Energy absorbers, connectors and horizontal lifeline systems

1. An energy absorber, comprising:

a strap comprising a groove defining at least a first path of relatively reduced strength extending over at least a portion of a length of the strap, and

the groove further defining at least a first transition region comprising a first initial point where tearing begins along the first transition region when a force above a threshold force is applied and a first end point, the first end point being in operative connection with a first point on the first path so that tearing continues along the first path after tearing along the first transition region, a gradual increase in load occurring as tearing occurs along the transition region,

wherein a thickness of the strap in the first transition region has a first initial thickness at the first initial point and a first end thickness at the first end point; and

the first transition region further comprises a step change in thickness from zero to the first initial thickness at the first initial point of the first transition region, and a first transition thickness of the strap in the first transition region is non-uniform between the first initial point and the first end point and the first transition region thickness increases gradually from the first initial thickness to the first end thickness which is equal to a path thickness of the strap at the first point on the first path.

2. The energy absorber of claim 1 wherein the first initial thickness is greater than zero.

3. The energy absorber of claim 1 wherein the strap is a metal strap comprising a first end, a second end, and an intermediate section between the first end and the second end, the strap a generally U-shaped slot passing through the strap in the first end that separates the first end into a first connector section and a second connector section, the first connector section and the second connector section being deformed to extend in different directions away from one another, a first connector passage being formed in the first connector section and a second connector passage being formed in the second connector section, the first transition region extending from the vicinity of a first end of the slot to a vicinity of the first point on the first path, another groove defining a second transition region and a second path of relatively reduced strength, the second transition region extending from a vicinity of a second end of the slot to a vicinity of a first point on the second path of relatively reduced strength, so that tearing continues along the second path after tearing along the second transition region, a second transition thickness of the strap increasing over a length of the second transition region from a second initial thickness at a second initial point of the second transition region to a second end thickness at a second end point of the second transition region which is greater than the second initial thickness of the second transition region, a gradual increase in load occurring as tearing occurs along the second transition region when a force above a threshold force is applied.

4. The energy absorber of claim 3 wherein the first path and the second path comprise regions of decreased thickness formed in the strap.

5. The energy absorber of claim 4 wherein the first path has a generally constant first path thickness over a length thereof and the second path has a generally constant second path thickness over a length thereof.

6. The energy absorber of claim 3 wherein the first path extends from the end point of the first transition region to a position proximate the second end of the strap and the second path extends from the end point of the second transition region to a position proximate the second end of the strap, and the second end of the strap and a portion of the intermediate portion of the strap are coiled in a spiral fashion inside a remainder of the intermediate portion of the strap, whereby when the first connector section and the second connector section are pulled in opposite directions with sufficient force, the connector tears and uncoils to absorb energy.

7. The energy absorber of claim 6 wherein the first path and the second path comprise regions of decreased thickness formed in the strap.

8. The energy absorber of claim 7 wherein the first path has a generally constant first path thickness over a length thereof and the second path has a generally constant second path thickness over a length thereof.

9. The energy absorber of claim 3 wherein the second transition region comprises a step change in thickness from zero to the second initial thickness at the second initial paint of the second transition region, and the second transition thickness of the strap in the second transition region increases from the second initial thickness to the second end thickness which is equal to a second path thickness of the strap at the first point on the second path.

10. The energy absorber of claim 1 in combination with a horizontal lifeline and at least one stanchion system, the stanchion system comprises a stanchion post and a connector movably connected to the stanchion post, the connector comprising a first connector element to be operatively connected to the horizontal lifeline and a second connector element to connect to an anchor.

11. The horizontal lifeline system of claim 10 wherein the connector comprises at least a first extending slot, the stanchion system further comprising a first attachment member that passes through the first slot to connect the connector to the stanchion post so that the connector can slide relative to the first attachment member along a length of the first slot.

12. The horizontal lifeline system of claim 10 wherein the connector and the energy absorber are in operative connection with the horizontal lifeline in series.

13. The horizontal lifeline system of claim 10 wherein the connector and the energy absorber are in adjacent connection with each other.