Abstract: A belaying device for a rope comprises a metal body having at least one slit for passage of a loop of a rope, and a retaining element in the form of a bow integral to the body without being articulated on the latter, and designed to control the relative separation movement of the body with respect to a carabiner passing through the loop. The device further comprises flexible means arranged to move the body towards the carabiner when blocking of the rope takes place, and to move the body away automatically when the rope is released.

Abstract: A belay device for a rope, comprising a plate having at least one slot for a loop of the rope to pass through, a retaining element integral to the plate, and a carabiner connected to the retaining element by means of a securing part rendering it captive with respect to the plate. The carabiner is fitted with bidirectional sliding in the securing part to come up against the stop formed by the plate when blocking the rope or to move away from the latter when releasing is performed.

Abstract: A portable safety device locks onto a step of a ladder to provide cushioning for the legs and to prevent the user from tipping the ladder sideways. The device comprises a center component connected to two U-shaped leg braces, a closeable handle, and a retractable clamp. The retractable clamp is extended when the closeable handle is opened and retracted when the closeable handle is closed. In the retracted position, the clamp securely grasps the front and rear edges of a selected step on the ladder to effectively attach the device to the ladder in an operable position. The two leg braces partially surround the user's lower legs, between the ankle and the knee, and include a cushion material for added comfort when the user's legs lean against the braces. The leg braces attach to the center component by locking into a horizontal track which allows the braces to be separated or brought together to adjust for the user's natural stance and leg separation.

Abstract: A roofing worker safety device is provided that delivers a resistive force in response to a worker falling from an elevated work surface such as a roof via a safety cable connecting the worker to the safety device, the cable transmitting the force of the falling worker to the device to activate an arrestor arm that is forced into the surface on which the safety device is placed thereby stopping the fall of a worker from the roof.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for supporting a worker on an upper chord of a roof truss. The apparatus includes a saddle member which is positioned over an installed upper chord of a roof truss and secured thereto to prevent inadvertent movement of the apparatus with respect to the upper chord upon which it is mounted. The apparatus includes a pair of hanger assemblies which are pivotally secured to the saddle member and which extend downwardly therefrom for supporting a pair of footrests thereon. In use, the worker straddles the saddle member and the chord upon which it is mounted with his/her feet resting on the footrests. The footrests may be adjusted to compensate for varying roof pitches.

Abstract: An A-frame ladder has a first ladder and a second ladder. The first ladder has two rails interconnected by a plurality of steps and a first set of grooves that receive a gate/barrier device to inhibit a person from using the first ladder's steps. The second ladder also has two rails interconnected by a plurality of steps and a second set of grooves, interconnected to the first set of grooves, that receive the gate/barrier device so the first ladder and the second ladder can be used and inhibits a person from entering the area between the first ladder and the second ladder through the second ladder's steps.

Abstract: An A-frame ladder has a first ladder and a second ladder. The first ladder has two rails interconnected by a plurality of steps and a first set of grooves that receive a tambour device that inhibits a person from using the first ladder's steps. The second ladder has two rails interconnected by a plurality of steps and a second set of grooves, interconnected to the first set of grooves, that receive the tambour device so the first ladder and the second ladder can be used and inhibits a person from entering the area between the first ladder and the second ladder through the second ladder's steps.

Abstract: A safety jack plate, which is a plate assembly that can be used in conjunction with standard pump jacks with standard scaffolding is used by contractors. Each safety jack plate includes a flat plate, a pair of end pieces attached to the flat plate, a pair of cutouts on each end piece so that each end piece can be mounted over the rails of a jack, and ridged surface on the flat plate and each of the end pieces.

Abstract: A portable observation tower and system of raising and lowering the tower is disclosed. The tower has a tower box with two fixed sectioned front legs and two hinged sectioned back legs. To raise the tower front legs are pulled toward back legs with a winch system mounted on a trailer hitch system. Rolling landing gear is lowered and drawn by winch to a front most locking position. This raises the mid section of tower box reducing the angle of front legs to back legs. Once complete the winch line can be attached to an axle of back legs to draw back legs to front legs. This process elevates tower to its full upright position. Wheels are provided on back legs and on trailer hitch system for movement of the tower. The lowering process occurs in reverse order of the raising process.

Abstract: A lifting and positioning apparatus (10) including a base support (14), an elevator mechanism (12) having an upper and a lower end; an actuator (21) for operating the elevator mechanism between a collapsed and a raised operating position; and a positioning component (20) mounted on the upper end of the elevator mechanism providing for horizontal linear motion backwards and forwards in a first direction (X), horizontal linear motion backwards and forwards in a second direction (Y), and horizontal rotation (Z).

Abstract: A rack for holding articles includes a plurality of sets of vertical battens, a plurality of sets of horizontal battens that are clamped together with the plurality of sets of vertical battens, a long connecting screw piece that extends through each set of horizontal and vertical battens, and a supplementary connecting screw that connects the front horizontal batten and the front vertical batten. The screw piece defines a pivot axis for folding the battens.

Abstract: An operating wand has a handle, an upper rod connected by an intermediate rod having one end pivotably attached to the upper end of the handle and the opposite end pivotably attached to the lower end of the upper rod. A sleeve slides along the upper rod between a first position and a second position. When in the first position the sleeve covers a portion of the upper rod, the handle, and the intermediate rod, keeping the handle, intermediate rod and upper rod in a co-linear alignment. When the sleeve is in the second position, the handle and intermediate rod are fully exposed allowing the intermediate rod to be moved relative to the handle and the upper rod so that the intermediate rod is normal to the handle and normal to the upper rod. With the sleeve in the second position the wand can be operated like a crank.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a garage door assembly. The garage door assembly includes a plurality of interconnected garage door panels, a track and a cable. A bracket assembly is attached to one of the panels. The bracket assembly includes a moveable member including a roller which is rotatably received in the track. A fixed member is attached to a panel and includes a portion to which the cable is attached. The moveable member selectively accommodates the fixed member.

Abstract: A high-speed industrial door includes a door leaf having a plurality of stiffening profiles and a flexible curtain. Each stiffening profile extends crosswise relative to a lateral passing over the door leaf and connects two hinge elements assigned to one another. A flexible curtain is fixed to each stiffening profile. This makes it possible to provide a high-speed industrial door that can be operated at speeds faster than 3 m/s while involving little engineering complexity and low costs.

Abstract: An improved fall protection system has been developed. The system functions by: (1) arresting the fall of such users, thereby protecting them from impact with the ground which could cause serious injury or death; (2) providing a method of recovery and escape from a fall-arresting device by providing a user with a controlled descent back to the ground or to a lower place of safety at a safe and gradual rate of descent; (3) providing greater simplicity and wearer comfort in fall-arresting and self-recovery devices; and (4) incorporating gear storage capability into such protective devices, in order to eliminate the need to wear a separate gear storage pack, vest, tool belt, or other such garment or accessory.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment suspension trauma relief strap assembly for use with a full body harness includes a pair of straps connectable in two configurations. The first configuration is formed by engaging a hook of one strap with one of a plurality of closed loop arrangements of the other strap to form a sling upon which a person donning the full body harness may stand. The second configuration is formed by engaging the hook of the one strap with one of the plurality of closed loop arrangements of the one strap and engaging the hook of the other strap with one of the plurality of closed loop arrangements of the other strap to form two slings upon which a person donning the full body harness may stand.

Abstract: An attachment (10) for operably mounting and supporting a ladder (12) comprises an angular frame (18, 20) adapted for receipt by a vehicular hitch (14). The frame (18, 20) includes crosspieces (26) adapted for receiving rungs of the ladder (12), which are releaseably connected together with fasteners (28). In the second embodiment, the fasteners (28?) are captured on the frame (18?, 20?).

Abstract: A rackmount chassis includes removable supports that provide interior support for blades having mounting edge-to-mounting edge dimensions that are less than the full chassis width. The removable supports are mounted on parallel support plates that span the full width of the chassis. Each removable support supports an edge of at least one blade installed into the rackmount chassis. The locations of the removable supports on the parallel support plates determine the blade form factors (mounting edge-to-mounting edge dimensions) that the rackmount chassis can accept. Because the removable supports can be individually removed/installed, the configuration of the resulting rackmount component can be changed without physically removing the rackmount component from the rack in which it is mounted.

Abstract: A window roller blind for motor vehicles having a guide rail arrangement that also forms an interior panel of the vehicle. The interior panel has a gap that forms a guide groove for guiding movement of the window blind between open and closed positions of the vehicle. The guide groove is undercut by being formed with a slot and a larger sized chamber behind interior panel parts. The chamber is defined either partly or completely within a rail fixed to rear sides of the interior panel parts.

Abstract: A lifting system for a window covering has a movable shaft disposed within a cradle that is held within a head rail. The movable shaft has an end portion and a lift cord wrapping portion. A lift cord is connected to the movable shaft. A transition member is disposed between the end portion and the lift cord wrapping portion. The transition member acts as a ramp to facilitate migration of the lift cord to the lift cord wrapping portion once bird nesting has occurred.