Telescopic Fall Arrest Structure for Compact Vehicle Roof Work

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fall arrest devices have large footprints, are not suitable for single-operator use, and do not provide safe, adjustable, and compact solutions for working at heights on vehicles like trains and buses, lacking balance and stability.

Innovation Solution

A telescopic structure with a base, landing platform, and fall arrest rail, where the landing platform is contained within the head portion, minimizing bulk and ensuring the operator's center of gravity remains within the base's footprint, with vertical development and balanced design for stability and compactness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a wide or expandable base is used to discharge torque on the ground, then structural stability is improved, but the footprint on the ground increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidfootprint on the ground
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a horizontal base expansion approach to a vertical development approach. The base portion develops vertically with respect to the base, and the head portion develops vertically relative to the base portion, creating a telescopic structure that achieves stability through vertical dimension rather than horizontal footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The landing platform is arranged inside the head portion, specifically between two vertical supports of the head portion. This nested arrangement minimizes the overall bulk of the mobile device while maintaining structural integrity and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Area of moving object

If the landing platform projects forward completely, then the working area is expanded, but the base footprint increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking areaVSAvoidbase footprint
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The landing platform is nested within the head portion structure, positioned between two vertical supports. This allows the platform to extend forward for work access while the overall device footprint remains minimized since the platform is contained within the vertical structure rather than requiring additional horizontal space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Area of stationary object

If a telescopic structure with vertical development is used, then the footprint is minimized, but structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefootprint on the groundVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The telescopic structure is divided into distinct segments: a base portion that develops vertically with respect to the base, and a head portion that develops vertically relative to the base portion. These segmented sections can move parallel to each other, allowing compact footprint while distributing structural complexity across manageable components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The head portion is slidably coupled to the base portion, creating a dynamic telescopic mechanism. This allows the structure to adjust its configuration while maintaining a compact footprint, with the sliding connection providing the necessary mechanical simplicity for the dynamic behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If the operator's center of gravity is positioned outside the base footprint, then maneuverability is improved, but stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovemaneuverabilityVSAvoidstability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The base is designed with a positionable mass that can be adjusted to counterbalance the operator's position. The mass positionable adjustment mechanism allows the counterweight to be positioned to offset the operator's center of gravity, maintaining stability even when the operator is positioned at the edges of the working area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Data Source

PatentEP4600440A1Fall arrest device
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 BIEFFEPI SRL
  • EP4600440A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4600440A1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP4600440A1 patent drawingFigure 5~8

AI summary

Fall arrest device (1) for working on roofs of means of transport comprising a telescopic structure (2) equipped with a base (3), a landing platform (4) and a fall arrest rail (5); the telescopic structure (2) comprising a base portion (6) rigidly connected to the base (3) and a head portion (7) rigidly connected to the landing platform (4) and to the fall arrest rail (5); wherein the base portion (6) develops vertically with respect to the base (3) and the head portion (7) is slidably coupled to the base portion (3); where the landing platform (4) is arranged inside the head portion (7); wherein the head portion (7) comprises two vertical supports (8) placed side by side parallel to each other between which the landing platform (4) is arranged so that the landing platform (4) protrudes from the vertical supports (8) of the head portion (7) both frontally and rearward.