Patents Assigned to Latchways Plc.
  • Patent number: 9504861
    Abstract: A safety line traveller (1) including a traveller body (3) having an open sided receiving channel (11) for receiving a longitudinal section of the safety line (2). An occluder element (5) is moveable between an open position in which access into and out of the channel (11) via the open side is at a maximum, and a closed position in which access into and out of the channel via the open side is at a minimum. The open side of the channel (11) being at least partly occluded by the occluder element (5) in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Karl Jones, Amir Tabatabai
  • Publication number: 20160281426
    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: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: LATCHWAYS PLC
    Inventor: Richard SHORT
  • Publication number: 20160166860
    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 either includes an alignment collar arranged to seat in a seat provided on the bracket, the alignment collar being able to seat in a plurality of different orientations with respect to the bracket; a resilient biasing means acting between the bracket and a reaction member provided as part of the anchor arrangement or a tension indicator for the safety line, which has a part of the bracket aligned adjacent and indicia zone on the anchor arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Timothy Bissett, David Nash, Richard Beale
  • Publication number: 20160136463
    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: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Publication number: 20160129288
    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: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: LATCHWAYS PLC
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Patent number: 9227093
    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 either includes an alignment collar arranged to seat in a seat provided on the bracket, the alignment collar being able to seat in a plurality of different orientations with respect to the bracket; a resilient biasing means acting between the bracket and a reaction member provided as part of the anchor arrangement or a tension indicator for the safety line, which has a part of the bracket aligned adjacent and indicia zone on the anchor arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Timothy Bissett, David Nash, Richard Beale
  • Patent number: 9205285
    Abstract: A descender device, typically for use in a fall arrest system, for 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: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Publication number: 20150335923
    Abstract: A vacuum anchor for securing a fall protection system to a surface has a gas inlet to receive pressurised 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: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: Latchways plc
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Patent number: 9186530
    Abstract: A traveler for safety line for a fall arrest system has a slot extending to the exterior of the traveler and a safety line locating shuttle provided on-board the traveler 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 traveler. The slot can be defined between opposed slot edges which are movable relative to one another to reconfigure the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: LATCHWAYS PLC
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Patent number: 9132301
    Abstract: A speed responsive engagement device having a rotating wheel having a plurality of outwardly projecting spaced apart teeth with each pair of adjacent teeth being separated by a circumferential surface with a constant radius and a pawl arranged for pivotal movement between an unengaged position and an engaged position in which the pawl engages one of the teeth and a circumferential surface and a resilient means arranged to urge the pawl towards the engaged position when the pawl is not in contact with the circumferential surface. When the wheel rotates each tooth contacts the pawl, generating an oscillating movement of the pawl with an amplitude dependent on the speed of the rotation. When the speed of rotation reaches a predetermined value the oscillating movement brings the pawl into the engaged position, preventing further rotation of the wheel in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: LATCHWAYS PLC
    Inventors: Karl Jones, David Crowley
  • Publication number: 20150217151
    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: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Karl Jones, Owain Jones
  • Patent number: 9056211
    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: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Latchways plc
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Patent number: 8950551
    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: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Karl Jones, Owain Jones
  • Publication number: 20140008148
    Abstract: A traveller for a fall arrest system comprises a body having a passage therethrough, a slot narrower than the passage linking the passage to the exterior of the body, and a load member suitable to attach the traveller to fall safety equipment. The slot is formed between an inner gate extending outwardly relative to the passage and an outer gate extending inwardly relative to the passage, the inner gate and outer gate having respective opposed convex surfaces defining the slot between them. The traveller is arranged such that when the traveller is mounted on a support the inner gate and outer gate lie on a common radius of respective concentric circles about the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Latchways, PLC
    Inventors: Karl Jones, Peter Robert Flux
  • Publication number: 20140008147
    Abstract: A harness safety system comprising energy absorbing material that exhibits a change in physical properties at different applied strain rates. Typically, as a result of a sudden impact or applied stress or pressure event the material becomes substantially rigid, changing to a less rigid, more resilient, relaxed or conformable state after a elapsing of a time period following the sudden impact or applied stress or pressure event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Karl Jones, Owain Jones
  • Publication number: 20130248291
    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: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Patent number: 8522919
    Abstract: A fall arrest device having a safety support whilst allowing movement of the device on an elongate support. The fall arrest device including, a sliding element, first and second cam elements, first and second links, and an attachment. The first and second links connected together to mutually rotate about a third axis separated from a first and second axes, and the attachment moving relative to the links, so that the first and second locking cams can be moved between their first and second positions by loads applied to the device through the attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventor: Peter Robert Flux
  • Publication number: 20130193293
    Abstract: A vacuum anchor for securing a fall protection system to a surface has a gas inlet to receive pressurised 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: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: LATCHWAYS PLC
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Patent number: 8474575
    Abstract: A mounting for a support post of a safety system has a cylindrical stem to be removably received in a cylindrical socket of an anchor device to be secured to a structure, and a connector enabling connection to the support post of the safety system. The connector is articulated with respect to the cylindrical stem to be adjustable over a range of attitude orientations with respect to the cylindrical stem and a securing device secures the connector at a specific attitude orientation with respect to the cylindrical stem. The mounting may be used in a safety guardrail system for working at height, with a vacuum anchor and a support post to which the guardrail is mounted. The support post is mounted to the vacuum anchor by the articulated mounting to enable the orientation angle of the support post to be adjusted with respect to the anchor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Timothy Bissett, Andrew Beaman
  • Publication number: 20120267194
    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: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones