulgated by OSHA or Cal/OSHA routinely include requirements that persons exposed to fall hazards during the course of their work be protected from injury or death by a personal fall arrest system. Such systems typically include a body harness which is secured around the body of a worker and hooked to a self-retracting lanyard (SRL). The SRL includes a housing that has an upper attachment connector ring which is securable to a fixed anchoring member such as a J-bar or eye-bolt located above a working level and securely fastened to an anchoring structure such as a beam or column of a building. 
     The SRL of a typical personal fall arrestment system includes a lifeline consisting of a cable or belt which retractably extends from a lower part of the SRL housing, and has at the lower end thereof a swivel connector which is releasably fastenable to a body harness. A typical SRL contains within its housing a shock absorbing deceleration device which allows a pre-determined length of lifeline to pay out from the housing in response to tension exerted on the lifeline caused by movement of a worker away from an anchoring member. Typically, the deceleration device includes a spool or reel which allows a pre-determined length of about two to six feet of lifeline to pay out from the SRL housing with little resistance, thus enabling the worker to move horizontally on scaffolding, or to free-fall that distance. 
     An SRL deceleration device also includes a mechanism such as a spiral clock spring, which exerts an increasing torque on the spool or reel to thus gradually decrease the rate at which a safety line or web may be paid out from the SRL housing, thus decelerating the falling worker to a complete stop over a distance of, for example, about 3.5 feet. The total maximum length of safety line which may be withdrawn from a typical SRL deceleration device, e.g., from about 5.5 feet to about 9.5 feet, is chosen to have a value sufficient to position the feet of a workman above the ground or any obstruction such as a protruding part of a building or scaffolding below him, thus preventing the workman from impact injury. 
     Personal fall arrestment systems of the type described above are widely used and effective. However, there is a problem associated with the use of such systems in many practically encountered situations, as will now be described. 
     The self-retracting lanyard (SRL) or other such deceleration device of a fall arrest system must be quickly and easily but securely attachable to and removable from a fixed anchoring member at a work site, at a location above a worker. A releasable SRL anchoring support connector ring used for this purpose must not only be easily attachable to and removable from an anchoring member, but must also be capable of withstanding large tensional dynamic loads, such as those imposed by a 200-lb man falling and pulling on the lifeline connected to the deceleration device. Because of the large potential dynamic loads which a self-retracting lanyard (SRL) connector ring must withstand, such connector rings are typically constructed to be capable of withstanding static loads of up to 3000 lbs. 
     Since anchoring connector rings of self-retracting lanyards and other such deceleration devices must be readily attachable to an anchoring member such as an eye-bolt which has a closed ring shape, SRL anchoring connectors are typically of the carabiner type. Carabiner connectors have the form of an oval or D-shaped ring which has a locking link or gate pivotable from a locked position to an open position in which the D-shaped ring is closed. In the open and unlocked position, an upper end of the gate link which was locked to the lower end of a downwardly curved, hook-like upper front segment of the D-shaped ring may be pivoted away from the upper front segment of the D-shaped ring. This position enables the now unobstructed lower end of the upper front segment to be inserted into a closed ring of an anchoring member, such as the eye of an eye-bolt, or hooked around a rebar. The locking gate link must also be pivotable back to a locked position after the carabiner connector ring has been connected to an anchoring member. 
     Most safety standards require that two distinct actions be performed to unlock and open the locking gate link of an anchoring connector ring such as the carabiner type connector ring described above. For example, a carabiner connector widely used in existing fall arrestment systems requires the following two distinct actions to open the locking gate link. First, a cylindrical sleeve of the locking gate link must be twisted about its longitudinal axis to disengage a locking lug at the upper end of the locking gate link from a slot in the lower end of the downwardly curved upper end segment of the connector ring. Second, the twisted locking gate sleeve is pulled away from the downwardly curved upper end of the carabiner connector ring. The twisted and tensioned locking gate link is then pivoted towards the interior of the carabiner connector ring to create an opening between the lower end of the downwardly curved upper front segment of the connector ring, which may then be inserted into the eye of an eye-bolt, hooked around a rebar, or attached to another such anchoring member. The carabiner connector ring is then securely locked to the anchoring member by reversing the foregoing steps. These steps consist of releasing tension and torque on the twisted locking gate sleeve. Spring tension provided by spring components of the locking gate then cause the twisted locking gate sleeve to lockingly re-engage the downwardly protruding upper end of the carabiner connector ring. 
     Since SRL anchoring connectors including carabiner type connector rings of the type described above must be secured to an anchoring member which is usually several feet or more above the head of a worker, it can be readily appreciated that securing an SRL anchoring connector ring to an elevated anchoring member at a work site may be problematic. The present invention was developed to solve such problems by providing a personal fall arrestment apparatus that includes an attachment device which enables the connector ring at the upper end of an SRL to be remotely attachable to and removable by a workman to an anchoring member located above and beyond the convenient reach of the workman. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a remote attachment device for facilitating attachment of an anchoring connector ring of a self-retracting lanyard (SRL) component of a fall arrestment apparatus to a fixed anchor member such as a rebar or bolt eye fixed to a structure such as a building, which anchor member may be at a location above and thus not readily accessible to a workman. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a remote attachment device for fall arrestment apparatus which includes a pole that preferably has a telescopically adjustable length, the pole having at an upper end thereof an anchoring connector ring support saddle block for attachment to an upper anchoring connector ring such as a carabiner connector ring of a fall arrestment apparatus, and an anchoring connector locking gate operating mechanism which has a flexible cable tensionable to remotely unlock and pivot to an open position the locking gate of the anchoring connector ring and thus enable a downwardly protruding end segment of the connector ring to be inserted into and engage a fixed anchoring member such as the eye of an eye-bolt, released in tension to enable spring tension in the anchoring connector gate to pivot the locking gate to a closed position, and rotated to engage the lock, the flexible tension cable being deployed downwardly from the gate operating mechanism through guide eyes attached to the telescopic pole to a lower handle end of the pole and having at the lower end thereof an end which may be pulled downwardly to unlock the locking gate and released to allow spring tension of the locking gate to restore the locking gate to a locking position. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a remotely attachable personal fall arrestment apparatus which includes a self-retracting lanyard (SRL) that has a housing which has protruding upward from an upper end thereof an anchoring connector ring such as a carabiner connector ring for releasable attachment to an anchor member such as a rebar or bolt eye, a shock reducing deceleration device within the SRL housing, which is suspended from the anchoring connector ring, a lifeline retractably extendable from a lower side of the SRL housing and terminated at a lower end thereof by a swivel snap hook releasably attachable to a safely body-harness worn by a worker, and an SRL remote attachment device including a telescopically adjustable pole which has at an upper end thereof an anchoring connector ring support saddle block, and an anchoring connector ring locking gate operating mechanism for remotely unlocking, opening, and locking the locking gate of an anchoring connector ring, the gate operating mechanism including a flexible tension cable deployed downwardly from the gate operating mechanism along the telescopic pole to a lower handle end of the pole and having at a lower end thereof which may be pulled downwardly to unlock the anchoring connector ring locking gate, and released to allow spring tension of the locking gate to restore it to a locking position. 
     Various other objects and advantages of the present invention, and its most novel features, will become apparent to those skilled in the art by perusing the accompanying specification, drawings and claims. 
     It is to be understood that although the invention disclosed herein is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages described, the characteristics of the invention described herein are merely illustrative of the preferred embodiments. Accordingly, I do not intend that the scope of my exclusive rights and privileges in the invention be limited to details of the embodiments described. I do intend that equivalents, adaptations and modifications of the invention reasonably inferable from the description contained herein be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly stated, the present invention comprehends a novel fall arrestment apparatus that includes a self-retracting lanyard apparatus (SRL) and a remotely operable attachment device which enables the SRL to be remotely attached to and removed from an anchor member such as an eye bolt or rebar fixed to a building or other such structure at a location above the reach of a workman. The remotely operable attachment device for a fall arrestment apparatus according to the present invention includes an elongated, preferably telescopically adjustable pole which has at the upper end thereof a saddle block clamp. The saddle block clamp is used to clamp to and hold a rear leg of a carabiner connector ring which protrudes from the housing of a self-retracting lanyard (SRL) of the type which are routinely used to support a safety harness worn by a workman to limit the distance which the workman may accidentally free fall, thus guarding against injury or death to a workman working at elevations more than a few feet above the ground. 
     According to the invention, the remotely operable fall arrestment apparatus attachment device includes a remotely operable carabiner lock actuator mechanism located at the upper end of the pole. The actuator mechanism includes a collar which fits concentrically over and is fastened to the rotatable sleeve of a pivotable locking gate member of a carabiner connector ring. 
     The carabiner lock actuator mechanism according to the present invention includes a flexible cable which is fastened at the upper end thereof to a screw which protrudes radially from the collar. The cable is disposed downwardly along the support pole through guide eyes of the remotely operable SRL attachment device, and is terminated at the lower end thereof by an operating handle, or preferably wound around a rotatable pulley. Pulling on a lower end of the cable tensions the cable and causes the collar and carabiner locking gate sleeve to rotate 90 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. This aligns a slot at the upper end of the locking sleeve with a lug at the lower end of the downwardly protruding curved upper front segment of a D-shaped carabiner ring. Further tensioning of the cable causes the now free upper end of the locking gate sleeve to pivot inwardly towards the interior of the carabiner ring, the lug passing through the slot in the sleeve. This motion frees the lower end of the downwardly protruding upper front segment of the carabiner ring to be inserted into an anchoring member such as the eye of an eye-bolt fixed to a structure such as a building. Releasing tension on the lower end of the cable enables a pivot spring within the carabiner locking mechanism to pivot the locking sleeve and locking gate back into co-linear alignment with the downwardly protruding front upper segment of the carabiner ring. Further decreasing tension in the operating cable enables a torque spring in the carabiner locking mechanism to rotate the locking sleeve into locking engagement with the downwardly protruding upper end of the upper front segment of the carabiner ring, in which the un-slotted upper end of the sleeve is rotated into an orientation which blocks pivotable motion of the sleeve. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art self-retracting lanyard (SRL) apparatus for fall arrestment which includes a lifeline in the form of a web belt. 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary side elevation view of the prior art SRL of  FIG. 1 , showing on an enlarged scale a carabiner-type anchoring connector component of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 3A  is a right side elevation view of a remotely operable attachment device for a self-retracting lanyard (SRL) apparatus according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of the device of  FIG. 3A , showing an upper part thereof in a tilted configuration. 
         FIG. 3C  is a left side elevation view of the device of  FIG. 3B  on a further enlarged scale. 
         FIG. 4  is a broken side view elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 3A , on an enlarged scale. 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 3 , showing an upper end of a support pole thereof tilted rearwardly. 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary view of an upper part of the apparatus of  FIGS. 3A-5 , on an enlarged scale. 
         FIG. 7  is an oblique view of the apparatus of  FIG. 6 , on a further enlarged scale. 
         FIG. 8  is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 7 , taken in the direction of line  8 - 8 . 
         FIG. 9  is an oblique view of the apparatus of  FIG. 6  on a further enlarged scale, showing a first step in opening a locking gate of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 10  is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 9 , taken in the direction of the line  10 - 10 . 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 6 , showing a second step in opening the locking gate of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 12  is an oblique view of the apparatus of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 12 , taken in the direction of the line  13 - 13 . 
         FIG. 14  is a side elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 6 , showing a third step in opening the locking gate of the apparatus of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 15  is an oblique view of the apparatus of  FIG. 7A . 
         FIG. 16  is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 7B , taken in the direction of the line  16 - 16 . 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the apparatus of  FIGS. 3A-6 , showing a first step in attaching the apparatus to an eye-bolt. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view showing a second step in attaching the apparatus to an eye-bolt. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a prior art self-retracting lanyard (SRL) of the type which may be used in a remotely attachable personal fall arrestment apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , prior art SRL A includes a hollow block-shaped housing B that has protruding downwards through a slot D in a lower horizontal wall C of the housing a web-shaped lifeline E. An upper end of lifeline E is wound around a spool or reel of a deceleration device (not shown) located within housing B. Lifeline E has fastened to the lower end thereof a swivel snap ring F which is releasably attachable to a safety harness worn by a workman. The deceleration device within housing B allows a length of lifeline E to be paid out slowly, enabling lateral movement of a workman, but limits rapid vertical movement of a workman, such as in an accidental free fall, to a safe maximum distance. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , SRL A includes a double-link swivel suspension connector G which protrudes upwardly from an upper wall H of housing B. The upper link of connector G receives the upwardly curved lower front leg I of a D-ring shaped carabiner-type anchoring connector ring J. Carabiner-type anchoring connector ring J includes a relatively long straight rear leg K, and a medium length upper leg L which angles downward slightly and forward from the rear leg. Upper leg L has at the front end thereof a short, downwardly angled upper front leg M. As shown in  FIG. 2 , upper front leg M has at a lower end thereof a flattened section N which has protruding laterally inwardly therefrom a transversely disposed locking slot O formed between two rectangularly shaped transversely disposed upper and lower locking lugs. (See slot  61  and lugs  64 ,  65  in  FIG. 14 ) 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , carabiner anchoring connector ring J includes a locking gate member P which is disposed between an opening Q formed between the lower end R of upper front leg M and an axially aligned upper end S of an upper flattened part T of lower front leg I. Locking gate member link P is pivotably mounted at a lower end thereof by a pivot pin ZZ to upper flattened end T of lower front leg I of the carabiner connector ring J. 
     Locking gate member P of carabiner connector ring J has an outer circular cross-section tubular sleeve P 1  which has a knurled outer surface. Sleeve P 1  is coaxially and rotatably disposed over a cylindrical locking gate link pin V. Locking gate link pin V has extending downwards from the upper transverse end face W thereof an elongated, longitudinally disposed slot X which penetrates the outer cylindrical wall surface of gate link segment V. Slot X extends radially inwards from the outer cylindrical wall of gate link segment V to a central axially disposed bore V 1  that extends into the gate link pin from its upper circular end face W. Slot X has a transversely disposed inner locking ledge section Z for engaging slot O in upper leg M. Locking ledge section Z is contained within bore V 1 , and is recessed below the upper circular end face W, and radially inwardly at the outer cylindrical wall surface of gate link segment V. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , sleeve P 1  has cut through an outer cylindrical wall thereof a longitudinally disposed slot Y which is aligned with slot X in locking gate link pin V when sleeve P 1  is rotated 90 degrees from the locked position shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , to the unlocked position shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the aligned slots X and Y providing clearance for upper front ring segment M. 
     Locking gate member P includes a pivot spring (not shown) which urges the locking gate member to pivot clockwise about pivot pin ZZ outwards into axial alignment with upper front ring segment M. This enables the locking gate link pin V to receive the flattened section N of upper leg M through slot Y of sleeve P 1  and into longitudinal slot X of pin V. The locking gate V may then be twisted counterclockwise about its longitudinal axis to thus position the locking ledge section Z of the locking gate link pin in locking slot O of upper leg M, and retained in that locked position by spring tension provided by a torque spring (not shown). 
     Opening locking gate member P requires that sleeve P 1  of the gate member first be grasped and twisted 90 degrees clockwise about its longitudinal axis to thus enable flattened section N of upper segment M to become aligned with slots X and Y and thus enable flattened section N of upper segment M to pass through slots X and Y. This enables the gate member P to be pivoted counterclockwise about pivot pin ZZ towards the interior of carabiner connector ring J to thus disengage locking section Z of the locking gate link pin V from slot O of upper leg M. As may be understood by referring to  FIG. 7 , sleeve P 1  has cut through a lower annular end wall P 3  thereof and the outer cylindrical wall of the sleeve a slot X 2 . When sleeve P 1  is rotated 90 degrees from the locked position shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6  to the unlocked position shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , slot X 2  is aligned with and thus provides clearance for flattened upper end T of lower front leg I, and thus enables the sleeve to be pivoted counterclockwise relative to lower front leg I. 
     When locking section Z has been disengaged from slot O, and the locking gate member P is pivoted counterclockwise on lower pivot pin ZZ towards the interior of the ring-shaped carabiner connector ring J, the lower end of downwardly curved front upper end leg M of the carabiner connector ring becomes unobstructed, as shown in  FIG. 15 . This enables the lower end of the front upper leg M of the carabiner connector ring to be inserted into an eye of an anchoring bolt, or hooked around a J-hook, rebar, or other suitable anchoring member which is securely fixed to a building or other such fixed structure. 
     After engaging an anchoring member such as a bolt eye, hook, or rebar with upper end leg M of carabiner connector ring J, the carabiner connector ring J is closed and locked by pivoting the locking gate member P clockwise into axial alignment with the front upper and lower connector legs M and I, respectively. The pivotal motion is followed by a counterclockwise twisting motion of the locking gate member sleeve P 1  about its longitudinal axis to thus mutually engage the locking gate ledge section Z of the locking gate link pin V within locking slot O of front upper leg M. The pivoting and twisting motions are facilitated by pivot and torque springs, respectively (not shown), as discussed above. 
       FIGS. 3A-16  illustrate a remotely anchorable personal fall arrestment apparatus  20  according to the present invention, which includes a remotely operable SRL attachment device  21 , and an SRL apparatus  22  that has a construction which includes a modification of a prior art SRL device A of the type shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and described above. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3A-5 , fall arrestment apparatus  20  includes an SRL device  22  and a remotely operable SRL attachment device  21  that includes a telescopically extendible support pole  23  which has an upper end  24  that supports the SRL  22 , and a lower end  25  for grasping in the hand of a workman. Preferably, the upper end  24  of support pole  23  of attachment device  21  includes a short, straight tubular end section  26  which is pivotably adjustable between a position axially aligned with a central section  27  of support pole  23 , as shown in  FIG. 3A , and positions angled forward with respect to the central pole section as shown in  FIGS. 3B and 5 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3A-5 , SRL device  22  is of conventional design, and includes a hollow block-shaped housing  11  that has protruding downwards through a slot  13  in a lower around a spool or reel of a deceleration device (not shown) located within housing  11 . Lifeline  14  has fastened to the lower end thereof a swivel snap ring  15  which is releasably attachable to a safety harness worn by a workman. The deceleration device within housing  11  allows a length of lifeline  14  to be paid out slowly, enabling lateral movement of a workman, but limits rapid vertical movement of a workman, such as in an accidental free fall, to a safe maximum distance. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3A-5 , SRL  22  includes a double-link swivel suspension connector  16  which protrudes upwardly from an upper wall  17  of housing  11 . The upper link of connector  16  receives the curved lower end  105  of a D-ring shaped carabiner-type anchoring connector ring  35 . Carabiner-type anchoring connector ring  35  includes a relatively long straight rear leg  34 , and a medium length upper leg  53  which angles downward slightly and forward from the rear leg. Upper leg  53  has at the front end thereof a short, downwardly angled upper front leg  54 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , upper front leg  54  has at a lower end thereof a flattened section  55  which has protruding laterally inwardly therefrom a transversely disposed locking slot  61  formed between two rectangularly shaped transversely disposed upper and lower locking lugs,  64 ,  65 . 
     As may be seen best by referring to  FIGS. 3A-6 , remotely operable fall arrestment SRL attachment device  21  of apparatus  20  includes a carabiner connector ring support clamp  28  which is fastened to the outer surface of upper pivotal end section  26  of support pole  23 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , carabiner connector ring support clamp  28  has the form of a rectangular shaped saddle block  29  which has in an outer longitudinally disposed flat face  30  thereof an elongated rectangular cross-section groove  31  that penetrates upper and lower transverse end faces  32 ,  33  of the saddle block. Groove  31  of carabiner support clamp  28  receives therein the long straight rear leg  34  of a carabiner connector ring  35  of an SRL device  22 , which is secured to the carabiner connector ring by set screws  28 A, as shown in  FIG. 3C . 
     As may be seen best by referring to  FIGS. 6, 7, 9, 12, and 15 , carabiner locking ring  35  is substantially similar in construction and function to a prior art carabiner locking ring J of the type shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and described above. However carabiner locking ring  35  according to the present invention is modified by the addition of a bushing  36 , as will be described below. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6, 7, 9, 12, and 15 , carabiner locking ring  35  includes a relatively long straight rear leg  34  and an intermediate length upper leg  53  which angles downwardly slightly and forward from the rear leg. Upper leg  53  has protruding downwards from the front end thereof a short, downwardly angled upper front leg  54 . Carabiner locking ring  35  also has a lower front leg  105  which protrudes upwardly from a lower end of rear leg  34 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , upper front leg  54  of carabiner locking ring  35  has at a lower end thereof a flattened lower end section  55 . Flattened lower end section  55  of upper front leg  54  has flat and parallel vertically disposed left and right faces  56  and  57 , and flat and parallel vertically disposed front and rear edge faces  58 ,  59 , forming a thin, rectangular bar shaped structure. Rear edge face  59  has protruding laterally inwardly therefrom a J-shaped notch  60  which has a horizontal rectangular section  61  that has protruding downwards from an inner end thereof a vertical rectangular section  62 . Thus shaped, notch  60  forms a rearward-facing, J-shaped locking leg  63  which has an upper horizontal straight bar shaped locking lug  64  and a lower opposed J-shaped locking lug  65  which has a vertically upwardly protruding outer end section  66 . 
     As may be seen best by referring to  FIGS. 6, 15, and 16 , carabiner connector ring  35  is substantially similar in construction and function to the prior art carabiner connector ring J shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and described above, modified by the addition of actuator bushing  36 . Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 14 , carabiner anchoring connector ring  35  includes a locking gate member  38  which is disposed between an opening  101  formed between the lower end  102  of upper front leg  54  and an axially aligned upper end  103  of upwardly angled upper flattened part  104  of lower front leg  105 . Locking gate member  38  is pivotably mounted at a lower end thereof by a pivot pin  106  to upper flattened end  104  of lower front leg  105  of carabiner connector ring  35 . 
     The locking gate member  38  of carabiner connector ring  35  has an outer circular cross-section sleeve  37  which has a knurled outer surface. Sleeve  37  is coaxially and rotatably disposed over a cylindrical locking gate link pin  108 . Locking gate link pin  108  has extending downwards from the upper transverse end face  109  thereof an elongated, longitudinally disposed slot  110  which penetrates the outer cylindrical wall surface  111  of gate link pin  108 . Slot  110  extends radially inwardly from outer cylindrical wall surface  111  of gate link pin  108  to a central, axially disposed bore  112  that extends into the gate link segment from its upper circular end face. Slot  110  has a transversely disposed inner locking ledge section  113  for engaging slot  61  in upper leg  54 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8, 15, and 16 , sleeve  37  of carabiner connector ring  35  has cut through an outer cylindrical wall surface thereof a longitudinally disposed slot  114  which is aligned with slot  110  in gate link pin  108  when sleeve  37  is rotated 90 degrees from the locked position shown in  FIG. 6 , to the unlocked position shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the aligned slots  110  and  114  providing clearance for upper front ring segment  54 . 
     Locking gate member  38  of carabiner connector ring  35  includes a pivot spring (not shown) which urges the locking gate member to pivot clockwise about pivot pin  106  outwards into axial alignment with upper front leg  54  of the connector ring. This enables the locking gate pin  108  to receive the flattened lower end section  55  of upper front leg  54  through slot  114  of sleeve P 1  and into longitudinal slot  110  of pin  108 . The locking gate member  38  may then be twisted counterclockwise about its longitudinal axis to thus position the locking ledge section  113  of the locking gate link pin  108  in locking slot  61  of upper front leg  54 , and retained in that locked position by spring tension provided by a torque spring (not shown). 
     Opening locking gate member  38  of carabiner connector ring  35  requires that sleeve  37  of the gate member first be grasped and twisted 90 degrees clockwise about its longitudinal axis to thus enable flattened lower end section  55  of upper front leg  54  to become aligned with slots  110  and  114  and thus enable flattened lower end section  55  of upper front leg  54  to pass through slots  110  and  114 . This enables the gate member  38  to be pivoted counterclockwise about pivot pin  106  towards the interior of carabiner connector ring  35  to thus disengage locking ledge section  113  of the locking gate link pin  108  from slot  61  of upper leg  54 . As may be understood by referring to  FIG. 7 , sleeve  37  has cut through a lower annular end wall  115  thereof and the outer cylindrical wall  116  of the sleeve a slot  117 . As shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , slot  117  provides clearance for flattened upper end  104  of lower front leg  105 , and thus enables the sleeve to be pivoted counterclockwise relative to lower front leg  105 . 
     When locking ledge section  113  of locking gate link pin  108  has been disengaged from slot  61 , and locking gate member  38  has been pivoted counterclockwise towards the interior of carabiner connector ring  35  on lower pivot pin  106 , as shown in  FIG. 14 , an opening  101  is formed below the lower end  102  of the downwardly curved end of upper front leg  54  of the carabiner ring. This enables the hook-like curved lower end of upper front leg  54  to be inserted into an eye of an anchoring bolt, or hooked around the leg of an anchoring J-hook or rebar. 
     After engaging an anchoring support member such as a bolt eye, hook, or rebar with front upper leg  54  of carabiner connector ring  35 , the carabiner connector ring  35  is closed and locked by first pivoting the locking gate member  38  clockwise into axial alignment with the front upper and lower carabiner connector ring legs  54  and  105 , as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 12 . Then pivotal motion is followed by a counterclockwise twisting motion of the locking gate member sleeve  37  about its longitudinal axis to thus mutually engage the locking gate ledge section  113  of the locking gate link pin  108  within locking slot  61  of upper front leg  54  as shown in  FIGS. 11, 9, and 7 . The pivoting and twisting motions are facilitated by pivot and torque springs (not shown). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3A-6 , carabiner connector ring  35  of SRL apparatus  22  is modified from a prior art carabiner connector J of the type shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  by the addition of a cylindrical bushing  36  which fits coaxially over the outer rotatable sleeve  107  of a cylindrical locking gate  38  of the carabiner connector ring  35 . Bushing  36  is fastened to sleeve  107  of cylindrical locking gate  38  by a machined slot and lug, and secured by a socket screw  38 A, as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     Referring still to  FIGS. 3A-6 , it may be seen that bushing  36  of SRL attachment device  21  has protruding radially outwardly from the outer cylindrical wall surface  39  of the bushing a transversely disposed release cable connector pin  40 . Release cable connector pin  40  has through its diameter a transversely disposed hole  41  located near the outer transverse end wall  42  of the pin. Hole  41  receives and has secured therein the upper end of a flexible release cable  43 . 
     As may be seen best by referring to  FIG. 4 , release cable  43  is disposed downwardly and rearwardly from cable connector pin  40  through a guide tube  45  that is fastened to a first side wall  44  of saddle block  29 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , guide tube  45  has an upper opening  47  and a lower opening  48 , and is angled downward and rearwardly with respect to cable connector pin  40 . 
     As is shown in  FIGS. 3A-4 , release cable  43  extends downwards from lower opening  48  of guide tube  45 , and thence downwardly through a first, upper guide eye  49  which protrudes radially outwardly from the upper pivotable tubular end leg  26  of support pole  23 , near the lower end of the pivotable end leg. A lower segment of release cable  43  is disposed downwardly along a side of the support pole  23  through a lower guide eye  46 , located near the lower end  50  of the support pole. The lower end of release cable  43  is optionally terminated by a pull handle, or preferably, wound around a pulley  51 . 
       FIGS. 6-16  show how carabiner connector ring  35  of SRL apparatus  22  is remotely openable by device  21  from a locked configuration, shown in  FIG. 6 , to an unlocked position, shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , a first step in unlocking carabiner connector ring  35  of SRL apparatus  22  entails exerting a downward tension on the lower end of release cable  43  of device  21 , as by pulling downward on the lower end of the release cable, or by rotating pulley  51 , on which release cable  43  is wound in a first direction. Cable  43  is tensioned sufficiently to rotate bushing  36  and cylindrical locking gate  38  of carabiner ring  35  90 degrees clockwise to an unlocked position, as viewed from above the carabiner ring. 
     Next, as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , additional tension exerted on the lower end of cable  43  causes the gate link pin  108  of carabiner ring  35  to pivot counterclockwise towards the interior of the carabiner ring. This in turn causes the formation of a gap  101  between the lower end of upper front leg  54  and the upper end of gate link pin  108  of carabiner connector ring  35 , allowing front upper leg  54  of the carabiner connector ring to be inserted into a ring-shaped anchoring member, such as the eye of an eye-bolt, or hooked around a length of rebar or other such anchoring member. 
     When pulley  51  is rotated in a reverse direction to release tension in cable  43 , a pivot spring in carabiner connector ring  35  causes the locking gate  38  of the carabiner connector ring to pivot outwards (clockwise in  FIGS. 15, 14, 12, 11, 9 ) from the interior of the ring into axial alignment with front upper leg  54  of the carabiner connector ring, as shown in the sequence of  FIGS. 15 through 9 . Then, as shown in the sequence of  FIGS. 8 through 6 , the locking gate  38  rotates under spring tension provided by a torque spring about the longitudinal axis of the locking gate member to thus lockingly engage the front upper leg of the carabiner locking ring. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3A-5 , remotely operable attachment device  21  of apparatus  20  preferably includes a tie-down cord  70  which is secured through the eye  76  of an end cap  72  attached to the lower end of support pole  23 . Tie-down cord  70  is used to immobilize the lower end of support pole  23  after the carabiner connector ring  35  has been secured to an anchoring member such as an eye-bolt or rebar. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3A , a free end of tie-down cord  70  is desirably secured to support pole  23  when apparatus  20  is being stored or transported to a work site. As shown in  FIG. 3A , this securement is conveniently accomplished by fastening a distal end of the tie down cord to a flat, disk shaped magnet  74 , which is in turn magnetically attached to a ferrous end cap  75  on the upper end of support pole  23 . 
       FIGS. 17 and 18  illustrate how apparatus  20  is used to secure carabiner anchoring connector ring  35  to an anchoring member such as an eye-bolt  90  which protrudes from a beam  91  of a building. As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , support pole  23  of apparatus  20  is used to extend carabiner connector ring  35  upwards in proximity to the vicinity of eye-bolt  90 . Then, as shown in  FIG. 18 , a downward tension is exerted on the lower end of cable  43 , as, for example, by rotating pulley  51 . As explained above, such tensioning causes a gap to be opened between the lower end of the upper front leg  54  and locking gate link pin  108  of carabiner locking ring  35 . The gap frees up the lower end of upper front carabiner locking ring leg  54  from any obstructions, thus enabling the front upper leg to be inserted into the eye  93  of eye-bolt  90 . 
     After carabiner locking ring  35  has thus engaged eye-bolt  90 , tension in cable  43  is released. As has been explained above, such tension release enables springs within the carabiner locking ring  35  to pivot and twist locking gate member  38  into a closed, locking configuration, thus securing the carabiner locking ring to the eye-bolt. Tie down cord  70  may then be tied to a lower anchoring point, such as a railing member  80  of a scaffold  81 . Safety belt  14  of the SRL device  22  may then be secured to a workman&#39;s body harness, in a conventional fashion.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0