Patent ID: 8353387

Claim:
A safety apparatus for protecting a user during an accidental fall, comprising: an elongated track member detachably securable to a side of a ladder, said track member forming a C-shaped channel having inwardly facing track side portions connected by a web; a slide body slidingly moveable within the channel, said slide body being detachably engageable to a harness worn by the user; and a means positioned on the slide body, on inner surfaces of the track side portions and on the web of the track member for decreasing speed of an accidental fall, said speed decreasing means comprises a plurality of serrations formed about contact surfaces of the slide body and a plurality of serrations formed along contact surfaces of the inner surfaces of the track side portions and the web of the track member, said serrations having upwardly oriented aspects allowing serrations of the slide body mesh with the serrations of the track side portions and the web of the track member during an accidental fall, wherein each of the side portions are disposed parallel to each other, each side portion carrying an inwardly folded edge portion, said serrations are formed along the web and inner surface of the edge portion, and wherein said cam member comprises a pair or parallel cam portions and a cam section unitary connected to the proximate end of the arm and sandwiched between the cam portions, and wherein the contact surfaces of the cam portions are provided with upwardly facing serrations at upper curved ends of the cam portions disposed for engagement with the serrations on the inner surfaces of the edge portions and with upwardly facing serrations at lower curved ends of the cam portions disposed for engagement with the serrations formed along the web of the track member.