A preferred embodiment connector includes a catch, a housing, and a locking member. The catch has an end with an engaging member, and the housing has a cavity and a supporting member. The locking member is positioned within the cavity and has a first position and a second position. The cavity and the locking member have a first configuration when the locking member is in the first position, and the cavity and the locking member have a second configuration when the locking member is in the second position. The first configuration is configured and arranged to receive the end of the catch. The second configuration is configured and arranged to engage the end of the catch between the supporting member and the locking member thereby locking the catch, and the supporting member of the housing provides a surface upon which the engaging member exerts force should a fall occur.
1. A connector for use with a fall protection assembly, comprising:
a) a catch having an end with an engaging member;
b) a housing having a cavity and a supporting member; and
c) at least one pawl pivotally mounted within the cavity having a first position and a second position, the cavity and the at least one pawl having a first configuration when the at least one pawl is in the first position, the cavity and the at least one pawl having a second configuration when the at least one pawl is in the second position, the first configuration being configured and arranged to receive the end of the catch, the second configuration being configured and arranged to engage the end of the catch thereby locking the catch, the end being engaged in the second configuration between the supporting member and the at least one pawl, the supporting member of the housing providing a surface upon which the engaging member exerts force when the catch and the housing are pulled in opposite directions should a fall occur.
2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the catch is rotatable within the housing to engage the supporting member, the at least one pawl securing the end into place between the supporting member and the at least one pawl.
3. The connector of claim 2 , wherein the engaging member is a recessed edge of the end and the supporting member is an engaging edge of an opening in the housing, the engaging edge fitting within the recessed edge.
4. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the engaging member is a recessed edge of the end and the supporting member is an engaging edge of an opening in the housing, the engaging edge fitting within the recessed edge.
5. The connector of claim 4 , wherein the catch is rotatable within the housing to engage the supporting member, the at least one pawl securing the end into place between the supporting member and the at least one pawl.
6. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the engaging member is a bar member and the supporting member is a bottom side of the housing, the at least one pawl securing the bar member into place between the bottom side of the housing and the at least one pawl.
7. The connector of claim 6 , wherein the bar member is pivotable within the housing.
8. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pawl is first and second pawls pivotally mounted within the cavity of the housing, the pawls having respective latching portions extending toward one another and force receiving portions projecting outward beyond a perimeter defined by the housing and extending away from one another in the second position.
9. The connector of claim 8 , further comprising first and second springs interconnected between the housing and respective pawls in a manner that biases the latching portions of the pawls to pivot toward one another in the second position.
10. The connector of claim 1 , further comprising an opening in the housing, the opening having a first shape and the end having a second shape, the first shape being configured and arranged to receive the second shape thereby providing a lock-out function for the housing and the catch.
11. A connector for use with a fall protection assembly, comprising:
a) a catch having an end with an engaging member;
b) a housing having a cavity and a supporting member; and
c) first and second pawls pivotally mounted within the cavity of the housing and having a first position and a second position, the cavity and the pawls having a first configuration when the pawls are in the first position, the cavity and the pawls having a second configuration when the pawls are in the second position, the first configuration being configured and arranged to receive the end of the catch, the second configuration being configured and arranged to engage the end of the catch thereby locking the catch, the end being engaged in the second configuration between the supporting member and the pawls, the supporting member of the housing providing a surface upon which the engaging member exerts force when the catch and the housing are pulled in opposite directions should a fall occur.
12. The connector of claim 11 , wherein the engaging member is a recessed edge of the end and the supporting member is an engaging edge of an opening in the housing, the engaging edge fitting within the recessed edge.
13. The connector of claim 11 , wherein the engaging member is a bar member and the supporting member is a bottom side of the housing, the first and second pawls securing the bar member into place between the bottom side of the housing and the first and second pawls.
14. The connector of claim 11 , wherein the pawls have respective latching portions extending toward one another and force receiving portions projecting outward beyond a perimeter defined by the housing and extending away from one another in the second position.
15. The connector of claim 14 , further comprising first and second springs interconnected between the housing and respective pawls in a manner that biases the latching portions of the pawls to pivot toward one another in the second position.
16. The connector of claim 11 , further comprising an opening in the housing, the opening having a first shape and the end having a second shape, the first shape being configured and arranged to receive the second shape thereby providing a lock-out function for the housing and the catch.
17. A connector for use with a fall protection assembly, comprising:
a) a housing having a cavity and a supporting member;
b) opposing first and second pawls pivotally mounted within the cavity of the housing, the pawls having respective latching portions extending toward one another and force receiving portions projecting outward beyond a perimeter defined by the housing and extending away from one another;
c) first and second springs interconnected between the housing and respective pawls in a manner that biases the latching portions of the pawls to pivot toward one another in a first position; and
d) a catch having an end sized and configured for insertion between the pawls and engagement between the latching portions in such a manner that the force receiving portions must be moved in a direction toward the housing in a second position to release the end from between the pawls, the end being engaged in the second position between the supporting member and the pawls, the supporting member of the housing providing a surface upon which the end exerts force when the catch and the housing are pulled in opposite directions should a fall occur.
18. The connector of claim 17 , wherein the catch is rotatable within the housing to engage the supporting member, the first and second pawls securing the end into place between the supporting member and the first and second pawls.
19. The connector of claim 17 , wherein the engaging member is a recessed edge of the end and the supporting member is an engaging edge of an opening in the housing, the engaging edge fitting within the recessed edge.
20. The connector of claim 17 , wherein the end is a bar member and the supporting member is a bottom side of the housing, the first and second pawls securing the bar member into place between the bottom side of the housing and the first and second pawls.
21. The connector of claim 20 , wherein the bar member is pivotable within the housing.
22. The connector of claim 17 , further comprising an opening in the housing, the opening having a first shape and the end having a second shape, the first shape being configured and arranged to receive the second shape thereby providing a lock-out function for the housing and the catch.
23. A connector for use with a fall protection assembly, comprising:
a) a catch having an end with an engaging member and a second end with a strap receiving opening;
b) a housing having a cavity, a supporting member, and a second strap receiving opening opposite the second end of the catch; and
c) a at least one pawl pivotally mounted within the cavity having a first position and a second position, the cavity and the at least one pawl having a first configuration when the at least one pawl is in the first position, the cavity and the at least one pawl having a second configuration when the at least one pawl is in the second position, the first configuration being configured and arranged to receive the end of the catch, the second configuration being configured and arranged to engage the end of the catch thereby locking the catch, the end being engaged in the second configuration between the supporting member and the at least one pawl, the supporting member of the housing providing a surface upon which the engaging member exerts force when the second end of the catch and the housing proximate the second strap receiving opening are pulled in opposite directions should a fall occur.
24. The connector of claim 23 , wherein the catch is rotatable within the housing to engage the supporting member, the at least one pawl securing the end into place between the supporting member and the at least one pawl.
25. The connector of claim 24 , wherein the engaging member is a recessed edge of the end and the supporting member is an engaging edge of an opening in the housing, the engaging edge fitting within the recessed edge.
26. The connector of claim 23 , wherein the engaging member is a bar member and the supporting member is a bottom side of the housing, the at least one pawl securing the bar member into place between the bottom side of the housing and the at least one pawl, the bar member being pivotable within the housing.
27. The connector of claim 23 , wherein the at least one pawl is first and second pawls pivotally mounted within the cavity of the housing, the pawls having respective latching portions extending toward one another and force receiving portions projecting outward beyond a perimeter defined by the housing and extending away from one another in the second position, first and second springs interconnected between the housing and respective pawls in a manner that biases the latching portions of the pawls to pivot toward one another in the second position.
28. The connector of claim 23 , further comprising an opening in the housing, the opening having a first shape and the end having a second shape, the first shape being configured and arranged to receive the second shape thereby providing a lock-out function for the housing and the catch.