US Patent Issued to 3M Innovative Properties on July 21 for "Energy-absorbing unit for self-retracting lifeline" (Minnesota Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 21 -- United States Patent no. 12,685,884, issued on July 21, was assigned to 3M Innovative Properties Co. (St. Paul, Minn.).

"Energy-absorbing unit for self-retracting lifeline" was invented by Christopher W. Coyle (Eagan, Minn.) and Michael N. Milbright (Red Wing, Minn.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An energy-absorbing unit with a first end bearing a modular connector that is disconnectably connectable to a complementary modular connector of a cable of a self-retracting lifeline, and with a second end bearing a fastener that is fastenable to a dorsal connection point of a fall-protection harness. Uses of such units in combination with self-retracting lifelines and fal...