US2834525A - Safety body belt - Google Patents

Description

May 13, 1958 E. C. SHAWGO SAFETY BODY BELT Filed nec. 2o, '1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l Afr-rvs.

May 13, 1958 E. c. sHAwGo SAFETY BODY BELT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 20, 1956 n mm N ,w Q E NJ. T u 4.1, N f A E d v f m ELLIS CLAUDE SuAwec May 13, 1958 E., c. sHAwGo SAFETY BODY. BELT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 20, 1956 ATTYS.

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United States Patent 2,834,525 SAFETY BODY BELT Ellis Claude Shawgo, Franklin, Pa., assigner to Miller Equipment Company, Inc., Franklin, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 20, 1956, Serial No. 629,596

6 Claims. (Cl. 227-49) The present invention relates to safety body belts and more particularly to safety belts of the type used by linemen, forestryworkers and persons in related occupations when working in elevated positions on poles, trees or the like.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved safety belt which, when secured to the wearers body and to a safety strap around a pole or tree, affords a convenient and comfortable support enabling the wearer to Work safely and with a minimum of discomfort and which does not hinder the wearer as he climbs to or fromvthe position in which he works.

Another object ofthe present invention is to provide an improved safety belt of the foregoing characteristics which affords increased freedom of movement and comfort of the wearer when climbing and working and which allows tools to hang at apcomfortable and convenient level away from the wearers body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved safety belt of the foregoing type and character which permits the wearer to work higher on and further out from a pole or tree while comfortably supporting the wearers back to prevent fatigue, strain, and discomfort as well as to prevent the wearer from slipping from the belt as he adjusts himself to a working position.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a belt of the above character which enables the wearer to safely and comfortably shift his position while working in an elevated position or a pole or tree.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying'drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective representation of a safety body belt in use by a lineman working on a pole.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the safety body belt showing the belt laid fiat and before the tools are inserted.

Fig. 3 is a top edge view of the belt taken substantially in the plane of line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section view taken substantially in the plane of line 4--4 of Fig. 2, and showing the belt construction in more detail.

Fig. 5 is a section view taken substantially in the plane of line 5 5 of Fig. 2 and showing one type of tool carrier useful with the safety belt illustrative of the present invention. p

Fig. 6 is a front view of a modified form of safety body belt showing the belt laid flat and before tools are inserted.

, Fig. 7 is a top-edge view of the belt taken substantially in the plane of line 7-'7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section View of the belt taken substantially in the plane of line 8-.-3 of Fig. 6 and showing the belt construction in more detail.

While certain illustrative safety body belts have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail, it should be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed 2,334,525 Patented May 13, 1958 falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring to Fig. l, there .is shown a safety body belt 10 strapped around a wearer (shown in phantom), such as a lineman, forestry worker, structural worker or the like, who must climb into elevated Working positions on a pole or the like. To support alineman, for example one who might be working on an electrical installation on a pole, so that he can conveniently perform his task, the safety belt l@ is engaged by a safety strap 11 which is wrapped around the pole on which the lineman is working and is snapped into engagement with suitable D-rings on the safety belt 10. The lineman wearing the safety belt, having climbed to the position where he must work and having attached the safety strap, can then lean back and be safely supported by the belt and strap in a comfortable position while he works. His tools, such asthe bag and wrench indicated generally at 12 in Fig. l, hang low and away from his body where they do not get in his way while he is climbing and where they are convenienlty available when he needs them.

While the following description will relate mainly to safety belts for use by linemen working on electrical equipment, it should be understood that other wearers, such as forestry workers, bridge workers and structural steel workers, can utilize safety belts embodying the present invention to their particular advantage. Depending upon the use to which the belt is to be put, there may be some modifications made in the tool supporting fixtures because of the different tools required in different occupations.

The main support for a lineman wearing the illustrative safety belt lli comprises al D-saddle l5, referred to herein as the saddle, having D-rings 16 fixed to each of its ends and adapted to engage with hook snaps 17 on the ends of Vthe safety strap l1. The saddle l5 is desirably formed of a heavy piece of leather and the D-rings i6 are secured thereto by looping the ends 1S of the saddle 15 back on themselves to form a loop 19 into which the D-ring i6 is inserted. The looped portion 191 of the saddle l5 is then riveted in order to securely hold the D-ring. For reducing the thickness of the saddle at the looped portions, the ends 18 of the saddle i5 are tapered as shown in Fig. 3.

Provision is made for mounting the saddle l5 on the body of the wearer. This is accomplished by a relatively narrow saddle strap Ztl superimposed on the outer surface of the saddle and having its end extending through the D-rings f6. For attaching the saddle strap 20`about the body of the wearer, a tongue 2l and a buckle 22 are provided at the ends of the strap. The saddle strap Ztl is prevented from slipping away from the saddle l5 when the safety belt l@ is in use by means of suitable rivets 23 fastening the strap securely to the saddle.

For supporting the tools which the lineman may need while he is Working on the pole, there is provided on the saddle strap 20 various rings, loops and snaps. For example, there is shown in Fig. 2 a series of tool loops 25 formed by a tool strap 26 riveted to the saddle strap 20 (Fig. 3) by the rivets 23, which may also serve to hold the saddle strap on the saddle. Also shown in Fig. 2 is a leather thong 27 for supporting a roll of tape, a tool ring 28, and a bucket or bag snap hook 29.

For purposes of supporting such tools as a pair of pliers, a rule, a wrench, a screwdriver and similar items, the illustrative safety belt is equipped with a linemans holster 31 (Fig. 2)' having various tool receiving pockets 32-34. In the particular holster shown, twin front pockets 32 and 33 are provided for receiving pliers and a rule for example, while a side pocket 34 is adapted to receive a screwdriver. Additionally, a snap hook 35 is fixed on the outer surface of one or both of the pockets 32, 33 for receiving a wrench, knife or other tool. The holster 31 is suspended from the saddle by means of rivets or otherwise secured in place between two tongues 33 (Fig. 2) depending from the saddle 15 and the looped saddle ends 1S (Fig. 5).

Provision is made for increasing the support afforded to the wearer by the improved safety belt 10 and in particular for supporting the wearers back as well as for preventing the wearer from slipping out of the safety belt when working with his body away from the pole on which he has climbed. This is accomplished by a back strap 40 secured at its lower portion to the inner surface of the saddle 15. This back strap 40 extends upwardly to form a broad, wide, back supporting belt which, when the safety belt is buckled on the wearer, supports the wearer above his hips and in the small of his back. To ensure adequate support for the wearers back for preventing' fatigue and strain and for increasing the comfort of the wearer', the width of the back strap 4() is desirably about twice the width of the saddle 15. As one illustrative example of the present invention, an electrical linemans belt is constructed, as shown in the drawings, with a saddle about in length and about 41A" wide at its widest point. A back strap approximately the same length as the saddle and about 9 wide is secured at its lower portion to the back surface of the saddle. The back strap extends above the saddle and in a position for supporting the wearers back.

For the purpose of providing the wearer with a maximum of back support, the back strap 40 is snugly secured to the wearers waist by means of a tongue 41 and buckle 42 extending from the upper portion of the back strap 40. The upper edge portion of the back strap thus defines, along with the tongue and buckle, a belt portion which can be snugly secured around the wearers body above his hips and at, or preferably slightly above, his normal belt line. By securing the back strap 40 snugly around the wearer and leaving the saddle strap 20 loosely fastened, the maximum amount of freedom is afforded to the wearer as he climbs a pole or tree and, when secured to a pole by a safety strap engaged in the safety belt D-rings, as he is Working with the tools he carries.

The wearerlis desirably protected against the possibility of the D-rings 16 and the safety strap hook snap 17 chang against his legs. To this end the back strap 40 is formed with protective tongues 44 extending outwardly from the back strap and underneath or back of the D-rings 16. These tongues 44 prevent the D-rings from contacting the wearers body and absorb the wear caused by chafing of the D-rings 16 and the safety strap snaps 17 as the wearer moves about. The saddle strap 20 is also protected from wear by chafing of the D-rings against its surface. This is accomplished by passing the saddle strap 2@ through vertical slots 45 cut in the ends of the protective tongues 44. The D-rings are thus completely isolated both from the body of the wearer and from the saddle strap. As a further desirable feature, the isolation of the metal D-rings by the protective tongues 44 prevents the D-rings from coming into contact with the body of the wearer to give added protection against electric shock.

To further ensure against electric shock of the wearer and make the illustrative safety belt safe for use by electrical workers, the saddle is sewed to the back strap to cover the rivets which are used to fasten the tool strap 26 and the saddle strap 2t) to the saddle 15. The metal rivets are, by this means, insulated between the saddle 15 and the back strap 40 and are thus prevented from coming into contact with the body of the wearer. The belt is thereby made sufficiently dielectric to recommend its use by linemen working in electrical installations.

For providing increased mobility of the wearer when working in an elevated position and supported by a safety strap 11 engaging a safety belt illustrative of the present invention, the belt desirably permits movement of the wearer relative to the supporting saddle. A safety body belt having this feature is shown in detail in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. ln describing this belt, reference characters similar to those used above will be employed where applicable with the distinguishing sufiix a. Referring to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, there shown is a safety body belt 10a comprising a D-saddle 15a having D-rings 16a fixed to each of its ends and adapted to engage with hook snaps 17 on the ends of a safety strap 11. The D-rings 16a are secured to the saddle 15a substantially as described above.

The saddle 15a is mounted on the body of a wearer by a saddle strap 20a superimposed on the saddle 15a and extending through the D-rings 16a and adjacent the outer surface of the saddle 15a. The saddle strap 20a is provided with a tongue 21a and a buckle 22a which are `fastenable together about the wearer. In order to support the wearers back, a back strap 40a of the type described above is fastened around the wearers waist by means of a tongue 41a and buckle 42a extending from its upper portion. By securing the back strap 40a snugly around the wearer and leaving the saddle strap loosely fastened, the maximum amount of freedom is afforded to the wearer as he climbs a pole or tree, and when secured on the pole by a `safety strap engaged with the safety belt D-rings as he is working with the tools he carries.

Provision is made for relative movement between the saddle 15a and the back strap 40a so that the wearer, having the back strap fastened about his waist, can shift his position with respect to the saddle. This is accomplished by passing the saddle through elongated loops 47 secured to a reinforcing strap 48 which is in turn sewed to the back strap 46a. On the outer surface of the loops 47, there is secured by rivets 23a the saddle strap 20a and a plurality of tool loops 25a formed by a tool strap 26a. The saddle 15a provided with the D-rings at each end passes through the loops 47. As the wearer, having the back strap 40a buckled snugly about his waist, shifts his weight on the saddle 15a, he can slide relative to the saddle which moves in and out of the loops 47. Such a belt is known to those skilled in the art as a full floating belt and, accordingly, permits the wearer around which the back strap is snugly buckled to shift his position in the saddle to enable him to reach the tools in the tool strap and to give the wearer greater freedom of movement as he is working. The saddle is relatively immovable with respect to the pole or tree when it is engaged by the safety strap extending around the pole or tree and as the worker leans back putting his weight on the saddle because of the friction between the pole and the safety strap. To move around the pole, therefore, the wearer must take his weight off the saddle and must slide the safety strap around while shifting his weight and position on the pole. The full floating saddle constructed in accordance with the present invention thus affords a greater range of movement before the wearer must shift the safety strap.

In order to prevent the saddle from slipping too far through the loops 47 and to limit the movement of the wearer on the saddle to a safe degree, the saddle strap 20a passes through the D-rings 16a and is fixed by rivets 49 to the reinforcing strip 48 (Fig. 7). This confines the sliding movement of the saddle to the distance between the rivets 49. So as to ensure that the wearer can insert his tools in the tool loops 25a `behind his back by feell and to prevent the possibility that the tools might be inserted between the saddle strap 20a and the back strap 40a in the space formed by the saddle loops 47, the saddle loops are made sufliciently long so as to extend back of more than one tool loop 25a as shown in Fig. 7. The tools being inserted by the wearer in the tool loops are guided by the elongated saddle loops and the danger of a tool being dropped between the saddle and the saddle strap is prevented.

As described above, tongues 44a projecting from the back strap serve as chang pads in order to prevent the rubbing of the D-rings and the safety snap hooks against the wearer. Similarly, tool holsters, snap hooks, rings and the like can be affixed to the saddle a for carrying desired tools. l'

In order to make the belt with the full floating saddle sufficiently dielectric to recommend its use 'by a lineman working on an electrical installation, the reinforcing strip to which the saddle strap and the saddle loops are riveted is sewed to the back strap 40a. The metal rivets 26a are thus insulated between the reinforcing strap 48 and the back strap 40a and are thus prevented from coming into contact with the body of the wearer.

ln the construction of the safety body belt 10 or 10a described above, the saddle 15,'15a, is desirably formed of tough oak-harness leather, while the saddle strap 20, Ztla and other leather portions, with the exception of the back strap 40, 40a, are formed of harness leather. So as toincrease the comfort of the wearer, the back strap and its belt portions are desirably formed of softer, more comfortable saddle leather. Additionally, the back strap 40, 40a' is perforated with a plurality of holes 5t) which serve as air vents to make the back support more comfortable in a warm climate or in hot weather. The metal D-rings, buckles and snaps are desirably formed of dropforged steel and solid copper rivets are preferably used. To strengthen the "belt construction, the stitching is of the hot wax lock stitch type with linen or nylon thread.

Provision is made for preventing the upper edge 51 of the back strap 40, 40a from biting into the wearer l as he is climbing and when he leans back to work on the pole. This is accomplished by cutting an elongated segment out of the middle part of the upper edge of the back strap to leave a depressed or cut-back edge portion 52. As the back strap 40 and the safety belt 10 are curved around the body of the wearer and the belt portion 41, 42 of the back strap is snugly tightened about his waist, the belt will fit the curve of the wearers back.. The back strap will thus conform to the shape of the wearers back and, because of the slight cut-away portion 52, will not dig into his back and cause his discomfort.

To fasten the belt on himself after it has been loaded with the desired tools and preparatory to climbing a pole to a working position, the wearer first fastens the top tongue 41, 41a and buckle 42, 42a or, in other words, the back strap belt, at or slightly above his trouser belt height and pulls it snug, that is comfortably tight, about his body. The wearer then fastens the saddle strap 20, 2th: loosely around his hips and generally engages only the rst hole in the tongue 21, 21a of the strap with the buckle 22, 22a. It is desirable that the saddle strap should remain loose in order to allow more freedom and afford the greatest comfort in climbing. Should this strap be pulled tight, it will bind against the climbers legs and hinder him as he climbs and in his work.

When the safety belt 10 or 10a is in the proper position, the saddle and the saddle strap carrying the tool loops and hook snaps rides low on the wearers hips, The saddle serves as a seat to support the wearer when the D-rings are secured to the safety strap 11 by the safety snaps 17. The wearer braces himself on the pole in the usual manner by digging the climbing gaffs S4 (Fig. l) strapped on his feet into the pole. Leaning back, he is supported in a comfortable position in the seat formed by the saddle and with his back resting in the back strap as described above, comfortably and without hindrance by his safety belt.

A long-lasting, comfortable, dielectric and convenient safety body belt has thus been described which finds particular but not exclusive use by linemen working on electrical installations. By employing a wide back strap secured to a strong saddle, a comfortable, safe, lay-in or seat-like support is provided for the wearer when working on a pole and supported by a safety strap. Additionally, the back strap serves to hold the saddle in position adjacent the workers thighs. The tool carriers on the safety belt thereby tend to ride low on the wearers hips and are out of the way during climbing but are convenient when a particular tool is needed. The improved safety belt lends extra support to the wearers back for preventing fatigue and strain as well as for enhancing the safety of the wearer by eliminating the danger of his falling out of the safety belt as he works away from the pole high above the ground. Furthermore, the safety body belt is desirably made to be full lloating by passing the saddle through loops secured to the back strap instead of fixing the saddle thereto. This floating construction considerably increases the mobility and thus the comfort of the wearer.

I claim as my invention:

l. A safety body belt for use with a safety strap extending around a pole or the like, said belt comprising, in combination, a saddle, D-rings on each end of said saddle engageable by snap hooks on the safety strap, a body back strap slidably mounted at its lower portions on said saddle, said back strap extending upwardly from said slide mounting for supporting a wearers back and including on its upper portion a tongue and buckle for snugly fastening said back strap about the wearers Waist and for holding the back strapsnugly against the wearers back whereby the wearer is safely and comfortably supported by the safety body belt while being free to move relative to the saddle.

2. A safety body belt for use with a safety strap extending around a pole or the like, said belt comprising, in combination, a, saddle, D-rings on each end of the saddle engageable bysnap hooks on the safety strap, a body back strap for supporting the wearers back and including a tongue and buckle portion for snugly fastening said back strap about the wearers waist for holding the back strap comfortably and snugly against the wearers back, and a pair of elongated loops on the lower portion of said back strap, said saddle extending through said loops for slidably supporting the wearer, whereby the wearer is safely and comfortably supported by the safety body belt and is free to move relative to the saddle.

3. A safety bodybelt for use with a safety strap extending around a pole or the like, said belt comprising, in combination, a-saddle, D-rings on each end of the saddle engageable by snap hooks on the safety strap, a body back strap for supporting the wearers back and including a tongue and buckle portion for snugly fastening said back strap about the wearers waist, holding the back strap comfortably and snugly against the wearers back, a pair of elongated loops on the lower portion of said back strap for slidably receiving said saddle, and a saddle strap ilxed to the outer surfaces of said loops and extending through said D-rings, said saddle strap having a tongue and buckle thereon fastenable together for holding the lower portion of said back strap about the wearers hips, the wearer being comfortably supported by the safety body belt and free to move relative to the saddle.

4. For use with a safety belt, including a saddle having D-rings engageable with a safety strap and a saddle strap for securing the saddle loosely about a wearer, a back strap slidably mounted at its lower portion on the safety belt and extending upward therefrom for supporting the wearers back, said back strap including a belt portion snugly fastenable about the wearers waist and above the saddle strap for holding the back strap comfortably and snugly against the wearers back.

5. In a safety belt-for use with a safety strap extending around a pole for supporting a lineman thereon, the combination comprising a saddle adapted to fit around the rear and side portions of the wearers thighs, a D-ring fixed to each end of said saddle for receiving snap hooks on the ends of the safety strap, a saddle strap superimposed on the outer surface of said saddle for securing said saddle loosely around the wearer, said strap extending through said D-rings to leave the latter free for engaging the safety strap, and a back support strapv slidably mounted at its lower portion on said saddle and having an integral belt portion adjacent its upper edge and adapted to t snugly about the waist of the wearer for supporting the wearer-s back, whereby the wearer is comfortably and safely supported by the safety belt when working and is free to move relative to said saddle.

6. In a safety belt for use with a safety strap extending around a pole for supporting a lineman thereon, the combination comprising a saddle adapted to lit around the rear and side portions of the wearers thighs for supporting the wearer, a D-ring fixed t0 each end of the saddle for receiving snap hooks on the ends of the safety strap, a saddle strap superimposed on the outer surface of said saddle for securing said saddle loosely around the wearer, said strap extending through said D-rings to leave the latter free for engaging the safety strap, and a back support strap slidably mounted at its lower portion on said References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 312,085 Claghorn Feb. 10, 1885 751,240 Alminana Feb. 2, 1904 1,600,027 Welsand Sept. 14, 1926 1,903,081 Wothersdoon Mar. 28, 1933 2,753,100 Montgomery July 2, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 23,720 Great Britain 1903

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