Safety Netting System with Rigid Panel Supports and Stopper Mechanisms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing safety netting systems for high-rise construction are heavy, cumbersome, and difficult to reconfigure, requiring extensive structural support that is rigidly attached to the building, making them inefficient and unsafe, especially when moving or reconfiguring the system.

Innovation Solution

A safety netting system utilizing flanged tube structural members with radially projecting flanges that are lightweight and modular, allowing for slidable engagement with small footprint building mounting brackets, reducing material and weight requirements, and incorporating ratcheting stopper mechanisms to maintain components in place during reconfiguration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If heavy rigid structural members are used to support safety netting, then structural strength and stability are improved, but weight and difficulty of reconfiguration increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidsystem weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces heavy rigid structural members with flexible cable support elements that can hold the safety netting barrier. The cable system provides sufficient structural strength while dramatically reducing the overall weight of the system, enabling easy reconfiguration and movement without requiring extensive structural support infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Stability of the object's composition

If extensive structural support is provided, then system stability is improved, but ease of reconfiguration and movement deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidease of reconfiguration

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The safety netting system is divided into modular components including separate barrier nets, cable support elements, and anchoring mechanisms. This segmentation allows individual modules to be easily reconfigured, moved, or replaced without affecting the entire system, thereby maintaining stability while improving ease of reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a dynamic cable support system that can be adjusted and repositioned as building construction progresses. The cable elements can be tensioned, relaxed, and reconfigured to accommodate changing structural conditions, providing system stability while enabling easy adaptation to new configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Strength

If rigid panel support members are used, then netting support strength is improved, but weight and material requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetting support strengthVSAvoidmaterial requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces rigid panel support members with flexible cable elements that provide equivalent or superior netting support strength. The cable system requires significantly less material volume while maintaining the necessary tensile strength to support the safety netting barrier, thereby reducing material requirements and overall system weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Strength

If heavy structural components are used, then system strength is improved, but safety during reconfiguration deteriorates due to falling risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem strengthVSAvoidfalling hazard

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible cable support elements eliminate the falling hazard associated with heavy rigid components. The cables can be safely handled, moved, and reconfigured without the same level of risk as heavy structural members. The system maintains full structural strength through proper cable tensioning and anchoring while dramatically improving safety during reconfiguration operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS9528285B2Safety barrier netting system with rigid panel net supports and stopper mechanisms

Publication Date: 2016.12.27 BLINN LAWRENCE

AI summary

A system for substantially enclosing the periphery of a building top with a netting system which is easily and efficiently movable or reconfigurable during the building construction process comprises a lightweight netting system for extending above a completed work area or floor, a strong lightweight structural support system for the netting, wherein the structural support system is vertically adjustable via slidable engagement with brackets attached to the floors which are already completed, provides enhanced safety for workers and for pedestrians below by preventing passage of workers or debris through the netting and enhances efficiency of construction by providing an easily reconfigurable, inexpensive and lightweight system for providing such enhanced safety. The netting structure may be supported by a rigid panel structure which is slidably engaged with vertical support members. Stopper mechanisms may also be provided for retaining the vertical members and panels in place.