Gutter Hanger Anchor Fall Restraint System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fall protection systems for rooftop workers are cumbersome, costly, and difficult to implement, particularly on sloped land, and often require drilling into roofs or using heavy counterweights, which are not feasible for all scenarios and can cause water damage.
Innovation Solution
A fall restraint system utilizing gutter hangers as anchors, with a yoke line and support line configuration that allows for quick setup and removal, providing multiple points of contact to distribute tension and prevent falls, and includes a proprietary software system for ensuring proper use and compliance with safety regulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fall protection systems use penetrating roof anchors, then fall protection reliability is improved, but water damage risk and roof integrity are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces gutter hangers as an intermediary attachment point instead of penetrating the roof. The fall protection system attaches to existing gutter hangers that are already mounted on the roof eaves, eliminating the need for new penetrating anchors while maintaining fall protection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the attachment function from the roof structure itself and relocates it to the gutter hangers. By separating the fall protection attachment points from the roof penetrating anchors, the system maintains security while preventing water damage to the roof.
2Reliability
If heavy counterweight systems are used for fall protection, then fall protection reliability is improved, but ease of operation and adaptability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes existing gutter hangers that are already installed on the building as self-service attachment points. The fall protection system leverages these pre-existing structures, eliminating the need for heavy counterweights and complex installation procedures while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the fall protection system universally applicable to any building with gutter hangers. The same system can be used across different locations and building types without requiring heavy, location-specific counterweight configurations, greatly improving ease of operation and deployment.
3Reliability
If multiple anchor points are used to distribute tension, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fall protection system into multiple independent anchor points attached to separate gutter hangers. This distribution of tension across multiple segments improves reliability while keeping each individual attachment point simple and straightforward.
Data Source
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AI summary
A fall restraint for a worker on a roof comprising a yoke line, wherein a first end of the yoke line is releasabley connected to a first building structure and a second end of the yoke line is releasably connected to a second building structure. The fall restraint also comprises a support line, wherein a first end of the support line is slidably connected to the yoke line, and a second end of the support line is connected to a worker harness, wherein the support line is adapted to travel over a ridge line of the roof and at least partially support the weight of the worker.