Patent ID: 11970870
Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
Field: Other consumer goods (Other fields)
Classification: CPC E  A | IPC A  E

Claim 16:
17. A method for preventing a user from moving beyond a first distance from a support structure, the method comprising:
securing a user to a user end of a flexible tether, having a fixed length and comprising an anchor end, opposite the user end, attached to a second end of an extension member, the extension member comprising a first end that is opposite the second end, wherein:
the first end is configured to be fixed to the support structure;
the second end is movable relative to the first end along a plane;
the second end is configured to extend away from the first end to an extended position and retract from the extended position toward the first end to a retracted position;

adjusting a second length of the extension member, wherein:
in the extended position, the second end is no more than a second distance away from the first end; and
the sum of the fixed length and the second length is less than the first distance; and

operating a controller in electrical communication with the extension member to adjust a lateral position of the extension member along at least one rail horizontally fixed to the support structure.