Patents Assigned to Latchways Plc.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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: 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: 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: 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120145481
    Abstract: A safety device, such as a safety block, for use in a fall arrest system, has an exit arrangement for the safety line exiting the device; the exit arrangement being arranged to permit the safety line to exit the device over a range of different exit positions. The exit arrangement may be in the form of an elongate slot. When the safety line rewinds into the line drum, the position at which the line exits the slot may move along the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: Latchways Plc
    Inventor: Owain Jones
  • Publication number: 20120132481
    Abstract: A fall arrest safety system has a traveller arranged to travel along a safety line and including a securing arrangement deployable in response to a fall event to secure the traveller in fixed position on the safety line. An energy absorber device is connected intermediately between the traveller and the user, the energy absorber device including a plastically deformable energy absorber deployable in response to a fall event to plastically deform from a stowed orientation to a deployed orientation. The energy absorber may have a coil-form portion and an elongate tongue portion extending in a linear direction at the periphery of the coil-form portion, the elongate tongue portion of the energy absorber being arranged to extend to project from the housing for connection to a karabiner, lanyard or other connection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Latchways PLC
    Inventor: Karl Jones
  • Publication number: 20120031701
    Abstract: A speed responsive engagement device for use in a fall arrest system has a ratchet wheel having outwardly projecting spaced apart teeth and a pawl arranged for pivotal movement to engage the ratchet wheel teeth. The pawl and the ratchet wheel are rotatable relative to one another such that when relative rotation occurs between the ratchet wheel and the pawl in a first direction the pawl contacts the ratchet wheel, generating an oscillating movement of the pawl with an amplitude dependent on the speed of the rotation, and when the speed of rotation reaches a predetermined value the increased oscillating movement causes the pawl to move into the engaged orientation brakingly engaging with the ratchet wheel teeth preventing further relative rotation between the ratchet wheel and the pawl in the first direction. A biasing arrangement arranged to bias the pawl towards the disengaged orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: Latchways PLC
    Inventor: Karl Jones
  • Publication number: 20110226549
    Abstract: A traveller for a fall arrest system including a body having a bore and a slot narrower than the bore linking to the bore to the exterior of the body. A load member is connected to the body for pivotal movement relative to the body and suitable for attachment to fall safety equipment. The body has a centre of gravity positioned so that when the traveller is supported on a safety line passing through the bore, the body will be urged by gravity to rotate about the safety line towards a position in which the slot has a predetermined orientation relative to the safety line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Julian Renton, Peter Nott
  • Patent number: 7950496
    Abstract: A support for a safety line of a fall arrest system includes a support section having a tube through which the safety line extends, an arm for attachment to a structure, an arm that is narrower than the support and that mounts the tube on the attachment, and at least one guide surface for rotating a traveller on the safety line for movement past the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Julian Renton, Peter Nott
  • Patent number: 7744063
    Abstract: A safety device for a fall arrest system comprises: a body, attachment means for attaching the safety device to a support structure, a drum mounted for rotation relative to the body, a safety line wound on the drum, a speed sensitive clutch connected to the drum, and a linear energy absorber connecting the body to the attachment means, in which the speed sensitive clutch is adapted to respond to rotation of the drum relative to the body in a direction tending to unwind the safety line from the drum and above a predetermined speed by locking the drum against further rotation in said direction relative to the body, and the linear energy absorber is adapted to respond, when the speed sensitive clutch has locked the drum, to an applied load along the safety line greater than a threshold value by deploying and absorbing energy so that the attachment means moves away from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventor: Karl Jones
  • Publication number: 20090032785
    Abstract: A safety device for a fall arrest system comprises: a body, attachment means for attaching the safety device to a support structure, a drum mounted for rotation relative to the body, a safety line wound on the drum, a speed sensitive clutch connected to the drum, and a linear energy absorber connecting the body to the attachment means, in which the speed sensitive clutch is adapted to respond to rotation of the drum relative to the body in a direction tending to unwind the safety line from the drum and above a predetermined speed by locking the drum against further rotation in said direction relative to the body, and the linear energy absorber is adapted to respond, when the speed sensitive clutch has locked the drum, to an applied load along the safety line greater than a threshold value by deploying and absorbing energy so that the attachment means moves away from the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: Latchways PLC
    Inventor: Karl Jones