Abstract:
The invention is a safety net system that protects crew members working on high-rise buildings. The safety net system easily adjusts between floors of a high-rise building. The safety net system includes a net support assembly, a lifting mechanism, an anchoring mechanism, and a lower plate assembly. The lifting mechanism is coupled to the net support assembly. When the lifting mechanism is activated, the net support assembly is raised or lowered to the building floor where crew members are working. The anchoring mechanism and the lower plate assembly secure the net support assembly against the building when it is in place. Among other things, the safety net system allows crew members to work on high-rise buildings without the risk of being injured by a fall or dropped objects.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to an apparatus used for maintaining a safe work environment, more particularly, to an apparatus that comprises a safety net system that maintains a safe work area for crews working on high-rise buildings both on the ground and in the air. Specifically, the present invention utilizes a lifting mechanism that allows a safety net system to easily be moved between the floors of a building undergoing maintenance or construction.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A crew maintaining or constructing a high-rise building must deal with many hazards in the work environment. Members of the crew on the ground and in the air must be constantly aware of their surroundings. Crew members on the ground must watch for dropped objects falling from above, and crew members working above ground must be conscious of where they are stepping to avoid a fall.  
         [0003]     One way to protect the crew is to install a net that surrounds the perimeter of the building near where the crew members in the air are working. Each time the crew members working above ground change positions (i.e., move to a higher or lower distance above the ground), the net must be moved. This can become very time consuming and inconvenient causing delays in the progress of the work. Because of the time and effort involved, crew members may not adjust the height of the net as often as necessary to avoid the inconvenience.  
         [0004]     The present invention provides crew members with an alternative to manually adjusting the safety net surrounding the building. The present invention includes a lifting mechanism that automatically adjusts the location or height of the safety net when activated. The lifting mechanism is secured to an upper floor of the building and comprises a lifting device and a lifting cable. The lifting cable is attached to the safety net system. When the lifting device is activated, the safety net assembly system is raised or lowered to the desired height so that the perimeter of the building is protected.  
         [0005]     Once the safety net system is raised or lowered to the desired height, it is secured in place using an anchoring mechanism. The anchoring mechanism detachably connects to the building so that the safety net system is in a fixed position. The safety net system must be in a secured, fixed position when the lifting mechanism is not activated so that the crew members on the ground and in the air are protected from falling objects.  
         [0006]     The cable extending from the lifting mechanism is secured to a lower plate assembly. The lower plate assembly is detachably connected to a floor that is in a lower position than the safety net assembly. The cable must be braced in a rigid position because the safety net assembly moves along the cable. Additionally, the cable is used to help secure the safety net system in place when it is not changing positions.  
         [0007]     Currently, there are devices that use safety nets attached to buildings to protect people working on maintenance or construction crews. However, each of these devices suffers from several disadvantages. First, the devices are difficult to move between floors and secure into position. They require a multi step process that involves many parts, and the installation process makes it difficult to change the position of the safety net assembly. Moving the prior art safety net systems each time the crew moves one floor higher or lower is difficult and requires a great deal of time and energy. The prior art devices are complicated and require a time consuming and inconvenient process.  
         [0008]     Second, the prior art devices do not automatically raise and lower the safety net assembly. The prior art devices require the safety net assembly to be manually raised or lowered when changing positions creating an increased risk for the crew members. This is a limitation of the prior art that the present invention overcomes.  
         [0009]     Presently, there is no safety net system that is easy to automatically adjust and secure between floors of a building or can move between more than one building floor at a time. For the foregoing reasons, a device that would allow maintenance or construction crews to easily adjust and secure a safety net system is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety net system that is automatically raised and lowered by a lifting mechanism.  
         [0011]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a safety net system that is easily secured when stationary.  
         [0012]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a safety net system that can be folded up against the building for cleaning or in inclement weather conditions.  
         [0013]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a safety net system that can be easily and quickly moved to provide the optimal protection for the crew members.  
         [0014]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a safety net system where a lifting device is activated to automatically raise or lower the safety net.  
         [0015]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a safety net system that quickly and easily secures to the building.  
         [0016]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a safety net system that can move between more than one building floor at a time and only requires a higher and lower attachment point.  
         [0017]     The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its structure and its operation together with the additional object and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art or arts. If any other meaning is intended, the specification will specifically state that a special meaning is being applied to a word or phrase. Likewise, the use of the words “function” or “means” in the Description of Preferred Embodiments is not intended to indicate a desire to invoke the special provision of 35 U.S.C §112, paragraph 6 to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C §112, paragraph 6 are sought to be invoked to define the invention(s), the claims will specifically state the phrases “means for” or “step for” and a function, without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material, or act in support of the function.  
         [0018]     Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C §112, paragraph 6 are invoked to define the inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function, along with any and all known or later developed equivalent structures, materials, or acts for performing the claimed function. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a top view of the safety net system.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the sliding arm of the net support assembly.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a cut away view of the sliding arm.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the lifting mechanism.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the lifting mechanism with the net flap folded for lifting.  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the lifting mechanism with the lifting handle in the “up” position.  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the lifting mechanism with the lifting handle in the “down” position.  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the lifting mechanism with the net support assembly in the lifted position.  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  shows a top view of the sliding arm with two foldable arms on the corner of a building.  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  shows a side view of a second embodiment of the sliding arm with foldable arms.  
         [0029]      FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of the sliding arm in a folded position.  
         [0030]      FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of the lower plate assembly.  
         [0031]      FIG. 13  shows a perspective view of the safety net system secured between floors.  
         [0032]      FIG. 14  shows a perspective view of the safety net system being lifted.  
         [0033]      FIG. 15  shows a perspective view of the safety net system being lifted from the top.  
         [0034]      FIG. 16  shows a perspective view of the safety net system being lifted from below.  
         [0035]      FIG. 17  shows a perspective view of the safety net system with the lifting cable attached at the bottom.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0036]     As shown in  FIG. 13 , the preferred embodiment of the safety net system  400  generally includes a lifting mechanism  200 , a net support assembly  500 , an anchoring mechanism  450 , and a lower plate assembly  300 . These components work together to automatically raise and lower a safety net system  400  attached around the perimeter of a building as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0037]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the sliding arm  100  of the net support assembly  500  consists of two sections for easy shipping. In an alternate embodiment, the sliding arm  100  consists of one section.  FIG. 3  shows the section of the sliding arm  100  that is attached to the lifting mechanism  200  and the safety net  510 . This section of the sliding arm  100  includes a coupler  120 , a vertical support  130 , and a lifting loop  170 . The vertical support  130  is the component of the sliding arm  100  that may move up and down the slide cable  210 . The slide cable  210  runs through the vertical support  130  and keeps the net support assembly  500  stabilized while being raised and lowered. The slide cable  210  also helps to secure the net support assembly  500  to the building when it is in a stationary position.  
         [0038]     Also attached to this section of the sliding arm  100  is the lifting loop  170  that attaches the sliding arm  100  to the lifting mechanism  200 . The lifting cable  220  extends from the lifting mechanism  200  and attaches to the lifting loop  170  with a hook or shackle  180 . The lifting cable  220  raises or lowers the entire net support assembly  500  when the lifting mechanism  200  is activated. This section of the sliding arm  100  also includes an angle clip  190  as shown in  FIG. 13  just below the lifting loop  170  that connects to the safety net  510 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 2  shows the section of the sliding arm  100  connected to a cantilever arm  110 . An arm clip  150  with an attached mounting plate  155  is secured to the sliding arm  100  by a clamp  140 . On one end, the cantilever arm  110  is coupled to the mounting plate  155  with a pin  160 , and on the other end the cantilever arm  110  is coupled to the safety net  510  as shown in  FIG. 13 . The pin  160  attachment enables the cantilever arm  110  to be folded parallel to the sliding arm  100  as seen in  FIG. 11 . This embodiment is preferred to enable storage when not in use as well as easy maintenance and cleaning and to protect the safety net system  400  from inclement weather.  
         [0040]     As illustrated by  FIG. 9 , an alternate embodiment of the sliding arm  100  and cantilever arm  110  attachment allows two cantilever arms  110  to be attached to a single sliding arm  100 . This embodiment is preferred when a safety net system  400  is anchored at the corner of a building. Rather than having a separate safety net system  400  on each side of the corner, one safety net system  400  protects both sides of the corner by having two net support assemblies  500  with one sliding arm  100 . Using one safety net system  400  with two cantilever arms  110  around a corner as opposed to two safety net systems  400  increases efficiency and reduces cost.  
         [0041]     As shown in  FIG. 13 , when the net support assembly  500  is in the lowered position, the anchoring mechanism  450  is installed to lock the net support assembly  500  in place and provide the necessary security to ensure that the net support assembly  500  stays in a rigid position. The anchoring mechanism  450  is a combination of two mechanisms located separately along the sliding arm  100 . The first mechanism  480  is located directly below the angle clip  190  that attaches the sliding arm  100  to the safety net  510 . The first mechanism  480  comprises a mounting plate  460  that is attached to the sliding arm  100 . The mounting plate  460  is preferably bolted into the building floor  470  or in an alternate embodiment, attached to a steel beam, at or below where crew members are working.  
         [0042]     The second mechanism  490  comprises a web  491 , a ratchet  492 , a hook  493 , a mounting plate  494 , and an eyebolt  495 . The mounting plate  494  of the second mechanism  490  is preferably attached to the beam  470  of the building floor that is directly below the first mechanism  480 . The web  491  loops around the sliding arm  100  and attaches to the mounting plate  494  with a hook  493  and an eyebolt  495 . A ratchet  492  is affixed to the web  491  so that the sliding arm  100  can be tightened against the side of the building. Both anchoring mechanisms  450  are detachable from the sliding arm  100  and the beam  470  of the building floor so that the net support assembly  500  can move along the slide cable  210 .  
         [0043]     As depicted in  FIG. 12 , a lower plate assembly  300  secures the end of the slide cable  210  opposite the lifting mechanism  200  to the building. The lower plate assembly  300  includes a beam clamp  320 , a mounting plate  330 , a support bar  340 , and a turnbuckle  310 . The beam clamp  320  is coupled to a beam  350  of a building floor that is lower than the second mechanism  490  of the anchoring mechanism  450 . The support bar  340  runs parallel to the beam  350  of the building floor. One end of the support bar  340  attaches to the beam clamp  320  and the other end attaches to the mounting plate  330 . The support bar  340  provides the strength required to keep the lower plate assembly  300  firmly in place. The lower plate assembly  300  must be tightly in place so that the slide cable  210  and the net support assembly  500  remain rigid. The turnbuckle  310  attaches to the beam clamp  320  and the slide cable  210 . A turnbuckle  310  is preferred to secure the slide cable  210  to the lower plate assembly  300  because a turnbuckle  310  provides a way to maintain tautness in the slide cable  210  without detaching it from the lifting mechanism  200 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 14  illustrates the lifting mechanism  200  moving the net support assembly  400  along the slide cable  210 . The lifting mechanism  200  consists of a lifting device  250 , a lifting arm  240 , a slide cable  210 , a lifting cable  220 , a pulley wheel  230 , a lifting handle  255 , a clamp bracket  260 , mounting plates  270 , and a beam clamp  295  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The lifting device  250  is fastened to the lifting arm  240  using two clamp brackets  260 , and the lifting arm  240  is coupled between two mounting plates  270 . One mounting plate  270  directly attaches to the beam  296  of a building floor, and the other mounting plate  270  attaches to the beam clamp  295 . The beam clamp  295  connects to the beam  296  of a building floor and maintains the lifting arm  240  in a fixed position. Extending from the lifting device  250  is the lifting cable  220 . The lifting cable  220  stretches across the pulley wheel  230  and hooks to the sliding arm  100 . The slide cable  210  attaches to the lifting arm  240  and extends down through the sliding arm  100  to the turnbuckle  310  of the lower plate assembly  300 .  
         [0045]     When the lifting handle  255  activates the lifting device  250 , the lifting cable  220  moves across the pulley wheel  230  and raises or lowers the net support assembly  500 .  FIG. 6  shows the lifting handle  255  in position to raise the net support assembly  500 , and  FIG. 7  shows the lifting handle  255  in position to lower the net support assembly  500 . Additionally, when the net support assembly  500  is being raised or lowered, the net flap  195  closest to the building should be folded back to allow the sliding arm  100  to move as shown in  FIG. 5 . Alternate embodiments of the lifting device  250  can be used to raise and lower the safety net system  400 . Examples of alternate embodiments include a come-along, a chain fall, pulling from an eyebolt the building floor above, or pulling off of a column.  
         [0046]      FIG. 15  shows how the entire safety net system  400  can be moved to accommodate buildings of different heights. The lifting mechanism  200  is detached and re-installed at a higher building floor. The lower plate assembly  300  is also detached and re-installed at a higher building floor. Once the lifting mechanism  200  and lower plate assembly  300  are re-installed, the safety net system  400  will operate as described above.  
         [0047]     Alternate embodiments of the invention are depicted in  FIGS. 16 and 17 . In  FIG. 16 , the lifting device  250  is attached to the lower plate assembly  300 , and the net support assembly  500  is lifted from below. In this embodiment, the lifting loop  170  is located on the section of the sliding arm  100  where the cantilever arm  110  attaches. Also, the lower plate assembly  300  and the lifting mechanism  200  include a pulley wheel  230  to guide the lifting cable  220 . Additionally, in this embodiment, the lifting cable  220 , as well as the slide cable  210 , goes through the vertical support  130  of the sliding arm  100 .  
         [0048]      FIG. 17  shows an embodiment with the lifting cable  220  attached to the bottom of the sliding arm  100 . The lifting cable  220  runs through the vertical support  130  of the sliding arm  100  in this embodiment.  
         [0049]     The preferred embodiment of the invention is described above, in the Drawings, and Description of Preferred Embodiments. While these descriptions directly describe the above embodiments, it is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive modifications and/or variations to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. Any such modifications or variations that fall within the purview of this description are intended to be included therein as well. Unless specifically noted, it is the intention of the inventor that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meanings to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art(s). The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention known to the applicant at the time of filing the application has been presented and is intended for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in the light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.