US2152049A - Safety device for linemen - Google Patents

Description

March 28,1939. C. D. HEDRICK l2,152,049

I SAFETY DEVICE FOR LINEMEN Filed Dc. 15, 1937 NN MN.

Patented Mar. 28, 1939 y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY DEVICE FOR LINEMEN Carl D. Hedrick, Miami, Fla. Application December 15, l1937, Serial No. 180,022

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a safety device for linernen and has particular reference to an attachment for the belt customarily worn by linemen while working on telephone and telegraph poles.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a device of this kind which will definitely prevent linemen from falling from the pole upon which they may be working in case their leg hooks kick out or break loose from the pole.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means in a device of this kind whereby in the event of the leg irons coming loose as aforesaid, the linemen will be held dei'lnitely to thepole and will fall but a harmless short distance and will not slide down the pole in close proximity therewith as is the case Where the linemans belt alone is utilized.

The belt itself as now used keeps the lineman in close contact with the pole in the event of his leg hooks coming loose from the pole and such action on the part of his life belt often. causes more actual danger to the lineman than the fall itself, due to the fact that his skin is abraded and his body, face and head are caused to become embedded with splinters from the pole. Further danger in such cases is caused by the lineman coming into violent contact with iron steps and the like which are commonly used upon such poles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which will be simple in construction, of easy attachment to the regulation belt and of inexpensive manufacture.

A further object of the inventiony is the provision of a device of this kind which will not bind upon the pole or interfere with the linemans work in any way and one which will enable the lineman to move around the pole and for a short but practicable and ordinarily suilicient distance in either an upward or downward direction without disconnecting the device from the pole.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational View, partly broken away, of the invention shown in operative position upon a pole,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3 3 of Figure 1,V

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device. and

Figure 5 is an edge view of Figure 4.

Referring more particularly tothe drawing, there is shown therein attached to a life belt I of standard construction the invention of the applicant generally designated at- II. It will be seen that the device consists of a strap I2 and a square link I3 at one end through which the standard belt I0 is adapted to pass. The link I3 is provided with a roller bearing I4 which in use bears against the standard belt III.

It will be seen that the strap I2 passes through the link I3 and is folded back upon itself as indicated at I and is securely riveted as shown at I6 all along its length. The inner portion I'I of the strap is slightly narrower than the main or outer portion I2 and extends beyond the other extremity of the main portion as indicated at I8, thence through a square link member I9 and back through a buckle 20 fastened between the portions I1 and I2 of the device and thence through a guide link 2l also mounted between the outer and inner portions of the device.

The outer end of the link I9 carries a. harness snap 22 which is adapted to engage link members 23 which are mounted in spaced relation between the outer and inner portions of the device and held in place by means of rivets 24. The strap I 8 is adjustable with relation to the buckle by means of the holes 25.

In operation, the standard belt I0 is used in the ordinary manner, that is by fastening it by means of harness buckles to the regulation belt (not shown) worn by linemen, after it is passed about a pole 21, the 1ink`|3 having previously been passed over the standard belt I0. The lineman thereupon takes the free end of the present device and places it around the pole and connects the harness buckle 22 with one of the link members 23 in as taut relation with the pole as possible. For minor adjustments the lineman may utilize the holes 25 with the buckle 20 in the ordinary manner. It will be seen that the device as now mounted upon the pole will aiord absolute assurance that the lineman, in the event his leg hooks become disengaged from the pole, may only fall a Very short and harmless distance due to the fact that this device provides a secure grip upon the pole and interconnects the regulation belt I 0 by means of the link I3.

The buckle 22 at the end of the safety device may be attached to the conventional ring (not shown) carried by the body belt and thus the safety device will be carried by the lineman in the same manner as the standard safety belt I0 when it is not in use. In practice, it will take about one-half of the time necessary to connect the standard belt to connect the safety device to the pole and it will thus be seen that little time will be lost in the use of this additional safety precaution.

While but one form of the invention is shown, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various minor modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety attachment for a standard linemans belt comprising a strap having adjustable means for frictionally engaging a pole, said means comprising spaced links carried by the strap and a harness buckle mounted at one end of the strap for selective engagement with the links and means for loosely connecting the strap to the belt, said means comprising a link carried at the other end of the strap and adapted to allow free passage of the belt therethrough.

2. A safety attachment for a standard linemans belt comprising a strap having broadly and minutely adjustable means for frictionally en gaging a pole, said broadly adjustable means comprising spaced links carried by the strap and a harness snap mounted at one end of the strap for selective engagement with the links and said minutely adjustable means comprising a buckle carried by that portion of the strap carrying the harness strap and an extended portion of the strap having a series of holes therein for selective engagement with the buckle and means for loosely connecting the strap to the belt, said means comprising a link carried at the other end of the strap and adapted to allow free passage of the belt therethrough.

CARL D. HEDRICK.

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