Patent ID: 8240431

Claim:
An apparatus adapted for use on an elevated surface, and for arresting the fall of a person from the surface, the apparatus comprising: an apparatus support defining lateral and longitudinal extents, an arrestor assembly connected to said apparatus support, and further comprising: an arrestor arm fully contained within the extents, pivotally mounted to the support at a first end, and presenting a free second end, wherein the arm is shiftable between a raised non-engaged position and a lowered engaged position, and a gravitational moment-force acts upon the arm at the second end, a gripping plate fully contained within the extents, and secured to the second end, wherein the plate is spaced from the surface in the non-engaged position, and bears upon, so as to grip, the surface in the engaged position, a bias member drivenly coupled to the arm and generating a second force greater than the gravitational moment-force, so as to normally retain the second end in the non-engaged position, and a tether configured for connection to said person, connected to the arm, and operable to transmit an additional force to the arm when the person undergoes a fall from the surface, such that the additional and gravitational-moment forces cooperatively overcome the second force and cause the arm to shift to the engaged position, thereby arresting the fall.