Breakaway gripper-style lanyard connector

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a breakaway connector for use in a breakaway lanyard comprising a pair of releasably engageable breakaway members wherein the breakaway members are manually removably attached to the ends of a strap that forms the lanyard. The breakaway members each preferably comprise a base body and a hinged closure element hingedly attached to the base body so as to accept the end of the strap when in an open position and to grip the end of the strap when in a closed position, preferably by means of projections extending from the hinged closure element and the base body compressing and engaging the strap. According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a breakaway lanyard comprising a strap and a breakaway connector comprising a pair of releasably engageable breakaway members wherein the breakaway members are manually removably attached to the ends of the strap.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A breakaway connector for use in a breakaway lanyard comprising a pair of releasably engageable breakaway members, wherein the breakaway members are manually removably attachable to ends of a strap.  
     
     
         2 . The breakaway connector of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pair of breakaway members further comprises a base body and a hinged closure element hingedly attached to the base body so as to accept an end of a strap when in an open position and to grip the end of the strap when in a closed position.  
     
     
         3 . The breakaway connector of  claim 2 , wherein either one or both of the hinged closure element and the base body further comprises projections.  
     
     
         4 . The breakaway connector of  claim 3 , wherein both the base body and the hinged closure element further comprise projections.  
     
     
         5 . The breakaway connector of  claim 2 , wherein the hinged closure element reversibly moves between an open position and a closed position.  
     
     
         6 . The breakaway connector of  claim 3 , wherein the base body further comprises a recess of sufficient width and depth to contain the end of the strap such that the projections compress and engage the strap when the hinged closure element is in the closed position.  
     
     
         7 . The breakaway connector of  claim 3 , wherein the projections comprise sawtooth-shaped teeth.  
     
     
         8 . The breakaway connector of  claim 2 , wherein the pair of breakaway members comprise a male member and an interengaging female member.  
     
     
         9 . The breakaway connector of  claim 8 , wherein the male member comprises a rigid protrusion with at least one side notch and a semicircular end.  
     
     
         10 . The breakaway connector of  claim 8 , wherein the female member comprises a slot in a wall, at least one side of which includes a detent.  
     
     
         11 . The breakaway connector of  claim 2  wherein the hinged closure element is held in a closed position by a snap closure.  
     
     
         12 . The breakaway connector of  claim 3 , wherein one of the hinged closure element and the base body comprises projections and the other of the hinged closure element and base body comprises ridges.  
     
     
         13 . The breakaway connector of  claim 3 , wherein one of the hinged closure element and the base body comprises projections and the other of the hinged closure element and base body comprises a compressible inner surface.  
     
     
         14 . A breakaway connector comprising: 
 a male member with a male protrusion;    a female member with a slot capable of accepting and releasably engaging the male protrusion;    wherein the male member and female member each comprise a base body and a hinged closure element hingedly attached to the base body.    
     
     
         15 . The breakaway connector of  claim 13 , wherein each base body further comprises protrusions contained within a recess.  
     
     
         16 . The breakaway connector of  claim 14 , wherein the hinged closure element further comprises projections.  
     
     
         17 . The breakaway connector of  claim 15 , wherein the projections of each of the hinged closure elements and the base bodies project inwardly when the hinged closure element is in a closed position.  
     
     
         18 . A lanyard construction comprising: 
 a strap; and    a breakaway connector comprising a pair of releasably engageable breakaway members, wherein the breakaway members are manually removably attachable to ends of a strap.    
     
     
         19 . The lanyard of  claim 17  wherein at least one of the pair of breakaway members further comprises a base body and a hinged closure element hingedly attached to the base body so as to accept an end of a strap when in an open position and to grip the end of the strap when in a closed position.  
     
     
         20 . The lanyard of  claim 17  wherein the strap is manually cutable.