Abstract: A retractable fall arrest device comprises a unit housing, a spring sub-assembly, a brake/clutch sub-assembly, and a drum assembly. The spring and brake/clutch sub-assemblies each include shaft portions which extend into the housing and are removably connected together or to the drum assembly, and support the drum assembly in the housing. The spring and brake/clutch assembly are themselves removably connected to the unit housing. Finally, the unit housing comprises two wall members (i.e., clam shells) which are removably connected together. This fall arrest device allows for replacement of any of the four constituent components of the device in the field, thus reducing the down time between repairs or recertification of a particular fall arrest device.

Abstract: A system and method for non-invasively attaching components to railroad track rails. More specifically, a connector is provided that can quickly and effectively electrically connect one or more signal lines with a surface of the track rail. In one embodiment, the non-invasive connector utilizes a spring clamp to form an electrical connection with a flange portion of the track rail. First and second opposing members of the spring clamp include teeth that mar the surface of the flange to form an electrical connection between the track rail and the spring clamp when the flange is forced between these opposing members. A signal line is electrically connected to the spring clamp.

Abstract: A system and method for non-invasively attaching components to railroad track rails. More specifically, a connector is provided that can quickly and effectively electrically connect one or more signal lines with a surface of the track rail. In one embodiment, the non-invasive connector utilizes a spring clamp to form an electrical connection with a flange portion of the track rail. First and second opposing members of the spring clamp include teeth that mar the surface of the flange to form an electrical connection between the track rail and the spring clamp when the flange is forced between these opposing members. A signal line is electrically connected to the spring clamp.

Abstract: A snap hook that includes gate that includes and aperture that accepts a male portion that protrudes from the nose portion of the hook is disclosed. The coupling of the nose portion and the gate prevents the unwanted opening of the gate while the hook is under extreme loads. Still further, the use of a slide bar that is moved through translation and rotation when opening the gate of the hook is also disclosed. The translation and rotation motion provides improved cooperation of the components and improves the resistance of undesired movement of the slide bar by forces against a protrusion on the slide bar, and thus provides greater resistance to unwanted opening of the gate.

Abstract: A retractable lanyard mechanism that includes a housing, a frame and a drum that is rotatably supported from the frame mounted within the housing. The drum includes a pair of spaced apart disks, the spaced apart disks being attached to opposite ends of a spool, each spaced apart disk having a perimeter including at least one sperrad.

Abstract: A system and method for non-invasively attaching components to railroad track rails. More specifically, a connector is provided that can quickly and effectively electrically connect one or more signal lines with a surface of the track rail. In one embodiment, the non-invasive connector utilizes a spring clamp to form an electrical connection with a flange portion of the track rail. First and second opposing members of the spring clamp include teeth that mar the surface of the flange to form an electrical connection between the track rail and the spring clamp when the flange is forced between these opposing members. A signal line is electrically connected to the spring clamp.

Abstract: A system and method for non-invasively attaching components to railroad track rails. More specifically, a connector is provided that can quickly and effectively electrically connect one or more signal lines with a surface of the track rail. In one embodiment, the non-invasive connector utilizes a spring clamp to form an electrical connection with a flange portion of the track rail. First and second opposing members of the spring clamp include teeth that mar the surface of the flange to form an electrical connection between the track rail and the spring clamp when the flange is forced between these opposing members. A signal line is electrically connected to the spring clamp.

Abstract: A retractable lifeline comprises a housing a drum rotationally mounted in said space and a lanyard wound about said drum. The lanyard extends from the housing and is extendable from said housing and retractable into said housing. The retractable lifeline further includes a lock assembly to prevent rotation of said drum, and hence extension or retraction of said lanyard, when said lanyard is at a desired length, and an override of the lock mechanism in case of a fall so that the retractable internal shock absorption and clutch mechanism can arrest the fall.

Abstract: A snap-hook having a locking element and a gate, where the locking element cooperates with the gate to place stresses on the gate in tension instead of shear is disclosed. The tension loads are achieved by using mating generally cylindrical surfaces on the gate and on the lock.

Abstract: The use of a fall arrest lanyard that provides fall arrest forces at least two primary levels is disclosed. One example provides a lanyard with a pair of shock absorbers of different capacities in series. Other examples use a single shock absorber that provides at least two distinct levels of arrest force. Varying the strength of the attachment area that is to be separated to provide the arrest force and by varying the amount of area being separated at one time varies the levels of arrest force.

Abstract: A fall arrest anchorage system for use with a female retaining receiver having grooves or side apertures for engaging connector. The system uses an elongated male connector having a first end and a second end that extend along a connector axis, and a first section of a first dimension and a second section of a second dimension. The first dimension is larger than the second dimension, and the first section will be positioned closer to the first end than the second section. The male connector also includes at least one of a first retractable protrusion on the first section and at least one of a second retractable protrusion on the second section, the first retractable protrusion being positioned along the male portion such that the first retractable protrusion will cooperate with the first groove in the receiver when the second retractable protrusion engages the first groove.

Abstract: A safety hook that includes a body having a hook portion and a shank portion, a gate that is pivotally mounted from a gate pivot point on the shank portion, and a locking element that is pivotally supported from the shank. The safety hook also includes a peninsular portion that extends between the locking element and the and the heel portion of the gate, and a spring, the spring being mounted between and against the locking element and the locking element, so that to release the gate the user simply rotates the locking element away from the peninsular portion and then rotates the closure portion in, towards the mouth of the hook.

Abstract: A horizontal lifeline support system for use with a rebar stub or stud extending from a building structure. The system includes a stanchion having an elongated body, the body having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end having an aperture therein, the aperture being adapted for accepting the rebar stud or stub on the building structure, and at least one guy member, the guy member having a pair of opposite ends, one of the ends of the guy member being connected to the top end of the stanchion and the opposite end having a clamp attaching the second end of the guy member to the building structure.

Abstract: A snap hook having a J-shaped body, a gate that is pivotable about a pivot point that is near the first end of the shank, and a movable locking pin located near the second end of the shank. The locking pin is moved by least one parallel bar that is generally parallel to the shank and extends along the shank. Connected to the locking pin is a movable thumb grip that when moved urges the parallel bar to move the locking pin. The locking gate further having a recessed portion positioned near the second end of the shank and a closure portion positioned near the nose of the hook body, the closure portion and the recessed portion being at about the same distance from the pivot point, the recessed portion being adapted to cooperate with the locking pin so that when the locking pin is moved by the parallel bar the gate is released so that the gate can pivot about the pivot point.

Abstract: A receiver assembly for retaining a stanchion between a pair of looped supports. The receiver includes a support frame and a receiver support, the receiver support, the receiver support being adapted for engaging and retaining the stanchion. The receiver assembly also includes a locking bar that extendins from the support frame. The locking bar is adapted for engaging the pair of looped supports while extending between the pair of looped supports, so that the stanchion is retained in a generally upright position by the cooperation of the base and the locking bar with the looped supports.

Abstract: A carabiner having a gate with a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a cylindrical locking element that must be rotated in order to release the gate, a guide pin that extends from the gate, and a guide that cooperates with the guide pin. The guide includes a jogged portion that prevents free rotation of the cylindrical locking element.

Abstract: A method for creating a horizontal lifeline between a pair of end anchorages. The method includes providing a section of line having a modulus of elasticity, providing an energy absorbing shock absorber having a deployment load, connecting the section of line and the shock absorber to one another, between the end anchorages, and tuning the section of line by tensioning the section of line to a load that is approximately equal to the deployment load.

Abstract: An anchorage device that includes a receiver having a body having an aperture along an axis, the aperture having a first section of a first size and a second section of a second size, the second size being smaller than the first size, the first section having a first retaining recess, and the second section having a second retaining recess. The receiver cooperates with a male connector adapted for insertion into the aperture of the receiver, the male connector includes a set of parallel retractable retaining mechanisms located along the male connector. The system provides for engagement of at least two of the retractable mechanisms against the receiver.

Abstract: A horizontal lifeline support system for use with a rebar stub or stud extending from a building structure. The system includes a stanchion having an elongated body, the body having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end having an aperture therein, the aperture being adapted for accepting the rebar stud or stub on the building structure, and at least one guy member, the guy member having a pair of opposite ends, one of the ends of the guy member being connected to the top end of the stanchion and the opposite end having a clamp attaching the second end of the guy member to the building structure.