Rooftop Fall Protection Anchor Multi-Angle Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fall protection anchors for wooden-framed buildings often rely on single framing members or sheathing, which can lead to uneven stress distribution and potential detachment under extreme loads, failing to adequately secure workers against falls.
Innovation Solution
A rooftop fall protection anchor that attaches to multiple surfaces of the framing, including both horizontal and vertical members, with fasteners oriented at multiple right angles to spread shear forces and increase strength, ensuring secure attachment and compliance with safety regulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the anchor attaches to a single framing member or sheathing, then the installation is simple, but the load distribution is uneven and detachment risk increases under extreme loads
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor system is divided into multiple attachment points distributed across several framing members. Instead of relying on a single attachment location, the fasteners are segmented into multiple positions oriented at different angles, each engaging separate framing members. This segmentation distributes the fall load across multiple structural elements, preventing any single point from bearing excessive stress and reducing detachment risk.
2Ease of operation
If fasteners are oriented in the same direction, then the installation process is simplified, but shear forces concentrate on single framing members causing potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener orientation transitions from a one-dimensional alignment (all fasteners in the same direction) to a multi-dimensional arrangement (fasteners oriented at multiple right angles). This dimensional change allows the anchor to engage framing members in different spatial orientations, distributing shear forces across multiple structural elements rather than concentrating them on a single framing member, thereby enhancing overall load-bearing capacity.
3Device complexity
If the anchor relies on sheathing or single framing member integrity, then the anchor design is simpler, but the anchor cannot adequately withstand extreme fall loads
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor system merges multiple framing members into a unified load-bearing structure. By positioning fasteners to engage several framing members simultaneously in different orientations, the system combines the structural capacity of multiple members to resist fall loads. This merging approach allows the anchor to withstand extreme forces that would exceed the capacity of any single framing member or sheathing element alone.
Data Source
AI summary
A rooftop fall protection anchor that comprises a plate, an anchor connection coupled with a first side of the plate, and at least one member on a second side of the plate, the member being substantially perpendicular and inboard of the plate's perimeter. The plate and/or member(s) may have holes to accommodate fasteners. The anchor connection may have at least one opening to attach a connection device of a personal fall arrest system (PFAS). The anchor connection may be coupled to the plate by a post.