Abstract:
A connector includes a bolt and another structural member which cooperate to form a closed loop about portions of two otherwise separate articles. The bolt extends through at least one flange on a first article and through opposite ends of the other structural member to form a closed loop about the two articles. A radially extending flange is rigidly secured to an intermediate portion of the bolt and cooperates with a head at one end of the bolt to capture both the flange on the first article and a first end of the other structural member therebetween. A spring biases an opposite, second end of the bolt through a second end of the structural member and preferably through another flange on the first article, as well. A latching mechanism selectively prevents movement of the bolt in opposition to the force exerted by the spring, which must be overcome in order to release the second article from the first article. In one application, the connector is mounted on a personal safety device to effect a serial connection between a person and a support structure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.  09 / 177 , 403  now U.S. patent 6,073,724 for CONNECTOR FOR A PERSONAL SAFETY DEVICE, which issued on Jun. 13, 2000. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for interconnecting two articles in series with one another. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Connectors are suitable for various purposes and in various applications. For example, fall-arresting safety devices require a reliable safety line and reliable connections to both the support structure and the person working in proximity to the support structure. 
     Typically, one or more deceleration devices is connected in series with the safety line. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,906 to Feathers discloses a safety anchorage device which controls pay-out of a safety line. This prior art anchorage device is selectively connected to a support structure, and the safety line is selectively connected to a person (via a body harness, for example). In the event of a fall, the safety line and the other parts of the anchorage device cooperate to safely bring the person to rest. 
     Another exemplary safety device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,110 to Wolner. This prior art safety device similarly controls pay-out of a safety line during normal work activity and/or in the event of a fall. In this patent, however, the device is shown anchored to the body harness, and the safety line is shown connected to the support structure. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved connector suitable for use in various applications, including fall-arrest systems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides connection methods and apparatus suitable for various purposes, including connecting a personal safety device in series between a person and a support structure. On a first embodiment of the present invention, the distal end of a bolt is inserted though one end of a U-shaped member and through spaced apart tabs on a safety device. The distal end of the bolt is then selectively threaded through an opposite end of the U-shaped member. A stop is rigidly secured to an intermediate portion of the bolt to retain one of the tabs between the stop and the end of the U-shaped member nearer the bolt. A spring is disposed between the stop and the head of the bolt to bias the bolt toward the other tab (and the threaded end of the U-shaped member). 
     On a second embodiment of the present invention, the distal end of the bolt is simply inserted through the opposite end of the U-shaped member. The spring biases a lever toward an orientation which prevents withdrawal of the bolt from the opposite end of the U-shaped member. When the lever is moved out of the way, and the bolt is withdrawn from the opposite end of the U-shaped member, the lever may be released to hold the bolt in this open configuration. 
     The connectors of the present invention are convenient to use and reliable in use. They are suitable for use with various sorts of existing devices and are believed to be particularly well-suited for incorporation into safety devices. Additional features and/or advantages of the present invention may become more apparent from the detailed description which follows. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     With reference to the Figures, wherein like numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views, 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a personal safety apparatus provided with a first connector constructed according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the personal safety apparatus and connector of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the personal safety apparatus and connector of FIG. 1 interconnected in series between a support structure and a body harness; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the personal safety apparatus of FIG. 1 provided with a second connector constructed according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the personal safety device and connector of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a front view of the connector of FIG. 4 in a closed position; 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of the connector of FIG. 4 in an intermediate position. 
     FIG. 8 is a front view of the connector of FIG. 4 in an open position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A first connector constructed according to the principles of the present invention is designated as  100  in FIGS. 1-3. The connector  100  includes a structural member  110  and a bolt  120  which cooperate to releasably connect a personal safety device  90  (with safety line  98 ) in series between a support structure  80  and a person&#39;s harness  70 , as shown in FIG.  3 . Exemplary prior art safety devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,906 to Feathers and U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,110 to Wolner, which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     The structural member  110  is preferably made of steel and may be described as a U-shaped member having an intermediate base portion, and opposite ends or legs  112  and  114  which extend from opposite ends of the base portion and parallel to one another. The base portion is covered by a protective sleeve  116  which is preferably made of plastic. A slot  118  is provided in the first end  112  of the member  110  (FIG.  2 ), and a threaded hole is provided in the second end  114  of the member  110 . 
     The bolt  120  is preferably made of steel and has a shaft  121  which extends perpendicular to the ends  112  and  114  of the member  110 . A first end  122  of the bolt  120  is provided with a head having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the shaft  121 . A second, opposite end  124  of the bolt  120  is provided with external helical threads which mate with the threaded hole in the second end  114  of the member  110 . 
     The second end  124  of the bolt  120  is inserted through the slot  118 , then through a hole in a first flange or tab  92  on the device  90 , and then through a helical coil spring  130 . A stop  140  is then rigidly secured to an intermediate portion of the shaft  121  on the bolt  120 , in such a manner that the spring  130  is compressed between the stop  140  and the flange  92 . The stop  140  has a relatively larger diameter than the shaft  121  of the bolt  120  and may be described as a shoulder on the bolt  120 . The second end  124  may then be selectively inserted through a hole in a second flange or tab  94  on the device  90 , and threaded through the hole in the second end  114  of the member  110 . 
     The threads on the second end  124  of the bolt  120  and inside the hole in the second end  114  of the member  110  provide a means for selectively connecting the second end  124  of the bolt  120  to the second end  114  of the member  110 . The spring  130  cooperates with the stop  140  to provide a means for biasing the second end  124  of the bolt  120  to remain connected to the second end  114  of the member  110 . The stop  140 , the first end  112  of the member  110 , and the head of the bolt  120  cooperate to provide a means for securing the connector  100  to the first flange  92 . The slot  118  in the first end  112  of the member  110  provides a means for pivoting the connector  100  relative to the first flange  92  when the second end  122  of the bolt is free of the second flange  94 . 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternative arrangements may be used to perform one or more of the aforementioned functions. For example, the first end  112  of the member  110  may be hinged relative to the remainder thereof to facilitate pivoting of the connector  100  relative to the first flange  92 . Also, the bias of the spring  130  may operate (in the absence of threads) to facilitate connection of the second end  124  of the bolt  120  to the second end  114  of the member  110 . On one alternative embodiment, for example, the second end  124  of the bolt  120  is devoid of threads and has an outside diameter which is less than the inside diameter of the threaded hole. Thus, even when the shaft  121  is not threaded into the threaded hole, the spring  130  biases the second end  124  to remain in the hole. Another option is to use a cotter pin or other latching device to further discourage undesired removal of the bolt end  124  from the member end  114 . 
     Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the connectors of the present invention may be used at various locations in various personal safety systems. For example, FIG. 3 shows the connector  100  attached to the personal safety device  90  and releasably connected to a harness  70  in the same manner as and/or by means of a D-ring, for example. A safety line  98  (or  98 ′) emanates from the device  90  and is releasably connected to a support structure  80 . This arrangement is advantageous because it facilitates convenient locking into and out of discrete anchorages ( 81  and  82 , for example) on the support structure. However, the connectors of the present invention may be used in other arrangements according to the needs dictated by a particular situation and/or the preferences of the persons involved. 
     Another connector constructed according to the principles of the present invention is designated as  200  in FIGS. 4-8. The connector  200  similarly includes a structural member  210  and a bolt  220  which cooperate to releasably connect a personal safety device  90 ′ in series between a support structure and a person&#39;s harness (in a manner similar to the first embodiment  100 ). The device  90 ′ is identical to the device  90  except for a nub  209  which projects from the device  90 ′ proximate the tab  94 . 
     The structural member  210  is identical to the structural member  110  except that the hole  216  is not provided with internal threads. The bolt  220  is preferably made of steel and has a shaft  221  which extends perpendicular to the ends  212  and  214  of the member  210 . A first end of the bolt  220  is provided with a head having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the shaft  221 . A knob  222  affixed to the first end of the bolt  220 . A second, opposite end  224  of the bolt  120  is tapered and sized for insertion through the openings  216  and  218  in the respective ends  212  and  214  of the member  210 . 
     During assembly of the connector  200 , the second end  224  of the bolt  220  is inserted through the slot  218  in the first end  214  of the member  210 , then through a hole in a first flange or tab  94  on the device  90 ′, then through a hole in a lever  250 , then through a helical coil spring  230 , then through a stop  240 , and finally through a hole in a second flange or tab  92  on the device  90 ′. The stop  240  is then rigidly secured to an intermediate portion of the shaft  221  (by pin  242 , for example), such that the spring  230  is compressed between the stop  240  and the flange  94 , and the second end  224  of the bolt  220  cannot be removed from the hole in the tab  92 . The stop  240  has a relatively larger diameter than the shaft  221  of the bolt  220  and may be described as a shoulder on the bolt  220 . The spring  230  bears against the stop  240  and thereby urges the second end  224  of the bolt  220  through the hole  216  in the second end  212  of the member  210 . 
     The lever  250  may be described generally as L-shaped. A first segment  254  extends generally transverse to the bolt  220 , and is disposed on the shaft  221  and captured between the stop  240  and the first tab  94  on the base  90 ′. A second segment  255  extends generally parallel to the bolt  220  and pivots into and out of engaging positions relative to the stop  240  on the bolt  220 . The second segment  255  and the first segment  254  define an acute angle of approximately eighty degrees therebetween. The nub  209  on the device  90 ′ projects into the rounded end of a tombstone-shaped opening in the second portion  255 . 
     FIG. 6 shows the connector  200  in a stable, closed loop configuration, wherein the second end  224  of the bolt  220  extends through the hole  216  in the second end  212  of the member  210 . The spring  230  biases both the bolt  220  and the lever  250  to remain in their respective positions shown in FIG.  6 . The end  257  of the second segment  255  of the lever  250  is disposed within the path of the stop  240  and thereby prevents the bolt  220  from moving against the bias of the spring  230 . 
     FIG. 7 shows the connector  200  in an intermediate and unstable configuration, wherein the second segment  255  of the lever  250  has been pivoted toward the device  90 ′, thereby providing clearance for the bolt  220  to be moved against the bias of the spring  230 . 
     FIG. 8 shows the connector  200  in a stable, open loop configuration, wherein the second end  212  of the member  210  is free of the bolt  220 , and the bolt  220  is held open (and the spring  230  held more fully compressed) by the lever  250 . In this regard, the stop  240  is disposed inside the tombstone-shaped opening in the second segment  255  and bears against the squared end of same. In this configuration, the second end  212  is available for insertion through an appropriate anchor on a building, harness, or other desired article. The bolt  220  may be released simply by moving the second segment  255  of the lever toward the device  90 ′ (preferably with the second end  212  of the member  210  aligned with the tab  92 . 
     The spring  230  and the stop  240  cooperate to provide a means for biasing the second end  224  of the bolt  220  to remain within the second end  212  of the member  210 . The lever  250  cooperates with the spring  230  and the stop  240  to provide a means for selectively preventing removal of the second end  224  of the bolt  220  from the second end  212  of the member  210 . The lever  250  alternatively cooperates with the spring  230  and the stop  240  to provide a means for selectively holding the bolt  220  in a retracted position. The stop  240 , the first end  214  of the member  210 , and the head  222  of the bolt  220  cooperate to provide a means for securing the connector  200  to the first flange  94 . The slot  218  in the first end  214  of the member  210  provides a means for pivoting the connector  200  relative to the first flange  94  when the second end  224  of the bolt  220  is free of the second flange  92 . 
     Another aspect of the present invention is the provision of built-in connectors or latching devices on personal safety equipment. In other words, a safety device constructed according to the principles of the present invention may be connected directly about a rod or safety line secured to a support structure, thereby eliminating the need for an interconnecting snap hook or other discrete component. In this regard, the connection between the stop  140  or  240  and the bolt  120  or  220  is intended to be permanent, and thus, the present invention may be seen to provide both the safety device and the connecting means as a unit. 
     Those skilled in the art will further recognize that the present invention may also be described in terms of a method. With reference to the first embodiment  100 , for example, the present invention may be described in terms of a method of connecting a personal safety device in series between a person and a support structure. A bolt is inserted through a first end of a U-shaped member and through a first flange on the personal safety device. A coil spring is positioned on the bolt and retained in place by rigidly mounting a stop on an intermediate portion of the bolt. A second end of the U-shaped member is disposed about a suitable anchorage and/or inserted through a desired opening (such as a bracket on the support structure or a D-ring on a body harness), and then is aligned with a second flange on the personal safety device. A distal end of the bolt is then inserted through the second flange and biased to remain engaged with the second end of the U-shaped member. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments and particular applications, this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to recognize additional embodiments and/or applications which fall within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be limited only to the extent of the following claims.