Continuous Safety Belay Junction Box for Multi-Pathway Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional ropes courses and obstacle courses require users to follow linear pathways due to safety system constraints, limiting user freedom and increasing congestion, as users must stop and rehook the safety system to change paths, which is inconvenient and slows down the experience.
Innovation Solution
A continuous safety system that includes a junction box with a transition surface and a movable safety mechanism with a support plate, allowing users to seamlessly transition between different tracks without unhooking, using sliding, pivoting, or rotating components to maintain safety and freedom of movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional safety systems are used with linear pathways, then user safety is maintained, but user freedom of movement is limited and congestion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety mechanism is designed to be movable between different tracks through the junction box, transitioning from a fixed linear pathway system to a dynamic multi-pathway system. The support plate cooperates with the transition surface to enable the safety mechanism to slide or pivot between tracks, allowing users to change pathways without unhooking, thus improving adaptability while maintaining continuous safety coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The safety mechanism is designed to function across multiple tracks rather than being confined to a single linear path. By enabling the safety mechanism to travel along different tracks through the junction box, the system achieves multi-functionality where one safety mechanism can serve multiple pathways, increasing user freedom without requiring additional safety systems for each path
2Ease of operation
If users must stop and rehook safety system to change paths, then safety connections are maintained, but user convenience deteriorates and time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous movement of users along different pathways without interruption. The safety mechanism remains continuously engaged with the user while allowing seamless transitions between tracks through the junction box. This eliminates the need to stop, unhook, and rehook the safety system, maintaining continuous protection while improving ease of operation and reducing time loss during pathway switching
3Adaptability or versatility
If safety mechanism is fixed on single track, then system complexity is reduced, but adaptability to multiple pathways is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The junction box serves as an intermediary component that enables the safety mechanism to transition between different tracks. Rather than making the entire safety system complex, the junction box acts as a mediating structure with a transition surface that facilitates movement between tracks. This localized addition provides multi-track capability while keeping the overall system relatively simple and cost-effective
Data Source
AI summary
A bifurcation method and system for a passive continuous belay system that allows for a user to select multiple pathways using intermediate tracks. A main track and the intermediate tracks provide a linear passive continuous belay using an anchor mechanism that is configured to grasp the outside of the structural member track, using rolling elements and/or low-friction sliding. The user may select multiple pathways using intermediate lateral tracks to provide Cartesian movement at designated (e.g., perpendicular) transition or junction points. Desired tracks may be selected by a user via sliding along a support plate or track in a junction box and/or by rotating a portion of the junction box. Amusement attraction activities that include non-harnessed play may be intertwined or located adjacent to activities utilizing harnessed play.