Patent Abstract:
An improved fall arrest lanyard apparatus and method for decelerating and arresting a user from impacting the ground after a fall, along with an integrated, deployable etrier. After the fall sequence has ended, the user may use the etrier to relieve tension in an upper portion of the lanyard and thereby disconnect the lanyard from the user while suspended.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/626,486 filed, Sep. 25, 2012, which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/852,812, filed Sep. 10, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/825,252, filed Sep. 11, 2006, which are all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a fall safety device for persons working at or scaling heights. More specifically, the present invention relates to method of using an improved lanyard device with an integrated etrier system that functions to reduce suspension trauma to the user. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Safety harness and lanyard devices and systems are known in the art and are commonly used to provide fall protection for persons subjected to the potential of a fall from height. In the workplace, most fall protection systems incorporate a safety belt or harness and a lanyard for anchoring one end of the fall protection system to an anchor point and the other end of the fall protection system to the safety harness or belt that is worn by the user. The harness and lanyard must be made of material with sufficient strength to support the weight of a user, who after sustaining a fall at height, typically remains suspended above the ground awaiting rescue. However, prior art safety harness and lanyard systems do not include additional accoutrements that provide for the comfort of the user that is suspended in the harness after the fall sequence is over and that assist with the prevention of suspension trauma injuries to the body of the user caused by hanging suspended in a safety harness, for what may be an extended period of time, prior to rescue. Accordingly, providing a fall protection system with the ability to lessen or completely alleviate suspension trauma injury would be of great benefit to users working at height. 
         [0006]    Thus, a need exists for an improved safety lanyard device and system that provides a deceleration capability to lessen the force of fall impact on the user which is easily integrated with existing safety harnesses, belts and safety lines. Furthermore, a need exists for an improved safety lanyard which includes an etrier system that is deployed either automatically during the fall sequence or manually by the user after the fall. The etrier system should allow the user to orient himself or herself in a comfortable position while strapped into his or her safety harness, thereby reducing and/or preventing the deleterious effect of suspension trauma on his or her body while awaiting rescue. Additionally, a need exists for an approved safety lanyard that allows a user to perform a weight transfer while suspended such that the user can use a rescue kit to lower himself or herself to safety rather than awaiting rescue. 
         [0007]    Further objects of this invention will be apparent to persons knowledgeable with devices of this general type upon reading the following description and examining the accompanying drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention includes a method of using a fall arrest lanyard. In one embodiment of the invention the method comprises the steps of connecting a first end of a lanyard assembly to a point on the user wherein the lanyard assembly comprises an etrier in an undeployed configuration between the first end and a second end of the lanyard; connecting a second end of the lanyard assembly to an anchor point; causing the etrier to be moved to a deployed configuration; using the etrier to remove tension on the lanyard assembly in a first length of the lanyard assembly between the first end and a point of attachment of the etrier to the lanyard assembly; and disconnecting the first end of the lanyard assembly from the point on the user while a second length of the lanyard assembly between the point of attachment and the second end remains under tension of the weight of the user. 
         [0009]    Many other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts, especially in light of the foregoing discussions and the following drawings, exemplary detailed description and appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is plan view of one embodiment of the fall arrest lanyard showing the individual components of same; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 2A-2B  is a side view of the etrier shown in the folded, pre-deployment position; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view showing a worker with the fall arrest lanyard attached to a safety harness and attached to an anchor point; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective view showing deployment of the fall arrest lanyard during a fall sequence; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of the fall arrest lanyard with etrier fully deployed with the user suspended in the safety harness at the end of the fall sequence; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3D  is a perspective view of the fall arrest lanyard with the user placing his feet within the etrier to assume a comfortable rest position which prevents the onset of suspension trauma injury while awaiting rescue; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a fall arrest lanyard showing a manually deployed etrier in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view showing a user with the fall arrest lanyard and manually deployed etrier attached to a safety harness and a self-retracting lifeline; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5B  is a perspective view showing a user suspended from a self-retracting safety line deploying the manually deployed etrier; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5C  is a perspective view showing a user climbing the manually deployed etrier; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 5D  is a perspective view showing a user lowering himself to the ground after performing a weight transfer using the manually deployed etrier. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed herein as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3B .  FIG. 1  shows the fall arrest lanyard  10  assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the lanyard assembly  10  is comprised of two upper straps  12  connected at one end via universal connectors of sufficient tensile strength, in this instance shown as clamp  20   a , and two lower straps  14 . Upper straps  12  and lower straps  14  are connected via sewn loops as shown in  FIG. 1 , although alternative connection devices may be utilized including universal clamps, lobster clamps and load bearing rings of requisite tensile strength. Upper straps  12  include a folded etrier  16  secured to each upper strap  12 . Etrier packs  16  comprise a length of nylon strap with loops sewed therein that is folded and enclosed in a breakaway sheathing, such as shrink wrap. Etrier packs  16  are shown in the stored position wherein the etriers, a French term used by climbers to denote “step rope ladders,” are attached to upper straps  12  by stitching or other connection methods as known in the art. Shock packs  18  comprise a length of folded upper strap  12  which is enclosed in a breakaway sheathing material such as shrink wrap plastic. The sheathing material utilized with etrier packs  16  and shock packs  18  acts to keep the etriers and shock packs in a secure, folded position until the application of sufficient tensile force which overcomes the restrictive force of the sheathing and allows the etriers and shock packs to deploy during a fall sequence. Incorporated and secured to upper straps  12  are cinch buckles  24  which provide an additional attach point for securing tools or other objects as desired by the user. Clamps  20  are positioned at the terminal ends of lower straps  14  for attachment directly to anchor points such as retractable safety lines or fixed anchor components. Sliding buckles  22  are included on each of the lower straps  14  to facilitate attachment to the anchor system. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2A  shows the folded etriers  16  in greater detail in the “stored” position. In this position, the etrier pack  16  is shown folded and retained in the folded position by shrink-wrap type material sheathing  26 . The etrier strap  28  is typically anywhere from four to six feet in unfolded length, although shorter or longer lengths may be utilized depending upon the specific application. Sheathing  26  retains the length of strap  28  in a folded state until sufficient tensile force exists between lower strap  14  and upper strap  12  thereby causing the etrier pack  16  to begin deploying along its length. As shown in  FIG. 2B , as sufficient tensile force acts across upper strap  12  and lower strap  14 , the sheathing  26  breaks away and provides a decelerative force as the etrier pack strap  27  pulls through the loop in the lower strap  14 . The action of the strap  27  acts both to provide a declarative force and to deploy the etrier strap  28 . 
         [0024]      FIGS. 3A-3D  represent a typical operation of the fall arrest lanyard described herein. In  FIG. 3A , a user  30  is shown wearing safety harness  32  as is known in the art. Lanyard assembly  10  is connected to the user&#39;s harness  32  via clamp  20 A. At least one end of the lanyard assembly  10  is anchored to a secure point such as static beam  34  or to an existing safety line (not shown).  FIG. 3B  shows the beginning of a fall sequence wherein user  30  has lost his or her footing and begins to fall. As tensile forces begin to act across the upper strap  12  and lower strap  14  of the lanyard assembly  10 , the etrier pack  16  deploys. Thereafter, the development of increasingly greater tensile forces across the upper and lower straps of the lanyard assembly  10  triggers activation of the shock pack  18  to resistively release the folded portion of the upper strap  12  contained within the shrink wrap material resulting in the development of a decelerative force acting to slow the fall of the user  30 . The user stops falling as the length of upper strap and lower strap is fully deployed. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3C  shows the user suspended above the ground after the fall scenario is complete. In this depiction, the weight of the user  30  causes the safety harness  32  with leg straps  33  to act as constriction points on the body of the user  30 . This phenomena, known as “suspension trauma,” can act to constrict blood flow and decrease circulation which can lead to fatigue, unconsciousness and possibly death if the user is not quickly rescued. However, the deployed etrier  28  provides the user  30  with the ability to independently avoid suspension trauma. As shown in  FIGS. 3C and 3D , the etrier  28  includes loops  29  into which the user  30  may insert his or her feet and assume a comfortable sitting or standing position while awaiting rescue and retrieval. This allows the user  30  to remove the pressure from remaining suspended in the harness  32  thereby preventing the onset of suspension trauma while awaiting rescue. Alternatively, the user can take advantage of the weight transfer capability of the manually deployed etrier to lower himself or herself to the ground using a rescue kit as discussed below with regard to an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a fall arrest lanyard  40  with a manually deployed etrier strap  28  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention as illustrated. In certain situations, the force created as a result of a fall by a user of a safety harness might not be sufficient to deploy the etrier pack discussed with regard to the automatically deployed etrier discussed above. Consequently, it may be desirable to have an etrier that may be manually deployed by the user in the event of a fall. In particular, the use of a self-retracting safety line (SRL) results in the safety line remaining taut while the user is working, for example, on the side of a building. In this situation, the user will be arrested immediately upon falling and will not typically gain enough momentum to deploy either an automatically deployed etrier or a shock pack as discussed above. The manually deployed etrier of  FIG. 4  is constructed by sewing an etrier strap  28  to a cow tail strap. The cow tail strap is known in the art and is used to provide an extension to make it easier for the user to attach his or her harness to a lifeline. The distal end of the etrier strap  28  has a small ring  42  and tab  44  to provide a surface that may be easily grasped by the user to manually deploy the etrier strap  28 . The etrier strap  28  is folded and a sheath  46  is placed around the folded etrier strap  28  in a manner similar to the manner in which the etrier strap on the automatically deployed etrier discussed above is stored. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5A  shows a perspective view of a worker with the manually deployed etrier  40  attached to the dorsal connection of the user&#39;s safety harness. The other end is attached to a self-retracting lifeline (SRL)  52 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 5B  shows the user  30  deploying the etrier  28  by pulling the ring  42  and tab  44  after a fall. As he pulls the etrier, the sheathing  46  breaks and falls off allowing the etrier  28  to fully extend. 
         [0029]      FIG. 5C  shows the user climbing up the etrier after the etrier  28  has been deployed. As the user  30  climbs up the etrier  28 , the user  30  can cause the tension in strap  54  to be released so that clamp  56  can be disconnected after a rescue line is attached to the user&#39;s harness or belt. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5D  shows the user descending to the ground using a rescue line attached to the clamp  58  at one end and the front of his harness (not shown) to allow the user  30  to lower himself to the ground. In this manner, the user  30  need not await a rescue. 
         [0031]    The arrest lanyard and etriers disclosed herein can be manufactured from nylon or polyester materials and plastics as known in the art to sufficient specifications for all applicable OSHA and specific industry safety requirements, including requirements which meet or exceed OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502 and ANSI Z359.1-1992. These materials are abrasion resistant and display excellent durability in all operational environments. In an alternative embodiment, the fall arrest lanyard of the first embodiment disclosed herein may comprise a “single leg” lanyard which incorporates only one upper and lower strap with terminal connection points at the ends of the upper and lower straps, and which includes the shock pack and deployable etrier system disclosed herein. 
         [0032]    Although the present invention has been described in terms of an exemplary embodiment, it is not limited to these embodiments and modifications. Alternative embodiments, modifications, and equivalents, which would still be encompassed by the invention, may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art, in light of the foregoing teachings. Therefore, the following claims are intended to cover any alternative embodiments, modifications, or equivalents which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention defined by the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0