Netting Structure
In various representative aspects, a netting structure is configured to serve as a safety net used on construction sites to catch debris or construction personnel from falling to the ground. The netting structure eliminates the need to use a metal cable along the perimeter of a beam to support the net that typically requires the net to be clipped to the cable in several locations along its perimeter. An assembly for guiding the ropes used to pull the netting structure in place and secure the netting structure to a building frame is also provided.
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The present invention relates generally to netting structures. More specifically, the invention relates to a netting structure that serves as a safety net used on construction sites to catch debris or construction personnel from falling to the ground. The present invention provides an improved netting structure that eliminates the need to use a metal cable along the perimeter of a beam to support the net that typically requires the net to be clipped to the cable in several locations along its perimeter. The present invention also provides an assembly for guiding ropes used to pull the netting structure in place and secure the netting structure to a building frame.
Description of the Related ArtAny discussion of the prior art in the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that the prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
The use of safety nets on construction sites is often desirable. Safety nets are netting structures that are typically installed either around the perimeter of a building or beneath the area of a floor in a building frame where the building is being constructed, refurbished, or repaired. A properly installed netting structure enables the netting to catch any debris or construction personnel from falling to the ground and causing injury or death.
As shown in
The installation of these types of netting structures at construction sites can be difficult. Because these structures are typically installed high above the ground, they are often hard to reach and require special equipment, scaffolding, or ladders to lift the nets and the personnel who install them to the areas where they are secured to the beams on the building frame. Also, because the netting structures generally are designed have the perimeter of these structures cover as much area of the work area below to prevent even small objects from falling close to the building, it is very difficult for personnel to access the structure to move, maintain, or adjust it without disassembling large parts, or even the entire structure. If personnel need to gain access to the structure to adjust or move the it by loosening it at any point along its perimeter, it may lead to greater sagging or scalloping.
Another limitation to the present netting structures is that the nets themselves generally have to be built to fit within the size of the horizontal beams of the building frame.
The present invention overcomes the limitations in the prior art addressed above, and provides a solution that is both easy to install and use.
When installing vertical netting structures on the outside of a building frame to prevent debris and personnel from falling off the side of a horizontal beam, it is desirable for the vertical net to be some distance away from the frame building to allow workers to have freedom to move, and also to allow horizontal beams to possibly be installed into the building frame at a later time. The prior art typically requires a flag pole type design that is secured to a vertical beam where the netting structure attaches to a support point and drapes below the support point as shown in
Other limitations to the present netting structures pertain to the hardware used to secure the structures to the building frames, and guide the ropes used to raise the structures in place. When installing safety nets, if a metal cable is not used to secure the netting structure around the beams of a building frame, a rope is usually tied to one end of an attachment point and then pulled through a large pulley or wooden block and tackle (wooden block and tackle will also be referred to as a “pulley”). Often the wooden pulleys are similar to those used on a sailing ship to guide ropes to raise sails to their operating position. There are several limitations to using this method. One limitation is that the pulley is typically coupled to a vertical beam using a clip. When under tension, a rope that is run through the pulley causes the pulley to move toward the attachment point of the netting structure, which creates a large gap between the beam and the netting structure as shown in
Another issue is how the pulley attaches to the netting structure. The pulley most often secured to a bracket on a vertical beam of the building structure. An eyebolt is then used to couple the pulley to the bracket. A cable or rope is threaded through the pulley or run through the eye of the eyebolt as secured to a vertical beam. An eyebolt is typically designed and rated for a direct pull load. The eyebolt is often not at the start in a shear side or angle load. This is not a correct engineered system and can lead to injury or death. In most cases pulleys are installed in the corners of the building frame. This means when the pulleys are under tension, they are likely being pulled away from the vertical beams even though ideally they should run vertically alongside or underneath the vertical beams.
Another limitation is the fact a pulley is designed to only allow the diameter of rope to pass through and nothing else. Any knot, splice, hook, or other attachment method would not allow these additional components to pass through the pulley as shown in
It is desirable to provide component hardware that enables safety netting structures to be installed to a building frame that does not create additional open space between the building frame and a safety net when installed under tension, and also to provide attachment and guide hardware that allows ropes with additional knots, splices, hooks, or related attachments to pass through them when raising the netting structures in place that is effective and easy to install.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is summarized below only for purposes of introducing embodiments of the invention. The ultimate scope of the invention is to be limited only to the claims that follow the specification.
It is an object of this invention to provide a netting structure that is secured to the horizontal beams of a building frame to catch falling debris or personnel within the building structure.
It is an object of this invention to provide a netting structure that has a primary border, that is typically a rope, that is coupled to the entire outer edge of the netting structure.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a netting structure that has a secondary border, that is typically a rope, that is fixed at two points on the primary border to form an attachment point.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a netting structure wherein the primary and secondary borders are coupled by one or more clips.
It is an object of the present invention that when the clips are not coupled to the primary and secondary borders, the portion of the netting structure coupled to the primary border near the secondary border, drops downward and creates an opening between the primary and secondary borders.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a netting structure wherein the secondary border can be two distinct ropes connected by their respective ends to the primary border at distinct locations along the primary border.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a netting structure with a resilient rod that is coupled to two sides of the outer edge of the netting structure.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a rectangular ring with two pairs of rollers axially coupled within the inside of the rectangular ring such that each respective pair of rollers is parallel to each other and perpendicular to the other respective pair of rollers.
It is an object of the present invention that the rollers are able to rotate freely about their respective axes within the rectangular ring.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pulley that is axially coupled to a bracket that is connected above the rectangular ring so that the pulley is capable of rotating freely about its axis with the pulley being parallel to at least one of the rollers within the rectangular ring.
It is an object of the present invention that the rectangular ring is of sufficient cross-sectional area to enable objects large enough to pass through its cross-sectional area when a rope is connected to the objects as the rope is being used to pull the netting structure toward a point on the building frame.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable member that is connected to the rectangular ring so that the adjustable member can be coupled on one end to a vertical beam of the building structure and allow the adjustable member to move the position of the rectangular ring to and from the vertical beam of the building frame.
A person with ordinary skill in the relevant art would know that any shape or size of the elements described below may be adopted as long as the end clamp can be used to secure solar panel modules to the rail support structures and a binding bolt is used to tighten the t-bolt to the guide of the rail support structure. Any combinations of suitable number, shape, and size of the elements described below may be used. Also, any materials suitable to achieve the object of the current invention may be chosen as well.
A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the following figures, like reference numbers refer to similar elements and steps throughout the figures.
Although the netting structure 100 shown is rectangular in shape, the structure 100 can be any suitable shape such as a triangle, trapezoid, or other geometric shape to conform to the shape of the building structure's vertical beams. The shape of the structure 100 is defined by the number and location of the attachment points 150 along its perimeter. The attachment points 150 are generally defined by the point where secondary corner rope 140 is attached to a means for pulling the netting structure 100 toward the building structure 105. In an embodiment that employs a single secondary rope 140, the attachment point 150 is usually where the loop of rope is formed in
Other embodiments of the structure 100 utilize dual border ropes that encircle the perimeter of the mesh 110. In a dual border rope configuration, one rope acts as the primary border rope that is fixed along the entire perimeter of the mesh, while the second rope is fixed only to the inner perimeter of the mesh 110 with the non-fixed portions serving as the attachment points 150 in each corner of the structure 100. The border rope 120 can also include more than two ropes as long as they are secured to a portion of the mesh 110 along each side of the netting structure 100. Near each attachment point 150, a plurality of clips 160 connect the primary corner rope 130 with the secondary corner rope 140. The clips 160 are generally snap hooks, rings, quick hooks, or any suitable clip capable of coupling the mesh 110 to the primary and secondary corner ropes 130 and 140 under high stress loads.
In another embodiment, a second netting structure 200, as shown in
In the flap 200, the plane of the mesh 210 also includes a member or rod 270 as shown in
In the exemplary embodiment, the rod 270 is embedded within a sleeve 280 as shown in
An alternate embodiment of the rod 270 is shown in
An alternate way of raising the flap 200 and keeping it a desired distance from the building frame 105 is by using a push interim support 400 as shown in
The embodiment in
Exemplary embodiments of guide assemblies used to secure the netting structure 100 or flap 200 in place to the building frame 105 include a guide ring 600, a roller 700, and a pulley 800.
Like the guide ring 600, the pull point 700 is preferably made of a durable material, such as metal, that can withstand substantial tension forces. The pull point 700 is coupled to a bracket 610, which in turn is secured typically to the same vertical beam 320 above the guide ring 600. The bracket 610 is typically secured with a ratchet so that the plane of the pull point 700 is oriented parallel to the ground, but it can also be bolted to the vertical beam 108 as well. The pull point 700 and bracket 610 can be homogeneous or constructed in separate parts. Any arrangement of the top rollers 710 and bottom rollers 715 preferably should provide sufficient open area in the center of the pull point 700 to allow both rope 350 and connecting hardware to pass through the area. When secured to the beam 108, the pull point 700 serves as a pulley-like structure that enables a pull rope 350 and certain connecting hardware to pass through the pull point's 700 center area as the rope 350 is being used to raise and secure the netting structure 100 at its attachment points 150.
An alternate embodiment of the assembly in
In the preceding description, and for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are provided to thoroughly understand the various aspects of the invention. It will be understood, however, by those skilled in the relevant arts, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, known structures and devices are shown or discussed more generally in order to avoid obscuring the invention. In many cases, a description of the operation is sufficient to enable one to implement the various forms of the invention, particularly when the operation is to be implemented in software. It should be noted that there are many different and alternative configurations, devices and technologies to which the disclosed embodiments may be applied. The full scope of the invention is not limited to the example(s) that are described below.
Claims
1. A netting structure comprising:
- a. a net further comprising an outer edge;
- b. a primary border coupled to the outer edge of the net;
- c. a secondary border extending from a first point on the primary border to a second point on the primary border wherein the secondary border forms an attachment point.
2. The netting structure in claim 1 further comprising a clip wherein the clip is coupled to the primary border and the secondary border of the netting structure.
3. The netting structure in claim 1 wherein the primary border is a rope.
4. The netting structure in claim 1 wherein the secondary border is a rope.
5. The netting structure in claim 1 further comprising a second secondary border extending from a third point on the primary border to a fourth point on the primary border wherein the secondary border forms a second attachment point.
6. The netting structure in claim 1 further comprising a resilient rod wherein:
- a. the resilient rod further comprises a first end and a second end; and
- b. the first end of the resilient rod is coupled to a first side of the outer edge and the second end of the resilient rod is coupled to a second side opposite the first side of the outer edge.
7. A netting structure comprising:
- a. a net further comprising an outer edge;
- b. a primary border coupled to the outer edge of the net;
- c. a first border line further comprising a first end and a second end wherein the first end is coupled to a first point on the primary border and the second end forms an attachment point;
- d. a second border line further comprising a first end and a second end wherein the first end is coupled to a second point on the primary border and the second end forms an attachment point.
8. The netting structure in claim 7 further comprising a clip wherein the clip is coupled to the primary border and the first border line of the netting structure.
9. The netting structure in claim 7 further comprising a clip wherein the clip is coupled to the primary border and the second border line of the netting structure.
10. The netting structure in claim 7 wherein the primary border is a rope.
11. The netting structure in claim 7 wherein the first and second border lines are ropes.
12. The netting structure in claim 7 further comprising a third border line further comprising a first end and second end wherein the first end is coupled to a third point on the primary border and wherein the second end forms a third attachment point.
13. The netting structure in claim 7 further comprising a resilient rod wherein:
- a. the resilient rod further comprises a first end and a second end; and
- b. the first end of the resilient rod is coupled to a first side of the outer edge and the second end of the resilient rod is coupled to a second side opposite the first side of the outer edge.
14. A netting structure comprising:
- a. a net further comprising an outer edge;
- b. a primary border coupled to the outer edge of the net;
- c. a secondary border coupled to a portion of the outer edge of the net such that the secondary border surrounds the primary border such that the portion of the secondary border that is not coupled to the outer edge forms an attachment point.
15. The netting structure in claim 14 further comprising a clip wherein the clip is coupled to the primary border and the secondary border of the netting structure along the portion of the secondary border that is not coupled to the outer edge of the netting structure.
16. The netting structure in claim 14 wherein the primary border is a rope.
17. The netting structure in claim 14 wherein the secondary border is a rope.
18. The netting structure in claim 14 further comprising a resilient rod wherein:
- a. the resilient rod further comprises a first end and a second end; and
- b. the first end of the resilient rod is coupled to a first side of the outer edge and the second end of the resilient rod is coupled to a second side opposite the first side of the outer edge.
19. A guide for securing a netting structure to a building frame comprising:
- a. a rectangular ring; the rectangular ring further comprising four sides such that the four sides each further comprise an inner side and forming a hollow area within the four sides;
- b. a first pair of rollers each further comprising a first and second end such that the first and second ends of the first pair of rollers are axially coupled parallel to each other to opposite inner sides of the rectangular ring.
20. The guide of claim 19 further comprising:
- a. a second pair of rollers each further comprising a first and second end such that the first and second ends of the second pair of rollers are axially coupled parallel to each other to opposite inner sides of the rectangular ring and perpendicular to the first pair of rollers such that the first and second pair of rollers are able to rotate freely around a central axis.
21. The guide of claim 19 further comprising:
- a. a guide ring further comprising a loop with a hollow central area wherein the guide ring is coupled to a vertical beam and the rectangular ring is coupled to the vertical beam such that the hollow central area of the guide ring and the hollow area within the four sides of the rectangular ring align vertically along the vertical beam along the same axis.
22. The guide of claim 19 further comprising:
- a. a pulley; and
- b. a bracket coupled to a top edge of the rectangular ring such that the pulley is axially coupled to the bracket so that: i. the pulley is able to rotate freely around a central axis; and ii. the pulley is positioned above one of the first or second pair of rollers.
23. The guide of claim 19 further comprising an adjustable member further comprising a first end such that the adjustable member is coupled the first end.
24. The guide of claim 19 further comprising a pivot adjustment such that the pivot adjustment is coupled to a second end of the adjustable member.
25. The guide of claim 22 further comprising a:
- a. second pulley and
- b. a second bracket coupled to the top edge of the rectangular ring such that the second pulley is axially coupled to the bracket so that: i. the pulley is able to rotate freely around a central axis; and ii. the pulley is positioned above a second of the first or second pair of rollers.
26. The guide of claim 20 further comprising:
- a. a guide ring further comprising a loop with a hollow central area wherein the guide ring is coupled to a vertical beam and the rectangular ring is coupled to the vertical beam such that the hollow central area of the guide ring and the hollow area within the four sides of the rectangular ring align vertically along the vertical beam along the same axis.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 15, 2016
Publication Date: Oct 19, 2017
Applicant: Pucuda, Inc. (Madison, CT)
Inventor: John Rexroad (Killingworth, CT)
Application Number: 15/130,917