Patent ID: 6098750
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: A62B,E04G,Y10S

Abstract:
A safety system for protecting an open side of a work area positioned on an upper surface of an elevated structure comprising:a first post having a top end and a bottom end, said bottom end of said first post capable of being secured to said structure;a second post having a top end and a bottom end, said bottom end of said second post capable of being secured to said structure, said second post disposed a predetermined distance away from said first post;a top arm having a first end and a second end, disposed between said first post and said second post, said top arm movable between a first position wherein said top arm is positioned between said top end of said first post and said top end of said second post and a second position wherein said top arm is positioned between said bottom end of said first post and said bottom end of said second post and below said upper surface of said structure;a bottom assembly disposed between said bottom end of said first post and said bottom end of said second post, and directly below said second position of said top arm;a net having a left side, a right side, a bottom side and a top side, said top side of said net secured to said top arm, said bottom side of said net secured to said bottom assembly, said left side of said net movably secured to said first post, and said right side of said net movably secured to said second post; anda cable assembly comprising a first cable having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first cable secured to said first end of said top arm, said second end of said first cable extending through and beyond said first vertical post, and a second cable having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second cable secured to said second end of said top arm, said second end of said second cable extending through and beyond said second vertical post, said top arm in communication with said cable assembly exclusively at said first and second ends of said top arm, said cable assembly for moving said top arm between said first position wherein said net is disposed substantially covering an opening defined by said first post, said second post, said top arm and said bottom assembly and said second position wherein said net is disposed below said upper surface of said structure between said first post and said second post and directly beneath said defined opening and said first and second cables and further wherein said first and second cables are disposed proximate to respective said first and second vertical posts so that movement of workers and machinery into and out of said work area between said first post and said second post is unobstructed.