BREAKFREE SAFETY LANYARD

FIL DE SECURITE LARGABLE INCASSABLE

Description

Description of the Preferred Embodiment
The Embodiments of the Invention in which and Exclusive Property or Privilege
is Claimed
are defined as follows:
1. A safety lanyard that uses layers of Velcro to provide a quantifiable
(and pre-determined)
release point when a force is applied axially along the lanyard
2. A safety lanyard that contains an inline and integrated manual release
mechanism
3. A safety lanyard that, when released, completely frees the top end
(attachment point) from the
bottom end (attachment point).
CA 3032677 2019-02-05

Product Name:
BREAKFREE SAFETY LANYARD
Inventors:
Luke Shaheen, Armand Konecsni-Luzny, Andrew Higginson
Abstract:
An inline safety lanyard comprised of layers of Velcro that provide a
quantifiable automatic release point
when axially loaded, and includes an integrated manual release mechanism that
allows the user to
release the lanyard prior to the automatic threshold if needed. The release of
the lanyard separates the
top and bottom connecting points of the lanyard so the user is no longer
attached to an inline system.
BreakFree Safety Lanyard
Background of the Invention
Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to the field of safety lanyards used for
inline personal attachment
systems. In broad terms, inline personal attachment systems would include
industrial fall protection
systems, recreational life safety systems (ie. Rock climbing), and any marine
or water based rescue
system where participants are connected to a rope/tether/lanyard/etc.
The invention would be used in any inline personal attachment system where
there is a risk of injury or
death to the person(s) should their rope/tether/lanyard become entangled and
trap the person in a
compromising or dangerous position. One of the most common scenarios for risk
to personal injury
while attached to a rope/tether/lanyard occurs when the person is in contact
or proximity with a marine
or water environment.
The primary benefit of the invention is its ability to automatically release
at a pre-determined,
quantifiable threshold of axial force. This automatic release prevents:
- the person from experiencing dangerous or damaging limits of force on
their body
- the person from becoming entangled in a situation by their permanent
attachment to their
rope/tether/lanyard
When the person is in a marine or water environment, the automatic release
prevents:
- the person from being dragged beneath the water due to their permanent
attachment to their
rope/tether/lanyard
- the person from being dragged above the water due to their permanent
attachment to their
rope/tether/lanyard
The secondary benefit of the invention is its integrated manual release
mechanism that allows the user
to disconnect the lanyard from their rope/tether/lanyard in case of:
- entanglement that causes bodily injury, harm, or death but does not
exceed the automatic
release limit
CA 3032677 2019-02-05

- express or immediate removal from the situation by disconnecting from the

rope/tether/lanyard
When the person is in a marine or water environment, the manual release also
allows:
- release by the user to avoid being dragged beneath the surface of the
water
- release by the user to remove themselves from a dangerous situation
- release by the user to disconnect themselves from the rope/tether/lanyard
Description of Existing Products
The most common similar products are energy absorbing lanyards used in fall
protection. These energy
absorbing lanyards automatically release at a pre-determined threshold of
force, but do not separate
the top end from the bottom end. That is, upon conclusion of a release event,
the top end of the
lanyard is still connected to the bottom end of the lanyard. Typically the
release event and energy
absorbing action cause the lanyard to extend, and become longer.
Examples of similar products available in the current marketplace include
items manufactured by
companies such as:
MSA ¨ msasafety.com
DBI Sala ¨ capitalsafety.conn
Honeywell/Miller ¨ millerfallprotection.com
Norguard ¨ norguard.conn
The major difference with the BreakFree Safety Lanyard is its ability to fully
release the top end from the
bottom end of the lanyard upon deployment. This effectively allows the user to
remove themselves
from attachment to the inline system.
Summary of the Invention
An inline safety lanyard comprised of layers of Velcro that provide a
quantifiable automatic release point
when axially loaded, and includes an integrated manual release mechanism that
allows the user to
release the lanyard prior to the automatic threshold if needed. The release of
the lanyard separates the
top and bottom connecting points of the lanyard so the user is no longer
attached to an inline system.
Lanyard can be connected to any rope/tether/lanyard in an inline personal
attachment system through
the use of standard industry connectors such as carabiners, quicklinks,
shackles, etc.
The BreakFree Safety Lanyard is manufactured entirely of textile products
(webbing, Velcro, thread) and
does not have any metallic components that may be subject to corrosion.
Description of the Drawings
Dwg 1¨ BreakFree Safety Lanyard
CA 3032677 2019-02-05