Patents by Inventor Nathan W. Safe
Nathan W. Safe 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).
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Patent number: 12350529Abstract: A fall-protection safety harness including left and right shoulder straps and a waist strap, and a dorsal plate mounted on the left and right shoulder straps at a dorsal crossing point. A dorsal brace for use with such a harness, the brace comprising a self-locking fastener at the upper end of the dorsal brace. The fastener is fastenable, and self-locking, to the dorsal plate, and a lower end of the dorsal brace is connectable to the waist strap. Methods of equipping a safety harness with the dorsal brace.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2020Date of Patent: July 8, 2025Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Christopher S. McLeod, Nathan W. Safe, David A. Schlangen, Stephen D. Shaver
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Patent number: 12350528Abstract: A fall-protection apparatus comprising at least one connector that comprises a resonant-frequency-shifting inductive sensing unit that is configured to detect whether the connector appears to be connected to a first item and is further configured to detect whether the connector appears to be connected to a second, different item.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2020Date of Patent: July 8, 2025Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Jonathan J. Lepp, Scott E. Brigham, Nathan W. Safe, Stephen D. Shaver
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Patent number: 12274899Abstract: A safety harness including first and second shoulder straps and a waist strap and a rigid dorsal force-transfer member with an upper end that is removably connected to the first and second shoulder straps at a dorsal crossing point of the first and second shoulder straps and with a lower end that is removably connected to a dorsal portion of the waist strap. Methods of removably equipping a safety harness with a rigid dorsal force-transfer member, and of removing a rigid dorsal force-transfer member from a safety harness.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2020Date of Patent: April 15, 2025Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Nathan W. Safe, Stephen D. Shaver
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Patent number: 12246199Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fall protection system. The fall protection system includes a lanyard defining a first end, a second end, and a third end. The lanyard includes a one-piece webbing including a first portion including the first end and a second portion including the second end. The second portion is continuous with the first portion at the third end. The lanyard further includes a main connected portion connecting the first portion to the second portion proximal to the third end. The fall protection system further includes a truss extending between the first portion and the second portion and connected to each of the first portion and the second portion. The truss is disposed proximal to the main connected portion, such that the main connected portion is disposed between the third end and the truss.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2023Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Kevin M. Thurk, Christopher S. McLeod, Nathan W. Safe, Stephen D. Shaver, Jared Hines, Steven McPherson
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Publication number: 20250009114Abstract: A support article that is retrofittably attachable to a strap of a fall-protection safety harness. The support article may have a main body, first and second upper struts, first and second lower struts, and a friction ridge. The support article may further comprise at least one connector and wherein at least one item can be connected to the connector so that the support article can support the item.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2022Publication date: January 9, 2025Inventors: Matthew P. Thoms, Nathan W. Safe, Peter R. Blackburn, Silvia G.B. Guttmann, Radovan Simocko, Eva Mandiková
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Publication number: 20240278049Abstract: A fall-protection safety harness is configured so that when the harness is worn by a user, a first ventral strap of the harness extends from the right shoulder of the user to the right hip of the user and a second ventral strap of the harness extends from the left shoulder of the user to the left hip of the user, wherein a first buckle portion is mounted on the first ventral strap and a second buckle portion is mounted on the second ventral strap. The first and second buckle portions are being detachably attached to each other to form a ventral buckle, wherein the first and second ventral straps and the first and second buckle portions are configured so that the ventral buckle is at least generally aligned with a sagittal plane of the user and harness.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2022Publication date: August 22, 2024Inventors: Nathan W. Safe, Michael T. Weiss
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Patent number: 12053061Abstract: A buckle assembly and a harness including the buckle assembly. The buckle assembly includes a male buckle and a female buckle removably coupled to the male buckle. The male buckle includes a catch and a first adjustment member extending from the catch. The first adjustment member defines a plurality of first slots therethrough, such that each first slot is configured to movably receive a first webbing therethrough. The female buckle includes a main body and a second adjustment member extending from the main body. The main body is configured to at least partially receive the catch therein. The second adjustment member defines a plurality of second slots therethrough, such that each second slot is configured to movably receive a second webbing therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2021Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Nathan W. Safe
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Publication number: 20240100372Abstract: There is provided a suspension trauma relief strap assembly for use in a fall protection harness comprising: a first housing integrally mounted within one side of the fall protection harness and configured to hold a strap, where the strap has a first end and a second end, and where the first end is operably connected to the first housing and the second end includes a connector; and a connection mechanism disposed on a second side of the fall protection harness, where the connection mechanism is configured to connect with the connector to form a connection assembly. There is also provided fall protection harnesses including these suspension trauma relief strap assemblies.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2020Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Nathan W. Safe, Stephen D. Shaver, Christopher S. McLeod
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Publication number: 20230347190Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fall protection system. The fall protection system includes a lanyard defining a first end, a second end, and a third end. The lanyard includes a one-piece webbing including a first portion including the first end and a second portion including the second end. The second portion is continuous with the first portion at the third end. The lanyard further includes a main connected portion connecting the first portion to the second portion proximal to the third end. The fall protection system further includes a truss extending between the first portion and the second portion and connected to each of the first portion and the second portion. The truss is disposed proximal to the main connected portion, such that the main connected portion is disposed between the third end and the truss.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventors: Kevin M. Thurk, Christopher S. McLeod, Nathan W. Safe, Stephen D. Shaver, Jared Hines, Steven McPherson
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Publication number: 20230320463Abstract: A fall-protection safety harness with first and second ventral straps and with a ventral buckle that is at least generally aligned with a sagittal plane of the user. At the sagittal buckle, a section of the first ventral strap is in overlapping relation with a section of the second ventral strap.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2021Publication date: October 12, 2023Inventors: Michael T. Weiss, Stephen D. Shaver, Nathan W. Safe
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Publication number: 20230302309Abstract: A fall-protection safety harness with first and second ventral straps and with a ventral buckle that is at least generally aligned with a sagittal plane of the user, wherein the ventral buckle comprises first and second buckle portions mounted on the first and second ventral straps, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2021Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Michael T. Weiss, Nathan W. Safe, Stephen D. Shaver
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Publication number: 20230255325Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a buckle assembly and a harness including the buckle assembly. The buckle assembly includes a male buckle and a female buckle removably coupled to the male buckle. The male buckle includes a catch and a first adjustment member extending from the catch. The first adjustment member defines a plurality of first slots therethrough, such that each first slot is configured to movably receive a first webbing therethrough. The female buckle includes a main body and a second adjustment member extending from the main body. The main body is configured to at least partially receive the catch therein. The second adjustment member defines a plurality of second slots therethrough, such that each second slot is configured to movably receive a second webbing therethrough.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2021Publication date: August 17, 2023Inventor: Nathan W. Safe
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Publication number: 20220355134Abstract: A fall-protection safety harness including left and right shoulder straps and a waist strap, and a dorsal plate mounted on the left and right shoulder straps at a dorsal crossing point. A dorsal brace for use with such a harness, the brace comprising a self-locking fastener at the upper end of the dorsal brace. The fastener is fastenable, and self-locking, to the dorsal plate, and a lower end of the dorsal brace is connectable to the waist strap. Methods of equipping a safety harness with the dorsal brace.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2020Publication date: November 10, 2022Inventors: Christopher S. McLeod, Nathan W. Safe, David A. Schlangen, Stephen D. Shaver
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Publication number: 20220266075Abstract: A fall-protection apparatus comprising at least one connector that comprises a resonant-frequency-shifting inductive sensing unit that is configured to detect whether the connector appears to be connected to a first item and is further configured to detect whether the connector appears to be connected to a second, different item.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2020Publication date: August 25, 2022Inventors: Jonathan J. Lepp, Scott E. Brigham, Nathan W. Safe, Stephen D. Shaver
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Publication number: 20220080233Abstract: A safety harness including first and second shoulder straps and a waist strap and a rigid dorsal force-transfer member with an upper end that is removably connected to the first and second shoulder straps at a dorsal crossing point of the first and second shoulder straps and with a lower end that is removably connected to a dorsal portion of the waist strap. Methods of removably equipping a safety harness with a rigid dorsal force-transfer member, and of removing a rigid dorsal force-transfer member from a safety harness.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2020Publication date: March 17, 2022Inventors: Nathan W. SAFE, Stephen D. Shaver
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Publication number: 20210346739Abstract: A fall-protection assembly comprising a lanyard and a rigid fastener that are connected to each other by a soft, endless connector that is non-removably connected to the lanyard and that is removably connected to the rigid fastener.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2019Publication date: November 11, 2021Inventors: Stephen D. Shaver, Nathan W. Safe, Peter L. Olson
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Patent number: 10413022Abstract: A buckle with a first pawl that is biased by a pair of magnets that are oriented in opposition to each other to provide a repelling force, and with a second pawl that is biased by another pair of magnets that are oriented in opposition to each other to provide a repelling force.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2018Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Ariane Sarzi Porto, Nelson Pudles, Nathan W. Safe
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Publication number: 20190116939Abstract: A buckle with a first pawl that is biased by a pair of magnets that are oriented in opposition to each other to provide a repelling force, and with a second pawl that is biased by another pair of magnets that are oriented in opposition to each other to provide a repelling force.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Ariane Sarzi Porto, Nelson Pudles, Nathan W. Safe
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Publication number: 20160360868Abstract: A tool pouch connector for connecting a tool pouch to a safety harness having a waist pad assembly with a belt loop and a waist belt comprises a bar portion interconnecting a first end and a second end. At least one of the first end and the second end is movable relative to another of the first end and the second end to move between an open position and a closed position. The bar portion is configured and arranged to engage the tool pouch, and at least one of the first end and the second end forming a receiver opening configured and arranged to engage the waist pad assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2015Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventor: Nathan W. Safe