Patents by Inventor Owain Jones

Owain Jones 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: 9687683
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Patent number: 9670980
    Abstract: A safety device for use in a fall arrest or fall safety system includes an energy absorber to absorb energy in the event of a fall or other impulse event. The energy absorber is a resilient element (such as a tolerance ring) providing an interference fit between a first component of the device and a second component of the device. In the event of a fall arrestor other impulse event, the first and second components effect movement relative to one another, the interference fit being overcome, and the resilient element/tolerance ring acting to resist the relative movement thereby absorbing energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Latchways PLC
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Publication number: 20170144001
    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: February 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Patent number: 9561391
    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: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Latchways plc
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20160129288
    Abstract: A traveller for safety line for a fall arrest system has a slot extending to the exterior of the traveller and a safety line locating shuttle provided on-board the traveller wherein the safety line locating shuttle is movable relative to the slot along a predetermined path in a direction across the slot. This aids in accurate positioning of the safety line with respect to the traveller. The slot can be defined between opposed slot edges which are movable relative to one another to reconfigure the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: LATCHWAYS PLC
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9186530
    Abstract: A traveler for safety line for a fall arrest system has a slot extending to the exterior of the traveler and a safety line locating shuttle provided on-board the traveler wherein the safety line locating shuttle is movable relative to the slot along a predetermined path in a direction across the slot. This aids in accurate positioning of the safety line with respect to the traveler. The slot can be defined between opposed slot edges which are movable relative to one another to reconfigure the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: 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: 20140251731
    Abstract: A safety device for use in a fall arrest or fall safety system includes an energy absorber to absorb energy in the event of a fall or other impulse event. The energy absorber is a resilient element (such as a tolerance ring) providing an interference fit between a first component of the device and a second component of the device. In the event of a fall arrestor other impulse event, the first and second components effect movement relative to one another, the interference fit being overcome, and the resilient element/tolerance ring acting to resist the relative movement thereby absorbing energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Publication number: 20140041960
    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: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20130193293
    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: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: LATCHWAYS PLC
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • 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: 20120217092
    Abstract: A traveller for safety line for a fall arrest system has a slot extending to the exterior of the traveller and a safety line locating shuttle provided on-board the traveller wherein the safety line locating shuttle is movable relative to the slot along a predetermined path in a direction across the slot. This aids in accurate positioning of the safety line with respect to the traveller. The slot can be defined between opposed slot edges which are movable relative to one another to reconfigure the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    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