Fall arrest safety system

Abstract

This present teachings relate an engineered fall-arrest mechanism that stops the free fall of up to two workers simultaneously. The present teachings are described in four exemplary embodiments.

1 . A fall arrest safety system, the system comprising:
 (a) an eye bolt having a proximal portion and a distal portion wherein the distal portion is partially threaded;   (b) an energy absorption mast located at the proximal portion having an upper assembly and a lower assembly, wherein the upper assembly includes a washer, an internally threaded fastener, and a plate, and wherein the lower assembly comprises a retainer, a washer, and at least one internally threaded fastener;   (c) a ring formed at the top of the energy absorption mast; and   (d) a slotted plate covering at least a portion of the ring.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the internally threaded fastener of the upper assembly and lower assembly may be a nut. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ring may be substantially circular. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the slotted plate comprises two slots for the attachment of a safety harness clip in each of said slots. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the slotted plate may be circular. 
   
   
       6 . A fall arrest safety system, the system comprising:
 (a) an eye bolt having a proximal portion and a partially threaded distal portion, the proximal portion having an upper assembly and a lower assembly, wherein the upper assembly includes a washer, an internally threaded fastener, and a first plate, and wherein the lower assembly comprises a retainer, a washer, and at least one internally threaded fastener;   (b) a jacket sub-assembly connected to the eye bolt and within the upper assembly, wherein the jacket sub-assembly comprises a pipe having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion forming a weld joint with a second plate, and further wherein the first plate is sealed to the bottom portion of the pipe and located at the top of the partially threaded distal portion of the eye bolt;   (c) a ring connected to the top of the jacket sub-assembly; and   (d) a slotted plate covering at least a portion of the ring.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the internally threaded fastener of the upper assembly and lower assembly may be a nut. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the retainer may be a channel or a plate. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the ring may be substantially circular. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plate has a hole that is in clearance of the eye bolt when the system is assembled. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the ring is formed by a rod. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the slotted plate comprises two slots for the attachment of a safety harness clip in each of said slots. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the slotted plate may be circular. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the jacket sub-assembly comprises a deflection of less than or equal to 0.04 inches when a force of at least 2250 pounds is applied. 
   
   
       15 . A fall arrest safety system, the system comprising:
 (a) a steel bolt of a predetermined diameter having a proximal portion and a distal portion wherein the distal portion is partially threaded;   (b) a tension member configured at the proximal portion, the tension member having an upper jacket sub-assembly and a lower assembly, wherein the lower assembly includes at least one retainer, at least one lock washer, at least one washer, and at least two internally threaded fasteners;   (c) a ring configured at the upper assembly of the tension member;   (d) a slotted plate covering at least a portion of the ring; and   (e) a jacket sub-assembly encompassing the tension member and surrounded by the upper jacket sub-assembly, the upper jacket sub-assembly having a top hollow member portion of a relatively larger diameter than the tension member and a bottom plate with an opening therein of a relatively larger size than the predetermined bolt diameter allowing the tension member to pass through the bottom plate, the top hollow member secured by a weld joint to the bottom plate.   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least two internally threaded fasteners comprise nuts. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one retainer comprises a channel member. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the ring comprises a substantially circular shape. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the slotted plate comprises two slots for the attachment of no more than one safety harness clip in each of the two slots. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the slotted plate comprises a circular shape.