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GB2448137A - Carabiner with sensor and indicator - Google Patents

Carabiner with sensor and indicator Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2448137A
GB2448137A GB0706414A GB0706414A GB2448137A GB 2448137 A GB2448137 A GB 2448137A GB 0706414 A GB0706414 A GB 0706414A GB 0706414 A GB0706414 A GB 0706414A GB 2448137 A GB2448137 A GB 2448137A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
carabiner
arrangement
enclosure
sensor arrangement
surround
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0706414A
Other versions
GB0706414D0 (en
Inventor
Simon Neve
Brian Osbourne
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Balfour Beatty PLC
Original Assignee
Balfour Beatty PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Balfour Beatty PLC filed Critical Balfour Beatty PLC
Priority to GB0706414A priority Critical patent/GB2448137A/en
Publication of GB0706414D0 publication Critical patent/GB0706414D0/en
Priority to PCT/GB2008/050235 priority patent/WO2008120022A1/en
Publication of GB2448137A publication Critical patent/GB2448137A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B29/00Apparatus for mountaineering
    • A63B29/02Mountain guy-ropes or accessories, e.g. avalanche ropes; Means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16BDEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B45/00Hooks; Eyes
    • F16B45/02Hooks with pivoting or elastically bending closing member
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16BDEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B45/00Hooks; Eyes
    • F16B45/02Hooks with pivoting or elastically bending closing member
    • F16B45/023Hooks with pivoting or elastically bending closing member the closing member pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the hook

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Pulmonology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Emergency Lowering Means (AREA)

Abstract

A carabiner comprises a surround 2 and a gate 3, with a sensor arrangement for detecting the presence of an object 16 within the carabiner surround 2 and an indicator device 14 for indicating that there is no detected object. The sensor arrangement may comprise an electrical circuit through the surround, such as a pair of conductors (figure 2, 9), where an object 16 inserted into the carabiner completes the circuit. Alternatively, the sensor arrangement may comprise a radiation source and detector, a switch arrangement, pressure sensors 11 or magnetic or electric field detectors. Further, the sensor arrangement may detect a number of objects. The indicator device may be an audible signal, such as an alarm, a visual signal, such as a light, or a vibration. A memory and location tracking device for recording GPS data may also be provided.

Description

I
A CARABINER
The present invention relates to carabiners.
Typically, a carabiner is a device made up of a metal loop with a sprung or screwed gate. Figure 1 shows a carabiner of known type, comprising a body 2, gate 3, hinge 4, spring 5, pin 6 and notch 7. Generally, the body 2 of a carabiner has a C-shape. Attached at one end of the body is a gate 3 pivoted about an axis 4. The second end of the body is equipped with a notch 7. The gate 3 is urged by the spring 5 to pivot to a closed position forming an enclosure 8. The free end of the gate 3 is equipped with a pin 6 which is received by the notch 7.
Typically, an object is connected to a carabiner by pushing the object through the gate 3 into the carabiner enclosure 8. Opening the gate 3 and passing the object back through the open gate releases the object. This operation cannot take place by accident because the gate is spring-biased into a closed position, so that the removal of an object from the carabiner is a more complicated manual operation.
The body of a carabiner can take any shape, but they are typically oval, pear-shaped or D-shaped. The gate can be locking or non-locking, depending on the level of security desired. A locking gate typically has a threaded sleeve which is screwed over the end of the body to prevent accidental opening of the gate.
Carabiners are generally used to join two objects together such as climbing harnesses to safety lines, in one mode of operation, both objects are passed through the carabiner gate 3 into the carabiner enclosure 8. Alternatively, carabiners can be made so that they are permanently attached to an object, such as a harness. This can be done by sewing a lanyard or rope to the body of the carabiner. Alternatively, the body of the carabiner can be equipped with a slot or hole where a lanyard of rope can be attached.
Carabiners are devices used to quickly and reversibly connect components together. As such, carabiners are often used to link a user wearing a safety harness to a safety line, where the user is engaged in a potentially dangerous activity and where the user also requires a certain degree of mobility. The user is often in an elevated or precarious position. Carabiners allow users to move relatively free along safety lines, and allow these users to clip on and off the safety lines with relative ease. However, if the user slips or falls, the carabiner serves to attach the user to the safety line, thus greatly reducing the risk of serious injury or death to the user.
The ease with which carabiners can be attached to rings, loops or fixed ropes has led to the wide use of carabiners in many potentially dangerous recreational activities such as climbing, caving or sailing, as well as non-recreational activities such as emergency rescue, construction, window cleaning and the inspection and maintenance of outdoor structures.
The safe use of a carabiner relies on the user being vigilant in attaching the carabiner to a safety line and/or to the harness. The user may become distracted or disoriented in a busy working environment, or may simply forget to attach the carabiner to the safety line. The failure to attach a carabiner to a safety line can, if the user slips or falls, result in the serious injury or death of the user.
However, monitoring and enforcing the correct use of a carabiner is difficult.
According to the invention, there is provided a carabiner arrangement comprising a surround and a gate for providing access to an enclosure defined by the surround and the gate, wherein the carabiner arrangement further comprises a sensor arrangement for detecting the presence of an object within the carabiner enclosure, and an indicator device for indicating that there is no detected object.
The carabiner of the present invention provides a mechanism for alerting the user and/or work colleagues that the user is not safely attached by the carabiner to a safety line or other structure. The user is thus reminded to attach to the safety line, either directly or by work colleagues.
There are a number of different ways to implement the sensor arrangement.
One implementation uses an electrical circuit through the carabiner surround, wherein an object in the carabiner enclosure completes the electrical circuit to ground. Another implementation uses a pair of conductors, wherein an object in the carabiner enclosure shorts the pair of conductors together. These approaches use a simple electrical circuit to detect continuity. This is suitable for applications in which the object to be retained in the carabiner is a conductor. This is the case in most applications, as the safety line will often be a metalcable.
Alternatively, the sensor arrangement can comprise a radiation source and radiation detector, for detecting the presence of an object in the enclosure. This can be a line of sight type arrangement. A carabiner typically has a shape which hangs always the same way from a cable. For example, a pear shape is common, and this will normally hang from the sharper bend. As a result, it is known where the cable will be situated within the enclosure, and the line of sight arrangement can detect presence of the cable in the known position.
The sensor arrangement may instead comprise a switch arrangement for detecting opening of the gate and passage of an object through the gate.
In another embodiment, the sensor arrangement can comprise one or more magnetic or electric field detectors, and detect when an electric or magnetic field is interrupted by the presence of an object in the enclosure.
Pressure sensors may also be used as a detection mechanism. As mentioned above, the carabiner typically hangs from a safety line, so that there is in use a pressure applied to the enclosure wall.
The sensor arrangement can be adapted to detect a number of objects within the carabiner enclosure. This may be useful if the user is required to retain two items in the carabiner, for example a cable associated with a harness of the user and a safety line.
A signal used to indicate that there is no detected object can be audible and/or visual and/or can be a vibration.
A further modification can use a memory for storing data from the sensor arrangement. This can be used for training purposes. A GPS system can also be used so that it is known at what times the user should have been coupled to a safety line based on their position.
The invention also provides a method of detecting safe operation of a carabiner, comprising detecting the presence of an object within the carabiner enclosure, and indicating when there is no detected object.
Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a carabiner of known type; Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of a carabiner of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a carabiner of the present invention; Figure 4 shows the carabiner of Figure 3 in use; and Figure 5 shows a third embodiment of the carabiner of the present invention.
The invention provides a carabiner which has a mechanism for alerting the user and/or work colleagues that the user is not safely attached by the carabiner to a safety line or other structure.
Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of the invention, which comprises those features of the general type as shown in Fig 1. The carabiner further comprises a sensor arrangement 9 in the form of a pair of closely spaced wires. These are insulated from the material of the carabiner. Each wire connects to an indicator device 14, and the wires are disconnected from each other. A cable within the enclosure provides a short circuit between the wires, and this completes an electric circuit. This is detected by the indicator device, and it produces an output in the form of a buzzer (shown as 15) and/or light when the circuit is not connected.
In this example, when the circuit is made, the buzzer/light is turned off, and this inversing function can be implemented by a simple transistor or other logic circuit.
The indicator device is electrically connected to the carabiner by wires passing in the lanyard, and the indicator device can be carried in the clothing of the user.
In an alternative but similar arrangement, the cable in the enclosure can provide an electrical path to ground. The indicator device then detects a continuous circuit through the carabiner enclosure, and the retained cable to ground, and provides the same warning as above.
Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention which comprises a sensor arrangement 9 in the form of a plurality of pressure detectors 10. Each pressure detector 10 is a spring-loaded electrically conductive bearing (spring not shown) having an insulated region 11. The pressure detectors 10 are biased to project into the carabiner enclosure 8 so that the non-insulated portion of the pressure detectors 10 completes the electrical circuit 12. A power supply 13, preferably a battery, powers the indicator device 14.
In this case, the indicator device can simply power the output device, as the sensor arrangement already provides a positive output when the enclosure is empty (unlike the examples above).
Figure 4 shows the arrangement of Figure 3 when an object 16 has been inserted into the carabiner enclosure 8. In use, the object 16 moves the pressure detectors 10 from a first position 17, to a second position 18. The insulated region 11 breaks the electrical circuit 12 and the buzzer 14 turns off.
The carabiner thus has a sensor arrangement for detecting the presence of an object 16 within the carabiner enclosure 8, and an indicator device 14 for indicating that there is no detected object.
Figure 5 shows a further embodiment in which the sensor arrangement comprises a line of sight sensor, in the form of one or more emitters 19, which emit radiation detectable by detectors 20. These may be IR or laser devices, for example. The emitters 19 are arranged so that they are substantially directed towards the detectors 20. The detected profile is varied when an object is present, as a result of the interruption of one or more paths. This type of arrangement can detect an object in a single location, or it may be arranged to detect the presence of an object at any location within the enclosure.
In its simplest form, a single emitter and a single detector can be provided, as a simple line of sight detector. The use of multiple emitters and detectors enables multiple discrete locations to be detected, or even the full volume of the enclosure. This may require signal processing capability to interpret the detector signals received.
Figure 5 shows the indicator device 21 in the form of a light output (such as an LED). The electrical circuitry connecting to the emitters and detectors has not been shown.
The carabiner of Figure 5 is connected to a lanyard 24, which is threaded through a slot 23 to form a loop. The loop of lanyard 24 is permanently fixed around slot 23 by stitching 25. The lanyard also houses part of the internal electrical circuitry required to connect the emitters 19 and the detectors 20 to the indicator device 21 and to the power supply 13.
The emitters and detectors in Figure 5 are located so that they use light paths across the enclosure. Instead, a light path can be defined around the inner surface of the carabiner enclosure, for example by designing the surface to have a provide a path of light using total internal reflection. If an object is present against the surface, this can interrupt the total internal reflection, and cause a break in the signal path.
A further alternative arrangement is to provide a circuit which includes a switch, the switch being operated when an object passes through the gate. This can be a spring loaded tracer wire near the gate mechanism.
A further alternative arrangement is to provide a circuit which drives a current around the carabiner, causing a magnetic flux, and a change in detected magnetic flux intensity is used to detect the presence of a metal (ferrous) object.
The system can include a GPS system so that the location of a user is known.
This enables the times when the safety line should have been used to be determined. Together with information stored from the sensor arrangement, this can enable evidence to be obtained to show whether or not the required safety guidelines have been followed. This can be used for training purposes, or for disciplinary purposes, as a further way to ensure that safety procedures are followed.
The device of the invention requires the user to deliberately ignore the warning signals in order to continue working in an unsafe environment. This greatly increases the likelihood that the expected safety measures will be adopted.
The circuits required to implement the desired function of detecting the absence of an object in the carabiner will be routine to those skilled in the art.
It will be clear from the description above that there are numerous ways to implement the sensor arrangement, and only a few have been shown in any detail. These fall into various categories; optical sensing using interruption of an optical path, electrical sensing using interruption of an electrical circuit by a cable in the enclosure, electrical sensing using making of an electrical circuit by a cable in the enclosure, pressure sensing, and gate operation detection.
Other versions and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims (14)

1. A carabiner arrangement comprising a surround and a gate for providing access to an enclosure defined by the surround and the gate, wherein the carabiner arrangement further comprises a sensor arrangement for detecting the presence of an object within the carabiner enclosure, and an indicator device for indicating that there is no detected object.
2. A carabiner arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises an electrical circuit through the carabiner surround, wherein an object in the carabiner enclosure completes the electrical circuit to ground.
3. A carabiner arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a pair of conductors around the surround, wherein an object in the carabiner enclosure shorts the pair of conductors together.
4. A carabiner arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a radiation source and radiation detector, for detecting the presence of an object in the enclosure.
5. A carabiner arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a switch arrangement for detecting opening of the gate and passage of an object through the gate.
6. A carabiner arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a pressure sensor arrangement for detecting pressure exerted against the surround.
7. A carabiner arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises one or more magnetic or electric field detectors.
8. A carabiner arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sensor arrangement is adapted to detect a number of objects within the carabiner enclosure.
9. A carabiner arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the detectable signal is audible and/or visual and/or is a vibration.
10. A carabiner arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a memory for storing sensor arrangement data.
11. A carabiner arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a location tracking device.
12. A carabiner arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the location tracking device is for recording GPS data.
13. A safety harness comprising a carabiner according to any of the proceeding claims.
14. A method of detecting safe operation of a carabiner, comprising detecting the presence of an object within the carabiner enclosure, and indicating when there is no detected object.
GB0706414A 2007-04-02 2007-04-02 Carabiner with sensor and indicator Withdrawn GB2448137A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0706414A GB2448137A (en) 2007-04-02 2007-04-02 Carabiner with sensor and indicator
PCT/GB2008/050235 WO2008120022A1 (en) 2007-04-02 2008-04-01 A carabiner

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0706414A GB2448137A (en) 2007-04-02 2007-04-02 Carabiner with sensor and indicator

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0706414D0 GB0706414D0 (en) 2007-05-09
GB2448137A true GB2448137A (en) 2008-10-08

Family

ID=38050701

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0706414A Withdrawn GB2448137A (en) 2007-04-02 2007-04-02 Carabiner with sensor and indicator

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2448137A (en)
WO (1) WO2008120022A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2011034374A (en) * 2009-08-03 2011-02-17 Nec Corp System, device, method and program for safety management
DE102012212192B4 (en) 2012-07-12 2023-04-27 Convexis Gmbh Method for operating a high ropes course and high ropes course

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8325053B2 (en) 2009-03-10 2012-12-04 JCJ Inc. Personal fall protection monitoring system
JP5980586B2 (en) * 2012-06-21 2016-08-31 鹿島建設株式会社 Safety belt usage status confirmation system and safety belt usage status confirmation method
JP2014004005A (en) * 2012-06-21 2014-01-16 Kajima Corp Safety belt usage state confirmation system, safety belt usage state confirmation method, and hook of safety belt
JP5822796B2 (en) * 2012-07-17 2015-11-24 藤井電工株式会社 IC tag housing structure to hook for safety belt
WO2016011507A1 (en) * 2014-07-22 2016-01-28 Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation Monitoring system, device, method, processing system, fall arrest equipment and kit for use with a fall arrest system
US20210346739A1 (en) * 2018-09-27 2021-11-11 3M Innovative Properties Company Fall-protection assembly comprising a soft, endless connector
CN120798947A (en) * 2025-09-08 2025-10-17 苏州希盟科技股份有限公司 Buckling device

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS60198167A (en) * 1984-03-19 1985-10-07 藤井電工株式会社 Safety belt equipped with alarm
EP0376860A1 (en) * 1988-12-29 1990-07-04 Petzl S.A. Safety snap hook with position indicating means for the locking ring
DE10036014A1 (en) * 2000-07-25 2002-02-21 Thiele Gmbh & Co Kg Safety component for chain link or hook comprises transponder which is mounted in bore using bi conical molding component outside load-bearing area
JP2003111856A (en) * 2001-10-09 2003-04-15 Shimizu Corp Safety belt non-use alarm
DE102005009946B3 (en) * 2005-03-04 2006-07-06 Michael Halfer Safety barrier for use by e.g. climber, has electronic circuit monitoring accurate protection of user by carabiners and generating alarm alert, where circuit makes one of the carabiners not to hang at rope
JP2007044166A (en) * 2005-08-08 2007-02-22 Chugoku Electric Power Co Inc:The Attachment check sensor

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CA2891809C (en) * 2004-12-02 2016-06-07 Prism Medical Ltd. Carabiner and connection tool for use with patient carrying systems

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS60198167A (en) * 1984-03-19 1985-10-07 藤井電工株式会社 Safety belt equipped with alarm
EP0376860A1 (en) * 1988-12-29 1990-07-04 Petzl S.A. Safety snap hook with position indicating means for the locking ring
DE10036014A1 (en) * 2000-07-25 2002-02-21 Thiele Gmbh & Co Kg Safety component for chain link or hook comprises transponder which is mounted in bore using bi conical molding component outside load-bearing area
JP2003111856A (en) * 2001-10-09 2003-04-15 Shimizu Corp Safety belt non-use alarm
DE102005009946B3 (en) * 2005-03-04 2006-07-06 Michael Halfer Safety barrier for use by e.g. climber, has electronic circuit monitoring accurate protection of user by carabiners and generating alarm alert, where circuit makes one of the carabiners not to hang at rope
JP2007044166A (en) * 2005-08-08 2007-02-22 Chugoku Electric Power Co Inc:The Attachment check sensor

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2011034374A (en) * 2009-08-03 2011-02-17 Nec Corp System, device, method and program for safety management
DE102012212192B4 (en) 2012-07-12 2023-04-27 Convexis Gmbh Method for operating a high ropes course and high ropes course

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0706414D0 (en) 2007-05-09
WO2008120022A1 (en) 2008-10-09

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