Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
ROOF TOP LIFELINE SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a system for
preventing or
minimizing fall risk, and, more specifically, to a lifeline subsystem and load
sharing
subsystem for use, for instance, in prevention of and/or minimizing swing
falls or sliding
off a peak of a residential building.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] Current conventional fall protection devices (e.g., harness,
lanyard,
anchorage point) that can be utilized for minimizing swing falls or sliding
off a peak have
certain limitations. These limitations include, but are not limited, the
following: only
relying upon a single rope that if rigged close to an edge can allow the
lifeline to go past
the peak; only fall protect the user once the user reaches their work; rely on
a single
anchor only, and are relatively heavy, and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the
present invention to
provide a method and system for a fall protection device that eliminates one
or more of
the problems/issues with conventional fall protection devices.
[0004] It is a further object and advantage of the present invention
to provide a
method and a system for preventing and/or minimizing swing falls, for
instance, from a
roof by, e.g., protecting the user as they ascend to the work position and
descend back to
the ground. This can include using a single lifeline subsystem that can be
positioned in
the center of the roof and anchored to a suitable anchor. Such a lifeline
subsystem allows
a user to gain access to a weather head and can protect the user from a fall
while working
at the weather head.
[0005] Another object and advantage of the present invention is to
provide a
method and system for preventing sliding off a peak, for instance, of a roof
This can
include combining the single lifeline subsystem with one or more additional
anchor or
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redirect lines (where one or more of the lifeline and/or redirect line is
adjustable at one or
both ends, per use of adjustability instrumentation/accessories described
herein). These
additional anchor lines provide additional support to a user working on the
edge of the
roof or along a ridgeline where there is a possibility of a swing fall or
sliding off the
peak. The anchor lines that extend outward from the single lifeline subsystem
can be
attached to the single lifeline subsystem using prusiks and half hitch knots,
and the ends
of the anchor lines can be attached to suitable anchors. In such an example,
the weather
head may function as a stop in one direction if the user falls past the
weather head.
Another main function of a redirect line is to redistribute the weight of the
load (user plus
work accessories), and provide further support/stability to the load (e.g.,
prevent
swinging).
[0006] Accordingly, then, in one aspect, there is provided a system
for
minimizing fall risk, comprising: a lifeline subsystem having a lifeline with
a first end
configured for attachment to a harness and a second end configured for
attachment to a
stationary lifeline anchor; a load sharing subsystem having one or more
redirect lines,
each with a first end configured for attachment to the lifeline and a second
end
configured for attachment to a redirect anchor; wherein, the load sharing
subsystem and
the lifeline subsystem have an undeployed state and a deployed state; and
wherein, in the
deployed state, the lifeline extends from a first side of a residential
building to a second
side of a residential building, the first end of the lifeline is connected to
the harness of the
first side and the second end of the lifeline is connected to the stationary
lifeline anchor
on the second side, and the first end of each of the one or more redirect
lines is attached
to the lifeline and the second end of the redirect line is attached to a
redirect anchor.
[0007] In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a
system for
minimizing fall risk, comprising: a lifeline extending from a first side of a
residential
building to a second side of a residential building, the lifeline having a
first end
connected to a harness and a second end connected to a stationary lifeline
anchor;
wherein the harness is on the first side of the residential building and the
stationary
lifeline anchor is on a second side of the residential building; and a first
redirect line
having a first end connected to the lifeline at a first attachment location
and a second end
connected to a first redirect anchor.
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[0008] In accordance with a further aspect, there is provided a
method for
minimizing fall risk from a residential building, comprising the steps of:
securing a first
end of a first redirect line to an attachment location along a lifeline on a
first side of the
residential building; extending a second end of the lifeline from the first
side of the
residential building to a second side of the residential building; securing a
first end of the
lifeline to a first stationary lifeline anchor; and securing a second end of
the first redirect
line to a first redirect anchor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] One or more aspects of the present invention are
particularly pointed out
and distinctly claimed as examples in the claims at the conclusion of the
specification.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are
apparent
from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in
which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematic representation of a
lifeline
subsystem in the undeployed state, according to an embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 2A is a top view schematic representation of the
lifeline subsystem in
the deployed state secured over a residential building, according to an
embodiment;
[0012] FIG. 2B is a perspective view schematic representation of the
lifeline
subsystem in the deployed state secured over a residential building, according
to an
embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic representation of a load
sharing
subsystem in the undeployed state, according to an embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 4A is a perspective view schematic representation of a lifeline
and
redirect lines secured over a residential building in a first deployed
configuration,
according to an embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 4B is a top view schematic representation of a lifeline
and redirect
lines secured over a residential building in a second deployed configuration,
according to
an embodiment;
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[0016] FIG. 5 is a top view schematic representation of a lifeline
and redirect
lines secured over a residential building in a third deployed configuration,
according to an
embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a top view schematic representation of a lifeline
and redirect
lines secured over a residential building in a fourth deployed configuration,
according to
an embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 7A is a top view schematic representation of a lifeline
prusik in the
unlocked position on the primary lifeline, according to an embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 7B is a top view schematic representation of the lifeline
prusik
between the unlocked and locked positions on the primary lifeline, according
to an
embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 7C is a top view schematic representation of the lifeline
prusik
between the unlocked and locked positions on the primary lifeline, according
to an
embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 7D is a top view schematic representation of the lifeline
prusik
between the unlocked and locked positions on the primary lifeline, according
to an
embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 7E is a top view schematic representation of the lifeline
prusik
between the unlocked and locked positions on the primary lifeline, according
to an
embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 7F is a top view schematic representation of the lifeline
prusik
between the unlocked and locked positions on the primary lifeline, according
to an
embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 7G is a top view schematic representation of the lifeline
prusik
between the unlocked and locked positions on the primary lifeline, according
to an
embodiment;
[0025] FIG. 7H is a top view schematic representation of the lifeline
prusik
between the unlocked and locked positions on the primary lifeline, according
to an
embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 71 is a top view schematic representation of the lifeline
prusik in the
locked position on the primary lifeline, according to an embodiment;
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[0027] FIG. 8A is a top view schematic representation of a redirect
line in the
unlocked position on the lifeline prusik, according to an embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 8B is a top view schematic representation of the redirect
line between
the unlocked and locked positions on the lifeline prusik, according to an
embodiment;
[0029] FIG. 8C is a top view schematic representation of the redirect line
between
the unlocked and locked positions on the lifeline prusik, according to an
embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 8D is a top view schematic representation of the redirect
line
between the unlocked and locked positions on the lifeline prusik, according to
an
embodiment;
[0031] FIG. 8E is a top view schematic representation of the redirect line
between
the unlocked and locked positions on the lifeline prusik, according to an
embodiment;
[0032] FIG. 8F is a top view schematic representation of the redirect
line between
the unlocked and locked positions on the lifeline prusik, according to an
embodiment;
[0033] FIG. 8G is a top view schematic representation of the redirect
line in the
locked position on the lifeline prusik, according to an embodiment;
[0034] FIG. 9A is a top view schematic representation of an anchor
prusik in the
unlocked position on the redirect line, according to an embodiment;
[0035] FIG. 9B is a top view schematic representation of the anchor
prusik
between the unlocked and locked positions on the redirect line, according to
an
embodiment;
[0036] FIG. 9C is a top view schematic representation of the anchor
prusik
between the unlocked and locked positions on the redirect line, according to
an
embodiment;
[0037] FIG. 9D is a top view schematic representation of the anchor
prusik
between the unlocked and locked positions on the redirect line, according to
an
embodiment;
100381 FIG. 9E is a top view schematic representation of the anchor
prusik
between the unlocked and locked positions on the redirect line, according to
an
embodiment;
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[0039] FIG. 9F is a top view schematic representation of the anchor
prusik
between the unlocked and locked positions on the redirect line, according to
an
embodiment;
[0040] FIG. 9G is a top view schematic representation of the anchor
prusik in the
locked position on the redirect line, according to an embodiment;
[0041] FIG. 10A is a top view schematic representation of a redirect
anchor sling
in the unlocked position with the anchor prusik, according to an embodiment;
[0042] FIG. 10B is a top view schematic representation of the
redirect anchor
sling between the unlocked and locked positions on the anchor prusik,
according to an
embodiment;
[0043] FIG. 10C is a top view schematic representation of the
redirect anchor
sling between the unlocked and locked positions on the anchor prusik,
according to an
embodiment;
[0044] FIG. 10D is a top view schematic representation of the
redirect anchor
sling between the unlocked and locked positions on the anchor prusik,
according to an
embodiment;
100451 FIG. 10E is a top view schematic representation of the
redirect anchor
sling between the unlocked and locked positions on the anchor prusik,
according to an
embodiment;
[0046] FIG. 1OF is a top view schematic representation of the redirect
anchor
sling between the unlocked and locked positions on the anchor prusik,
according to an
embodiment;
[0047] FIG. 10G is a top view schematic representation of the
redirect anchor
sling between the unlocked and locked positions on the anchor prusik,
according to an
embodiment;
[0048] FIG. 10H is a top view schematic representation of the
redirect anchor
sling between the unlocked and locked positions on the anchor prusik,
according to an
embodiment;
[0049] FIG. 101 is a top view schematic representation of the
redirect anchor sling
in the locked position on the anchor prusik, according to an embodiment;
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[0050] FIG. 11A is a top view schematic representation of a redirect
anchor sling
in the unlocked position with the anchor prusik, according to an alternative
embodiment;
and
[0051] FIG. 1113 is a top view schematic representation of the
redirect anchor
sling in the locked position on the anchor prusik, according to an alternative
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0052] Aspects of the present invention and certain features,
advantages, and
details thereof, are explained more fully below with reference to the non-
limiting
examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Descriptions of well-known
structures are omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the invention in
detail. It should
be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific non-
limiting
examples, while indicating aspects and steps of the invention, are given by
way of
illustration only, and are not by way of limitation. Various substitutions,
modifications,
additions, and/or arrangements, within the spirit and/or scope of the
underlying inventive
concepts will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.
[0053] As discussed/described herein, a lifeline subsystem is
described and
illustrated in a pre-delployed/undeployed state/configuration and a deployed
state/configuration. In addition, the lifeline subsystem and a load sharing
subsystem is
described and illustrated in a combined pre-delployed/undeployed
state/configuration and
a deployed state/configuration. A method of using the lifeline subsystem and
combined
lifeline subsystem and a load sharing subsystem in conjunction with a
residential unit(s)
(typically 1-2 stories) is described and illustrated (however, the systems
described herein
can be used on/with any applicable construction or natural environment, as
should be
understood by a person of skill in the art in conjunction with a review of
this disclosure).
Each of the lifeline subsystem and the load sharing subsystem are configured
to be
adjustable, i.e., the connections of the lifeline subsystem to the anchor
points are
configured to be adjustable, and the load sharing subsystem's anchor points
and
attachments to the lifeline subsystem can be adjustable (as described herein).
[0054] Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a perspective view schematic
representation of a lifeline subsystem 10 in the undeployed state, according
to an
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embodiment. The lifeline subsystem 10 shown in FIG. 1 is configured for
deployment
and use on residential buildings. The lifeline subsystem 10 comprises a
lifeline rope 12,
which can comprise a carabiner eye 14, as shown in FIG. 1. The lifeline
subsystem 10
further comprises a mobile fall arrester 16, anchor sling 18, triple locking
carabiner 20,
and harness 22. In FIG. 1, the mobile fall arrester 16, triple locking
carabiner 20, and
other components of the lifeline subsystem 10 may be composed of steel or any
other
suitable material. Further, in the depicted embodiment, the harness 22
includes a sternal
D-ring 24. The lifeline subsystem 10 also comprises a launching assembly
(e.g., Buck
Shot) 26, a throw line 28, and a throw bag 30. The lifeline subsystem 10 may
optionally
include a throw line bag 32 for storing the throw line 28 and throw bag 30,
and a rope bag
34 for storing the components of the lifeline subsystem 10.
[0055] Turning now to FIGs. 2A-2B, there are shown top and
perspective views
schematic representations of the lifeline subsystem 10 in the deployed state
secured over
a residential building 36, according to an embodiment. To secure the lifeline
subsystem
10 over the residential building 36, the throw line 28 is first connected to
both the throw
bag 30 and the lifeline 12 on a first side 38 of the residential building 36.
The throw line
28 and connected throw bag 30 are launched, thrown, or otherwise extended over
the
residential building 36 to a second side 40 of the residential building 36.
The first side 38
and the second side 40 are on opposing sides of a central longitudinal y ¨ y
axis
extending through the residential building 36, as shown. The throw line 28 and
throw
bag 30 can be launched over the residential building 36 using the launching
assembly 26
(e.g., Buck Shot) shown in FIG. 1.
[0056] As a result, the throw line 28 and the throw bag 30 are on the
second side
40 of the residential building 36 and the lifeline 12 is on the first side 38.
With the throw
line 28 and throw bag 30 on the second side 40, the throw line 28 is pulled to
extend the
connected lifeline 12 over the residential building 36 from the first side 38
to the second
side 40. The lifeline 12 can preferably only be pulled such that a first end
42 of the
lifeline 12 is on the first side 38 of the residential building 36 and a
second end 44 of the
lifeline 12 is on the second side 40 of the residential building 36, as shown
in FIGs. 2A-
2B.
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[0057] In the embodiment depicted in FIGs. 2A-2B, the second end 44
of the
lifeline 12 can comprise the carabiner eye 14. The carabiner eye 14
facilitates anchoring
of the lifeline 12. The carabiner 20 can be connected to the carabiner eye 14
and to a
lifeline anchor sling 18. The lifeline anchor sling 18 is used to attach the
lifeline 12 to a
lifeline anchor 46. In the depicted embodiment, the lifeline 12 extends along
a central
lateral x ¨ x axis, which extends through the residential building 36 from the
first side 38
to the second side 40. Additionally, in the embodiment shown in FIGs. 2A-2B,
the
lifeline anchor 46 is secured into the ground; however, the lifeline anchor 46
can be
installed into any suitable, secure substrate. Once the second end 44 of the
lifeline 12 is
anchored, the lifeline 12 is stable for use.
[0058] Still referring to FIGs. 2A-2B, to use the secured lifeline
12, the user may
wear a harness 22 and attach the harness 22 to the first end 42 of the
lifeline 12 using a
mobile fall arrester 16 or other like device. In the depicted embodiment, the
user wears
the harness 22 and attaches it to the mobile fall arrester 16 via its sternal
D-ring 24. Once
the harness 22 is secured to the user, the user can scale or otherwise ascend
the residential
building 36, such as by a ladder 48, to reach the work area 50. If the user
should fall
from the ladder 48, the lifeline 12 is pulled toward the first side 38 of the
residential
building 36 until the lifeline 12 is taut between the harness 22 and the
lifeline anchor 46.
To provide additional safety and support, the lifeline subsystem 10 of FIGs 1-
23 can be
used in conjunction with a load sharing subsystem 100.
[0059] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view
schematic
representation of a load sharing subsystem 100 in the undeployed state,
according to an
embodiment. The load sharing subsystem 100 comprises one or more anchor slings
102,
one or more redirect lines 104, one or more anchor prusiks 106, and one or
more lifeline
prusiks 108. As should be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art
in
conjunction with a review of this disclosure, a prusik is a friction hitch or
other knot used
to attach one rope (cord or other similar device) to another rope. The load
sharing
subsystem 100 may also optionally include a load sharing bag 110 for storing
the
components of the load sharing subsystem 100.
[0060] Turning now to FIGs. 4A-6, there are shown top and perspective views
schematic representations of the lifeline subsystem 10 and load sharing
subsystem 100,
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each in a deployed state, in various configurations, over a residential
building 36. To
increase safety, the load sharing subsystem 100 can be installed with or
otherwise
coupled to the lifeline subsystem 10. To do so, the user can attach one or
more redirect
lines 104 to the lifeline 12 before (or, alternatively, after) the lifeline 12
is pulled over the
residential building 36. In other words, the throw bag 30 and throw line 28
can be first
attached to the lifeline 12 and launched over the residential building 36 from
its first side
38 to its second side 40, as described above, but prior to pulling the throw
line 28 to drag
the lifeline 12 to the second side 40, the redirect lines 104 are attached to
the lifeline 12.
[0061] In order to attach the redirect line 104 to the lifeline 12,
first, a lifeline
prusik 108 is coupled to the lifeline 12, and second, the redirect line 104 is
secured to the
lifeline prusik 108. Referring now to FIGs. 7A-7I, there is shown a method for
adjustably attaching the lifeline prusik 108 to the lifeline 12. To attach the
lifeline prusik
108 to the lifeline 12, the lifeline prusik 108 is extended across
(approximately
perpendicular) and under the lifeline 12 in the unlocked position, as shown in
FIG. 7A.
Next, a stitching end 114 on the lifeline prusik 108 is passed back over the
lifeline 12 and
passed through the opposing end 116 of the lifeline prusik 108, forming a
first wrap
118A, as shown in FIGs. 7A-7B. Then, as shown in FIGs. 7C-7D, the stitching
end 114
is passed over the lifeline 12 through the opposing end 116 of the lifeline
prusik 108 for a
second time, forming a second wrap 118B. Next, as shown in FIGs. 7E-7F, the
stitching
.. end 114 is passed over the lifeline 12 through the opposing end 116 of the
lifeline prusik
108 for a third time, forming a third wrap 118C. Finally, as shown in FIGs. 7G-
7H, the
stitching end 114 is passed over the lifeline 12 through the opposing end 116
of the
lifeline prusik 108 for a fourth time, forming a fourth wrap 118D. The
lifeline prusik 108
and the lifeline 12 are shown in the locked position in FIG. 71.
100621 With the lifeline prusik 108 attached to the lifeline 12, the
redirect line 104
can be attached to the lifeline prusik 108. A user estimates the location for
attachment of
the one or more redirect lines 104 on the lifeline 12 based on a variety of
factors, such as
the positioning of the lifeline 12 on the residential building 36 and the
location of the
work area 50. A first end 112 of each of the one or more redirect lines 104 is
then
adjustably attached to the lifeline 12 at one or more attachment locations
114.
CA 3012878 2018-07-31
[0063] Turning now to FIGs. 8A-8G, there is shown a method for
attaching a
redirect line 104 to a lifeline prusik 108. In the unlocked position, shown in
FIG. 8A the
first end 112 of the redirect line 104 comprises a loop 120, such as a hitch
loop, which is
adjacent the loop 122 of the lifeline prusik 108. From the unlocked position,
the loop 120
of the redirect line 104 is inserted through the loop 122 of the lifeline
prusik 108, as
shown in FIG. 8B. Next, the second end 124 of the redirect line 104 is
inserted into
through the loop 120 of the redirect line 104, as shown in FIGs. 8C-8D. In
FIGs. 8D-8E,
the second end 124 of the redirect line 104 is continuously pulled through the
loop 120 of
the redirect line 104 until an adjustable loop 126 in the redirect line 104 is
created (FIGs.
.. 8E-8F) and is tight on the loop 122 of the lifeline prusik 108, as shown in
FIG. 8G. FIG.
8G shows the redirect line 104 and the lifeline prusik 108 in the locked
position.
[0064] With the one or more redirect lines 104 attached to the
lifeline 12 at one or
more attachment locations 114, the user pulls the throw line 28 on the second
side 40 of
the residential building 36, thereby pulling the first end 42 of the lifeline
12 to the second
side 40 of the residential building 36. Both the lifeline 12 and the attached
redirect line
104 are pulled along the residential building 36. Thereafter, the user places
the ladder 48
or other climbing or scaling device in the proximity of the work area 50. For
example, in
FIG. 4A, the lifeline anchor 46 on the second side 40 of the residential
building 36 is
positioned approximately in alignment with the ladder 48 on the opposing first
side 38 of
the residential building 36 and with the central longitudinal y ¨ y axis. The
lifeline
anchor 46 provides the most support for potential falls from the ladder 48
when it is in
alignment with the ladder 48.
[0065] With the ladder 48 in place, the user can determine where to
anchor the
lifeline 12 and the redirect line 104. As described above with reference to
FIGs. 2A-2B,
the second end 44 of the lifeline 12 is secured to the lifeline anchor 46 via
the carabiner
20 and the lifeline anchor sling 18 (although any other suitable connectors
may be used).
In order to anchor the redirect line 104 to a redirect anchor 148 (or 150),
first, an anchor
prusik 106 is coupled to the redirect line 104, and second, the anchor prusik
106 is couple
to a redirect anchor sling 102.
[0066] Referring now to FIGs. 9A-9G, there is shown a method for adjustably
attaching the redirect line 104 to the anchor prusik 106. To attach the anchor
prusik 106
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to the redirect line 104, the anchor prusik 106 is extended across
(approximately
perpendicular) and under the redirect line 104 in the unlocked position, as
shown in FIG.
9A. Next, a ring end 130 on the anchor prusik 106 is passed back over the
redirect line
104 the passed through the opposing end 132 of the anchor prusik 106, forming
a first
wrap 134A, as shown in FIGs. 9A-9B. Then, as shown in FIGs. 9C-9D, the ring
end 130
is passed over the redirect line 104 through the opposing end 132 of the
anchor prusik
106 for a second time, forming a second wrap 134B. Finally, as shown in FIGs.
9E-9F,
the ring end 130 is then passed over the redirect line 104 through the
opposing end 132 of
the anchor prusik 106 for a third time, forming a third wrap 134C. The anchor
prusik 106
and the redirect line 104 are shown in the locked position in FIG. 9G.
[0067] With the anchor prusik 106 adjustably attached to the redirect
line 104, the
redirect line 104 and the anchor prusik 106 can be attached to a redirect
anchor sling 102.
The method for adjustable attachment is shown in FIGs. 10A-101. In the
unlocked
position shown in FIG. 10A, the second end 124 of the redirect line 104 is
adjacent an
anchor sling ring 136. First, as shown in FIG. 10B, the second end 124 of the
redirect
line 104 is passed through the anchor sling ring 136. Then, in FIG. 10C, the
second end
124 of the redirect line 104 is passed through the ring end 130 of the anchor
prusik 106.
Thereafter, the second end 124 of the redirect line 104 is pulled behind and
around two
sections 138A, 138B of the redirect line 104 which extend between the anchor
sling ring
136 and the ring end 130 of the anchor prusik 106, creating a first locking
loop 140, as
shown in FIG. 10D. The second end 124 of the redirect line 104 is then passed
through
the first locking loop 140 and pulled tight, as shown in FIG. 10E. Next, in
FIG. 10E-10F,
the second end 124 of the redirect line 104 is pulled behind and around the
two sections
138A, 138B of the redirect line 104 again, creating a second locking loop 142.
The
second end 124 of the redirect line 104 is then passed through the second
locking loop
142 and pulled tight, as shown in FIG. 10G. As shown in FIG. 10H, the second
end 124
of the redirect line 104 is pulled behind and around the two sections 138A,
138B of the
redirect line 104 for a third time, creating a third locking loop 144. The
second end 124
of the redirect line 104 is then passed through the third locking loop 144 and
pulled tight
to achieve the locked position, as shown in FIG. 101. In the locked position,
the redirect
anchor sling 102 can be attached to a redirect anchor 148 (or 150).
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[0068] Turning briefly to FIGs. 11A-11B, there are shown top views
schematic
representations of the redirect anchor sling 102 in the locked and unlocked
positions on
the anchor prusik 106, according to an alternative embodiment. As shown in
FIG. 11A, a
carabiner 152 is connected through the ring end 130 on the anchor prusik 106.
With the
carabiner 152 attached to the anchor prusik 106, as shown in FIG. 11A, the
carabiner can
then also be attached to the anchor sling ring 136 of the redirect anchor
sling 102, as
shown in FIG. 11B. In the locked position, the redirect anchor sling 102 can
be attached
to a redirect anchor 148 (or 150).
[0069] After the lifeline 12 and redirect line 104 are anchored in
place, the user
may continue to adjust the slack in the redirect line 104 via the anchor
prusik 106 and the
attachment location 114 of the redirect line 104 along the lifeline 12 using
the lifeline
prusik 108 until the desired configuration is achieved. Once the desired
configuration is
achieved, the user can lock the anchor prusik 106 and/or lifeline prusik 108
in place.
With the redirect line 104 and lifeline 12 secured, the user can ascend or
climb the ladder
48 to the work area 50 on the residential building 36.
[0070] Turning back to FIGs. 4A-4B, there are shown first and second
configurations of the lifeline subsystem 10 used in conjunction with the load
sharing
subsystem 100. In the first configuration shown in FIG. 4A, one redirect line
104 is
connected to the lifeline 12 at an attachment location 114. In the depicted
embodiment,
the work area 50 is along the central longitudinal y ¨ y axis. In the second
configuration
shown in FIG. 4B, two redirect lines 104A, 104B are attached to the lifeline
12. As
shown in FIG. 4B, the work area 50 is located centrally on the top surface 52
of the
residential building 36. The redirect lines 104A, 104B are connected to the
lifeline 12 at
spaced attachment locations 114. Using two redirect lines 104A, 104B
eliminates or
further limits the chance that the user falls or slides from the work area 50
at the top
surface 52 of the residential building 36.
[0071] Referring briefly back to FIGs. 5-6, there are shown third and
fourth
configurations of the lifeline subsystem 10 used in conjunction with the load
sharing
subsystem 100. In FIG. 5, the work area is located at an edge 54 (or along a
ridgeline 56)
on the top surface 52 of the residential building 36. Differing from the
position in FIGs.
2A-2B and FIGs. 4A-4B, the lifeline 12 in the third configuration, as shown in
FIG. 5,
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extends at angle relative to the central longitudinal y ¨ y axis through the
residential
building 36 from the first side 38 of the residential building 36 to the
second side 40 of
the residential building 36. In the third configuration, the spaced redirect
attachment
locations 114 are on the same side of the central longitudinal y ¨y axis
extending through
.. the residential building 36 and on the same side (i.e., first side 38) as
the work area 50, as
shown.
[0072] In FIG. 6, the lifeline subsystem 10 and the load sharing
subsystem 100
are in a fourth configuration. In the fourth configuration, the lifeline 12
extends from a
third side 58 of the residential building 36 to the second side 40 of the
residential building
36. As shown, the third side 58 is adjacent (and directly connected to) the
second side
40. Thus, the lifeline 12 extends across and at angle relative to a central
lateral x ¨ x axis
through the residential building 36. The fourth configuration may also
represent a
scenario wherein the first redirect anchor 148 for the first redirect line
104A does not
meet the minimum strength requirements for an anchor. The load sharing
subsystem 100
is utilized to secure a second redirect line 104B attached to a second
redirect anchor 150.
The second redirect anchor 150 and the lifeline anchor 46 are used to achieve
the
required anchor strength to eliminate or limit the change of the user falling
or sliding
from the work area 50. Additional configurations of the lifeline 12 and
redirect line 104
in the deployed state are contemplated and can be used to prevent or minimize
falls and
sliding, as should be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art in
conjunction
with a review of this disclosure (taking advantage of the adjustability
configurations
described herein).
[0073] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular
embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used
herein, the
singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as
well, unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that
the terms
"comprise" (and any form of comprise, such as "comprises" and "comprising"),
"have"
(and any form of have, such as, "has" and "having"), "include" (and any form
of include,
such as "includes" and "including"), and "contain" (any form of contain, such
as
"contains" and "containing") are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a
method or
device that "comprises", "has", "includes" or "contains" one or more steps or
elements.
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CA 3012878 2018-07-31
Likewise, a step of method or an element of a device that "comprises", "has",
"includes"
or "contains" one or more features possesses those one or more features, but
is not
limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device
or structure
that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but
may also be
configured in ways that are not listed.
[0074] The corresponding structures, materials, acts and equivalents
of all means
or step plus function elements in the claims below, if any, are intended to
include any
structure, material or act for performing the function in combination with
other claimed
elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has
been
presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to
be exhaustive
or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and
variations will
be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the
scope and
spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to
best
explain the principles of one or more aspects of the invention and the
practical
application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand
one or more
aspects of the present invention for various embodiments with various
modifications as
are suited to the particular use contemplated.
CA 3012878 2018-07-31
