Integrated Textile Fall Protection Garment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fall protection systems are complex, difficult to put on, and prone to incorrect donning, especially in stressful situations, due to their numerous components and lack of clarity in belt positions, which complicates their use and increases the risk of errors.

Innovation Solution

A fall protection system that uses a textile item of clothing with a neckline of limited circumference and high tensile strength to provide upper body restraint, eliminating the need for shoulder straps and incorporating a coupling device that can connect to a thigh or hip belt, allowing for easy and intuitive donning without additional components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple webbing sections and coupling elements are used to ensure reliable fall protection, then the restraint function is improved, but the device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverestraint functionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple webbing sections and coupling elements into a single integrated garment structure. The webbing is constructed as part of the garment itself rather than as separate components, merging the restraint function with the clothing item to reduce complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The garment serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides restraint through integrated webbing sections, functions as clothing protection, and includes coupling elements for fall protection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated fall protection equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple webbing sections and coupling elements are used to ensure reliable fall protection, then the restraint function is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverestraint functionVSAvoiddonning process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the webbing sections directly into the garment construction, the patent eliminates the need for separate donning steps for straps and webbing. The restraint system becomes part of the garment itself, simplifying the donning process to simply putting on the garment while maintaining reliable restraint function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If single-color webbing is used throughout the system, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the identification of specific webbing sections deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidwebbing section identification
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different colors to specific webbing sections locally rather than using a single color throughout. This allows critical identification of specific webbing sections and coupling points without requiring complete multi-color systems, balancing manufacturing simplicity with operational clarity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system simplifies the donning process, reduces the risk of incorrect positioning, and enhances wearing comfort by eliminating friction and pressure points, while maintaining effective fall protection and compliance with safety standards.

Implementation Method 1

a textile material of the textile garment, preferably consisting of several layers, and preferably a layer of the material formed by an outer fabric, has a tensile strength of at least 200 N

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTensile strength: Tension

Data Source

PatentEP4260913A1Strap system for fall protection
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 HUBERT SCHMITZ
  • EP4260913A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4260913A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4260913A1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A system (1) for fall protection of a person equipped with the system (1) comprises - a restraint device (2) for the upper body, in particular a shoulder area, of the person - a restraint device (3) for the thighs and/or buttocks of the person and - a coupling device (6) by means of which the restraint device (2) for the upper body and the restraint device (3) for the thighs and/or buttocks can be connected in a way that transmits tensile force.In order to create a system (1) with the fewest possible components, it is proposed that the system (1) includes a textile garment (16) for enclosing at least part of the person's upper body and that the restraint device (2) for the person's upper body is formed by the textile garment (16), wherein the textile garment (16) has a neck opening (30) with a maximum circumference of 90 cm, and wherein a textile material of the textile garment (16), preferably consisting of several layers, preferably a layer of the material formed by an outer fabric, has a tensile strength of at least 300 N.