Patents Assigned to Latchways Plc.
  • Patent number: 11938350
    Abstract: A fall arrest device, such as a self-retracting lanyard (or lifeline) including: a rotatable drum for winding a lifeline; and a brake arrangement comprising a rotatable brake body arranged to rotate in response to rotation of the drum; wherein rotation of the rotatable brake body applies a braking force to the drum as the lifeline is being retracted onto the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Latchways plc
    Inventors: Karl Jones, Owain Jones, Nathan Wright
  • Patent number: 11638843
    Abstract: A case or support cradle (10) for a fall arrest device has a shape or configuration enabling rolling of the case or cradle (10) along an arcuate path. The rollable case or cradle (10) allows the fall arrest device received therein to smoothly follow a user's movements around a work site, thereby protecting the device from damage due to dragging or scraping along a floor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Latchways Plc
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones, Jacob Thackeray Squire
  • Patent number: 10954992
    Abstract: A divider (10) for a carabiner (12) in a fall arrest system (14), the carabiner (12) having a frame (32); and an openable gate (34) configured to be moved between an open position and a closed position, the divider (10) comprising a body (50) having: (i) a central body portion (52); and (ii) a plurality of connection portions (54) extending from the central body portion (52) and configured to attach the divider (10) to at least a portion of the frame (32) of the carabiner (10), wherein the plurality of connection portions (54) are spaced and divide the carabiner (12) into a plurality of areas (56) for connection of at least one component (18, 20) of the harness arrangement (16) and at least one fall arrest device (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Latchways Plc
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Patent number: 10653903
    Abstract: A fall arrest device having a rotatable drum with a safety line thereon, the fall arrest device comprising at least one energy absorber ring configured to absorb energy in the event of a fall and positioned to a side of the drum and between a first component configured to rotate with the drum and a second component configured to activate based upon the speed of rotation of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Latchways Plc
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Patent number: 10625106
    Abstract: Fall protection apparatus includes a self-retracting lifeline, a tether line and a link member enabling connection of the self-retracting lifeline to the tether line. An anti-connection device is fitted to the link member permitting connection to the self-retracting lifeline but inhibiting connection to other devices when connected to the self-retracting lifeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Latchways Plc
    Inventor: David Nash
  • Patent number: 10485998
    Abstract: A descender device, typically for use in a fall arrest system, that enables a suspended body to be lowered, and includes a descent line and a release element to be actuated by a person. The release element is arranged in a restraint configuration to inhibit the descent line from being deployed and in a release configuration to permit the descent line to be deployed. A restraint arrangement is arranged prior to deployment of the descent line, to clamp or pinch a length of flexible line thereby to inhibit deployment of the descent line, the restraint arrangement being reconfigurable upon release of the release element to permit the descent line to be deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Patent number: 10413760
    Abstract: A mounting bracket for securing a fall arrest device to a structure, the mounting bracket including a base plate configured for attachment to a structure, and at least one device mounting arrangement attached to or integral with the base plate and configured to secure the fall arrest device to the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Latchways Plc
    Inventor: Andrew Pass
  • Patent number: 10370898
    Abstract: A tether system for a safety line has an elongate guide track and stay elements arranged to move along the guide track and be carried at spaced positions along the length of a tether line. The system is typically employed in a fall arrest or protection system mounted to a structure, having an ascent/descent ladder fixed to the structure, the system including a self-retracting safety line device including a safety line, mounted at height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventor: Richard Short
  • Patent number: 10322306
    Abstract: A rotational energy absorber typically for use in a fall arrest system has a coiler, a length of plastically deformable strip and a deformer structure. The plastically deformable strip has a first end attached to the coiler and a second free end and extends past the deformer structure at a position between the first and second ends. Relative rotation of the coiler member and deformer structure causes the strip to be drawn past the deformer structure, plastically deforming the strip and winding the strip coil form about the coiler member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Karl Jones, Owain Jones
  • Patent number: 10201720
    Abstract: A traveller for safety line for a fall arrest system has a slot extending to the exterior of the traveller and a safety line locating shuttle provided on-board the traveller wherein the safety line locating shuttle is movable relative to the slot along a predetermined path in a direction across the slot. This aids in accurate positioning of the safety line with respect to the traveller. The slot can be defined between opposed slot edges which are movable relative to one another to reconfigure the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: LATCHWAYS PLC
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Patent number: 10125917
    Abstract: An anchor arrangement for mounting to a membrane skin of a structure has a mounting bracket, including a mounting flange provided with one or more fixing apertures and a metallic rigid mounting plate arranged to underlay the anchor mounting bracket and provided with one or more fixing apertures arranged to match up with the aperture(s) in the anchor mounting bracket. A membrane layer lies contiguous with the metallic rigid plate, provided between the metallic rigid plate and the anchor mounting bracket mounting flanges, the membrane layer being bonded to the metallic rigid plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventor: Andrew Pass
  • Patent number: 10022573
    Abstract: A safety device for use in a fall arrest system, has a safety line drum mounted for rotation and a speed responsive engagement mechanism responsive to the speed of rotation of the drum, which is activated above a predetermined rotational speed of the drum to deploy an energy absorber. A rotational transmission member (which may be in the form of a shaft) is coupled, via the speed responsive engagement mechanism, when activated, to rotate with the drum. The energy absorber is deployed in response to operation of the rotational transmission member. The speed responsive engagement mechanism may be mounted intermediate the drum and the energy absorber for ease of replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Karl Jones, Owain Jones
  • Patent number: 10022571
    Abstract: A descender system, typically for use in a fall arrest system, for enabling a suspended body to be lowered includes a rotatable descent line drum, and a release element arranged in a restraint configuration to inhibit the descent line from being deployed and in a release configuration to permit the descent line to be deployed. A rotating brake applies a braking force to the rotatable descent line drum; a gear train connects the brake to the drum. The gear train is provided in a substantially watertight sealed space. Typically, a substantially watertight seal is provided between a backplate of the rotating drum and a chassis of the device. Typically, the substantially watertight seal is of a material that is deformable/compressible, preferably at temperatures at or below ?20 Celsius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Patent number: 10016636
    Abstract: A vacuum anchor for securing a fall protection system to a surface has a gas inlet to receive pressurized gas from a gas container and generates a vacuum to secure the anchor to a surface. An attachment enables a fall protection system to be connected to the anchor, the attachment being rotatably mounted to the anchor. A container mounting device is provided for mounting the gas container to the anchor in connection with the gas inlet, the container mounting means being rotatable with the rotatable. Alternatively or additionally, the gas inlet is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the attachment means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Latchways, Plc
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Publication number: 20180002983
    Abstract: A tether system for a safety line has an elongate guide track and stay elements arranged to move along the guide track and be carried at spaced positions along the length of a tether line. The system is typically employed in a fall arrest or protection system mounted to a structure, having an ascent/descent ladder fixed to the structure, the system including a self-retracting safety line device including a safety line, mounted at height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Latchways PLC
    Inventor: Richard Short
  • Patent number: 9784034
    Abstract: A tether system for a safety line has an elongate guide track and stay elements arranged to move along the guide track and be carried at spaced positions along the length of a tether line. The system is typically employed in a fall arrest or protection system mounted to a structure, having an ascent/descent ladder fixed to the structure, the system including a self-retracting safety line device including a safety line, mounted at height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: LATCHWAYS PLC
    Inventor: Richard Short
  • Patent number: 9687683
    Abstract: A bracket fixing for securing a safety line to a structure, has a safety line receiving portion and a fixing portion connected to the safety line receiving portion, the fixing portion having a captive mechanical fixing, arranged to engage with and secure the bracket to the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Patent number: 9687684
    Abstract: An anchor arrangement for a safety line system is for use with a bracket to secure to a structure for mounting the safety line. The anchor arrangement includes at least one of a resilient biasing mechanism and a tension indicator. The resilient biasing mechanism acts between the bracket and a reaction member provided as part of the anchor arrangement. The tension indicator can be a part of the bracket aligned adjacent an indicia zone on the anchor arrangement. The tension indicator can also include an indicator element which can be fixed to the anchor arrangement and extend through a slot or aperture in the bracket. The indicator element can also be separate from the bracket and moveable with respect to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Timothy Bissett, David Nash, Richard Beale
  • Patent number: 9670980
    Abstract: A safety device for use in a fall arrest or fall safety system includes an energy absorber to absorb energy in the event of a fall or other impulse event. The energy absorber is a resilient element (such as a tolerance ring) providing an interference fit between a first component of the device and a second component of the device. In the event of a fall arrestor other impulse event, the first and second components effect movement relative to one another, the interference fit being overcome, and the resilient element/tolerance ring acting to resist the relative movement thereby absorbing energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Patent number: 9561391
    Abstract: A vacuum anchor for securing a fall protection system to a surface has a gas inlet to receive pressurized gas from a gas container and generates a vacuum to secure the anchor to a surface. An attachment enables a fall protection system to be connected to the anchor, the attachment being rotatably mounted to the anchor. A container mounting device is provided for mounting the gas container to the anchor in connection with the gas inlet, the container mounting means being rotatable with the rotatable. Alternatively or additionally, the gas inlet is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the attachment means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Latchways plc
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones