Patents Represented by Attorney Nathan J. Prepelka

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  • Self-retracting lanyard and braking mechanism with pawl lockout
    Patent number: 7870934
    Abstract: A self-retracting lanyard having a housing; a rotatable drum in that housing; a line for winding about that drum; and an improved braking mechanism for preventing the drum in that housing from ratcheting due to line rebounding after a fall arrest event. The braking mechanism has a plurality of pawl lockout elements for flexibly engaging with a stationary component of the lanyard to keep at least one pawl in a locked position during reverse rotation of the drum thereby preventing ratcheting from occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Mine Safety Appliances Company
    Inventor: Timothy W. Ecker