IP Library Granted Patent US 12,305,734
Granted Patent B2
US 12,305,734 · App. 17/747,782 · Granted May 20, 2025

Lanyard for a tool

Inventors: Andrew G. Wagner (Lisbon, WI); Derek Rose (Menomonee Falls, WI); Anthony S. Graykowski (Belgium, WI); Jesse Marcelle (Muskego, WI); Travis J. Beck (Shorewood, WI)
Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
F16G11/00A45F5/06B25H3/00F16B45/023F16B45/027F16G11/12A45F2005/006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,305,734
App. No.
17/747,782
Granted
May 20, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lanyard assembly including a strap having a first end and a second end, an attachment mechanism coupled to the first end and a quick connect attachment mechanism connected to the second end. The quick connect attachment mechanism includes a swivel member and a cinch for securing a tool coupled to the swivel member. The swivel member is configured to allow rotation between the cinch and the strap and the quick connect attachment mechanism can be quickly engaged and disengaged from the strap to allow the quick connection of various tools.

Claims (41)

1. A lanyard tracking system, the lanyard tracking system comprising:

a tool lanyard assembly comprising:

a strap having a first end and a second end, the strap having a weight rating for supporting a tool of up to 50 lbs.,

an RFID tag coupled to the strap, the RFID tag configured to transmit a unique RFID code,

a cinch coupled to the first end, and

an attachment member coupled to the second end;

a swivel member positioned between the strap and the cinch to allow rotation of the cinch with respect to the strap; and

a quick attachment mechanism, positioned between the strap and the swivel member, which allows the cinch to be quickly engaged and disengaged from the strap; and

a tracking system configured to receive the unique RFID code from the RFID tag and, after a predetermined time has elapsed, notify a user when the tool lanyard assembly is due to be inspected or replaced based on the unique RFID code.

2. The lanyard tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the attachment member is a carabiner, and wherein the RFID tag is sewn to the strap adjacent the carabiner.

3. The lanyard tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the strap is shock absorbing and able to stretch or expand in response to tension.

4. The lanyard tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the strap is a woven sheath comprising a plurality of elastomeric strands.

5. The lanyard tracking system of claim 4 , wherein the woven sheath is coupled to the attachment member by a hook that allows rotation of the attachment member relative to the woven sheath.

6. The lanyard tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the unique RFID code comprises a lanyard serial number.

7. The lanyard tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag is directly coupled to the strap.

8. The lanyard tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the tool lanyard assembly further comprises an identification tag sewn to the strap and the RFID tag is coupled to the identification tag.

9. The lanyard tracking system of claim 8 , wherein the identification tag is tubular, wherein the identification tag has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and wherein the identification tag is sewn at the first end and at the second end.

10. The lanyard tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the attachment member is a clip configured to be threaded through an aperture of a hard hat.

11. The lanyard tracking system of claim 8 , wherein the RFID tag is coupled to an outer surface of the identification tag.

12. A lanyard tracking system, the lanyard tracking system comprising:

a tool lanyard assembly comprising:

a strap having a first end and a second end, the strap having a weight rating for supporting a tool of up to 50 lbs.,

an RFID tag coupled to the strap, the RFID tag configured to transmit a unique RFID code,

a cinch coupled to the first end, and

an attachment member coupled to the second end; and

a tracking system configured to receive the unique RFID code from the RFID tag and, after a predetermined time has elapsed, notify a user when the tool lanyard assembly is due to be inspected or replaced based on the unique RFID code;

wherein the tool lanyard assembly further comprises an identification tag sewn to the strap and the RFID tag is coupled to the identification tag; and

wherein the identification tag is tubular, wherein the identification tag has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and wherein the identification tag is sewn at the first end and at the second end.

13. The lanyard tracking system of claim 12 , wherein the attachment member is a carabiner.

14. The lanyard tracking system of claim 13 , wherein the carabiner comprises:

a frame having a pivot end and a locking end;

an interior aperture defined by the frame;

a locking bar defining an axis and having a first end pivotally coupled to the pivot end and an opposite second end defining a recess;

wherein the locking end of the frame is configured to fit within the recess to define a mating position between the locking end of the frame and the second end of the locking bar; and

wherein, when in the mating position, the locking end and the second end of the locking bar are prevented from moving with respect to each other along the axis.

15. The lanyard tracking system of claim 14 , wherein the carabiner further comprises a biasing member configured to bias the locking bar towards the mating position.

16. The lanyard tracking system of claim 12 , wherein the tool lanyard assembly further comprises swivel member positioned between the first end of the strap and the cinch.

17. The lanyard tracking system of claim 12 , wherein the strap is a woven sheath comprising a plurality of elastomeric strands.

18. The lanyard tracking system of claim 17 , wherein the woven sheath is coupled to the attachment member by a hook that allows rotation of the attachment member relative to the woven sheath.

19. The lanyard tracking system of claim 12 , wherein the RFID tag is coupled to an outer surface of the identification tag.

20. The lanyard tracking system of claim 12 , wherein the unique RFID code comprises a lanyard serial number.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2022
From: WAGNER, ANDREW G.; ROSE, DEREK; GRAYKOWSKI, ANTHONY S.; MARCELLE, JESSE; BECK, TRAVIS J.
To: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059974/0591 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16269273 · Feb 6, 2019
Continuation PCTUS2017047887 · Aug 22, 2017
Provisional Application 62445849 · Jan 13, 2017
Provisional Application 62377899 · Aug 22, 2016
Related Publication 20220275850A1 · Sep 1, 2022
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