Modular Fall Protection System
A modular fall protection system has an adjustable frame that can be mounted onto an external structure and used to support the weight of a user who has fallen. The adjustable frame has a length-adjustable mast, set of connective braces, and an anchor point. The length-adjustable mast is a telescoping post that can be extended or collapsed to provide fall protection to the user at various heights. The connective braces extend between the length-adjustable mast and the external structure and are used to maintain the length-adjustable mast in an orientation that facilitates suspending the user in the air after a fall. The anchor point enables the user to be tethered to the length-adjustable post. Preferably, the system has a detachable walkway and handrail that can be mounted onto the adjustable frame and provide fall protection in a variety of situations.
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/673,261 filed on May 18, 2018.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to fall protection devices. More specifically, the present invention is a fall protection apparatus that can be easily mounted to an external structure and includes modular components that can be reconfigured depending on the desired task.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFall protection devices provide safety measures for individuals working at height. Fall protection devices prevent an individual from falling or from being severely injured if the individual does fall. A type of fall protection is a fall arrest device which includes an apparatus that is fixed to the ground or structure and tethered to an individual therefore, preventing the individual from being severely injured if the individual falls. There are flaws with conventional fall arrest devices. Specifically, conventional fall arrest devices are typically expensive and difficult to install. In more detail, conventional fall arrest devices cannot be installed to most structures and usually require a structure to be permanently altered. Conventional fall arrest devices, when used with tractor trailers, for example, require the trailers to be permanently altered during installation.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a fall protection apparatus that can be easily mounted to an external structure and includes adjustable and/or fixed braces and a mast. The present invention may include a base to be mounted to a ground surface using fasteners and the adjustable braces can be mounted to any external structure including, but not limited to, a tanker truck or a dump truck. Additionally, the present invention is designed to build a walkway that enables the individual to traverse the external structure without fear of falling.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
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Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1. A modular fall protection system comprising:
- at least one adjustable frame;
- the adjustable frame comprising a length-adjustable mast, at least one connective brace, and at least one anchor point;
- the length-adjustable mast comprising an exterior sleeve, an interior post, and an adjustment mechanism;
- the interior post being slidably engaged into the exterior sleeve;
- the adjustment mechanism being mechanically integrated in between the interior post and the exterior sleeve;
- the connective brace being laterally mounted onto the exterior sleeve;
- the anchor point being laterally mounted onto the interior post; and
- the anchor point being positioned offset from the exterior sleeve along the interior post.
2. The modular fall protection system as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
- the connective brace comprising a length-adjustable brace, a first adjustable fastener, and a second adjustable fastener;
- the first adjustable fastener being terminally connected to the length-adjustable support;
- the second adjustable fastener being terminally connected to the length-adjustable support, opposite to the first adjustable fastener; and
- the first adjustable fastener being connected in between the length-adjustable support and the exterior sleeve.
3. The modular fall protection system as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
- the at least one connective brace comprising a first brace and a second brace; and
- the first brace being positioned offset from the second brace along the exterior sleeve.
4. The modular fall protection system as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
- the adjustable frame further comprising a base; and
- the base being terminally mounted onto the exterior sleeve, opposite to the interior post.
5. The modular fall protection system as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
- the adjustment mechanism comprising a slot and a locking device;
- the slot traversing through the exterior sleeve;
- the slot being oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the length-adjustable mast;
- the locking device being slidably engaged along the slot; and
- the locking device being mechanically integrated in between the exterior sleeve and the interior post.
6. The modular fall protection system as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
- at least one collapsible handrail assembly;
- the at least one connective brace comprising a first brace and a second brace;
- the collapsible handrail assembly comprising a primary rail, a secondary rail, a first linkage, a second linkage, and a plurality of balusters;
- the first linkage being pivotably connected in between the primary rail and the secondary rail;
- the second linkage being pivotably connected in between the primary rail and the secondary rail;
- the second linkage being positioned offset from the first linkage across the primary rail;
- the primary rail being terminally and pivotably connected to each of the plurality of balusters;
- the secondary rail being pivotably connected to each of the plurality of balusters; and
- each of the plurality of balusters being terminally and pivotably mounted adjacent to the first brace, opposite to the primary rail.
7. The modular fall protection system as claimed in claim 6 comprising:
- the collapsible handrail assembly further comprising a plurality of pivoting couplers;
- the plurality of pivoting couplers being mounted adjacent to the walkway; and
- each of the plurality of balusters being terminally and pivotably connected to a corresponding coupler from the plurality of pivoting couplers.
8. The modular fall protection system as claimed in claim 6 comprising:
- the collapsible handrail assembly further comprising at least one rail actuator; and
- the rail actuator being operatively coupled between the first brace and the collapsible handrail assembly, wherein the rail actuator governs the collapsible functionality of the collapsible handrail.
9. The modular fall protection system as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
- a walkway;
- the at least one adjustable frame comprising a first frame and a second frame;
- the first frame and the second frame each comprising a mast, a primary brace, and a secondary brace;
- the first frame being positioned offset from the second frame;
- the first frame being oriented parallel to the second frame;
- the primary brace being laterally mounted onto the mast;
- the secondary brace being laterally mounted onto the mast;
- the secondary brace being positioned offset from the primary brace, along the mast; and
- the walkway being connected in between the primary brace of the first frame and the primary brace of the second frame.
10. The modular fall protection system as claimed in claim 9 comprising:
- a first collapsible handrail assembly;
- a second collapsible handrail assembly;
- the first collapsible handrail assembly being mounted adjacent to the primary brace of the first frame; and
- the second collapsible handrail assembly being mounted adjacent to the primary brace of the second frame.
11. A modular fall protection system comprising:
- at least one adjustable frame;
- the adjustable frame comprising a length-adjustable mast, at least one connective brace, and at least one anchor point;
- the length-adjustable mast comprising an exterior sleeve, an interior post, and an adjustment mechanism;
- the at least one connective brace comprising a first brace and a second brace;
- the interior post being slidably engaged into the exterior sleeve;
- the adjustment mechanism being mechanically integrated in between the interior post and the exterior sleeve;
- the connective brace being laterally mounted onto the exterior sleeve;
- the anchor point being laterally mounted onto the interior post;
- the anchor point being positioned offset from the exterior sleeve along the interior post; and
- the first brace being positioned offset from the second brace along the exterior sleeve.
12. The modular fall protection system as claimed in claim 11 comprising:
- the connective brace comprising a length-adjustable brace, a first adjustable fastener, and a second adjustable fastener;
- the first adjustable fastener being terminally connected to the length-adjustable support;
- the second adjustable fastener being terminally connected to the length-adjustable support, opposite to the first adjustable fastener; and
- the first adjustable fastener being connected in between the length-adjustable support and the exterior sleeve.
13. The modular fall protection system as claimed in claim 11 comprising:
- the adjustable frame further comprising a base; and
- the base being terminally mounted onto the exterior sleeve, opposite to the interior post.
14. The modular fall protection system as claimed in claim 11 comprising:
- the adjustment mechanism comprising a slot and a locking device;
- the slot traversing through the exterior sleeve;
- the slot being oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the length-adjustable mast;
- the locking device being slidably engaged along the slot; and
- the locking device being mechanically integrated in between the exterior sleeve and the interior post.
15. The modular fall protection system as claimed in claim 11 comprising:
- at least one collapsible handrail assembly;
- the at least one connective brace comprising a first brace and a second brace;
- the collapsible handrail assembly comprising a primary rail, a secondary rail, a first linkage, a second linkage, and a plurality of balusters;
- the first linkage being pivotably connected in between the primary rail and the secondary rail;
- the second linkage being pivotably connected in between the primary rail and the secondary rail;
- the second linkage being positioned offset from the first linkage across the primary rail;
- the primary rail being terminally and pivotably connected to each of the plurality of balusters;
- the secondary rail being pivotably connected to each of the plurality of balusters; and
- each of the plurality of balusters being terminally and pivotably mounted adjacent to the first brace, opposite to the primary rail.
16. The modular fall protection system as claimed in claim 15 comprising:
- the collapsible handrail assembly further comprising a plurality of pivoting couplers; and
- the plurality of pivoting couplers being mounted adjacent to the walkway;
- each of the plurality of balusters being terminally and pivotably connected to a corresponding coupler from the plurality of pivoting couplers.
17. The modular fall protection system as claimed in claim 15 comprising:
- the collapsible handrail assembly further comprising at least one rail actuator; and
- the rail actuator being operatively coupled between the first brace and the collapsible handrail assembly, wherein the rail actuator governs the collapsible functionality of the collapsible handrail.
18. The modular fall protection system as claimed in claim 11 comprising:
- a walkway;
- the at least one adjustable frame comprising a first frame and a second frame;
- the first frame and the second frame each comprising a mast, a primary brace, and a secondary brace;
- the first frame being positioned offset from the second frame;
- the first frame being oriented parallel to the second frame;
- the primary brace being laterally mounted onto the mast;
- the secondary brace being laterally mounted onto the mast;
- the secondary brace being positioned offset from the primary brace, along the mast; and
- the walkway being connected in between the primary brace of the first frame and the primary brace of the second frame.
19. The modular fall protection system as claimed in claim 18 comprising:
- a first collapsible handrail assembly;
- a second collapsible handrail assembly;
- the first collapsible handrail assembly being mounted adjacent to the primary brace of the first frame; and
- the second collapsible handrail assembly being mounted adjacent to the primary brace of the second frame.
Type: Application
Filed: May 16, 2019
Publication Date: Nov 21, 2019
Inventor: John Robert Salyer (Bristol, VA)
Application Number: 16/414,370