TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to an arrester device and a system for monitoring thereof and particularly, although not exclusively, to an arrester device arranged for use in a safety harness system.

BACKGROUND

Operators that work or perform recreational activities at elevated locations may be at risk of falling from these elevated locations and thus being put at risk of injury or death.

Accordingly, in order to reduce risk or for compliance with legal requirements, safety systems specifically made to cater for these activities have been devised.

Examples may include, for example a safety system which includes a harness and ways in which the harness may be secured at a particular location. Operators, such as rock climbers, window washers or construction workers may all have a safety harness which is worn around the body and supported by a safety rope or line. With these safety harness systems, workers or sports person who operate at these elevated positions can continue to operate safely in the event of an accident or fall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an arrester device comprising: a line receiving slot arranged to receive a support line, the slot having a releasable engagement means arranged to releasably lock the support line within the slot; and a first sensor module arranged to detect the presence of the support line in the slot.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the arrester device further comprises a second sensor module arranged to monitor the position of the engagement means.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the first sensor module is arranged to

communicate with an alert module arranged to communicate one or more statuses of the first sensor module. In one embodiment of the first aspect, the alert module is further arranged to communicate with the second sensor module so as to communicate one or more status of the second sensor module. In one embodiment of the first aspect, the alert module is arranged to communicate the one or more statuses of the first sensor module or one or more statuses of the second sensor module with a remote monitoring device.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the alert module includes a RFID device arranged to communicate with an RFID reader.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the RFID device is arranged to communicate with a computing device. In one embodiment of the first aspect, the RFID device is arranged to communicate with the computing device by communicating with the RFID reader arranged to communicate with the computing device over a wireless communication network.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the arrester device is arranged to connect with a user engaging means arranged to engage to a user harness.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, the user engaging means include a third sensor module arranged to monitor the user engaging means in being engaged with the user harness. In one embodiment of the first aspect, the third sensor module is arranged to

communicate with a second alert module.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a user engagement means comprising: an engagement portion arranged to be connected with an arrester device of one embodiment of the first aspect; and a hook member arranged to engage with a user harness.

In one embodiment of the second aspect, the user engagement means further includes a sensor module arranged to monitor the hook member in engaging with the user harness.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for monitoring safety apparatuses comprising: a gateway arranged to communicate with one or more sensors of the safety apparatuses; comparing one or more status retrieved from the one or more sensors with one or more predetermined alarm conditions; and whereupon the one or more statuses satisfies the one or more predetermined alarm conditions, trigger an alert.

In one embodiment of the third aspect, the safety apparatuses include an arrest device of one embodiment of the first aspect.

In one embodiment of the third aspect, the safety apparatuses further includes an user engagement means of one embodiment of the second aspect. In one embodiment of the third aspect, the system for monitoring safety apparatuses further comprises an user interface for a user to interact with the safety apparatuses.

In one embodiment of the third aspect, the user interface is arranged to allow a user to issue instruction to the safety apparatuses for processing.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for monitoring safety apparatuses comprising the steps of:

- communicating with one or more sensors of the safety apparatuses;

- comparing one or more status retrieved from the one or more sensors with one or more predetermined alarm conditions; and, whereupon the one or more statuses satisfies the one or more predetermined alarm conditions, trigger an alert.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an example of a safety harness system which is arranged to assist people working in elevated positions in a construction site;

Figure 2 is a picture of an arrester device connected with a lanyard and a user engagement means in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the arrester device of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an exposed view of the arrester device of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a user engagement means in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system for monitoring safety apparatuses of the present invention; and

Figure 7 is a block diagram illustrating the data communication between a reader network and a user interface in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated an example of a safety harness system arranged to assist people working or operating in elevated positions. In this example, the safety harness system 100 is arranged to prevent a user from getting injured or killed by securing or supporting a user in or near their elevated position so as to prevent the user from falling from the elevated position in which they are working or otherwise operating.

In this example, the safety harness system 100 may be used on a construction site to protect workers. Preferably, the safety system 100 includes a line 102, which may be formed from a rope or a cable which is arranged to support the user. The line may be referred to as a support line or lifeline that is arranged to provide a support channel so as to support a user in the event of a fall.

As shown in this example, the support line 102 is firstly engaged to a beam 104 or other forms of stable elevated surface near or above the elevated position in which the user may be operating. The support line 102 may be tied to a support frame or beam 104 which may be part of a building frame or an anchor portion disposed near the user. As shown, the support line 102 may then dropped or otherwise lead to a lower position below the elevated position and thus providing a conduit in which the user may use to travel vertically from the elevated position to a lower position by moving in a controlled manner whilst being engaged to the support line. At the base of the support line may be an engagement member 106 or weight which would engage the support line in a position so that the support line would not sway and vary from its intended position. A user who may use the support line 102 as part of a safety system may wear a harness

108 arranged to support the user. The harness 108 may in turn be connected to an arrester device 110 which is arranged to receive the support line 102. When needed, the arrester device 110 may removably engage with the support line 102 so that a user using the safety system 100 can be supported by the support line 102 through the arrester device 110 being engaged to the support line 102.

Preferably, the arrester device 110 is connected to the user's harness 108 through a snap hook arrangement 112 which is connected to the arrester device 110 at one end whilst being connected to the harness 108 at the other end. During operation, a user may operate a switch so as to free the arrester device 110 from being engaged to the support line 102 so as to allow the arrester device 110 and hence the user to move about the support line 102. Preferably, the switch may be reactived so that the arrester device 110 can arrest the harness 108 to the support line 102 so as to prevent falls.

As shown in this example, a lanyard 114 is used to connect the snap hook member 112 with the arrester device 110. Preferably, the lanyard 114 may include an energy dissipating arrangement 116 arranged to absorb the energy or shock produced when the end of the lanyard 114 is reached. This is advantageous in that during operation, the energy dissipating arrangement 116 regulates the deceleration of the fall of the user. As a result, the user will travel the length of the lanyard 114 before the fall is arrested and part of the energy is transferred to avoid direct damage to the user as the shock of a sudden deceleration may injury a user.

In one embodiment, a releasable engagement mechanism of the arrester device 110 arranged to engage and disengage from the support line 102 can be of a dead man' s switch arrangement. This would mean the engagement between the support line 102 and the arrester device 110 can only be released when the user keep holding the switch and is in turn advantageous in that a user would only disengage the arrester device from the support line

102 if it was desirable to do so. Otherwise, the position is fixed no matter how the user acts. In case of falling, the switch helps to fix the position of the user, and prevent further falling caused by the gravitational force. With reference to Figure 2-4, there is illustrated an embodiment of an arrester device

200 comprising: a line receiving slot 202 arranged to receive a support line 204, the slot 202 having a releasable engagement means 206 arranged to releasably lock the support line 204 within the slot 202; and a first sensor module 208 arranged to detect the presence of the support line 204 in the slot 202.

In this embodiment, the arrester device 200 is arranged to receive and removably engage to a line, such as a life line or support line 102 as shown in Figure 1. Preferably, the arrester device 200 includes a housing 210 having a tubular structure that has two openings so as to operate as a line receiving slot 202 arranged to receive the support line 204 within the slot 202. As shown, the slot 202 can be arranged in circular or tubular configuration so as to

substantially receive the support line 204 within the slot 202, much like a chamber, although as a person skilled in the art would appreciate, the slot 202 can also be of a non-circular or cylinder configuration.

When the slot 202 holds the support line 204 therein, the arrester device 200 is able to move along the support line 204 by effectively using the support line 204 as a rail. The slot 202 may also be arranged to include a releasable engagement mechanism 206 to releasably lock the support line 204 within the slot 202. In one example, the releasable engagement mechanism 206 can be a mechanical engagement means or electromagnetic engagement means which fixes the position of the arrester device 200 on the support line 204 by locking or otherwise resisting the movement of the support line 204 within the slot 202. Preferably, the releasable engagement mechanism 206 includes a dead man's switch arrangement such that the mechanism only unlocks the engagement when the user operates the switch. This is advantageous in that it can prevent further falling if the user forgets to lock the engagement or if the user does not intentionally wish to release the engagement mechanism.

As shown in Figure 2, the arrester device 200 may be further connected to a harness worn by a user through a lanyard 210 to a hook device 212 arranged to engage with the user's harness. In this example, the arrester device 200 has a protruding arm 214 which has a load bearing ring 216 extending out from the arrester device 200. This allows the lanyard 210 to be inserted therein so as to engage with the arrester device 200 with its other end being connected to the hook device 212 so as to engage the arrester device 200 to the user's harness.

Preferably, the lanyard 210 is adjustable in length and may also be arranged to allow energy absorption during a fall arrest process. In this manner, the lanyard 210 itself may be made from a controlled resilient material which allows it to stretch much like an elastic band, to a controlled length. In other embodiments, the lanyard 210 is not elastic, rather, an energy dissipating mechanism can be attached anywhere between the user's harness and the arrester device to provide the same function.

In this example embodiment, the hook device 212 arranged to engage with a user's harness is made from a load bearing material, such as steel and includes a snap hook arrangement whereby the hook 212 has a locking arm 218 arranged to open inwardly so that the harness can be fitted and engaged therein whilst the locking arm 218 would return to position so as to lock the harness within the snap hook 212. With reference to Figures 3 and 4, the arrester device 200 includes a first sensor module 208 arranged to detect the presence of a support line 204 in the slot 202. In this embodiment, the first sensor module 208 may be disposed on or within the housing 210 of the arrester device 200. Preferably, the first sensor module 208 is positioned proximate or adjacent to the slot 202 so as to allow the sensor to detect whether the support line 204 is present in the slot 202. The first sensor module 208 may be an optical sensor, an electro-magnetic sensor or other types of sensors that can detect the presence of the support line 204 in the slot 202. Particularly, the sensor module 208 may be able to provide at least two different statuses of the slot 202, that is the support line 204 is present or absent in the slot 202.

In this embodiment, the arrester device 200 also includes a second sensor module 220 which may also be arranged on the arrester device 200 to monitor the position of the releasable engagement means 206 as to determine whether the releasable engagement means 206 is in a position to restrict the movement of the support line 204 within the slot 202. The second sensor module 220 may be disposed anywhere on the arrester device 200.

In the present embodiment, the second sensor module 220 is positioned near or adjacent to the releasable engagement means 206 so as to detect the position of the releasable engagement means. The second sensor module 220 may be an optical sensor, an electromagnetic senor or other possible sensors that can detect the change of position of the releasable engagement means 206. Particularly, the second sensor module 220 may provide at least two different statuses when it senses the change of the position of the engagement means 206, that is whether the engagement between the support line 204 and the engagement means 206 is engaged so that the arrester device 200 is locked onto the support line 204, or the engagement means 206 is disengaged, and thus allowing the arrester device 200 to travel along the support line 204. This is advantageous in that any abnormal engagement can be sensed by the second sensor module 220.

As shown in Figure 4, the arrester device 200 includes an alert module 400 arranged on or within the housing of the arrester device 200 to communicate with the sensors (208, 220). In one example the alert module 400 would simply provide an alert or alarm to a user so as to alert the user of the statuses of the sensors, although in a preferred embodiment, the arrester device 200 would be further arranged to transmit the statuses of each of the sensors to a user monitoring system or an external monitoring system either directly, or through a reader or gateway arranged to communicate with the user monitoring system or the external monitoring system. In this embodiment, the alert module 400 includes an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, which actively makes use of radio-frequency electromagnetic field to receive or transfer data to a reader for further processing. The RFID tag may comprise at least an integrated circuit and an antenna (not shown) for receiving and transmitting signal, processing information, and other functions as well as a power source such as a battery module or the like. The active RFID tag may communicate with the first and second sensor modules 208, 220, for obtaining information, and transmitting signals to a remote monitoring system 600 in order to report the status of the arrester device or user engagement means or giving alert to the user as well as to supply power directly to the sensors. Preferably, the active RFID tag 400 can also communicate with a controller or computing device so as to report its statuses, whilst also being arranged to process instructions which may be sent from a controller or computing device so as to query the connected sensors, or trigger an audio or visual, or any other forms of alarms alerts such that a user proximate to the active RFID tag will be alerted to an issue.

In one some examples, in the event that a support line 204 is absent from the slot 202, the first sensor module 208 will detect this event and communicate a support line absent status with the alert module' s RFID circuit. The RFID circuit may then send a signal to the remote monitoring system 600 arranged to analyse, process or report the signal or raise an alert to an administrator if necessary. This is advantageous in that the arrangement provides a real-time monitoring of the device and the safety status of the user to an administrator or other monitoring user, such as a building site manager or foreman who may not be able to visually inspect the arrester device of every single user on a building site.

With reference to Figure 5, there is shown a user engagement means in the form of a hook member 500 arranged to be connected to the arrester device 200 via a lanyard 502 or other connection means whilst using the hook member 500 to removably engage with a user' s harness such that the user' s harness can be connected to the arrester device 200. In this embodiment, the hook member 500 includes a third sensor module 504 (which may be placed on the user engagement means 500) so as to monitor the engagement status between the user engagement means 500 or the hook member and user' s body harness. The third sensor module 504 may be an optical sensor, electromagnetic sensor or the like positioned on the hook member 500 so as to detect whether the hook member 500 is connected with the body harness. The sensor 504 may also be arranged to provide at least two statuses regarding the engagement status of whether the harness is engaged or not. Similar to the first and second sensor module 208,220 described previously, the third sensor module 504 is arranged to communicate its statuses with an alert module 506 , either a separate alert module or the alert module on the arrester device. Preferably, the second alert module 506 can be disposed near the hook member 500 for information processing. In this embodiment, the second alert module 506 may also be another active RFID tag similar to the alert module of the arrester device 200 described above. The second alert module 506 receives information from the third sensor module 504 and transmit signal to the remote monitoring system 600. When an abnormal situation is observed, such as the user detaches the hook member 500 from the body harness at an elevated position or if the hook member 500 is accidently released from the body harness, the remote monitoring system 600 will receive the signal from the second alert module 506 and raise alert or warning if necessary. This is advantageous to ensure the user is properly attached to the arrester device, and acts an extra security measure for the safety harness system.

In operation, when the arrester device is removed from the support line, or the hook member is removed from the body harness, the alert modules will notice the change and will in turn send signals to a remote monitoring system via a reader network for analysis. After analysing the signal, the monitoring system may generate alert message to the user or administrator if necessary. This is advantageous to provide a real-time monitoring and position of the detection. It also facilitates further rescue or ensure all the workers follow the safety measures.

With reference to Figure 6, there is shown an embodiment of a system 600 for monitoring a safety apparatus comprising: a gateway arranged to communicate with one or more sensors arranged to monitor one or more statues of one or more safety apparatuses; comparing the one or more status of the one or more safety apparatuses with one or more predetermined alarm conditions; and, whereupon the one or more statuses satisfies the one or more predetermined alarm conditions, trigger an alert.

In this embodiment, the system 600 for monitoring a safety apparatus includes a communication network which allows communication to take place between the alert modules described with reference to Figures 2 to 5 and a centralised computing device. In order to facilitate this communication network, readers 602 or scanners of the alert modules are distributed throughout a site whereby the safety apparatuses having one or more of the alert modules are in operation. The readers 602 are arranged to communicate with each of the alert modules of each arrester device or user engagement means.

As shown in this embodiment, the readers 602 are further arranged to communicate over a Local Area Network or any other communication network 604 by use of wired or wireless communication arrangements such as WiFi so that portable computing devices 606, such as a laptop computer, smart phone or tablet computers that can receive signals from the communication network or transmit signals to the alert modules of each arrester device or user engagement means. Alternatively, a network switch 608 may also allow communication between the readers 602 with a central or remote server system 610 which can be used to monitor the statuses of each alert module on each arrester device or user engagement means in use.

With reference to Figure 7, there is shown a block diagram which illustrates the data exchanged between a reader 602 arranged to communicate with each alert module 400, 506 of an arrester device 200 or user engagement means 500 and a user interface (UI) device 702 such as a smart phone, laptop computer, tablet or a remotely located computer. As shown in this embodiment, a UI device 702 can issue control messages or commands 704 through a user messaging coordinator system 706 which can be implemented as computer software on a UI device to transmit the message or commands 704 to a particular arrester device 200 or user engagement means 500. The user messaging coordinator system 706, in turn, is arranged to transmit these user messages or commands 704 to a reader coordinator arrangement 708 that is arranged to decide which of the various alert modules 400, 506 the user or message command 704 is to be issued to. In one example, the message or command 704 may be directed to a particular alert module 400, 506 of a particularly arrester device 200 or user engagement means 500 selected by a user, or the messages or commands 704 may be broadcast to a plurality of alert modules of a plurality of arrester devices 200 or user engagement means 500.

Once one or more alert modules 400, 506 belonging to one or more arrester devices 200 or user engagement means 500 are selected, the commands 704 can then be sent to the reader network for transmission to each of the corresponding alert modules. These transmissions may be a query from the UI device 702 for obtaining a status of a particular sensor of an arrester device 200 or user engagement means 500, or it may be a reminder or alert which can activate an audio or visual alarm on the alert module for alerting the user.

Similarly, when one or more alert modules 400, 506 transmits information relating to one or more sensors it is in communication with, each reader 602 in turn will receive the information transmitted and in turn send this information back to the user messaging coordinator system 706. In this embodiment, the reader coordinator arrangement 708 will identify which of the relevant alert modules 400, 506 have sent the transmission such that the information sent can be identified and referenced to a particular arrester device 200 or user engagement means 500. In turn, this information is then sent back to the UI device 702 for analysis, storage or further processing by a user on the UI device 702. In one exemplary example, the arrester device, and the system thereof described above may be used, as an example, in a building construction site to monitor the progress and safety of the construction site. In this example, a site manager may be employed to inspect the entire site and also to monitor a plurality of workers who work at elevated positions. For safety purposes, a plurality of workers who work at elevated positions may be required to wear their harnesses properly and to ensure their harnesses are engaged with the user engagement means for proper connection with the arrester device. In turn, their arrester device must also be safely engaged with a support line. Accordingly, the workers are thus prevented from falling during their work.

In this example, the site may be provided with a WiFi or LAN network which allows a computing device accessed by the site manager to monitor the safety of the workers through this computing device. This computing device may be a smart phone that has suitable software to operate a remote safety monitoring system arranged to monitor the sensors in use on each arrester device and user engagement means. Real-time statues of each sensor modules of each of the arrester devices or user engagement devices may also be provided to a smart phone and thus can be readily accessed by the site manager as the site manager travels around the site, or in some embodiments off the site. The site manager can also use their portable smart phones or other computing devices to check whether the workers' harnesses are engaged properly with their user engagement means as well as also whether the arrester devices are in good connection with the support line. The site manager can also specifically check the engagement status of the devices of individual workers through sending query commands through the monitoring system on the computing device. In these examples, the monitoring system will communicate with readers of the network to obtain status from the corresponding alert modules of the individual worker. The information received will be processed and analysed, and further presented to the site manager. In the event that an arrester device is disengaged from the support line or an user engagement means is disengaged from the harness, the alert modules operating with the arrester device or the user engagement means will communicate with the remote monitoring system via the network to inform the statues of each of these arrester devices or user engagement means. In one embodiment, the system will analyse the information and identify the corresponding arrester device, user engagement means or the worker of the event. An audio, physical or visual alert will then be generated to a smart phone or other user interface device, to remind or alert the site manager to inspect or alert the corresponding worker that his/her arrester device or user engagement means is disengaged. The site manager may alert the worker by activating the corresponding alert modules through the smart phone to activate the monitoring system to provide audio or visual reminder or alert to the worker. Accordingly, the worker will then be alerted to check the corresponding devices or reengage the devices to prevent accidents. This is advantageous in that the arrester device and the monitoring system thereof provide a real-time monitoring approach for the site manager to monitor the entire construction site and be notified once there is abnormality occurs. With the prompt alert to the workers when an improper disengagement occurs, the safety of the workers can thus be greatly enhanced. Although not required, the embodiments described with reference to the Figures 6 and 7 can be implemented as an application programming interface (API) or as a series of libraries for use by a developer or can be included within another software application, such as a terminal or personal computer operating system or a portable computing device operating system. Generally, as program modules include routines, programs, objects, components and data files assisting in the performance of particular functions, the skilled person will understand that the functionality of the software application may be distributed across a number of routines, objects or components to achieve the same functionality desired herein.

It will also be appreciated that where the methods and systems of the present invention are either wholly implemented by computing system or partly implemented by computing systems then any appropriate computing system architecture may be utilised. This will include stand alone computers, network computers and dedicated hardware devices. Where the terms "computing system" and "computing device" are used, these terms are intended to cover any appropriate arrangement of computer hardware capable of implementing the function described.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.