Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02681870 2012-02-24
TITLE
A POLE CLIMB NO AND FALL RESTRAINT DEVICE AND KIT
FIELD OF INVENTI N
The present invention relates to pole climbing and fall restraint safety
harnesses, safety
belts and the like that are worn to prevent falls.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Safety restraint devices used to prevent falls are often used by workers or
hunters to
prevent accidents or injury when climbing tall objects such as trees or
utility poles. Examples of
such safety devices are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,923,048, 4,991,689,
5,052,514,
5,137,113, 6,241,045, 6,752,242 and 6,981,571. These devices typically include
a belt or
harness worn by a user and a rope that has at least one end connected to the
belt or harness.
Many safety restraint devices require a user to position a rope around the
circumference
ofa utility pole and connect one end of the rope to another portion of the
rope such that the rope
forms a loop that totally encircles the pole or trunk, Such loops are often
difficult to adjust when
a user climbs up the pole because the rope is normally in tight, frictional
engagement with the
pole. As a result, it is often difficult to adjust the position of the loop as
a user reaches higher
positions on the pole he or she is climbing. To make readjustment of the loop
easier and
climbing occur at a faster rate, users may disconnect the rope to reposition
the loop formed by
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the connected rope, which increases the user's exposure to injury because the
safety device is
unable to prevent a fall until the rope has been reconnected by the user to
reform the loop.
To climb up a pole, a user typically must loosen the loop frorn its tight fit
around the pole
by providing additional rope length to introduce slack that can be taken up as
the user climbs a
pole. In some devices, the rope that a user must manipulate to move the loop
encircling a pole
has an end connected to a holder that slides along the rope, such as the
devices disclosed in U.S.
Patent Nos. 4,92.3,048 and 4,991,689. If a user wishes to provide slack
without disconnecting
the rope, such sliding devices require the climber to introduce the necessary
slack into the rope
by reducing the distance between the user and the pole, Such a reduction of
distance is often
obtained by tightly hugging the pole as the pole is climbed. Such hugging can
slow the rate at
which a user may climb the pole.
Further, a climber must often readjust the position of the loop when climbing
the pole.
The time needed to readjust the position of the loop increases the time needed
for the user to
climb the pole. Readjustment of the position of the loop can be difficult and
significantly time
consuming due to the small diameter of the rope and its tight fit around the
pole.
Some safety restraints, such as the belt disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
5,137,113, require a
user to adjust the length of the loop by manipulating a locking device located
at the side of a user
to an unlocked position. If the locking device is not properly reset to its
locked position, the
locking device may not lock the position of the rope, which can permit a user
to accidentally fall
without any functioning restraint. The positioning of such devices make them
difficult for a user
to see, which can prevent the user from properly manipulating the locking
device or easily
verifying that the locking device has been properly reset to its locked
position as the user climbs
up a pole or performs work at a given position on the pole. As a result, users
often stop their
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work for substantial periods of time to verify that the locking device they
cannot see is properly
set.
Because locking devices are often not positioned directly in front of the
user, the user
normally has to turn his or her head or take other action to maneuver the
user's eyes so the user
can see the locking device. Due to the fear of failing, such verification can
occur multiple times
when working on a project, which may greatly increase the time needed to
complete a task or
project. The concerns related to the setting of the locking device may linger
with a user as he or
she performs the work, which can impair the user's ability to perform his or
her work. For
example, such lingering concern can detrimentally affect the quality of the
work being performed
and the time needed to perform such work. Such concerns are typically
heightened if a user must
make substantial movements to verify the setting of the locking device because
such substantial
movements could cause the user to fall while the user is not certain the
locking device is properly
set to prevent such a fall.
A pole climbing and fall restraint device is needed that permits a user to
easily reposition
the loop surrounding a pole as he or she climbs the pole. Preferably, such a
device should also
be configured to permit a user to easily adjust the length of the loop by
manipulating a locking
device. The locking device should be positioned so it can easily be seen by a
user as he or she
climbs a pole or performs work at a given position on a pole so the user can
quickly and easily
verify the locking device is set to lock the rope forming the loop.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I provide a pole climbing and fall restraint device that includes an elongated
member
extending through a locking device, a coupling attached to the elongated
member, a first handle
attached to the elongated member and a second handle attached to the elongated
member. The
elongated member is sized and configured to adjustably wrap around a pole. The
elongated
member has a first end, a second end and a middle portion between the first
end and second end.
The coupling is attached to the first end of the elongated member. The
coupling is configured to
releasably attach to the middle portion ofthe elongated member. The first
handle is attached to
the elongated member such that the first handle extends a first distance from
the elongated
member. The second handle is attached to the elongated member such that the
second handle
extends a second distance from the elongated member. The first distance is
greater than the
second distance.
In some embodiments, the first handle or second handle may be a J-hook or
other hook.
Such hooks may be attached to the elongated member by a strap or other
connecting device such
that the hooks are configured to rotate about the elongated member. The first
handle and second
handle may be attached to the elongated member such that the first and second
handles are
moveable along the elongated member.
Preferably, the elongated member is a rope, a wire or a strap.
Embodiments of my pole climbing and fall restraint device may also include at
least one
stop attached to the elongated member. For example, the one or more stops can
include a first
stop positioned between the first handle and the second handle, a second stop
attached to the
middle portion of the elongated member, or both a first and second stop. The
first stop and
second stop may be moveable along the elongated member. The first stop is
preferably sized and
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configured to help limit movement of the first handle, second handle. The
second stop is
preferably sized and configured to help limit movement of the coupling when it
is attached to the
middle portion of the elongated member.
At least one engaging device can be attached to the one or more stops. The one
or more
engaging devices can include a first engaging device configured to engage or
pierce a pole. In
some embodiments, one or more of the engaging devices can include a nail, a
screw, a bolt, a
hook, one or more saw teeth, or a rough surface.
I also provide a pole climbing and fall restraint device that includes a belt,
a first
connector connected to the belt, and a second connector connected to the belt.
A first strap
extends from the first connector adjacent the front portion of the belt and a
second strap extends
from the second connector adjacent the front portion of the belt. A third
connector is connected
to the first strap and the second strap adjacent the front portion of the
belt. A locking device is
connected to the third connector. An elongated member extends through the
locking device. A
coupling is connected to the elongate member, The first strap extends a first
distance from the
first connector and the second strap extends a second distance from the second
connector. The
first distance and the second distance are substantially equal.
In some embodiments, the elongated member has a first end, a middle portion
and a
second end and the coupling is connected to the first end. The coupling can be
configured to
slidably retain a part of the middle portion of the elongated member when the
coupling connects
the first end of the elongated member to a part of the middle portion of the
elongated member.
In other embodiments, the belt can also include a buckle conf igured to
adjustably fasten
the belt about a user. The locking device can be connected to the third
connector such that the
locking device is positioned adjacent to and forward of the buckle.
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Preferably, the belt has a front middle portion and the locking device is
connected to the
third connector such that the locking device is positioned adjacent to and
forward of the front
middle portion of the belt when the belt is fastened.
I additionally provide a pole climbing and fall restraint kit that includes a
belt device and
a lanyard apparatus configured for attachment to the belt device. The belt
device includes a first
connector and a second connector connected to the belt device. A first strap
extends from the
first connector adjacent the front portion of the belt device and a second
strap extends from the
second connector adjacent the front portion of the belt device. A third
connector is connected to
the first strap and the second strap adjacent the front portion of the belt
device.
The lanyard apparatus includes an elongated member that is sized and
configured to
adjustably wrap around a pole. The elongated member has a first end, a second
end and a middle
portion between the first end and second end. A coupling is attached to the
first end of the
elongated member. The coupling is configured to releasably attach to the
middle portion of the
elongated member. A first handle is attached to the elongated member such that
the first handle
extends a first distance from the elongated member. A second handle is
attached to the
elongated member such that the second handle extends a second distance from
the elongated
member. The first distance is greater than the second distance.
The lanyard apparatus is configured to be connected to a locking device that
is attachable
to the belt device. In some embodiments of my kit, the locking device is
provided with the belt
device. In other embodiments of my kit, the locking device may be provided
with the lanyard
apparatus- In yet additional embodiments of my kit, the locking device may be
provided
separately.
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Other details, objects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent
as the
following description of certain present preferred embodiments thereof
proceeds.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings I have shown certain present preferred
embodiments of
my pole climbing and fall restraint device in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first present preferred embodiment of my
pole
climbing and fall restraint device-
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the handles and a portion of the rope of the
first present
preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the belt, straps, connectors, and locking
device of the
first present preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, illustrating the locking
device in an
unlocked position.
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, illustrating the locking device in a
locked position.
Figure 5 is a perspective top view of the first present preferred embodiment
being wom
by a user positioned on a pole.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second present preferred embodiment of my
pole
climbing and fall restraint device.
Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of the second present preferred embodiment.
Figure 8 is a perspective top view of the second present preferred embodiment
being
worn by a user positioned on a pole.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRESENT PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A first present preferred embodiment I of my pole climbing and fall restraint
device is
shown in Figures 1-5. The embodiment I has a belt 3 that has a rear portion 7
and a front portion
5. The belt 3 also has a belt buckle 19 at the middle front portion 6 of the
belt. The belt has a
first connector 9 attached to the belt adjacent to the first side of the belt
buckle and has a second
connector I I attached to the belt.3 adjacent to an opposite second side of
the belt buckle. A first
strap 17 extends from the first connector 9 to a third connector 13. A second
strap 15 extends
from the second connector 1 I to the third connector 13. A locking device 18
is connected to the
third connector- The second strap 15 and first strap 17 connect the third
connector 13 and the
locking device 18 to the belt 3. Rope 20 passes through the locking device 18.
1 prefer that connectors 9 and 11 be D rings and that connector 13 be a triple
lock
carabiner. Of course, various other fasteners or connectors may also be used.
The locking device 18 has a cam 24 that has teeth 26 configured to engage the
rope 20.
When the locking device 18 is moved to a locked position, shown in Figure 4,
the teeth 26 of the
cam 24 engage the rope 20, preventing the rope from moving through the earn.
When the
locking device is an unlocked position, shown in Figure 3, the rope may pass
through the locking
device.
The rope 20 has a first end 23, a middle portion 21 and a second end 22. A
clip 25 is
attached to the first end 23 of the rope. The clip 25 is configured to connect
to the middle
portion 21 of the rope such that the clip 25 can slide along the middle
portion 21 of the rope.
A first handle 27 and a second handle 31 are attached to the middle portion 21
of the
rope. The first handle has a hand grasping member 28 and a tube 29 that has a
bore sized and
configured to slidably receive the rope 20. Tube 29 permits a user to move the
first handle 27
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along the middle portion 2I of the rope. The second handle 31 also has a
grasping member 30
and a tube 32. Tube 32 has a bore that is sized and configured to slidably
receive the rope 20 so
a user can move the second handle 31 along the middle portion 21 of the rope,
Tubes 29 and 32
may be composed of plastic, leather, canvas or any combination thereof. I
prefer to attach a wear
pad 33 to each tube, which presses against a pole being climbed.
When n user climbs a pole, the user places the first end 23 of the rope around
the pole and
attaches clip 25 to the middle portion of the rope such that the rope forms a
loop around the pole.
As a user climbs up the pole, the loop acts as a restraint to prevent the user
from falling from the
pole. When the user reaches a particular position on the pole, the user may
stop climbing to
perform work at that position. When performing work on a pole, a user
typically leans away
from the pole to ensure the loop is in a tight, frictional engagement with the
pole so the user can
easily maintain his or her position on the pole.
Preferably, the first strap 17 and second strap 15 extend to a position
adjacent to and
forward of the middle portion 6 of the belt 3 so that the position of the
locking device 18 is
forward to and adjacent to the middle of the belt. Such a position allows a
user to easily see the
locking device 18 so that the user can easily manipulate the locking device 18
or verify that the
locking device 18 is in a locked or an unlocked position.
Most preferably, the first connector 9 and the second connector 11 are
equidistant from
the buckle 19 and the first strap 17 and second 15 strap extend a
substantially equal distance
from their respective connectors 9, 11 to position the locking device 18
adjacent to and forward
of the front middle portion 6 of the belt. Such positioning ensures the stress
from the rope and
locking device is equally distributed on both sides of the belt so a user can
work while
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maintaining a comfortable position, such as the position illustrated in Figure
5, when on a pole
36. Pole 36 may be a tree trunk, a utility pole, or any other tall elongated
body.
It should be appreciated that an equal distribution of force makes it easier
for a user to
maintain his or her balance and position on a pole and prevents the user from
assuming an
uncomfortable posture while performing work while on the pole. For example,
the equal
distribution of force to both sides of the belt prevents a user from having to
compensate fora
disproportionate amount of stress that may be distributed along one of the two
straps by leaning
toward the other strap or taking some other corrective action to maintain a
stable position while
working on a pole.
The forward and central positioning of the locking device relative to the user
also permits
a user to easily see and operate the locking device without having to
substantially move his or
her body to see the locking device. A user working on a utility pole, for
example, should only
have to lower his or her head to observe the locking device to verify it is in
the locked position or
to see the locking device 18 when adjusting the length of rope 20 extending
from a side of the
locking device 18. Such a head movement is much simpler and requires much less
movement
than the movements required by the positioning of locking devices in other
safety restraints,
which often require the user to twist his or her head to the right or left to
see the locking device.
The position of the locking device 18 of device 1 is maintained in
substantially the same
location so that a user can easily find the device or determine the location
of the looking device.
Other devices often have locking devices or rope connecting mechanisms that
are moveable
along the rope, belt, or harness so that a user must move his or her head in
various, and
sometimes uncomfortable, locations to see the locking device. The predictable
or known
position of the locking device 18 of'device I helps to greatly reduce, if not
eliminate, any
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concern the user may have regarding the locked or unlocked status of the
locking device while
working on a pole. For instance, a user should not have to make any
substantial movements to
find and observe the locking device 18 of device 1, which can alleviate, if
not eliminate, some
concerns a worker may have about verifying the setting of the locking device.
Handles 27 and .31 permit a user climbing a pole to climb at a quicker rate.
Further, the
handles permit a user to climb up or down a pole more efficiently than other
devices, For
example, a user need not waste energy attempting to grab part of the loop that
surrounds a pole
while climbing or descending to readjust the position of the loop, which is
often difficult and
time consuming because of the loop's tight engagement with the pole and the
small diameter of
the rope. The handles permit a user to easily readjust the position of the
loop by grabbing the
grasping members 28, 30 of the respective handles to pull the loop upwards or
downwards to"
reposition the loop. Of course, a user may only need to grab one of the
grasping members to
effectively reposition the loop, which requires much less time and effort than
attempting to grab
a part of the loop. Moreover, the adjustability of the handles allows a user
to alter the position of
the handles 27 or 31 to make repositioning the loop easier. For instance,
tubes 29 and 32 permit
a user to slide one or both handles along the middle portion 21 of the rope
away from or toward
the first end 23 of the rope to place the handles in a desired position.
Wear pads 33 may be attached to the tubes to increase the durability of the
handles. The
wear pads are preferably made of leather or canvas, but may be made of other
materials as well.
As may best be appreciated in Figure 5, the wear pads are connected to the
tubes so that the wear
pads engage the pole being climbed by the user.
It should be understood that the teeth 26 of the cam 24 of the locking device
18 can be
configured to permit the cope 20 to pass through the locking device 18 in a
first direction when
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the locking device 18 is in the locked position, but prevent the rope from
passing through the
locking device in an opposite second direction. The first direction is
preferably toward the first
end 2.3 of the rope so that the user does not have to manipulate the locking
device to obtain
additional slack for the loop as he or she climbs tip a pole. For such
embodiments of my device,
the second end 22 of the rope preferably has a large knot or stop that
prevents the second end
from passing through the locking device. Of course, other embodiments may have
a locking
device that prevents the rope from passing through any part of the locking
device when the
locking device is in the locked position.
The handles 27 and 31 may be interconnected by an adjustable fourth strap 34,
as may
best be seen in Figure 2. It should be understood that other embodiments may
have only one
handle adjustably connected to the rope 20. In yet other embodiments, one
handle may be
adjustably connected to the rope and one or more non-movable handles may be
affixed along the
rope 20 such that the position of the non-movable handles cannot be adjusted.
The device I illustrated in Figures 1-5 and other embodiments of my pole
climbing and
fall restraint device may be included in a full or partial body harness worn
by a user climbing a
pole or other tall elongated object. The device I and other embodiments may
also be sold and
worn separate from such harnesses. When part of a harness, the belt 3 may be
worn such that the
belt is positioned at a user's waist, above a user's waist, or below a user's
waist. For example, the
belt 3 may be designed to be positioned on or below a user's buttocks when
incorporated into a
full body harness.
Referring to Figures 6-7, a second present preferred embodiment 51 of my pole
climbing
and fall restraint device is illustrated. Embodiments of my invention similar
to the second
present preferred embodiment 51 may be referred to as a lanyard apparatus. The
lanyard
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apparatus includes a pole strap 52 that extends through a locking mechanism
58. The pole strap
is sized and configured to adjustably wrap about a pole. The locking mechanism
58 is attached
to a connector 56. Preferably, the connector 56 is a triple lock carabiner.
The first end 53 of the
pole strap 52 is attached to a coupling 55. A first handle 91 a second handle
92 are moveably
attached to the pole strap 52. 1 prefer that the handles 91 and 92 include
hooks, such as J-hooks,
so that a user can easily slip his or her hand into the hook and keep the hook
on the hand while
climbing. Other configurations, such as a loop could also be used. A first
stop 67 and a second
stop 68 are also moveably attached to the pole strap 52.
The first handle 91 includes a first hook 62 and a strap 94 that attaches the
first hook 62
to the pole strap 52. The connecting strap 94 extends from the pole strap 52
to the first hook 62.
The strap attaches the first hook 62 to the pole strap 52 such that the first
hook 62 may be rotated
about the pole strap 52 and may also be slid along the pole strap 52. A user
may slide or rotate
the first hook 62 independently or at the same time. The connecting strap 94
positions the first
hook 62 a first distance away from the pole strap 52. Preferably, the first
distance is 8-13 inches.
The second handle 92 includes the second hook 63 and a strap 96 that attaches
the second
hook 63 to the pole strap 53. The connecting strap 96 extends from the pole
strap 52 to the
second hook 63. The strap 96 connects the second hook 63 to the pole strap 52
such that the
second hook 63 may be rotated about the pole strap 52 and may also be slid
along the pole strap
52. The sliding and rotating of the second hook may be done independently or
in combination.
The connecting strap 96 positions the second hook 63 a second distance away
from the pole strap
52. Preferably, the second distance is 3-5 inches.
I have found that having both hooks positioned at different distances from the
pole strap
52 helps a user readjust the pole strap 52 as the user climbs a pole. Indeed,
the hooks 62 and 63
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allow a user to more easily move and readjust the pole strap 62 while climbing
than handles 27
and 31, as may be appreciated from Figure 8. For example, it has been
determined that a user
climbing a pole can more easily manipulate the pole strap 52 with hooks
because the hooks
permit a user to manipulate the pole strap 52 without tightly holding the
hooks. Preferably the
hooks are configured to open away from the pole or pole strap 52 when a user
is lifting the hooks
upward for climbing a pole. Such an orientation has been found to permit a
user to easily place
one or more fingers or the user's entire hand under the hooks to move the pole
strap. Positioning
the hooks away from the pole strap 52 by the connecting straps also permits a
user to more easily
find, move and grasp the hooks to adjust the position of the pole strap as the
user climbs a pole.
The first stop 67 is positioned between the first hook 62 and the second hook
63. The
first stop 67 is configured to help stop movement of the first and second
hooks 62 and 63 along
the pole strap 52 to prevent the hooks from both being positioned next to each
other. Such a
position has been found to help avoid situations where a user must readjust
the position of one of
the hooks or handles due to movement of both hooks to one side of a pole.
Positioning the first
stop 67 between the first and second hooks 62 and 63 can also help prevent a
user having to grab
around the pole in an attempt to find one of the hooks that may have moved
while the user
worked or readjusted his position on a pole.
The second stop 68 is positioned along the middle portion of the pole strap
52. The
second stop 68 is adjustable along the length of the pole strap and can be
used as a stop or
parking tap to help prevent movement of the coupling 55 while the coupling is
attached to the
middle portion of the pole strap 52. By preventing such movement of the
coupling 55, the
second stop 68 can help prevent the pule strap 52 from becoming loosened in
use so that a, user
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stays wrapped about a pole he or she may be positioned on and is prevented
from accidentally
falling while the use works on a pole or climbs up or down a pole.
In some embodiments the first stop 67 may include an engaging device 71 that
is
configured to engage or pierce a pole or other structure that may be climbed.
An engaging
device '71 can be particularly helpful in ensuring the pole strap 52 is
properly engaging a pole
that may be slick due to ice, snow or other relatively slick condition. The
engaging device 71
may include a nail, screw, bolt, hook, a rough surface or at least one saw
tooth. More than one
engaging device 71 may be attached to the first stop 67. The engaging device
71 may also be
used to help attach the first stop 67 to the pole strap 52. For instance, a
portion of the engaging
device may be used to secure a connecting strap to the pole strap 52 while a
second portion of
the engaging device projects past the pole strap 52 such that the second
portion of the
engagement device can engage a pole.
In some embodiments of the lanyard apparatus, the connector 56 or locking
mechanism
58 may not be included. It is contemplated that such embodiments of my lanyard
apparatus will
be configured for attachment to a pole climbing belt, or harness or other belt
device. A
connector or locking mechanism configured for attaching the lanyard apparatus
to the belt,
harness or other belt device may be used to attach the lanyard apparatus to
the belt harness or
other belt device. It is also contemplated that a belt, harness or other belt
device can include
such a connector or locking mechanism,
The second embodiment 51 of my pole climbing and fall restraint device may
also be
provided in a kit. Such a kit may include a belt device that is similar in
construction to the belt
device illustrated in Figures 1 and 3-5. Such a belt device can include the
belt 3, first, second
and third connectors 9, 11 and 13, and first and second straps 15 and 17, as
shown in the belt 3 of
CA 02681870 2009-10-07
Figures t and 3-5. The locking device may be provided with the belt device,
the lanyard
apparatus, or provided separately. The belt device, locking device and lanyard
apparatus may be
packaged together or packaged separately. Similarly, they may be sold together
or sold
separately.
It should be understood that rope 20 or pole strap 52 may be a lanyard, a
cable, a wire, or
other elongated member. The rope 20 or pole strap 52 may be composed of
elastomers, synthetic
fibers, natural fibers, leather, canvas or any combination thereof.
Of course, other variations of the present preferred embodiments discussed
above may be
made. For example, embodiments of my pole climbing and fall restraint device
can include no
stops, only one stop, or more than two stops. As another example, one hook or
more than two
hooks or other handles can be included in other embodiments of my pole
climbing and fall
restraint device.
While I have shown and described certain present preferred embodiments of my
pole
climbing and fall restraint device and pole climbing and fall restraint device
kit and have
illustrated certain present preferred methods of making and using the same, it
is to be distinctly
understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise
variously embodied and
practiced within the scope of the following claims.
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