Connector

1. A connector, comprising:

a base including a first end and a second end, the base forming a first opening;

a gate having a shaft slidably operatively connected to the second end and configured and arranged to span between the first and second ends; and

a locking member operatively connected to the base and having an engaging position and a releasing position, the locking member including a base portion and a flanged portion, the flanged portion extending outward from the base portion, the base portion having a smaller diameter than the flanged portion, the flanged portion configured and arranged to engage the shaft of the gate in the engaging position and secure the gate relative to the base, the base portion being positioned proximate the shaft of the gate in the releasing position and the smaller diameter of the base portion allowing the gate to be moved relative to the base, the flanged portion being positioned within the base in both the engaging position and the releasing position;

wherein the locking member is positioned within the first opening.

2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the gate is configured and arranged to move relative to the base in a first direction, and the locking member is configured and arranged to move in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction.

3. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the locking member further comprises a biasing member, an engaging member, and a fastener, the fastener operatively connecting the biasing member and the engaging member to the locking member, the biasing member biasing the engaging member in the engaging position, the engaging member including the flanged portion.

4. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a bar portion configured and arranged to be operatively connected to a safety harness and the gate is configured and arranged to be operatively connected to a safety device proximate the first opening.

5. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the locking member comprises a first locking member and a second locking member, the first locking member being proximate the first end and the second locking member being proximate the second end, and wherein both the first locking member and the second locking member are positioned in the releasing positions to move the gate relative to the base.

6. The connector of claim 1 , further comprising a first receiving portion having a first receiving portion bore in the first end, a second receiving portion having a second receiving portion bore in the second end, a first extension portion including a first ring portion with a first aperture, and a second extension portion including a second ring portion with a second aperture, the first and second apertures being aligned with the first and second receiving portion bores.

7. The connector of claim 6 , wherein a second opening is formed by the first extension portion and the second extension portion, a third opening is formed by the first receiving portion and the first extension portion, and a fourth opening is formed by the second extension portion and the second receiving portion.

8. The connector of claim 7 , wherein the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion are integral with the base.

9. The connector of claim 1 , further comprising a slot extending longitudinally along a portion of the gate and a pin operatively connected to the second end of the base extending into the slot.

10. The connector of claim 1 , further comprising a notch proximate a distal end of the gate and a ramp portion interconnecting the notch and an engaging portion on the shaft, the notch and the ramp portion assisting in sliding the distal end of the shaft past the locking member when the gate is moved from the open position to the closed position.

11. The connector of claim 10 , wherein the ramped portion is at least partially positioned on a distal face of the gate.

12. The connector of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member positioned at least partially within a cavity of the flanged portion.

13. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a bar portion interconnecting a first end and a second end; the base forming a first receiving portion connected to the first end and a second receiving portion connected to the second end; wherein the locking member is positioned at one of an intersection of the first end and the first receiving portion and an intersection of the second end and the second receiving portion.