Personnel fall arrest systems generally comprise a cable or cable network linking a personnel harness to a rigid structure such as a building. If a fall occurs, it is desirable to reduce the shock loading produced when the fall is arrested in order to reduce the chance of injury to the falling person and to minimise the forces applied to the elements of the fall arrest system and the rigid building structure.

Further, personnel fall arrest systems generally include elements which should be replaced or inspected after a fall arrest incident has occurred.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a clear, permanent, visual indication that a fall arrest has occurred.

The present invention is intended to provide an omnidirectional shock absorbing support providing a clear visual indication that it has been subject to a high load.

The invention is a shock absorbing support comprising a base, an anchor element and at least three deformable arms each having first and second ends, the first ends of the arms being linked together and to the anchor element and the second end of each arm being attached to the base, the arms being arranged symmetrically about the anchor element.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic figures, in which: Figure 1 shows a shock absorbing support according to the invention; Figure 2 shows an arm element of the shock absorbing support of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 shows a base element of the shock absorbing support of Figure 1.

Referring to the Figures, a shock absorbing support (1) is shown. The support is formed by a pair of base members (2) and a pair of arm elements (3).

The base members (2) are substantially planar strips of type 316 stainless steel, each 60mm wide, 3mm thick and 300mm long. The two base members (2) are secured together at their mid points in a cruciform configuration by a bolt (4).

Each arm element (3) is formed as an"A"frame type arrangement by bending a strip of type 316 stainless steel 50mm wide and 3mm thick to define a symmetrical truncated triangle shape having two planar arm elements (3A), each 300mm in length, a planar attachment region (3B) linking the arms (3A) at first ends thereof and a pair of feet (3C), with one foot (3C) being formed at a second end of each arm (3A). The arm elements (3A), attachment region (3B) and feet (3C) are linked by curved sections. A bolt hole (3D) is provided in the attachment region (3B) and a bolt hole (3E) is provided in each of the feet (3C).

Each of the arm elements (3) is secured to a respective one of the base members (2) by a pair of bolts (5) passing through the bolt holes (3E) in the feet (3C) and through cooperating bolt holes (not shown) in the base member (2). The two arm elements (3) are secured together by a bolt (6) which passes through each of the bolt holes (3D) in their respective attachment regions (3B).

The bolt (5) also secures an anchor element (7) to the two arm elements (3).

In the illustrated example, the anchor element (7) is a D-ring suitable for supporting flexible cables. The D-ring could, of course, be replaced by other suitable anchor elements as required.

Each base member (2) comprises a planar central section (2A) and two planar end sections (2B), the end sections (2B) both being in a common plane parallel to the plane of the central section (2A) and the end sections (2B) being linked to the central section (2A) by kinked portions (2C). A pair of bolt holes (8) for securing the shock absorbing support (1) to a building or similar rigid

support structure are formed in each of the end sections (2B) of each of the base members (2). The kinked portions (2C) of the base members (2) are arranged to be just outside the positions at which the feet (3C) of the arm elements (3) are bolted to the base sections. The depth of the kinked portions (2C) is set so that the end sections (2B) of each base member (2) are displaced by half the thickness of the base member, in the illustrated example 1.5mm, from the centre section (2A).

The base members (2) and the arm elements (3) are arranged so that the base member which overlies the other base member is bolted to the arm element which overlies the other arm element and the two base members are arranged opposite ways up so that the base member which overlies the other base member has its end sections lower than its middle sections while the base member which underlies the other base member has its end sections above the middle section.

This arrangement allows the cruciform shock absorbing support to be formed from two identical arm elements (3) and two identical base members (2) while ensuring that the end portions (2B) of the base members (2) all lie in a single plane for securing to a rigid support structure and that the structure of the shock absorbing support is not pre-stressed or distorted in bolting the members together during assembly.

In use, the shock absorbing support (1) transmits loads from the anchor element (7) to the rigid structure and for low loads acts as a substantially rigid unit. If a load of greater than 3.5kN is applied to the anchor element approximately parallel to the base members the shock absorbing support will distort due to plastic deformation of the arm elements (2). This plastic deformation will start with the curved sections linking the arm (3A), support (3B) and foot (3C) sections of each arm element rolling and will progress to bending of the arm portions (3A) of the arm elements (3) if the loading is sustained.

In practice, it has been found with a loading of 8kN parallel to the base members (2) the shock absorbing support distorts sufficiently to move the anchor element by 170mm sideways.

The distortion of the shock absorbing support absorbs some of the energy applied to the shock absorbing support and so reduces the instantaneous shock loads applied to the rigid support structure and the cable, or other arrangements, attached to the anchor element (7). Such instantaneous shock loads could damage or destroy the rigid support structure or the cable or other arrangement. In particular, in a fall arrest system such shock loading can injure the falling person.

Further, the distortion of the shock absorbing support provides a clear, permanent, visual indication that a high load has been applied to the support.

This would not normally occur with a device incorporating resilient means, eg springs as the energy absorbing means.

In a fall arrest system, a load of 3.5kN or greater will normally only be applied to the system in the event that a fall arrest situation has taken place.

The distortion of the support will act as a visual reminder to users to check and replace elements of the system as required.

The symmetrical arrangement of the arms (3A) ensures that the shock absorbing support has an approximately omnidirectionally constant response to loads. This approximately omnidirectional constant response to loads includes both the threshold level at which distortion and plastic deformation of the shock absorbing support begins and the profile of load against time or load against distortion exhibited by the shock absorbing support if a load above this level is applied.

Instead of an A-frame like arrangement, the arms (3A) could be formed individually or all of the arms could be formed integrally. For example, by cutting or pressing from a sheet. Bolting is of course only one method of assembly and the elements could be secured together by any other convenient means such as welding. Similarly, the inclusion of bolt holes to allow attachment of the shock absorbing support to a rigid support structure is not essential but is convenient.

In order to provide the necessary symmetry of the arms it is necessary that at least three arms are provided.

In the described example, the arms are formed by bent strips having a uniform width and thickness. In order to provide a desired threshold value for deformation to begin and the desired profile of deformation against time, the arms could be given a variable width or thickness or provided with ribs or cutaways or any other strength varying feature.

The arms (3) could also have forms other than planar strips, such as rods.

A threshold for distortion of 3.5kn is often desirable in fall arrest systems but the shock absorbing support can be arranged to have any desired threshold value by suitable dimensioning and shaping and choice of materials.

The materials and dimensions described herein should be regarded as merely illustrative. The shock absorbing support of the invention can be made from a wide range of materials in any desired size suitable for the intended use.