Abstract:
A fall arrest system with flow-through intermediate supports which allow the travel of one or more load-connecting devices along a length of horizontal lifeline cable supported by intermediate supports. The load-connecting device having an upper cable contacting portion of greater outside diameter than the narrow opening at the bottom of the intermediate supports. In the event of a fall, the load-connecting device pulls the cable downward while the cable remains within the inner portion of said intermediate supports. Outward tension of the cable in maintained by a tension control device while the chock to the load is absorbed by said tension control device located between the cable and one of the cable-end anchors.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a fall arrest system adapted with both flow-through intermediate supports and a tension control device. The system of the present invention consists of; floor-level end anchors mounted to structural members of a work area, a single cable assembly having one permanent end connector and one adjustable loop-end connector at the opposing end, cable-tensioning means utilizing a rotable tension adjusting turnbuckle, tension control means having a generally diamond shapes frame adapted to connect two opposing ends of said frame in communication with cable and end connectors, a plurality of intermediate supports having a mounting portion at the top, said intermediate supports each consisting of a generally square tubular form adapted with a bottom opening lesser in width than that of the diameter of the above-mentioned cable, and a load-connecting device having a cable-connecting portion and a load-connecting portion. Whereby, a load attached firmly and releasable to the cable contacting means can freely travel longitudinally with the fixed cable, occasionally passing through fixedly attached intermediated supports so as to provide unobstructed flow from one end of the cable to the other.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Horizontal lifelines are generally a single span of semi-resilient cable fixedly anchored at each extremity. Persons or loads are thereto slidably attached in order to be provided with fall arrest and travel restraint. When this span becomes greater than that allowed by regulating authorities, intermediate supports are required. Unless through-travel is provided, a person would be required to disengage lifeline from cable in order to overcome said supports.  
           [0003]    It is desirable to persons working at high altitudes to have the ability to be secured to a suitable anchorage to prevent or arrest potential falls, which could result in serious injury of death. Additionally, it is also desirable to have the ability to freely displace oneself along the length of the work area while remaining attached to said horizontal lifeline. Furthermore, in the event of a fall, it is again desired that the force created by such fall arrest be minimized in order to prevent injuries. The present invention not only satisfies the above-mentioned desires in fall arrest, but also provides the present state of the art with means of improving the travel means across intermediate supports and means to minimize the forces created by a fall.  
           [0004]    The applicant is aware of several attempts in prior art to provide means of arresting the fall of a person from dangerous heights. For example, reference may be had to U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,599 of Noles, issued Nov. 9, 1999, which describes a track apparatus that allows for directional conformity having track supports intermediately fixed to points along the structural members of the work area, a track-traveling element conforming generally to the profile of said track supports. Although this fall arrest system may surely arrest a fall, it fails to provide shock absorption elements that are crucial to the benefit of injury prevention. Furthermore, the user must align the profiles of the anchor and support in order to uninterruptedly travel across track supports.  
           [0005]    Another example of prior art may be had in referring to U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,896 of O&#39;Rourke, issued Jun. 18, 1996, which depicts a fixed rail anchor system whereby an anchor is fixedly mounted to a rail, provide a fixed point to which an anchor line may be attached. Said method fail to allow free travel to substantial distances along the work area.  
           [0006]    While many attempts have been made to provide persons or loads with fall arresting means, none of the prior art found provide all the desired functions in a singular system.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    It is thus the object of the present invention to provide fall arresting elements to a virtually limitless length of work area while also providing tension control in the event of a fall, and a more liberal margin of accuracy for intermediate support through-travel.  
           [0008]    In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a floor intermediate support having a mounting plate fixedly attached to said support. There are provided, vertical angular ribs on each side of the floor intermediate support and on top of the mounting plate, all fixedly attached. Said angular ribs provide ramp means in order for heavy materials to be displaced horizontally over the surfaces of floor intermediate supports.  
           [0009]    In another aspect of the invention, any suitable tension control means may be utilized in place of the tension control device of the preferred embodiment.  
           [0010]    In another aspect of the invention, any other suitable cable end anchor may be utilized to anchor cable ends to work area.  
           [0011]    Accordingly, the system of the present invention provides unobstructed mobility within the system&#39;s fall arresting work area while incorporating tension control elements and a more liberal margin of accuracy for intermediate support through-travel.  
           [0012]    The utility of this device includes but is not limited to persons.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in which:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1A is a side elevation view of the fall arrest system of the present invention, shown in undetermined length with no vertical gravitational load.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1B is a side elevation view of the fall arrest system of the present invention, shown in undetermined length with a vertical gravitational load.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above of the floor-level end anchor of the fall arrest system of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the floor-level end anchor of FIG. 2.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the floor-level end anchor of FIG. 2 FIG. 5 is an end elevation view of the floor-level end anchor of FIG. 2.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a perspective view from above of the floor-level intermediate support of the fall arrest system of the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the floor-level intermediate support of FIG. 6.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the floor-level intermediate support of FIG. 6 showing a cable passing through said floor-level intermediate support along with the load-connecting device of the present invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a end elevation view of the floor-level intermediate support of FIG. 6 showing a cable passing through said floor-level intermediate support along with the load-connecting device of the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 is a perspective view from below of the overhead intermediate support of the fall arrest system of the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the overhead intermediate support of FIG. 10.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the overhead intermediate support of FIG. 10 showing a cable passing through said overhead intermediate support along with the load-connecting device of the present invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 13 is an end elevation view of the overhead intermediate support of FIG. 10 showing a cable passing through said overhead intermediate support along with the load-connecting device of the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 14 is a perspective view from above of the load-connecting device of the fall arrest system of the present invention  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of the load-connecting device of FIG. 14 showing a cable passing through said load-connecting device.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 16 is an end elevation view of the load-connecting device of FIG. 14 showing a cable passing through said load-connecting device.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 17 is a perspective view from above of the tension control device of the fall arrest system of the present invention.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 18 is a side elevation view of the tension control device of FIG. 17 as shown without load to the system.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 19 is an end elevation view of the tension control device of FIG. 17.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 20 is a side elevation view of the tension control device as shown with a load to the system.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 21 is an end elevation view of the tension control device of FIG. 20.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 22 is a top plan view of the tension control device of FIG. 17.  
     
    
       [0036]    While the invention will be described in conjunction with illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0037]    In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals.  
         [0038]    Turning to the drawings, in particular, FIG. 2 which illustrates an embodiment of a floor-level end anchor  2  comprising: a rectangular mounting plate  5  having a plurality of perforations  13  through which fasteners penetrate to fixedly attach floor-level end anchor  2  to a structural member of the work area, a center rib  9  permanently attached to the center portion of the mounting plate  5  and reinforced with triangular ribs  11  permanently attached to both the bottom surface of mounting plate  5  and each side of the center ribs  9 . Said triangular ribs  11  primarily serve the function of allow materials to slidably traverse over the upper surfaces of the floor-level end anchor. Perforations  7  and  12  are provided centrally near each end of the center rib  9  to allow cable connectors  4  to connect thereto.  
         [0039]    Turning now to FIG. 3, a top plan view of the floor-level end anchor  2  of the present invention wherein said end anchor comprises: a rectangular mounting plate  5  having a plurality of perforations  13  through which fasteners penetrate to fixedly attach floor-level end anchor  2  to a structural member of the work area, a center rib  9  permanently attached to the center portion of the mounting plate  5  and reinforced with triangular ribs  11  permanently attached to both the top surface of mounting plate  5  and each side of the center ribs  9 . Said triangular ribs  11  primarily serve the function of allow materials to slidably traverse over the upper surfaces of the floor-level end anchor. Perforations  7  and  12  are provided centrally near each end of the center rib  9  to allow cable connectors  4  to connect thereto.  
         [0040]    Referring now to FIG. 4, a side elevation view of the floor-level end anchor  2  of the present invention depicting the location of the center rib  9  perforations  7  and  12  wherein the upper outer portions of the center rib  9  is rounded to allow radial flexibility of the attached cable connector  4 . The figure also shows the side view of one of the triangular ribs  11  centrally located along the face of the center rib  9 .  
         [0041]    In reference now to FIG. 5, an end elevation view of the floor-level end anchor  2  of the present invention, wherein the triangular ribs  11  are shown depicting their function is allowing materials to be slidably traversed along the upper surfaces of said end anchor  2 .  
         [0042]    Referring now to FIG. 6, a perspective view from above of a floor-level intermediate support  6  comprising: generally rectangular mounting plate  15  permanently attached to a generally square tubular cable channel  33  of generally equal length to that of the mounting plate  15 . The mounting plate  15  is adapted with perforations  21  so as to allow fasteners to penetrate the mounting plate  15  and be fastened to structural members of the work area. The upper surface  16  of the cable channel  33  is milled in such a way to form wide openings  19  and  20 —at each extremity of the upper portion  16  of the cable channel  33 —gradually decreasing in width to a central area  22  of said upper surface  16  where said narrow opening  22  is generally one half the width of a cable&#39;s diameter so as to avoid a cable from exiting the cable channel  33 . Triangular reinforcing supports  18  are permanently attached to both the top of the mounting plates  15  and each side of the cable channel  33 . Said triangular ribs  18  primarily serve the function of allow materials to slidably traverse over the upper surfaces of the floor-level intermediate support.  
         [0043]    Referring now to FIG. 10, a perspective view from below of an overhead intermediate support  10  comprising: a generally square tubular shaped steel form having a top portion  29 , downwardly protruding sides  26  and a bottom portion  34 . The bottom portion  34  of the overhead intermediate support  10  is milled in such a way that wide openings  27  and  28  gradually decrease in width to a central opening  30  of said bottom portion  34  where said narrow opening  30  is generally one half the width of a cable&#39;s diameter so as to avoid a cable from exiting the overhead intermediate support  10 .  
         [0044]    Turning to FIG. 11, a bottom plan view of the overhead intermediate support  10  of FIG. 10 depicting perforations  31  near each end of the top portion through which fasteners penetrate to fixedly attach overhead intermediate support  10  to a structural member of the work area.  
         [0045]    Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13. FIG. 12 as a side elevation view and FIG. 13 as an end elevation view of an overhead intermediate support  10 . Said overhead intermediate support  10  depicted housing a horizontal lifeline cable  3  having a diameter greater than twice the width of the narrow opening  30  of the bottom portion  34  of the overhead intermediate support  10 , and a load 5  connecting device  14  having a cable connecting portion  35  and a load engaging means  36 . The inner portion  42  of the cable-connecting portion  35  of the load-connecting device  14  fully surrounds the outside diameter of the horizontal lifeline cable  3  allowing liberal longitudinal movement of the load-connecting device  14  with the horizontal lifeline cable  3  while freely traversing the cable channel of the overhead intermediate support  10 .  
         [0046]    Referring now to FIG. 14, a perspective view from above of a load-connecting device  14  having an upper cable-connecting portion  35  and load connecting means  36 . The cable-connecting portion  35  of the load-connecting device  14  is generally cylindrically shaped with a length approximately four times that of its diameter, and a load-engaging portion  36  having a generally vertically planar surface  41 , a perforation  38  and diagonal lower corners  40  to allow angular swaying of a load connector. Whereby, a load attached firmly and releasable to the load engaging portion  36  can freely travel longitudinally with the fixed cable  3 , occasionally passing through firmly fixed intermediated supports  6  and/or  10  so as to provide unobstructed flow from one end of the cable to the other.  
         [0047]    With reference now to FIGS. 15 and 16. FIG. 15 as a side elevation view and FIG. 16 as an end elevation view of load-connecting device  14  wherein said device  14  travels freely and longitudinally with cable  3 .  
         [0048]    Turning now to FIGS.  17  to  19  wherein FIG. 17 is a perspective view from above, FIG. 18 a side elevation view, and FIG. 19 an end elevation view of the tension control device  17  of the fall arrest system of the present invention comprising: generally planar bars wherein the upper bar is formed to have a raised center portion  46 , bends at each end of the bar so as to form a generally horizontal plane from one end to the other whereby, when two of these formed bars placed together in a mirrored fashion would form a diamond shaped structure.  
         [0049]    With reference now to FIG. 22 a top plan view of the tension control device  17  showing the perforations  50  located at the central regions of each connecting end. Said perforations  50  align when two of these formed bars placed together in a mirrored fashion.  
         [0050]    Turning now to FIG. 20, which depicts the tension control device  17  of the fall arrest system of the present invention having horizontally outward tension applied thereto. When great tension is applied to the cable  3  of the system, the central portions  46  of the device draw inwardly toward the center of the tension control device  17  assembly. Furthermore the tension control device  17  also assists in absorbing the chock to a load in the event of a fall arrest by compressing its center portions  46  thus elongating the end portions  45  of the tension control device  17 .  
         [0051]    Lastly, turning to FIG. 21, depicting the end elevation view of a tension control device  17  of the present invention as great tension is applied to the cable thus gradually drawing the opposing centers  46  of the device  17  closer together.