Importance

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Abstract

A fall protection device for protecting a user from falling while climbing a pole includes a housing dimensioned to fit over a top end of the pole. THe housing comprises a closed end and an opposite open end, through which the top end of the pole is received. In one embodiment, a pivot pin is fixedly connected to and extends upwardly from the closed end of the housing in a substantially vertical direction. A swing arm assembly includes an extended portion connected to a hollowed swing portion having a swing axis and an interior surface. The swing portion is dimensioned to receive the pivot pin and to house at least two bearing assemblies. Each of the bearing assemblies is axially disposed between the pivot pin and the interior surface of the swing portion. In another embodiment, the swing arm assembly includes a cam follower assembly connected to the extended portion. The cam follower assembly includes a support component spaced apart from a suport defined by the closed end of the housing when the swing axis and the pole axis are coincident. The support component engages the support surface when the swing axis becomes angularly diposed with respect to the pole axis. A method is also provided for providing fall protection from a pole using a fall protection device.

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First Claim