Weighted Base Anti-Slip Contact Geometry for Wet Surface Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile stop devices for securing individuals at risk of falling on damp or wet surfaces suffer from reduced functional safety due to reduced friction caused by moisture, leading to potential sliding and loss of stability.
Innovation Solution
A weight base with elastomer-made anti-slip bearing bodies having oblique or spherical contact surfaces, designed to displace moisture during rolling, ensuring at least linear contact with the ground in multiple directions, and incorporating eccentric weight distribution and adjustable spacers for enhanced stability and adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the weight base relies on friction with the surface to maintain position, then the device can be easily positioned and adjusted, but on damp or wet surfaces the friction is reduced causing the device to slide and lose stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the contact surface from flat to oblique/spherical, fundamentally altering how the bearing body interacts with the surface. This geometric parameter change enables the bearing body to displace moisture during rolling motion, preventing the formation of lubricating moisture films that reduce friction on damp surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing body is designed with a spherical or oblique contact surface instead of a flat surface. This curvature enables rolling motion when the device is positioned or subjected to loads, allowing the bearing body to actively displace moisture during rolling and maintain effective friction contact even on damp surfaces.
2Reliability
If the attachment point is fixed rigidly to the weight base, then the device provides stable anchoring, but in the event of a fall the rigid connection transmits full impact force which may cause damage or failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an energy-absorbing element between the attachment point and the weight base that is designed to deform under impact loads. This element provides beforehand cushioning by absorbing fall energy through controlled deformation, preventing the transmission of full impact force to the weight base and anchor structure while maintaining stable anchoring during normal use.
3Ease of manufacture
If a flat contact surface is used between the weight base and the ground, then the manufacturing is simple and cost-effective, but on damp surfaces moisture forms a lubricating film that reduces friction and causes sliding
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing body features a spherical or oblique contact surface instead of a flat surface. This geometric design enables rolling motion that actively displaces moisture during positioning and loading operations, preventing the formation of continuous lubricating moisture films between the contact surface and the ground, thereby eliminating the moisture-induced sliding problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a static flat contact surface to a dynamic spherical/oblique contact surface that enables rolling motion. This dynamic characteristic allows the bearing body to actively interact with and displace moisture during positioning and loading, adapting to damp surface conditions and maintaining effective friction contact.
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 solution significantly enhances functional safety by preventing sliding on damp or wet surfaces through effective moisture displacement and maintaining adhesion, ensuring stability and secure anchoring even on uneven grounds.
Implementation Method 1
at least one energy-absorbing element (130) arranged between the attachment point (23) and the weight base (10), which is designed to deform under load, so that at least part of the fall energy or force is absorbed by the energy-absorbing element (130) and converted into deformation energy
Implementation Method 2
The principle of a load-retained stop device is based on friction between the weight base and the surface on which the weight base or the stop device is placed
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a weight base (10) for a mobile stop device (1) for securing a person at risk of falling, comprising a base body (100) with several arms (110) arranged at an angle to one another and weights (120) as a load, wherein (111) of at least one arm (110) is directly or indirectly attached at least one non-slip bearing body (130) made of an elastomer material, which has a contact surface (131) that is designed to be oblique or spherical in a tilting direction of the weight base (10).The invention also relates to a mobile stop device (1) for a safety device with a weight base (10) according to the present invention.