Device to save loads of worry
27th October 1988, Page 56
27th October 1988
Page 56
Page 56, 27th October 1988
— Device to save loads of worry
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Keywords :
Safety Equipment, Climbing Equipment, Textiles, Webbing, Seat Belt, Belt, Safety Harness, Toshiba, Technology / Internet
• An overload indicator has won its inventor a place in the semi-finals of the national Toshiba Year of Invention competition. He is Cambridge lecturer Dr Ian Hutchings, of St John's College, whose device measures and identifies dangerous weaknesses and points of stress in safety belts, ropes and webbing.
The device has a small strip of plastic which can be placed on safety harnesses and similar items. "When the load on these extends beyond a predetermined safety level, it is immediately obvious by the strip changing colour from black to white and word 'overload' appearing," he says.
Nearly 4,000 people entered the Toshiba contest, which is administered by The Design Council, and prizes are valued in excess of £100,000.