Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02480613 2004-09-07
221 P 157US01 PATENT APPLICATION
CONNECTOR
Background of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly, to a
connector
for use with fall protection assemblies.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various occupations place people in precarious positions at relatively
dangerous
heights thereby creating a need for fall protection assemblies. Among other
things, such
assemblies usually include at least one connecting device interconnected
between a
support structure and a person working in proximity to the support structure.
The
connecting device includes a connecting element, which is typically connected
to a
connecting member of a safety harness worn by the user. Obviously, it is
important to
properly connect the connecting device to the safety harness.
One problem is that it may be difficult to determine which connecting device
may
be properly connected to which connecting member on the safety harness. Safety
harnesses typically include several connecting members for various purposes,
such as fall
arrest, work positioning, restraint, suspension, rescue, riding, climbing, and
connecting
tools and other accessories. Although some connecting devices may be properly
connected to more than one connecting member on the safety harness, which
depends
upon the task to be performed by the user, it may be improper to connect the
connecting
devices to some of the connecting members. There has been no simple way to
communicate to the user the purposes of the various connecting members and the
connecting devices, and this may be compounded by the complexity of the
particular
safety harness style, the frequency of use of the safety harness, and the
possible language
barriers. Therefore, there is a need for a more user-friendly way to determine
the proper
connections to the safety harness.
1
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CA 02480613 2010-02-25
Summary of the Invention
A preferred embodiment connector for use with a fall protection assembly
includes a catch, a housing and at least one pawl. The catch has an end with
an engaging
member. The housing has a cavity and a supporting member. The at least one
pawl is
pivotally mounted within the cavity having a first position and a second
position. The
cavity and the at least one pawl have a first configuration when the at least
one pawl is in
the first position. The cavity and the at least one pawl have a second
configuration when
the at least one pawl is in the second position. The first configuration is
configured and
arranged to receive the end of the catch. The second configuration is
configured and
arranged to engage the end of the catch thereby locking the catch. The end is
engaged in
the second configuration between the supporting member and the at least one
pawl. The
supporting member of the housing provides a surface upon which the engaging
member
exerts force when the catch and the housing are pulled in opposite directions
should a fall
occur.
Another preferred embodiment connector for use with a fall protection assembly
includes a catch, a housing and first and second pawls. The catch has an end
with an
engaging member. The housing has a cavity and a supporting member. The first
and
second pawls are pivotally mounted within the cavity of the housing and have a
first
position and a second position. The cavity and the pawls have a first
configuration when
the pawls are in the first position. The cavity and the pawls have a second
configuration
when the pa.wls are in the second position. The first configuration is
configured and
arranged to receive the end of the catch. The second configuration is
configured and
arranged to engage the end of the catch thereby locking the catch. The end is
engaged in
the second configuration between the supporting member and the pawls. The
supporting
member of the housing provides a surface upon which the engaging member exerts
force
when the catch and the housing are pulled in opposite directions should a fall
occur.
Another preferred embodiment connector for use with a fall protection assembly
includes a housing, opposing first and second pawls, first and second springs,
and a catch.
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CA 02480613 2010-02-25
The housing has a cavity and a supporting member. The opposing first and
second pawls
are pivotally mounted within the cavity of the housing. The pawls have
respective
latching portions extending toward one another and force receiving portions
projecting
outward beyond a perimeter defined by the housing and extending away from one
another. The first and second springs are interconnected between the housing
and
respective pawls in a manner that biases the latching portions of the pawls to
pivot toward
one another in a first position. The catch has an end sized and configured for
insertion
between the pawls and engagement between the latching portions in such a
manner that
the force receiving portions must be moved in a direction toward the housing
in a second
position to release the end from between the pawls. The end is engaged in the
second
position between the supporting member and the pawls. The supporting member of
the
housing provides a surface upon which the end exerts force when the catch and
the
housing are pulled in opposite directions should a fall occur.
Another preferred embodiment connector for use with a fall protection assembly
includes a catch, a housing and at least one pawl. The catch has an end with
an engaging
member and a second end with a strap receiving opening. The housing has a
cavity, a
supporting member, and a second strap receiving opening opposite the second
end of the
catch. The at least one pawl is pivotally mounted within the cavity having a
first position
and a second position. The cavity and the at least one pawl have a first
configuration
when the at least one pawl is in the first position. The cavity and the at
least one pawl
have a second configuration when the at least one pawl is in the second
position. The
first configuration is configured and arranged to receive the end of the
catch. The second
configuration is configured and arranged to engage the end of the catch
thereby locking
the catch. The end is engaged in the second configuration between the
supporting
member and the at least one pawl. The supporting member of the housing
provides a
surface upon which the engaging member exerts force when the second end of the
catch
and the housing proximate the second strap receiving opening are pulled in
opposite
directions should a fall occur.
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CA 02480613 2010-02-25
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a front exploded perspective view of a connector constructed
according to the principles of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a front perspective view of a housing of the connector shown in
Figure
1;
Figure 3 is a front view of an inner plate of the housing shown in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a bottom view of the inner plate shown in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a front view of an outer plate of the housing shown in Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a right side view of the outer plate shown in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a back view of the outer plate shown in Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a front view of a pawl of the connector shown in Figure 1;
Figure 9 is a top view of the pawl shown in Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a right side view of the pawl shown in Figure 8;
Figure 11 is a left side view of a spring of the connector shown in Figure 1;
Figure 12 is a front view of the spring shown in Figure 11;
Figure 13 is a side view of a rivet of the connector shown in Figure 1;
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CA 02480613 2004-09-07
Figure 14 is a front perspective view of a catch of the connector shown in
Figure
1;
Figure 15 is a front view of the catch shown in Figure 14;
Figure 16 is a top view of the catch shown in Figure 15;
Figure 17 is a left side view of the catch shown in Figure 15;
Figure 18 is a right side partial cross section view of the catch shown in
Figure
15;
Figure 19 is a bottom partial cross section view of the catch shown in Figure
15;
Figure 20 is a front exploded perspective view of another embodiment connectoi-
constructed according to the principles of the present invention;
Figure 21 is a front view of the connector shown in Figure 20;
Figure 22 is atop view of the connector shown in Figure 21;
Figure 23 is a left side view of the connector shown in Figure 21;
Figure 24 is a bottom view of the connector shown in Figure 21;
Figure 25 is a front perspective view of a housing of the connector shown in
Figure 20;
Figure 26 is a front view of the housing shown in Figure 25;
Figure 27 is a right side view of the housing shown in Figure 26;
Figure 28 is a bottom view of the housing shown in Figure 26;
Figure 29 is a front perspective view of an outer plate of the housing shown
in
Figure 25;
Figure 30 is a front view of the outer plate shovvn in Figure 29;
Figure 31 is a right side view of the outer plate shown in Figure 30;
Figure 32 is a bottom view of the outer plate shown in Figure 30;
Figure 33 is a front perspective view of a pawl of the connector shown in
Figure
20;
Figure 34 is a front view of the pawl shown in Figure 33;
Figure 35 is a right side view of the pawl shown in Figure 34;
Figure 36 is a back view of the pawl shown in Figure 34;
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CA 02480613 2004-09-07
Figure 37 is a top view of the pawl shown in Figure 34;
Figure 38 is a front view of a spring of the connector shown in Figure 20;
Figure 39 is a right side view of the spring shown in Figure 38;
Figure 40 is a bottom view of the spring shown in Figure 38;
Figure 41 is a front perspective view of a catch of the connector shown in
Figure
20;
Figure 42 is a front view of the catch shown in Figure 41;
Figure 43 is a left side view of the catch shown in Figure 42; and
Figure 44 is a top view of the catch shown in Figure 42.
Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment
A preferred embodiment connector constructed according to the principles of
the
present invention is designated by the numerals 100 and 200 in the drawings.
The connectors 100 and 200 generally include a female portion or housing and a
male portion or catch. Although preferably used to interconnect a safety
harness and a
lanyard as an external connection to the safety harness, it is also recognized
that the
connector may be used to interconnect straps of a safety harness as an
internal connection
of the safety harness. Preferably, the shoulder straps of the safety harness
are secured to
the housing in a manner already known in the art, and a lanyard is secured to
the catch in
a manner already known in the art. The catch is releasably latched to the
housing in order
to releasably connect the lanyard and the safety harness to one another.
The connector 100 includes a housing 101 and a catch 141 as shown in Figure 1.
With reference to Figures 2-7, the housing 101 includes an outer plate 102 and
an inner
plate 115. The outer plate 102 is preferably a U-shaped plate having a first
side 103, a
second side 104, and a bottom 105 interconnecting the first side 103 and the
second side
104. The first and second sides 103 and 104 and the bottom 105 define a cavity
110.
The inner plate 115 is preferably sandwiched between the first and second
sides 103 and
104 within the cavity 110 proximate the top of the outer plate 102. The outer
plate 102 is
preferably made of steel, and the inner plate 115 is preferably made of nylon
plastic.
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The outer plate 102 includes a slot 106 extending from the bottom 105 upward
through the first and second sides 103 and 104 toward the middle of the outer
plate 102.
The first side 103 includes a lock-out portion 106a, which is in communication
with the
slot 106 and is preferably a slot extending perpendicular from the top of the
slot 106. The
slot 106 and the lock-out portion 106a form a T-shaped opening on the first
side 103 of
the outer plate 102. A slot 107 of the outer plate 102 a:ligns with a slot 116
of the inner
plate 115, which are above the slot 106 proximate the top of the housing 101.
The slots
107 and 116 are configured and arranged to receive the shoulder straps of the
safety
harness as is known in the art.
The outer plate 102 also includes four apertures 109 extending through the
first
and second sides 103 and 104. Two apertures 109 are positioned at the top of
the housing
101, one on each side of the top of the slot 107. The other two apertures 109
are
positioned proximate the middle of the housing 101, one on each side of the
lock-out
portion 106a. The top two apertures 109 correspond with apertures 117 in the
inner plate
115. A rivet 135, as shown in Figure 13, extends through each aperture 109 in
the first
side 103, through each aperture 117 in the inner plate 115, and then through
each aperture
109 in the second side 104 at the top of the housing 101 to operatively
connect the inner
plate 115 to the outer plate 102.
The first and second sides 103 and 104 also include notches 108 on each side
extending between the slots 106 and 107. The notches 108 allow for pawls 121
to extend
outward from the cavity 110 of the housing 101. The pawls 121 are preferably
made of
steel and sized to be thinner than the inner plate 115. With reference to
Figures 8-10, the
pawls 121 are preferably identical and positioned as mirror images to one
another. Each
pawl 121 is preferably U-shaped and includes a first side 122, a second side
123, and a
third side 124 interconnecting the first and second sides 122 and 123. The
sides 122,
123, and 124 define a cavity 127. The first and second sides 122 and 123
include an
aperture 125 proximate the middle of the pawl 121 and an opening 126 on the
side
opposite the third side 124. The opening 126 is configured and arranged to
accept the
end 145 of the catch 141.
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The inner plate 115 also has opposing slots 118 that are sized and configured
to
accommodate first ends 132 of respective springs 131 between the first and
second sides
103 and 104. The slots 118 are preferably positioned on each side of the slot
116 and
below each aperture 117 proximate the bottom and the sides of the inner plate
115. With
reference to Figure 11-12, the springs 131 are preferably helical coils with
the first ends
132 extending outward at one end and the second ends 133 extending outward at
the
other end, as shown in Figure 11, approximately 120 degrees from the first
ends 132, as
shown in Figure 12. The coiled portions of the springs 131 form apertures 134,
with the
ends 132 and 133 extending outward therefrom.
The ends 132 of the springs 131 are positioned within respective slots 118 of
the
inner plate 115, the apertures 134 align with apertures 109 of the outer plate
102 and
apertures 125 of the pawls, and the second ends 133 are positioned along the
third sides
124 of the pawls. The springs 131 are placed within the cavities 127 of the
pawls 121. A
rivet 135 extends though each aperture 109 in the first side 103, through each
aperture
125 in one side of the pawls 121, through each aperture 134 in the springs,
through each
aperture 125 in the other side of the pawls 121, and then through each
aperture 109 in the
second side 104 proximate the middle of the housing 101 to operatively connect
the
pawls 121 and the springs 131 within the cavity 110 proximate the middle of
the housing
101. As a result, the pawls 121 are pivotally mounted between the first and
second sides
103 and 104. The pawls 121 have respective latching portions that are biased
toward one
another by respective springs 131. This inward pivoting of the pawls 121 is
limited by
contact between the pawls 121 and respective slots 118 of the inner plate 115.
The pawls
121 also have respective force receiving portions that project away from one
another and
outward beyond the perimeter of the outer plate 102. These force receiving
portions or
"wings" define bearing surfaces that face away from the catch 141 and in
divergent
fashion relative to one another.
Each pawl 121 is pivotable about a pivot point, the rivet 135 through the
aperture
125, between a first position and a second position. The pawls 121 and the
cavity 110
define a first configuration when the pawls 121 are in the first position, and
the pawls 121
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and the cavity l 10 define a second position when the pawls are in the second
position. In
the first position, the latching portions of the pawls 121 are pivoted outward
away from
one another and the force receiving portions of the pawls 121 are pivoted
inward toward
one another. The latching portions of the pawls 121 are pivoted outward to
create a
larger opening within the cavity 110 proximate the slot 106 thereby defining
the first
configuration, which is configured and arranged to receive the end 145 of the
catch 141
and allow the end 145 to be slid within the cavity 110 along the slot 106. In
the second
position, the latching portions of the pawls 121 are pivoted inward toward one
another
and the force receiving portions of the pawls 121 are pivoted outward away
from one
another. The latching portions of the pawls 121 are pivoted inward to create a
smaller
opening within the cavity proximate the slot 106 thereby defining the second
configuration, which is configured and arranged to engage the end 145 of the
catch 141
between the bottom 105 and the pawls 121 thereby locking the catch 141. In
other
words, the first configuration allows the catch 141 to be slid along the slot
106, and the
second configuration does not allow the catch 141 to be slid along the slot
106.
With reference to Figures 14-19, the catch 141 is preferably a key-like member
including a strap engaging end 142 and a lead end 145. The strap engaging end
142
includes a slot 143 through which the strap of a lanyard may be inserted and
operatively
connected to the catch 141 as is well known in the art. An intermediate member
144
interconnects the strap engaging end 142 and the end 145 and is narrower than
the slot
106 of the housing 101. Preferably, the intermediate member 144 has an
elongated shape
as shown in the cross section in Figure 19 to prevent the catch 141 from
rotating freely
within the housing 101 thereby preventing the catch 141 from becoming
disconnected
from the housing 101 should one or both of the pawls 121 unlock the catch 141.
The end
145 is preferably a bar member extending outward fronl the intermediate member
144
and includes recessed edges. 146 proximate the intermediate member 144. The
end 145
may be any suitable shape as long as it is capable of being inserted into the
lock-out
portion 106a of the housing 101. The end 145 preferably has rounded edges so
as to
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CA 02480613 2004-09-07
allow for the end 142 to pivot within the cavity 110 proximate the bottom 105,
the edges
of which are also preferably rounded to facilitate the pivoting.
In operation, the housing 101 has a"receiving" end defined by the slot 106 and
the lock-out portion 106a that is sized and configured to receive the lead end
145 of the
catch 141. More specifically, the lead end 145 of the catch 141 may be
described as
generally T-shaped, with recessed edges or shoulders 146 on opposite sides of
the
intermediate member 144. As the end 145 is inserted into the lock-out portion
106a
within the cavity 110 between the notches 126 of the pawls 121 and the catch
141 is slid
downward with the intermediate member 144 within the slot 106 of the housing
101, the
end 145 pushes the latching portions of the pawls 121 ciutward away from one
another.
Upon continued sliding of the catch 141, the end 145 slides past the pawls 121
and the
pawls 121 snap back toward one another thereby locking the end 145 between the
pawls
121 and the bottom 105 of the housing 101. The pawls-121 act as locking
members
locking the end 145 between the pawls and the bottom 105 of the housing 101.
Should a
fall occur, the bottom 105 acts as a supporting member for the recessed edges
146 of the
end 145 and the end 145 acts as an engaging member engaging the supporting
member
and applying force thereto.
The lock-out portion 106a may be any suitable shape as long as it corresponds
with the shape of the end 145 of the catch 141. The corresponding lock-out
portion 106a
and end 145 help prevent inappropriate connections from being made. Different
sizes
and/or shapes for the lock-out portion and the end of the catch may be used
for different
types of connectors to act as a lock-out mechanism. As shown in Figure 1, the
lock-out
portion 106a may also serve as an inspection opening or window to allow a
person to
visually confirm that the pawls 121 have snapped into engagement with the
catch 141.
The catch 141 cannot thereafter by removed from the housing 101 unless both
pawls 121
are rotated to respective "releasing" orientations.
As a person uses his/her thumb and forefinger to urge respective force
receiving
portions of the pawls 121 inward toward the housing 101 and further inside the
cavity,
the latching portions of the pawls 121 rotate outward away from one another
and release
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CA 02480613 2004-09-07
the catch 141. The catch 141 may then be slid upward along the slot 106 and
the end 145
may be withdrawn from the housing 101 from the lock-out portion 106a.
The connector 200 includes a housing 201 and a catch 241 as shown in Figures
20-24. With reference to Figures 25-28, the housing 201 includes a first outer
plate 202
and a second outer plate 203, which are preferably made identical to one
another for
purposes of manufacturing efficiency. Therefore, for ease of reference, only
the first
outer plate 202 will be described herein in detail with regard to Figures 29-
32.
The first outer plate 202 is preferably a rectangular shaped plate made of
steel
having a first raised portion 216 and a second raised portion 217. The first
raised portion
216 extends longitudinally from one side to the other side of the plate 202,
and the
second raised portion 217 extends from the bottom to proximate the middle of
the plate
202. When the plates 202 and 203 are operatively connected with their backs
facing one
another, the raised portions 216 and 217 are in communication with one another
and
define a T-shaped cavity 210 from the bottom to the sides of the housing 201.
The raised
portions 216 of each plate define an opening 208, and the raised portions 217
of each
plate define an opening 205.
The first outer plate 202 includes a slot 206 proximate the junction of the
raised
portions 216 and 217. The slot 206 is preferably generally triangular shaped
and is
bottom of the slot 206 is defined by an engaging edge 206a. The first outer
plate 202 also
includes a slot 207 proximate the top of the raised portion 216 that is
configured and
arranged to receive the shoulder straps of the safety harness as is known in
the art.
The first outer plate 202 also includes four apertures 212 and two apertures
212a.
Two apertures 212 are positioned at the top of the housing 201, one on each
side of the
top of the slot 207. Two apertures 212a are positioned proximate the middle of
the
housing 101, one on each side of the bottom of the slot 206. The remaining two
apertures
212 are positioned at the bottom of the housing 201, one on each side of the
raised
portion 217. The apertures 212 are configured and arranged to receive rivets
213, which
are used to secure the first and second outer plates 202 and 203 together. The
apertures
CA 02480613 2004-09-07
212a are configured and arranged to receive rivets 213a, which are used to
secure the first
and second outer plates 202 and 203 together and interact with springs 231.
The first outer plate 202 also includes two apertures 214, one on each side of
the
slot 206, configured and arranged to engage pawls 221. Pawls 221 are
preferably made
of steel and sized to be thinner than the width of the cavity 210 between the
plates 202
and 203. With reference to Figures 33-37, in particular Figure 34, the pawls
221 are
preferably identical and rotated 180 degrees about a central axis A. Each pawl
221
includes a body 222, a first raised member 223, and a second raised member 224
including a slot 225. The body 222 is preferably L-shaped having a first leg
222a and a
second leg 222b. The raised members 223 and 224 extend outward proximate the
junction of the legs 222a and 222b forming the L-shape of the body 222. The
first raised
member 223 extends outward from the top of the pawl 221, and the second raised
member 224 extends outward from the bottom of the pawl 221. The raised members
223
and 224 are configured and arranged to fit within the apertures 214 of the
housing 201
and when assembled between the plates 202 and 203, are pivotable within the
apertures
214.
With reference to Figures 38-40, the springs 231 each include a first end 232
and
a second end 233. The springs 231 are generally S-shaped with the first end
232 at the
top of the "S" and the second end 233 extending into the center of the bottom
of the "S".
The first end 232 forms an opening 232a through which the rivet 213a extends,
and the
second end 233 fits within the slot 225 of the paw1221. Alternatively, a
single
compression spring connected between the pawls 221 as is known in the art may
be used.
The springs 231 interconnect the housing 201 and the pawls 221 thereby biasing
the
pawls 221. As a result, the pawls 221 are pivotally mounted between the first
and second
outer plates 202 and 203. The pawls 221 have respective latching portions that
are biased
toward one another by respective springs 231. This inward pivoting of the
pawls 221 is
limited by contact between the pawls 221 and respective rivets 213a. The pawls
221 also
have respective force receiving portions that project away from one another
and outward
beyond the perimeter of the outer plates 202 and 203. These force receiving
portions or
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,
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CA 02480613 2004-09-07
"wings" define bearing surfaces that face away from the catch 141 and in
divergent
fashion relative to one another.
Each pawl 221 is pivotable about a pivot point, the aperture 214, between a
first
position and a second position. The pawls 221 and the cavity 210 define a
first
configuration when the pawls 221 are in the first position, and the pawls 221
and the
cavity 210 define a second position when the pawls are in the second position.
In the first
position, the latching portions of the pawls 221 are pivoted outward away from
one
another and the force receiving portions of the pawls 221 are pivoted inward
toward one
another. The latching portions of the pawls 221 are pivoted outward to create
a larger
opening within the cavity 210 proximate the slot 206 thereby defining the
first
configuration, which is configured and arranged to receive the end 245 of the
catch 241
and to allow for rotation of the catch 241 within the cavity 210 and the slot
206. In the
second position, the latching portions of the pawls 221 are pivoted inward
toward one
another and the force receiving portions of the pawls 221 are pivoted outward
away from
one another. The latching portions of the pawls 221 are pivoted inward to
create a
smaller opening within the cavity proximate the slot 206 thereby defining the
second
configuration, which is configured and arranged to engage the end 245 of the
catch 241
between the slot 206 and the pawls 221 and prevent rotation of the end 245
therebetween
thereby locking the catch 241. In other words, the first configuration allows
the catch
241 to be inserted into the cavity 210 proximate the slot 206 and rotated
therein, and the
second configuration does not allow the catch 241 to be rotated within the
cavity 210
proximate the slot 206.
With reference to Figures 41-44, the catch 241 is preferably'a key-like member
including a strap engaging end 242 and a lead end 245. The strap engaging end
242
includes a slot 243 through which the strap of a lanyard may be inserted and
operatively
connected to the catch 241 as is well known in the art. An intermediate member
244
interconnects the strap engaging end 242 and the end 245 and must be more
narrow than
the opening 205 of the housing 201. The end 245 is preferably a triangular
shaped
member extending outwarcl from the intermediate member 244 perpendicular to
the strap
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engaging end 242 and includes recessed edges 246 proximate the intermediate
member
244. The end 245 may be any suitable shape as long as it is capable of being
inserted into
the slot 206 of the housing 201.
In operation, the housing 201 has a"receiving" end defined by the opening 205.
that is sized and configured to receive the lead end 245 and the intermediate
member 244
of the catch 241. More specifically, the lead end 245 of the catch 241 may be
described
as generally triangular shaped, with recessed edges or shoulders 246 on
opposite sides of
the intermediate member 244. As the end 245 is inserted into the opening 205
and into
the cavity 210, the end 245 pushes the second legs 222b outward (and the first
legs 222a
inward). When proximate the slot 206, the catch 241 is rotated within the
cavity 210
approximately 90 degrees so that the end 245 is perpendicular to the surface
of the
housing 201. Upon rotation of the catch 241, the pawls 221 snap back toward
one
another thereby locking the end 245 between the pawls-221 and the slot 206 of
the
housing 201. The end 245 extends out of the slot 206, and the engaging edges
206a of
the housing 201 fit within the recessed edges 246 of the catch 241. The pawls
221 act as
locking members locking the end 245 between the pawls 221 and the slot 206 of
the
housing 201, and the end 245 may not be rotated therein. Should a fall occur,
the
engaging edge 206a of the slot 206 acts as a supporting member for the
recessed edges
246 of the end 245 and the end 245 acts as an engaging member engaging the
supporting
member and applying force thereto.
The slot 206 may be any suitable shape as long as it corresponds with the
shape of
the end 245 of the catch 241 to help prevent inappropriate connections from
being made.
Different sizes and/or shapes for the slot and the end of the catch may be
used for
different types of connectors to act as a lock-out mechanism. As shown in
Figure 20, the
slot 206 may also serve as an inspection opening or window to allow a person
to visually
confirm that the pawls 221 have snapped into engagement with the catch 241.
The catch
241 cannot thereafter by removed from the housing 201 unless both pawls 221
are rotated
to respective "releasing" orientations.
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The connector 200 may be considered to be "double" locked because the pawls
221 must be released and the catch 241 must be rotated to disengage the catch
241 from
the housing 201. The catch 241 must be rotated within the slot 206 of the
housing 201 to
withdraw the catch 241 from the cavity 210 of the housing 201, but the catch
241 cannot
be rotated without first releasing the pawls 221. The spring loaded pawls 221
ensure that
the catch 241 cannot be rotated within the slot 206 without first releasing
the pawls 221.
As a person uses his/her thumb and forefinger to urge respective force
receiving
portions (legs 222a) of the pawls 221 toward the housing 201 and further
inside the
cavity, the latching portions (legs 222b) of the pawls 221 rotate away from
one another
and release the catch 241. The catch 241 may then be rotated 90 degrees and
the end 245
may be withdrawn from the housing 201 from the cavity 210 and the opening 205.
Benefits of the present include, but are not limited to, a stronger and more
reliable
connector because the load exerted upon the catch is applied to the housing,
not to the
pawls. Therefore, should the pawls be released, the housing still carries the
load of the
catch and does not significantly decrease the reliability of the connector.
Further,
because there is an upward force on the housing and a downward force on the
catch
should a fall occur, the load from the fall reduces the likelihood of the
housing
disengaging the catch.
It is recognized that there are many possible applications in which the
connector
may be used. Some examples of ways in which the connector may be used are
described
in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/786,487 filed on February 25, 2004
and entitled
Simplification of Donning a Safety Harness and Connecting a Connecting Element
to the
Safety Harness, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific
embodiments and particular applications, this disclosure will enable others to
derive
additional embodiments, improvements, and/or applications of the present
invention. As
a result, the scope of the present invention should be limited only to the
extent of the
following claims.
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