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 non-rigid biasing mechanism operatively connected to the D-ring, wherein the non-rigid biasing mechanism urges the D-ring to the first position during use of the safety device.
2. The safety harness of claim 1 , wherein the non-rigid biasing mechanism is a spring member.
3. The safety harness of claim 1 , wherein the non-rigid biasing mechanism is an elastic member.
4. 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.
5. The safety harness of claim 4 , 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.
6. The safety harness of claim 4 , wherein the impact indicator is an ink filled pellet that stains the straps when the D-ring has been subjected to a force.
7. The safety harness of claim 1 , farther comprising a dorsal pad assembly interconnecting the straps and the D-ring.
8. The safety harness of claim 7 , wherein the dorsal pad assembly includes the non-rigid biasing mechanism.
9. The safety harness of claim 8 , wherein the dorsal pad assembly includes an impact indicator.
10. The safety harness of claim 9 , 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.
11. 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.
12. 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 dorsal pad having slots and a D-ring connector portion, the straps of the harness being muted trough the slots, the bar portion of the D-ring being positioned within the D-ring connector portion and being pivotable therein; and
c) a biasing mechanism interconnecting the D-ring and the dorsal pad, the biasing mechanism applying a force on the D-ring thereby urging the D-ring to the first position, wherein when the D-ring is placed in the second position during use the biasing mechanism urges the D-ring to the first position.
13. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 12 , further comprising lips operatively connected to the dorsal pad proximate the D-ring connector portion, the straps of the harness being routed over the lips, the lips protecting the straps from the D-ring as the D-ring pivots within the D-ring connector portion thereby reducing wear on the straps of the harness.
14. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 12 , wherein the biasing mechanism is a spring member.
15. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 12 , wherein the biasing mechanism is an elastic member.
16. A safety harness donned by a user having a back, comprising:
a) a first strap and a second strap criss-crossing in divergent fashion at a juncture proximate the user's back;
b) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps proximate the juncture, the D-ring having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position relative to the user's back, the second position being a connected operating position to a safety device; and
c) a non-rigid biasing mechanism operatively connected to the D-ring, the biasing mechanism constantly urging the D-ring into the first position.
17. The safety harness of claim 16 , wherein the biasing mechanism is a spring member.
18. The safety harness of claim 16 , wherein the biasing mechanism is an elastic member.
19. A safety assembly, comprising:
a) a safety device;
b) a safety harness having a first strap and a second strap criss-crossing in divergent fashion at a juncture proximate a rear of the safety harness;
c) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps proximate the juncture, the D-ring having a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position relative to the rear of the safety harness, the second position being a connected operating position when operatively connected to the safety device; and
d) a non-rigid biasing mechanism operatively connected to the D-ring, the biasing mechanism constantly urging the D-ring into the first position.
20. The safety assembly of claim 19 , wherein the biasing mechanism is a spring member.
21. The safety assembly of claim 19 , wherein the biasing mechanism is an elastic member.
22. A dorsal pad assembly for use with a safety harness having a first strap and a second strap criss-crossing in divergent fashion at a juncture proximate a user's back and a safety device, comprising:
a) a D-ring operatively connected to the straps and capable of moving between a first position and a second position, the first position being an upright receiving position relative to the user's back, the second position being a connected operating position when the D-ring is operatively connected to the safety device; and
b) a biasing mechanism operatively connected to the D-ring, the biasing mechanism moving between a first configuration and a second configuration when the D-ring moves between the first position and the second position, the first configuration holding the D-ring in the first position, the second configuration allowing the D-ring to be in the second position and urging the D-ring in the first position.
23. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 22 , wherein the biasing mechanism is a spring member, the first configuration being a less coiled configuration, the second configuration being a more coiled configuration.
24. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 22 , wherein the biasing mechanism is a spring member, the first configuration being a more coiled configuration, the second configuration being a less coiled configuration.
25. The dorsal pad assembly of claim 22 , wherein the biasing mechanism is an elastic member, the first configuration being a contracted configuration, the second configuration being a stretched configuration.