Dorsal pad assembly for use with a safety harness
View Patent ↗A preferred embodiment safety harness includes two straps operatively connected to a D-ring, which is operatively connected to a biasing mechanism urging the D-ring to an upright position. The safety harness may also include an impact indicator for providing indication when the D-ring has been subjected to a force and a wear pad for reducing wear on the straps of the safety harness.
1. A safety harness, comprising:
a) a first strap and a second strap;
b) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being a connected operating position to a safety device; and
c) a spring member operatively connected to the D-ring, wherein the spring member urges the D-ring to the first position.
2. The safety harness of claim 1 , further comprising an impact indicator operatively connected to the D-ring, wherein the impact indicator provides indication when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.
3. The safety harness of claim 2 , wherein the force is at least 500 pounds.
4. The safety harness of claim 2 , wherein the impact indicator is an indication mark on the D-ring that is exposed when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.
5. The safety harness of claim 2 , wherein the impact indicator is an ink filled pellet that stains the straps when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.
6. The safety harness of claim 2 , further comprising a dorsal pad assembly interconnecting the straps and the D-ring.
7. The safety harness of claim 1 , further comprising a wear pad operatively connected to the D-ring, the wear pad reducing wear on the straps.
8. A safety harness, comprising:
a) a first strap and a second strap;
b) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps; and
c) an impact indicator operatively connected to the D-ring, the impact indicator providing indication when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.
9. The safety harness of claim 8 , wherein the impact indicator is an indication mark on the D-ring that is exposed when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.
10. The safety harness of claim 8 , wherein the impact indicator is an ink filled pellet that stains the straps when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.
11. The safety harness of claim 8 , wherein the impact indicator is a clip member.
12. The safety harness of claim 8 , further comprising a dorsal pad assembly interconnecting the straps and the D-ring, the dorsal pad assembly including the impact indicator.
13. The safety harness of claim 12 , wherein the impact indicator is a change in appearance of the dorsal pad assembly thereby providing visual indication that the D-ring has been subjected to a force.
14. The safety harness of claim 12 , wherein the impact indicator is a clip member.
15. The safety harness of claim 8 , further comprising a biasing mechanism operatively connected to the D-ring, the D-ring having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being a connected operating position to a safety device, the biasing mechanism urging the D-ring to the first position.
16. The safety harness of claim 15 , wherein the biasing mechanism is a spring member.
17. The safety harness of claim 15 , wherein the biasing mechanism is an elastic member.
18. A safety harness having a first strap and a second strap, comprising:
a) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being a connected operating position to a safety device;
b) means for urging the D-ring to the first position; and
c) a dorsal pad assembly, the dorsal pad assembly including means for urging the D-ring to the first position.
19. The safety harness of claim 18 , further comprising means for providing indication that the D-ring has been subjected to a force.
20. The safety harness of claim 19 , wherein the dorsal pad assembly includes the means for providing indication that the D-ring has been subjected to a force.
21. A dorsal pad assembly for use with a safety harness having a first strap and a second strap, comprising:
a) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being a connected operating position to a safety device;
b) a biasing mechanism operatively connected to the D-ring, the biasing mechanism urging the D-ring to the first position; and
c) an impact indicator operatively connected to the D-ring, the impact indicator providing indication when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.
22. A dorsal pad assembly for use with a safety harness including straps, comprising:
a) a D-ring having a bar portion, a first position, and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being a connected operating position to a safety device;
b) a D-ring clip having a cavity, the bar portion of the D-ring being positioned within the cavity and being engaged by the D-ring clip;
c) a dorsal pad having slots and a D-ring connector portion, the straps of the harness being routed through the slots, the D-ring connector portion having a second cavity, the D-ring clip being positioned within the second cavity and being engaged by the dorsal pad; and
d) a biasing mechanism interconnecting the D-ring clip and the dorsal pad, the biasing mechanism applying a force on the D-ring clip thereby urging the D-ring to the first position, wherein when the D-ring is placed in the second position and the biasing mechanism urges the D-ring to the first position.
23. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 22 , further comprising a catch operatively connected to the D-ring clip, the catch extending into the cavity of the D-ring clip and releasably holding the bar portion of the D-ring within the cavity.
24. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 23 , wherein the catch releases the bar portion when a force is exerted upon the D-ring thereby providing visual indication that the D-ring has been subjected to a force.
25. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 24 , the force being at least 500 pounds.
26. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 22 , further comprising lips operatively connected to the dorsal pad proximate the second cavity, the straps of the harness being routed over the lips, the lips protecting the straps from the D-ring clip as the D-ring clip pivots within the second cavity thereby reducing wear on the straps of the harness.
27. A method of securing a safety harness donned by a user to a connector of a safety device, comprising:
a) constantly urging a D-ring operatively connected to straps of the safety harness to an upright position relative to the user, the D-ring having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being a connected operating position to a safety device;
b) securing the connector of the safety device to the D-ring in the upright receiving position and;
c) performing tasks proximate the safety device, the D-ring being in the second position and being constantly urged to the first position.
28. The method of claim 27 , further comprising disconnecting the connector from the D-ring, the D-ring returning to the first position.
29. A dorsal pad assembly for use with a safety harness having a first strap and a second strap, comprising:
a) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being an impact indicator position; and
b) a mechanism operatively connected to the dorsal pad assembly, the mechanism substantially holding the D-ring in the first position and allowing the D-ring to be in the second position when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.
30. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 29 , wherein the mechanism is a biasing mechanism.
31. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 29 , wherein the mechanism is a clip member.
32. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 29 , wherein the second position provides indication that the D-ring has been subjected to a force.
33. A dorsal pad assembly for use with a safety harness having a first strap and a second strap, comprising:
a) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being an impact indicator position; and
b) means for substantially holding the D-ring in the first position and allowing the D-ring to be in the second position when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.
34. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 33 , wherein the means is a biasing mechanism.
35. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 33 , wherein the means is a clip member.
36. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 33 , wherein the second position provides indication that the D-ring has been subjected to a force.
37. A safety harness, comprising:
a) a first strap and second strap;
b) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps and having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being a connected operating position to a safety device; and
c) an elastic member operatively connected to the D-ring, wherein the elastic member urges the D-ring to the first position.
38. A safety harness, comprising:
a) a first strap and second strap;
b) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps and having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position, the second position being a connected operating position to a safety device;
c) a biasing mechanism operatively connected to the D-ring, wherein the biasing mechanism urges the D-ring to the first position; and
d) a dorsal pad assembly interconnecting the straps and the D-ring.
39. The safety harness of claim 38 , wherein the dorsal pad assembly includes the biasing mechanism.
40. The safety harness of claim 39 , wherein the dorsal pad assembly includes a impact indicator.
41. The safety harness of claim 40 , wherein the impact indicator is a change in appearance of the dorsal pad assembly thereby providing visual indication that the D-ring has been subjected to a force.