Patents by Inventor Dan Henn

Dan Henn has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10744354
    Abstract: A retractable fall arrest block comprising a spring side housing member and a drum side housing member. A center support wall, defining a bearing housing, is secured between the housing members. A bearing assembly is mounted in the bearing housing to support a spindle. A spring side housing member is mounted to a spring side of the center support wall and a spring side cover is mounted to the spring side housing member opposite the center support wall to define a spring housing. A drum side housing member is mounted to a drum side of the center support wall, and a drum side cover is mounted to the drum side housing member to define a drum housing. The spindle extends into both housings. A spring is mounted in the spring housing. A drum is positionally fixed to the spindle in the drum housing. A clutch assembly is mounted to the spindle to stop the drum from unwinding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: RELIANCE INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gary E. Choate, Dan Henn
  • Patent number: 10661106
    Abstract: A housing for the retractable is made from a lightweight, non-structural material, such as, plastic. The housing includes an internal reinforcement configured to bear the forces in a fall, thereby allowing the housing to be made from lightweight, non-structural materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: RELIANCE INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gary E. Choate, Dan Henn
  • Patent number: 10646733
    Abstract: A rigid rail assembly for a fall protection system comprises a rigid rail segment and a hanger. The rail segment comprises an upper portion defining an elongate slot and a lower portion. The hanger includes a hanger body adapted to be connected to a support member and a hanger coupling member extending downwardly from said hanger body and which is adapted to be received in the rail segment slot. The rail segment lower portion has opposed elongate side walls extending downwardly and outwardly and a flange extending inwardly from each of said side walls. The flanges define a track for the wheels of a trolley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: MODULAR FALL PROTECTION CONCEPTS, LLC
    Inventors: Tim Ecker, Dan Henn, William Hasse, William Parsons
  • Publication number: 20180345057
    Abstract: A rigid rail assembly for a fall protection system comprises a rigid rail segment and a hanger. The rail segment comprises an upper portion defining an elongate slot and a lower portion. The hanger includes a hanger body adapted to be connected to a support member and a hanger coupling member extending downwardly from said hanger body and which is adapted to be received in the rail segment slot. The rail segment lower portion has opposed elongate side walls extending downwardly and outwardly and a flange extending inwardly from each of said side walls. The flanges define a track for the wheels of a trolley.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Tim Ecker, Dan Henn, William Hasse, William Parsons
  • Publication number: 20180280740
    Abstract: A housing for the retractable is made from a lightweight, non-structural material, such as, plastic. The housing includes an internal reinforcement configured to bear the forces in a fall, thereby allowing the housing to be made from lightweight, non-structural materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Gary E. Choate, Dan Henn
  • Patent number: 10066660
    Abstract: A snap hook assembly includes a hook body defining a neck portion and a hook portion which form a capture area. A gate and a trigger are both pivotally mounted to the hook body. The gate is moveable between a closed position and an open position and is biased to the closed position. The snap hook is configured such that, when the gate is in the closed position, it cannot be moved to the opened position. The trigger is operable to release the gate, so that the gate can be moved from the closed position to the opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: RELIANCE INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dan Henn, Gary E. Choate, Tim Ecker
  • Patent number: 10004927
    Abstract: A clutch lock mechanism for a retractable lanyard includes a pivotal pawl with an engagement end and a sperrad or sperrad ring having teeth which face toward the engagement end of the pawl. One of the sperrad and the pawls are circumferentially fixed, and the other moves relative to the former. The pawl is pivotal movable between an engagement position in which the pawl engagement end within an annular ring defined on one side by the tips of the sperrad teeth and on the other side by the roots of the sperrad teeth and a non-engagement position in which the pawl engagement end is not within the engagement zone. The sperrad and the pawl are in contact with each other, such that, as one moves relative to the other, the engagement end of the pawl is positively moved into the engagement zone without the need to rely on centrifugal forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Inventors: Gary E. Choate, Dan Henn
  • Publication number: 20180161608
    Abstract: A retractable fall arrest block comprising a spring side housing member and a drum side housing member. A center support wall, defining a bearing housing, is secured between the housing members. A bearing assembly is mounted in the bearing housing to support a spindle. A spring side housing member is mounted to a spring side of the center support wall and a spring side cover is mounted to the spring side housing member opposite the center support wall to define a spring housing. A drum side housing member is mounted to a drum side of the center support wall, and a drum side cover is mounted to the drum side housing member to define a drum housing. The spindle extends into both housings. A spring is mounted in the spring housing. A drum is positionally fixed to the spindle in the drum housing. A clutch assembly is mounted to the spindle to stop the drum from unwinding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Gary E. Choate, Dan Henn
  • Publication number: 20170114824
    Abstract: A snap hook assembly comprises a hook body, a gate pivotally mounted to the hook body, a trigger pivotally mounted to the hook body, a trigger biasing member and a gate biasing member. The hook body comprises a neck portion and a hook portion extending from the neck portion. A locking arm extends from the end of the hook portion toward the neck portion and defines a capture area. In one embodiment, the gate is pivotal only, and the gate biasing member is a torsion spring with a leg extending along the gate, and wherein the leg defines a lock member. The torsion spring is connected to the trigger to be moved relative to the gate and the locking arm by pivotal motion of the trigger between a locked position in which pivotal movement of the gate is prevented and a released position in which pivotal movement of the gate is enabled. In a second embodiment, the gate additionally moves laterally relative to the hook body and is adapted to engage the lock arm of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Dan Henn, Gary E. Choate, Tim Ecker
  • Publication number: 20160346572
    Abstract: A clutch lock mechanism for a retractable lanyard includes a pivotal pawl with an engagement end and a sperrad or sperrad ring having teeth which face toward the engagement end of the pawl. One of the sperrad and the pawls are circumferentially fixed, and the other moves relative to the former. The pawl is pivotal movable between an engagement position in which the pawl engagement end within an annular ring defined on one side by the tips of the sperrad teeth and on the other side by the roots of the sperrad teeth and a non-engagement position in which the pawl engagement end is not within the engagement zone. The sperrad and the pawl are in contact with each other, such that, as one moves relative to the other, the engagement end of the pawl is positively moved into the engagement zone without the need to rely on centrifugal forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Gary E. Choate, Dan Henn