Bumper Apparatus Deflects Impact Forces on Building Safety Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Building safety features such as sprinkler system components and fire equipment are prone to damage from accidental collisions with heavy equipment, leading to potential flooding and safety hazards, especially in commercial and industrial settings.

Innovation Solution

A protection apparatus comprising bumper members with anterior and posterior portions and frame rails that deflect impact forces, allowing for the protection of building-related elements from collision damages while maintaining accessibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If building safety features are located at lower heights for accessibility, then ease of operation is improved, but vulnerability to collision damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of safety featuresVSAvoidcollision damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bumper member acts as an intermediary protective element positioned between the heavy equipment and the building safety features. This mediator absorbs and deflects impact forces, allowing the safety features to remain accessible at lower heights while protecting them from collision damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The bumper member provides beforehand cushioning by being pre-installed in position to absorb impact forces before they can reach the building safety features. This protective measure is established in advance to prevent damage during operational collisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If protection apparatus is added to protect building elements, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of building elementsVSAvoidapparatus structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protection apparatus is segmented into distinct functional components: the bumper member for impact absorption, the frame rail for structural support, and the mounting system for installation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while keeping the overall design relatively simple and modular.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The apparatus effectively mitigates collision damage to building elements by deflecting impact forces, preventing damage to critical safety features and ensuring their functionality and safety, even in high-impact scenarios.

Implementation Method 1

the bumper can configured to deflect impact forces around a portion of the cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact force deflection: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentUS11608631B2Method and apparatus for protecting building-related elements from collision damages

Publication Date: 2023.03.21 GUARD PRO LLC

AI summary

The present disclosure is a method and apparatus for protecting building-related elements from collision damages. The apparatus can be designed to withstand high-impact collisions such as those caused by errant operation of heavy equipment. The method and apparatus are intended to be applicable to buildings already constructed and do not have to be implemented or considered before or during building design. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus can protect downspouts of warehouse sprinkler systems from collision damage that could result in pipe eruption.