Narrow Lapboard with Underside Receiving Opening for Coplanar Deck Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional safety decking systems often leave gaps between the deck and the wall, which are dangerous and require lapboards that, when installed, can create a tripping hazard due to their width and positioning.
Innovation Solution
A lapboard designed to be narrower than the standard decking panels with receiving openings on its underside to accommodate the support heads, ensuring it is coplanar with the deck panels and eliminating the tripping hazard, while also being adaptable to fit between the deck and walls without obstructing doorways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lapboard is installed to cover the gap between the safety deck and the wall, then the gap coverage and safety are improved, but a tripping hazard is created at the edge of the lapboard
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving opening is formed in the underside (bottom surface) of the lapboard rather than on the top surface. This dimensional relocation allows the head to be integrated into the lapboard structure from below, enabling the lapboard edge to be flush with the decking panel while maintaining gap coverage functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The head is nested within the receiving opening formed in the lapboard. The receiving opening accommodates the head, allowing the lapboard to be supported by the head while maintaining a coplanar surface with the decking panels, thus eliminating the tripping hazard while preserving gap coverage.
2Reliability
If a conventional lapboard is used to cover the gap, then the gap is covered, but the lapboard width exceeds the gap size creating an overhang
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving opening is positioned at a specific location on the underside of the lapboard, allowing the head to support the lapboard at a precise point. This localized support arrangement enables the lapboard to be narrower than conventional lapboards while still effectively covering the gap, as the support position is optimized for the specific gap location rather than requiring a wide overhang.
3Reliability
If the lapboard is positioned above the decking panel to cover the gap, then gap coverage is achieved, but the lapboard creates a tripping hazard at its edge
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving opening is formed in the underside of the lapboard, relocating the support interface from the top surface to the bottom surface. This allows the lapboard to be positioned coplanar with the decking panels, creating a flush walking surface that eliminates tripping hazards while maintaining gap coverage functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A lapboard for a safety deck assembly, the safety deck assembly comprising a upper deck formed of one or more decking panels having a substantially planar upper surface and an elevated support assembly comprising a number of elongate legs, a base for each elongate leg to form a foot, a head for each elongate leg to at least partially support a decking panel relative to an upper end of the leg, the lapboard comprising a substantially planar upper surface and at least one receiving opening formed in an underside of the lapboard to receive a portion of the head to locate the upper surface of the lapboard substantially coplanar with the upper surface of the decking panels, the lapboard being smaller in width than the decking panels.