Variable-Height Attachment Point System for Safety Harnesses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing safety harness systems lack the ability to easily adjust attachment point heights, which can lead to inadequate protection for workers operating at varying elevations, and they often require heavy machinery to change attachment points, making them cumbersome and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A variable-height attachment point system that includes a radial support member with different bend angles, allowing operators to select attachment point heights by reversing its orientation with a vertical support member, and a base that can stabilize the system using counterweights or vehicle tires, enabling modular construction and absorption of unintended forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed attachment point system is used, then the structure is simple and stable, but the attachment point height cannot be adjusted for workers at varying elevations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment point height adjustmentVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The radial support member is designed with unequal bends that allow it to be reversed into different orientations, dynamically changing the attachment point height. This enables the same structural component to adapt to varying worker elevations without requiring multiple separate structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The radial support member features unequal bends at different sections, creating an asymmetric geometry that allows the member to be oriented in multiple positions. This asymmetry enables height adjustment while maintaining structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If heavy machinery is used to change attachment points, then the system provides stable attachment, but the system becomes cumbersome and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment stabilityVSAvoidattachment point repositioning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The radial support member is designed to be manually repositionable through reversal into different orientations. This dynamic design allows workers to easily change attachment heights without heavy machinery, improving ease of operation while maintaining reliable attachment through the structural integrity of the bent member design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If a single radial support member orientation is used, then the structure is simple, but the attachment point height is fixed and cannot accommodate multiple working heights

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultiple attachment heightsVSAvoidradial support member design

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The radial support member incorporates unequal bends created through asymmetric forming processes. While the manufacturing process is slightly more complex than creating a straight member, the asymmetric design enables multiple attachment heights by allowing the member to be reversed into different orientations, achieving adaptability with moderate manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

4Ease of operation

If the radial support member is made lightweight for easy handling, then ease of operation improves, but the ability to absorb unintended forces may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem portabilityVSAvoidforce absorption capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The radial support member is designed to utilize composite material structures or optimized material compositions that provide high strength-to-weight ratio. This allows the member to remain lightweight for easy handling while maintaining the strength necessary to absorb unintended forces such as those from moving machinery or falling debris.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The radial support member features curved or bent geometries rather than straight rigid structures. These curved designs can more effectively distribute and absorb impact forces while maintaining lightweight construction, allowing the member to flex and dissipate energy from unintended forces without requiring excessive weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS9732531B2Variable-height attachment point system for a safety harness

Publication Date: 2017.08.15 HONEYWELL SAFETY PRODUCTS USA INC

AI summary

Systems and methods relate to a operator selectable, variable-height attachment point system for a safety harness, where the attachment point is disposed on a radial support member that can be reversibly coupled to a vertical support member, and where the attachment point height can be selected by the operator by reversing a coupled orientation of the radial support member to the vertical support member.