US 11,806,559 B2
Coupler for a fall protection device
Oliver Auston, Faversham (GB); and Christopher Stockbridge, Sittingbourne (GB)
Assigned to CHECKMATE LIFTING & SAFETY LTD, Kent (GB)
Filed by CHECKMATE LIFTING & SAFETY LTD, Kent (GB)
Filed on Jan. 16, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/744,544.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/886,064, filed on Aug. 13, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 1900892 (GB), filed on Jan. 22, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0230445 A1, Jul. 23, 2020
Int. Cl. A62B 35/00 (2006.01)
CPC A62B 35/0037 (2013.01) [A62B 35/0018 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A coupler assembly for a fall protection device, comprising:
a D-ring;
a connector having a shaft;
a body having a distal end and a proximal end;
the distal end comprising a webbing guidance surface configured and arranged to support webbing; and
the proximal end comprising an engagement portion configured and arranged to directly engage the D-ring, the engagement portion comprising first and second elongated portions forming a groove therebetween, the groove configured to receive a portion of the D-ring;
the body further comprising a securement passageway positioned between the webbing guidance surface and the engagement portion configured and arranged to receive the shaft of the connector, the securement passageway comprising a bearing surface configured and arranged to enable the shaft of the connector to rotate within the securement passageway and to enable the connector to articulate relative to the body;
the D-ring engaging the proximal end of the body and the shaft routed through the securement passageway when assembled, such that the body is configured to route webbing from the proximal end of the body to and around the webbing guidance surface of the distal end of the body, the body configured to be retained by the webbing, the D-ring, and the shaft when assembled, such that when the webbing is installed the webbing biases the body toward the D-ring and the webbing is routed around the body and the shaft, such that if the body breaks the webbing remains routed around the shaft and remains operatively connected to the D-ring.