Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a safety device, such as a safety harness, adapted
to be worn by a person when working at height, comprising a connecting device to be
connected to a securing means at an attachment point in the connecting device.
Background Art
[0002] In activities at height, for instance with a person working at height, there is a
risk of the person falling and getting hurt. To solve this problem different safety
devices are available today, which are attached to, for instance, a rope. For instance,
when working on a roof, a person can wear a fall harness which is attached to a rope
which is in turn attached to a fixed point, such as the chimney.
[0003] For the safety device to satisfy the current requirements and protect a falling person,
it is important for the attachment point between the rope and, for instance, the fall
harness to have a correct height relative to the person wearing the harness. The attachment
point should be positioned vertically at the user's chest for the fall harness to
function in a desirable manner. In the event of falling with such a fall harness,
the user will be straightened out and thus be hanging vertically. If the attachment
point between the rope and the fall harness is instead positioned further down, for
instance at the user's waist, the user will not be straightened out, which if the
worst comes to the worst may result in the user breaking his back.
[0004] Thus safety devices, such as fall harnesses, are currently available, where the attachment
point between the rope and the harness is positioned at the chest of the user. However,
such prior-art safety devices suffer from various drawbacks. One drawback is that
since the attachment point is positioned at the user's chest, the rope connected to
the safety device may get into an unsuitable position for the user, for instance in
front of his face where the rope interferes with his work. On the one hand the rope
can be awkward and thus obstruct the view and, on the other, it can interfere with
certain tasks.
[0005] Moreover, when working on, for instance, steep roofs or slippery roofs, it is desirable
for the user to have a substantially stretched rope so that he or she can thus use
the rope as support and to prevent slipping or falling. It is also a drawback for
the user to work with a stretched rope and a high attachment point in the cases when
it is difficult for the user to bend down and when the body is obliquely bent forward.
[0006] Moreover it may be essential for the user to have a certain freedom of movement when
he or she wears, for instance, a fall harness to be able to perform his/her task in
a desirable way. A problem that may be experienced by the user with prior-art safety
devices is that they can often be firmly tightened on the user, which he sometimes
experiences to limit his movements. For instance, the user may then slightly loosen
one or more straps of the fall harness to ensure slightly more freedom of movement
and be able to move in the desired positions when working. However, this results in
the safety device not being sufficiently tightened on the user for optimal function
if he should fall. This means that the user may also experience a "fall" in the harness,
that is the user will be subjected to a load which may be painful for him.
[0007] It is thus desirable to provide an improved safety device.
Summary of the Invention
[0008] The object of the invention is to at least partially eliminate the above drawbacks.
According to a first aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by a safety
device, such as a safety harness, adapted to be worn by a person when working at height,
comprising a connecting device to be connected to a securing means at an attachment
point in the connecting device. Said attachment point is arranged to be movable from
a lower position relative to the user's body to an upper position to be caused to
move from said lower position to said upper position under the action of the load
arising in the event of said user falling. By providing a safety device as described
above, a user-friendly device is obtained, which at the same time is reliable. By
said attachment point being arranged to be movable from a lower to an upper position
relative to the user's body, the attachment point between the rope and the safety
device can be positioned further down, for instance at the waist of the user, while
at the same time the attachment point moves to the desired upper position, that is
the chest position, if the user falls. In this way, the movability of the user is
increased, that is the rope does not obstruct the user when he moves and, for instance,
works at height. Moreover it will be easier for the user to bend down when he has
a stretched rope. At the same time the safety requirements placed on the device are
satisfied and the user will have the desired position in the event of a fall.
[0009] In one embodiment of the invention, said connecting device is positioned on the part
of the safety device which is located on the front of the user. By providing a safety
device as described above, it will be possible for the user to have the rope under
control and, for example, see that is does not get stuck but runs freely. It will
thus also be easier for the user to fix the rope to the safety device or disconnect
himself.
[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, said connecting device comprises at least one
belt loop which is movable through a sliding eye and which on one side of the sliding
eye is connected to a shoulder portion of the safety device and, on the other side
of the sliding eye, is connected to said securing means, the sliding eye being at
the same time connected to a lower portion of the safety device. By providing a connecting
device as described above, a safety device is obtained, which gives the user great
freedom of movement and at the same time satisfies the safety requirements in the
event of a fall. By said belt loop running through a sliding eye and being connected
to a shoulder portion of the safety device on one side of the sliding eye and connected
to said securing means on the other side and the sliding eye at the same time being
connected to a lower portion of the safety device, tightening of the safety device
in the event of a fall is obtained. By the safety device being firmly tightened on
the user in the event of a fall, the force arising in the fall will be smoothly taken
up by the user. This reduces the risk that the user should be exposed to a "fall"
in the safety device while at the same time the user can have the safety device less
firmly tightened when working and thus have more freedom of movement when working.
[0011] In one embodiment of the invention, said connecting device comprises two movable
belt loops and two sliding eyes. By providing a safety device as described above,
a symmetric safety device is ensured, which can be worn by the user in a comfortable
manner.
[0012] In another embodiment of the invention, said safety device comprises an upper portion
and a lower portion relative to the user, wherein the upper portion of the safety
device has a belt part which extends from above and which comprises said belt loop
running through the sliding eye, and the lower portion has a belt part which extends
from below.
[0013] In one embodiment of the invention, said safety device consists of a fall harness,
wherein said belt part extending from above comprises at least one belt extending
over the shoulder portions of the user, and said belt part extending from below comprises
at least one belt extending around the user's thighs, one end portion of the belt
part extending from above forming said belt loop and its other end portion being connected
to said belt part extending from below on the back of the user.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0014] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings which by way of example illustrate currently preferred embodiments of the
present invention.
Fig. 1a is a perspective view of a safety device according to the present invention
when the safety device is fastened to a person and is not subjected to a fall load.
Fig. 1b is a perspective view of a safety device according to the present invention
when the safety device is fastened to a person who has fallen and the safety device
is subjected to a fall load.
Fig. 2b is a cut sectional side view of a safety device according to the present invention
when the safety device is not subjected to a fall load.
Fig. 2b is a cut sectional side view of a safety device according to the present invention
when the safety device is subjected to a fall load.
Fig. 3a is a perspective view of a safety device according to the present invention
when the safety device is fastened to a person and the safety device is not subjected
to a fall load.
Fig. 3b is a perspective view of a safety device according to the present invention
when the safety device is fastened to a person who has fallen and the safety device
is subjected to a fall load.
Fig. 4 illustrates a safety device according to Fig. 3b.
Description of Preferred Embodiments
[0015] Figs 1a-b illustrate a safety device 1 according to the present invention when the
safety device 1 is fastened to a person 2. In Fig. 1a, the user 2 is in a working
position, that is he has not fallen and, thus, the safety device 1 is not subjected
to a fall load. In Fig. 1b, the user has fallen and the safety device 1 is subjected
to a fall load.
[0016] The safety device 1 comprises a connecting device 3, a shoulder portion 4 and a lower
portion 5. In this preferred embodiment, the safety device 1 comprises two connecting
devices 3. The connecting device 3 consists of a belt loop 6, a sliding eye 7 and
an attachment point 8. The belt loop 6 runs through the sliding eye 7 and extends
vertically in the standing posture of the user, preferably from the chest position
of the user towards the ground, for instance to the waist position of the user. The
upper end 9 of the belt loop 6 relative to the user 2 in the working position (Fig.
1a) is connected to the shoulder portion 4 at a connecting point 10, and the lower
end 11 of the belt loop relative to the user 2 in the working position has the attachment
point 8. A rope 18 is attached to the attachment point 8 by means of a hook 13. The
hook 13 and the rope 18 exemplify a securing means according to the embodiment shown
in Figs 1a-1b. The sliding eye 7 is connected to a lower portion 5 of the safety device
1. A belt 22 extends substantially parallel to the belt loop 6 from the attachment
point 8 to the connecting point 10. In the embodiment illustrated, the lower portion
5 consists of two belt parts 12 extending from below. Across the user extends a connecting
belt 20 from one belt part 12 to the other belt part 12. The function of the safety
device 1 will be described in more detail below with reference to Figs 2a-2b and 3a-3b.
[0017] Figs 2a-2b illustrate a part of the safety device 1 according to the present invention
when the safety device 1 is not subjected to a fall load (Fig. 2a) and, respectively,
when the safety device 1 is subjected to a fall load (Fig. 2b). The Figures show the
connecting device 3, which at its upper end, seen vertically in Fig. 2a, is connected
to the shoulder portion 4 at the connecting point 10. The connecting device 3 consists
of the belt loop 6 which runs from the connecting point 10 through the sliding eye
7 to the attachment point 8. In Fig. 2a the belt loop 6 runs vertically along a path.
The sliding eye 7 is connected to a belt part 12. In Fig. 2b, the safety device is
subjected to a fall load and the attachment point 8 has moved from the lower position
(Fig. 2a) to the upper position, which is shown in the Figure by arrow A. The belt
loop 6 has run through the sliding eye 7 and the sliding eye 7 has moved vertically
upwards seen in the upright position of the user 2 to the lower attachment 14 of the
connecting point 10. Owing to the movement of the sliding eye 7, the belt part 12
has thus obtained an extension in the vertical plane upwards seen in the upright position
of the user 2.
[0018] Figs 3a-3b illustrate a safety device 1 according to the present invention when the
safety device 1 is fastened to a person 2.
[0019] In Fig. 3a, the person 2 is in a working position, that is he has not fallen and
the safety device 1 is not subjected to a fall load. The upper portion of the safety
device 1 consists of two belt parts 15 extending from above, which in this preferred
embodiment comprises two belts 23 which each extend over a shoulder of the user 2
on the front of the user 2 to the connecting point 10 and on the user's back along
his back through a guide 19 to the connecting point 16 (see Fig. 4). In this preferred
embodiment, the lower portion 5 of the safety device 1 consists of two belts 12. Each
belt 12 extends from the sliding eye 7 obliquely downwards seen in the upright position
of the user, towards the user's back through a guide 17 and surrounds the user's 2
thigh portion just below the user's seat. The guide 17 ensures that the belt 12 is
held in the correct position relative to the user. The belt 12 runs from the thigh
portion of the user obliquely upwards on the front of the user 2 and backwards on
the user 2 towards the back of the user 2 and continues upwards on the user's back
to the connecting point 16 (see Fig. 4). In the Figure the belt 12 is relatively loosely
tightened, which ensures an increased freedom of movability for the user 2. The attachment
point 8 is positioned close to the stomach portion of the user and the rope 18 is
fastened to the attachment point 8. Adjusting means 21 are mounted on the belt 12
so that the user can adjust the length of the belt 12.
[0020] In Fig. 3b, the user has fallen and the safety device 1 is thus subjected to a fall
load. As described above, for instance in Fig. 2b, the attachment point 8 has moved
from the lower position (Fig. 3a) to the upper position. Moreover the end of the belt
12 which is connected to the sliding eye 7 has moved vertically upwards seen in the
upright position of the user. In this way, tightening of the belt 12 around the thigh
portion of the user 2 and along the front of the user 2 is ensured. This means that
the user 2 is safely and firmly fastened to the safety device 1.
[0021] Fig. 4 shows the case when the user 2 has fallen according to Fig. 3b. The Figure
also shows the back of the safety device 1 with the connecting point 16 and the guide
19.
[0022] It will easily be appreciated that many modifications of the preferred embodiment
described above are conceivable within the scope of the invention. In the preferred
embodiment the safety device consists of a fall harness, but the safety device may
also be integrated, for instance, in trousers, a vest or the like. Furthermore the
attachment point can be designed in a different manner, for instance a D ring can
be attached to the attachment point which in turn is secured by the securing means.
1. A safety device (1), such as a safety harness, adapted to be worn by a person (2)
when working at height, comprising a connecting device (3) to be connected to a securing
means (13, 18) at an attachment point (8) in the connecting device (3),
characterised in that
said attachment point (8) is arranged to be movable from a lower position relative
to the user's (2) body to an upper position to be caused to move from said lower position
to said upper position under the action of the load arising in the event of said user
(2) falling.
2. A safety device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting device (3) is positioned
on the part of the safety device (1) which is located on the front of the user (2).
3. A safety device (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said connecting device (3)
comprises at least one belt loop (6) which is movable through a sliding eye (7) and
which on one side of the sliding eye (7) is connected to a shoulder portion (4) of
the safety device (1) and, on the other side of the sliding eye (7), is connected
to said securing means (13, 18), the sliding eye (7) being at the same time connected
to a lower portion (5) of the safety device (1).
4. A safety device (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said connecting device (3) comprises
two movable belt loops (6) and two sliding eyes (7).
5. A safety device (1) as claimed in claim 3 or 4, which comprises an upper portion and
a lower portion (5) relative to the user (2), wherein the upper portion of the safety
device (1) has a belt part (15) which extends from above and which comprises said
belt loop (6) running through the sliding eye (7) and the lower portion (5) has a
belt part (12) which extends from below.
6. A safety device (1) as claimed in claim 5, which consists of a fall harness, wherein
said belt part (15) extending from above comprises at least one belt (23) extending
over the shoulder portions of the user, and said belt part (12) extending from below
comprises at least one belt extending around the user's thighs, one end portion of
the belt part (15) extending from above forming said belt loop (6) and its other end
portion being connected to said belt part (12) extending from below on the back of
the user (2).