Demountable Window Safety Assembly for Worker Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety devices for working at height, such as those required for upstairs window installation or replacement, often obstruct the window opening, are not flexible, free-standing, or demountable, posing hazards and inefficiencies due to the need for scaffolding or unsuitable harness anchoring in domestic settings.
Innovation Solution
A free-standing, demountable window safety assembly that rests on the floor and engages with the wall adjacent to the window opening, using telescopic side portions and linking members to create a secure, adjustable structure for harness attachment without obstructing the window, allowing for safe and flexible use across various window sizes and orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If safety devices are fixed to the window aperture, then worker safety is improved, but the window opening becomes obstructed and windows cannot be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mediator structure (the safety device with feet and arms) that transfers the anchoring function from the window frame to the surrounding wall and floor. The feet engage with the floor and arms engage with the wall, creating an intermediary support system that provides harness anchoring without contacting the window opening, thus enabling window removal while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The safety device is segmented into separate components: feet for floor engagement, arms for wall engagement, and linking members connecting them. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, creating a distributed support structure that anchors the harness without obstructing the window aperture
2Reliability
If scaffolding is used for working at height, then worker safety is improved, but cost and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device is designed as a temporary, demountable structure that can be quickly assembled and dismantled for each window installation task. Rather than deploying expensive permanent scaffolding, this disposable-style safety solution provides the necessary protection for the duration of the task and then is removed, significantly reducing cost and time overhead
Solution Approach 2:
The safety device incorporates adjustable and demountable components that can be dynamically configured for different window locations and heights. The adjustable feet and arms allow the structure to adapt to various working conditions, providing flexible safety coverage without the fixed, time-consuming setup required by traditional scaffolding
3Reliability
If harness anchoring is provided through doorways, then worker safety is improved, but tripping hazards are created and the solution is not universally applicable
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device transitions the anchoring location from the horizontal plane (doorway level) to a three-dimensional configuration using vertical feet engaging the floor and arms extending to the wall. This dimensional change allows the harness anchor to be positioned directly over or near the work area, eliminating the need for trailing ropes that create tripping hazards and removing the dependency on specific doorway configurations
Data Source
AI summary
A free-standing demountable window safety assembly adapted to rest, in use, on the floor inside a room containing a window opening in a wall, and against the wall containing the window, without engaging with the window opening, said assembly comprising: —⋅(i) at least two feet (125, 126) adapted to engage with the room floor⋅(ii) at least two arms (121A, 121B, 135A, 135B) adapted to engage with the room wall adjacent to but spaced away from the window opening; ⋅(iii) at least two side portions (125, 123A, 135A, 133A) each supporting an arm; ⋅(iv) at least one linking member (111A, 111C) adapted to link opposing side portions or opposing feet in a substantially rigid fashion. The invention also includes methods of manufacturing and using such safety assemblies.