Prior art — US Patent 11964175

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 11964175, I will examine each patent cited by the examiner. For each cited patent, I will provide its full citation, publication/filing date, a brief description, and an assessment of which claims of US11964175 it potentially anticipates under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

The claims of US11964175 generally describe a bridge rope assembly for a harness, featuring a main body with an eye loop formed by a splice, where a first portion of the rope is fully buried within a second portion, resulting in the first and second ends being adjacent. A key aspect is the use of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) for the rope material. The assembly also includes a friction hitch with a closed loop, also preferably made of UHMWPE, where its ends are buried a significant percentage of the loop's circumference.

Here is an analysis of the cited prior art:

1. US8061479B2

Full Citation: US8061479B2, "Fall protection system", issued to Harris Jr Rano J on November 22, 2011.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed April 6, 2004; Published November 22, 2011.
Brief Description: This patent describes a fall protection system, specifically a self-contained unit with a retractor, a lanyard, and a connection mechanism, designed to provide fall protection to a worker. It focuses on systems that reduce impact forces during a fall.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is broadly related to fall protection systems but does not appear to anticipate the specific structural features of the bridge rope assembly of US11964175, such as the detailed splicing method (first portion extending through the second portion, first end adjacent to the second end, specific distances), the use of UHMWPE for both the main body and friction hitch, or the particular construction of the friction hitch's closed loop with buried ends. Therefore, it does not appear to directly anticipate any claims under § 102.

2. US20060207828A1

Full Citation: US20060207828A1, "Safety harness", published to D'Acquisto Andrae T on September 21, 2006.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed February 18, 2005; Published September 21, 2006.
Brief Description: This application describes a safety harness designed for hunting, featuring an adjustable tree belt, a chest harness, and a tether connecting them. It aims to provide comfort and flexibility for a hunter in a tree stand.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While this discloses a safety harness for hunting, it does not detail the specific construction of a bridge rope assembly with an eye splice having fully buried rope ends, or the specialized friction hitch, as claimed in US11964175. It focuses on the overall harness structure and adjustability, not the intricate rope splicing techniques or material composition (UHMWPE).

3. US20080000719A1

Full Citation: US20080000719A1, "Suspension relief device and method of use thereof", published to Jones Dennis K on January 3, 2008.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed June 29, 2006; Published January 3, 2008.
Brief Description: This patent application discloses a device and method to relieve suspension trauma after a fall from height, typically used with a safety harness. It describes a strap or loop that a suspended person can stand in to alleviate pressure.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference focuses on a suspension relief device, not the primary bridge rope assembly and friction hitch structure for connecting to a harness as described in US11964175. The splicing techniques and material specifications of US11964175 are not present.

4. US9320925B2

Full Citation: US9320925B2, "Fall arrest system and lanyard", issued to Tech Safety Lines, Inc. on April 26, 2016.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed September 11, 2006; Published April 26, 2016.
Brief Description: This patent describes a fall arrest system including a lanyard with multiple tear-away members for energy absorption during a fall. It aims to reduce the forces experienced by the user.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on the energy absorption mechanism of a lanyard in a fall arrest system. It does not disclose the specific construction of a bridge rope with a fully buried first portion, adjacent ends, or the UHMWPE material as claimed in US11964175.

5. US8292028B2

Full Citation: US8292028B2, "Fall arrest lanyard", issued to Tech Safety Lines, Inc. on October 23, 2012.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed September 11, 2006; Published October 23, 2012.
Brief Description: This patent details a fall arrest lanyard with a tear-away member, similar to US9320925B2, designed to absorb kinetic energy during a fall and limit the impact force on a worker.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US9320925B2, this patent is directed to the energy-absorbing qualities of a lanyard and lacks the specific details of the bridge rope assembly, splicing method, end adjacency, or UHMWPE material of US11964175.

6. US20080179136A1

Full Citation: US20080179136A1, "Multiple tear-away member energy absorber for personal fall arrestor", published to Sturges Manufacturing Co., Inc. on July 31, 2008.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed January 25, 2007; Published July 31, 2008.
Brief Description: This application describes an energy absorber for a fall arrest system, featuring multiple layers of webbing stitched together that selectively tear to dissipate energy during a fall, reducing impact forces.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This prior art focuses on an energy absorber for a fall arrest system, specifically the design of tear-away webbing. It does not describe a bridge rope assembly with the claimed splicing features, end configuration, friction hitch, or UHMWPE material of US11964175.

7. US20100162882A1

Full Citation: US20100162882A1, "Arborist's climbing rope", published to Shakespeare William C on July 1, 2010.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed August 14, 2007; Published July 1, 2010.
Brief Description: This application describes an arborist's climbing rope with a splice that creates a loop, facilitating attachment to climbing gear. It mentions the use of a continuous cover for the splice to protect it.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent mentions a climbing rope with a splice and a loop, which is a general concept for some claims of US11964175. However, it does not specify the critical features of US11964175, such as the first portion extending through the second portion such that the first end is adjacent to the second end, nor does it explicitly claim the use of UHMWPE or the specific structure of the friction hitch with buried ends (Claim 1 and subsequent claims). The general concept of a spliced rope with a loop is known, but the specific configuration claimed in US11964175 appears to be novel over this reference.

8. US20090255756A1

Full Citation: US20090255756A1, "Harness with integrated fall arrest system", published to Green Sherry Jean on October 15, 2009.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed December 13, 2007; Published October 15, 2009.
Brief Description: This application describes a harness, potentially for tree stand hunting, with an integrated fall arrest system, including a tether and a connecting assembly.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent describes a harness system but does not provide the detailed structural elements of the bridge rope assembly or the friction hitch as claimed in US11964175, particularly the specific splicing techniques, end arrangements, and material (UHMWPE).

9. US8356691B2

Full Citation: US8356691B2, "Energy absorber for personal fall arrestor", issued to Sturges Manufacturing Co., Inc. on January 22, 2013.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed August 18, 2009; Published January 22, 2013.
Brief Description: This patent details an energy absorber for a personal fall arrestor that includes a webbing formed into a coil and encased in a cover. The coil unwinds and tears when subjected to a fall force, dissipating energy.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference focuses on an energy absorption device, similar to previous Sturges patents. It does not disclose the unique features of the bridge rope assembly, splicing, end configuration, or friction hitch of US11964175.

10. US8584799B1

Full Citation: US8584799B1, "Fall-arresting safety harness assembly", issued to Dennington Mark on November 19, 2013.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed June 28, 2011; Published November 19, 2013.
Brief Description: This patent describes a safety harness assembly, particularly for tree stand hunting, including a harness, a tree strap, and a tether. It focuses on how these components connect for fall arrest.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent broadly discusses a safety harness assembly for tree stand hunting, which is the general field of US11964175. However, it does not detail the specific construction of the bridge rope assembly, including the buried rope ends in the main body or the specialized friction hitch with buried ends, nor does it specify the UHMWPE material.

11. US9003579B1

Full Citation: US9003579B1, "Multiple-loop support strap and method for hanging a hammock", issued to Eagles Nest Outfitters, Inc. on April 14, 2015.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed April 25, 2012; Published April 14, 2015.
Brief Description: This patent describes a support strap for hanging a hammock, featuring multiple loops along its length for adjustable attachment. The loops are formed by stitching the strap onto itself.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is for a hammock strap and its loops are formed by stitching, not the specific splicing and buried end configurations of a single rope as claimed in US11964175. The material (UHMWPE) and the specific design of the friction hitch are also absent.

12. US9808659B2

Full Citation: US9808659B2, "Roping harness", issued to Zedel on November 7, 2017.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed May 13, 2015; Published November 7, 2017.
Brief Description: This patent describes a roping harness, particularly for climbing or rescue, with various attachment points and adjustable straps.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent describes a general roping harness. It does not provide the specific details of the bridge rope assembly's main body splicing, buried ends, friction hitch construction, or UHMWPE material as claimed in US11964175.

13. US10258814B2

Full Citation: US10258814B2, "Breakaway keeper", issued to D B Industries, LLC on April 16, 2019.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed June 10, 2015; Published April 16, 2019.
Brief Description: This patent describes a breakaway keeper for a lanyard, designed to hold excess lanyard webbing and release it under certain conditions, such as during a fall.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent relates to a component for managing lanyard length, not the fundamental structure or material composition of a bridge rope assembly with a spliced eye loop and friction hitch as in US11964175.

14. US10918194B2

Full Citation: US10918194B2, "Single piece hammock strap with integral woven eyelets", issued to Kammok Holdings, Llc on February 16, 2021.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed November 9, 2015; Published February 16, 2021.
Brief Description: This patent describes a single-piece hammock strap with integrally woven eyelets, which eliminates the need for stitching or splicing to create attachment points.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent describes a hammock strap with woven eyelets. While it deals with loops in a strap, the method of forming the loops (integrally woven) is different from the splicing with fully buried rope ends in US11964175. The application of the strap (hammock vs. bridge rope for a harness) and the specific material (UHMWPE) are also distinguishing features.

15. WO2018111624A1

Full Citation: WO2018111624A1, "Harness with integrated energy absorber", published to Msa Technology, Llc on June 21, 2018.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed December 12, 2016; Published June 21, 2018.
Brief Description: This international application describes a safety harness with an integrated energy absorber, where the energy absorber is structurally part of the harness itself.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference describes an integrated energy absorber within a harness. It does not disclose the specific construction of the bridge rope assembly, including the unique splicing and buried end features of the main body and friction hitch, or the use of UHMWPE, as defined in the claims of US11964175.

16. US20190134438A1

Full Citation: US20190134438A1, "Redundant Adjustable Lanyard", published to Ropes Courses, Inc. on May 9, 2019.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed November 7, 2017; Published May 9, 2019.
Brief Description: This application describes an adjustable lanyard for a safety system, particularly for ropes courses, which provides redundant connection points and adjustability.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent application relates to a redundant and adjustable lanyard system. It does not disclose the specific structural and material features of the bridge rope assembly of US11964175, such as the full burial of a first rope portion within a second, the adjacency of the ends, or the UHMWPE material.

17. US20190210696A1

Full Citation: US20190210696A1, "Adjustable sports rope", published to Barnes Weston Joseph on July 11, 2019.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed January 11, 2018; Published July 11, 2019.
Brief Description: This application describes an adjustable sports rope that can be quickly adjusted in length, for example, for activities like jumping rope or climbing. It may include a mechanism for quick length changes.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on an adjustable sports rope and its length adjustment mechanism. It does not describe the specific splicing structure of the bridge rope's main body or friction hitch, the adjacency of the rope ends within the splice, or the use of UHMWPE, as claimed in US11964175.

18. US20210076666A1

Full Citation: US20210076666A1, "Tree mountable gear holding assembly", published to Tethrd, LLC on March 18, 2021.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed September 17, 2019; Published March 18, 2021.
Brief Description: This application describes an assembly for holding gear on a tree, typically for hunting. It often involves a strap or rope wrapped around a tree with attachment points for accessories.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent application is by the same assignee (Tethrd, LLC) and relates to tree-mountable gear, which is a related field. However, it specifically describes a gear holding assembly, not the detailed structure of the "bridge rope assembly" itself, with its unique splicing, buried ends, friction hitch, and UHMWPE material. Therefore, it does not anticipate the specific claims of US11964175.

19. US20230054395A1

Full Citation: US20230054395A1, "Lanyard assembly", published to Treemagineers Ltd on February 23, 2023.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed January 31, 2020; Published February 23, 2023.
Brief Description: This application describes a lanyard assembly, particularly for arborists, that may incorporate a friction device for adjustment and connection.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference describes a lanyard assembly that may include a friction device. While it is in a related technical area and mentions friction hitches, it does not specifically disclose the precise construction of the main body's splice with fully buried ends and their adjacency, the length specifications, or the UHMWPE material as claimed in US11964175. It also lacks the specific details of the friction hitch's closed loop with ends buried a percentage of its circumference.

20. US11597476B2

Full Citation: US11597476B2, "Controlled failure point for a rope or mooring loop and method of use thereof", issued to Fields Thomas W. on March 7, 2023.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed August 25, 2020; Published March 7, 2023.
Brief Description: This patent describes a rope or mooring loop designed with a controlled failure point, where a sacrificial element fails before the main rope, to prevent damage to the primary rope.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on a specific feature (controlled failure point) in a rope or loop, which is distinct from the structural and material innovations related to splicing and buried ends in US11964175. It does not anticipate the claims of US11964175.

21. US11511141B2

Full Citation: US11511141B2, "Shock absorption device including dual fall prevention band", issued to Korea Top Safety Co., Ltd on November 29, 2022.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed September 17, 2020; Published November 29, 2022.
Brief Description: This patent describes a shock absorption device with dual fall prevention bands, aiming to provide enhanced safety in fall protection systems.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on shock absorption and dual bands in a fall prevention system. It does not disclose the specific bridge rope assembly, its splicing, buried end features, friction hitch construction, or UHMWPE material, as claimed in US11964175.

22. US20220241624A1

Full Citation: US20220241624A1, "Harness with braided lead", published to Jarusiewic Michael on August 4, 2022.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed February 2, 2021; Published August 4, 2022.
Brief Description: This application describes a harness, potentially for pets or for safety, that includes a braided lead.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent application generally describes a "harness with braided lead" but lacks the specific structural details of the bridge rope assembly, its unique splicing with fully buried ends and their adjacency, the friction hitch construction, or the UHMWPE material, as claimed in US11964175.

23. US20220249886A1

Full Citation: US20220249886A1, "Tree saddle", published to Latitude Outdoors, LLC on August 11, 2022.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed February 9, 2021; Published August 11, 2022.
Brief Description: This application describes a tree saddle, often used for hunting, which provides a flexible and lightweight seating system for a user in a tree.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is for a "tree saddle," which is a type of harness, but it focuses on the saddle structure itself. It does not disclose the specific bridge rope assembly, its detailed splicing, buried end arrangement, or friction hitch features with UHMWPE material as claimed in US11964175.

24. US20230173312A1

Full Citation: US20230173312A1, "Harness assembly with independently adjustable panels", published to Gregoire, Jr. Benny Aaron on June 8, 2023.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed November 27, 2021; Published June 8, 2023.
Brief Description: This application describes a harness assembly, such as for tree stand hunting, that features independently adjustable panels for customized fit and comfort.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent application focuses on the adjustability of panels within a harness assembly. It does not provide any details regarding the specific construction of the bridge rope assembly, its unique splicing method, the precise placement and securing of rope ends, the friction hitch design, or the use of UHMWPE as claimed in US11964175.

Summary of Anticipation:
Based on the descriptions, none of the cited prior art documents appear to fully anticipate all elements of Claim 1 of US11964175. While some references discuss harnesses, ropes, splices, or friction hitches in a general sense, they do not disclose the specific combination of features central to US11964175, particularly:

The main body rope having a first portion extending through a second portion such that the first end is positioned within the second portion adjacent to the second end (distance between ends less than 2.0 inches).
The use of UHMWPE for the main body and/or the friction hitch (Claims 10, 11).
The specific structure of the closed loop friction hitch, where its ends are each buried a distance of at least 40% (and less than 50%) of the total circumference (as further detailed in the specification, which supports claims such as 6, 7, 8, 9, 13).

Therefore, based on the provided abstracts, the novelty of US11964175 appears to reside in the specific and detailed structural configuration of the splices (main body and friction hitch) leading to fully buried and closely positioned rope ends, combined with the application of UHMWPE material to achieve a high-strength, friction-resistant, and drop-test-passing assembly.