PATENT COOPERATION TREATY APPLICATION

PULLEY SAFETY DEVICE

INVENTORS:

Joyce Terry Carter

ASSIGNEE: 16213 Tampa Street

Brooksville, FL 34604

Citizenship: US

PULLEY SAFETY DEVICE

By: Joyce Terry Carter CROSS- REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001 ] The present PCT patent application claims priority benefit of the U.S. Utility patent application 14/587,511, entitled "PULLEY SAFETY DEVICE", filed on 31-DEC-2014 under 35 USC 111(a). The contents of this related Utility application are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes to the extent that such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith or limiting hereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to safety apparatus for use with sheaves and pulleys which are also referred to as "snatch blocks." More particularly, the present invention relates to a safety apparatus that prevents hands and fingers from entering into an area adjacent to the snatch block. The present invention also relates to a safety apparatus for use with snatch blocks that have a pair of housings that are pivotally mounted through which a line is threaded.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Snatch blocks are used in a wide variety of industries and applications. Sometimes, snatch blocks are suspended from an overhead position to facilitate the ability to lift an object from one location to another. Other times, operators position snatch blocks in a horizontal orientation relative to the floor to position an object on the floor. Operators use snatch blocks by pulling on the line that is threaded through the snatch block housings. The use of the pulleys and sheaves facilitates the ability, by way of mechanical advantage, to direct an object to another location. Typically, operators will wear gloves while manipulating the line that extends over the pulley.

[0004] If an operator's hand gets too close to the actual pulley, his or her glove may get caught between the line and the pulley. If this happens, the operator's hand or fingers are drawing into the pulley resulting in serious injuries like finger severing or impalement. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a safety apparatus to prevent injuries of this type.

[0005] As used herein, the term "sheave" can refer to a block, a pulley snatch block or combinations thereof. The terms "pulley" and "sheave" and "snatch block" are used interchangeably herein. Additionally, the term "line" can refer to ropes, wire ropes, cords, cables and belts. [0006] The operation of sheaves and pulleys can cause the line to extend at various angles. Depending on the circumstances, the angle created between the pulley, the operator and the object being manipulated varies greatly; accordingly, to be effective, any safety apparatus would have to be adaptable to the various orientations of line that are required in the particular applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention is a safety apparatus that comprises a sheave having a surface extending circumferentially there around. The sheave resides in, and is supported by, a housing. The sheave has an axis of rotation and rotates within the housing. An axle extends through this axis of rotation of the sheave.

[0008] A line extends over the surface of the sheave. This line has a first portion extending through an interior of the housing through a first opening at a first side and outwardly through the housing through a second opening at a second side. The first and second openings are sized sufficiently to let the line pass there through.

[0009] At least one blocking member is suspended from the housing. Preferably the blocking member is adjustably suspended, as by a rope or chain, such that the distance of the blocking member from the housing can be changed.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the blocking member is substantially spherical. An aperture, or bore, extends through the center of the blocking member. The aperture, or bore, is sized sufficiently to let the line pass there through. The blocking member has a diameter greater than that of the first or second opening in the housing.

[001 1 ] In another embodiment, the blocking is not spherical. The shape of the blocking member need only be such that it can engage the housing while letting the line to continue to pass there through while simultaneously preventing the hand of a user from contacting the sheave and/or the housing.

[0012] In this manner, the invention prevents the hand a user from becoming trapped between the line and the sheave. Additionally, the invention prevents the hand a user from becoming trapped between the line and the housing in which the sheave may rotate.

[0013] This foregoing section is intended to describe, with particularity, preferred embodiments of the present invention. It is understood that variations in these preferred embodiments can be made within the scope of the present invention. As such, this section should not to be construed, in any way, as limiting of the scope of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a front view of an illustrative embodiment of the invention wherein the blocking member is disengaged from the pulley/sheave;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a front view of an illustrative embodiment of the invention wherein the blocking member is engaged with the pulley/sheave;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of the invention wherein the blocking member is engaged with the pulley/sheave; and

[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the blocking member of an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and within which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0019] Referring now to the figures, there is shown the safety apparatus in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The safety apparatus 10 is operative in conjunction with a sheave 20 supported by a housing 22 which defines an opening 26 (see FIG. 3). As can be seen in FIG. 1, sheave 20 is rotatable about an axis of rotation defined by axel 24. Line 30 extends through opening 24 of the housing 22 and over and around the upper surface of sheave 20. Line 30 is illustrated as having a first end (30a) which is manipulated by a user and a second end (30b) which is usually attached to a load under normal operation. As used herein, the term "line" (30) can include a variety of structures such as rope, wire rope, cords, cables, belts, and the like.

[0020] Attached to first end 30a of line 30 is a blocking member 40 of safety device 10. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, blocking member 40 has a substantially spherical body. A central aperture 42 or bore extends through the spherical body and receives first end 30a of line 30.

The spherical body can be of a unitary construction wherein first end 30a of line 30 is fed through the central aperture 42 which is formed by boring through one axis of the spherical body. In another embodiment, the blocking member is constructed of two halves which are connected to form the spherical body with the first end 30a of line 30 within central aperture 42. The halves of the spherical body can be secured together by pins (46), hinges or other fasteners that can be inserted or removed to allow a user to attach and remove the safety device to a line that is attached to a load at the second end.

[0021 ] In one embodiment, the central aperture 42 of blocking member 40 is sized to allow first end 30a of line 30 to pass there through with minimal engagement. In this embodiment, the position of blocking member 40 remains relatively stable as line 30 passes over sheave 20 in either direction. It is preferable in this embodiment to secure blocking member 40 to sheave 20 through a tether (41) secured to the blocking member 40 at one end (for example to the pins 46 as shown in FIGS. 1-3) and to housing 22 at the other end.

[0022] In an alternate embodiment, the central aperture 42 of blocking member 40 is sized to secure first end 30a of line 30 therein such that blocking member 40 travels with the movement of first end 30a of line 30.

[0023] In normal use, a pulling force can be applied to either the first portion 30a or the second portion 30b of the line 30. The pulling force that is applied to one of the portions 30a and 30b of the line 30 will cause the other portion to be drawn inwardly over and around the sheave 20 located within the housing 22. If the user is guiding the first portion 30a when a pulling force is applied to the second end 30b, the entry of the user's hands into the areas at the sheave 20 is prevented by the engagement of the blocking member 40 with sheave 20 or housing 22 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) As such, any injury to the hand of the user is effectively prevented.

[0024] It will be seen that the advantages set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

[0025] It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.