Patent Publication Number: US-2017355582-A1

Title: Apparatus for providing safety netting on closed-sided manlifts

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     This disclosure generally relates to the field of manlift safety. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Manlifts are used in numerous applications in many industries. The advantage of a manlift is that it extends the reach of a person inside the manlift while providing a stable, flat platform as a working area, as opposed to the person working on a ladder or suspended. The manlift also provides platform space that may be used for carrying tools or other equipment. Manlifts include different designs such as, but not limited to, scissor lifts, articulated boom lifts, rough terrain lifts, narrow access lifts, telescopic lifts, push-around lifts, fort lifts, crane lifts, scaffolding lifts, and rolling tower lifts. 
     Typically, manlifts include safety features to prevent persons within the manlift from falling out. Closed-sided manlifts (also called bucket manlifts) have solid walls to prevent personnel from falling out. Open-sided manlifts have substantially open areas but includes safety features such as toe boards and railing to prevent personnel from falling out. The general focus on manlift safety has been for the person inside the manlift, especially when the task being performed requires the personnel reaching out and extending part of their body beyond the confines of the bucket or safety railing. 
     One problem with present manlifts is that the safety features focus on the people inside the manlift, but not the people outside, particularly those who may be below the manlift when a tool extended beyond the manlift perimeter falls. Therefore, a need exists for a safety apparatus that will prevent objects from falling when the object is disposed beyond the manlift&#39;s perimeter. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     One embodiment according to the present disclosure includes an apparatus for preventing objects from falling below an open-sided manlift, the apparatus comprising: a frame comprising: a plurality of horizontal bottom members forming a bottom perimeter configured to align with a perimeter of a platform of the open-sided manlift; a plurality of middle members configured to extend upward and outward from the platform perimeter and attached at substantially right angles to the plurality of horizontal bottom members; and a plurality of horizontal top members aligned to form a top perimeter that is greater than the bottom perimeter and attached to the plurality of middle members at substantially right angles, wherein the top perimeter encompasses a surface area that extends beyond a surface area of the platform; a plurality of attachment devices configured to attach adjacent members; and netting attached between the horizontal bottom members, horizontal top members, and middle members and configured to prevent objects from vertically passing below the platform through a horizontal surface area between the bottom perimeter and top perimeter. The apparatus may also include attachment devices disposed on the horizontal bottom members and configured to attach to a toe board of the open-sided manlift. The attachment devices may comprise at least one of: i) brackets, ii) clips, iii) hook and loop fasteners, iv) plastic ties, v) hinges, and vi) magnets. The apparatus may have a top perimeter that extends outside of a perimeter of an outside railing of the open-sided manlift. Brackets may be attached to the horizontal top members and configured to attach to the railing of the open-sided manlift. The members (horizontal top, horizontal bottom, and middle) may be made of at least one of: metal, plastic, fiberglass, composite, and rubber. The members may be rigid or flexible. The attachment devices between the members may be flexible or rigid. The frame may be collapsible. The netting may be held taut or slack between the top perimeter and the bottom perimeter. The netting may be mesh, waterproof, fire resistant, or combinations thereof 
     Another embodiment according to the present disclosure includes an apparatus for preventing objects from falling below a closed-sided manlift, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of rectangular frames, wherein each rectangular frame comprises: a plurality of attachment devices configured for mounting on a lip of a closed-sided manlift; an inside frame member attached to the plurality of attachment devices; a plurality of outward frame members attached to the inside member at right angles; and an outside frame member attached to the plurality of outward members at right angles; a plurality of attachment devices configured to attach adjacent members; a first netting disposed between the members and held slack; wherein the rectangular frames are configured to be disposed on adjacent sides of the closed-sided manlift; at least one angled member attached to the outward members of adjacent rectangular frames; and a second netting disposed between the at least one angled member and the outward members of the adjacent rectangular frames and held slack. The rectangular frames may be configured to be disposed along three or more sides of the closed-sided manlift. The attachment devices may comprise at least one of: i) brackets, ii) clips, iii) hook and loop fasteners, iv) plastic ties, v) hinges, and vi) magnets. The members may comprise at least one of: metal, plastic, fiberglass, composite, and rubber. The members may be rigid or flexible, and the attachment devices between the members may be rigid or flexible. One or more of the rectangular frames may be collapsible. The first netting and the second netting may be made of mesh, waterproof material, fire resistant material, and combinations thereof. The apparatus may include support brackets configured to attach the outside and/or outward members to the lip of the closed-sided manlift. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A better understanding of the present disclosure can be obtained with the following detailed descriptions of the various disclosed embodiments in the drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limiting the present disclosure, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic of an open-sided manlift with a safety apparatus according to embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 1B  is a side view of the apparatus from  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 1C  is an interior view of a cross-section of the apparatus from  FIG. 1A  taken from line A-A of  FIG. 1D ; 
         FIG. 1D  is a top view of the apparatus from  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary toe board attachment for the safety apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3A  is top view of another embodiment of the safety apparatus on a closed-sided manlift according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3B  is a side view of  FIG. 3A ; and 
         FIG. 3C  is a side view of  FIG. 3A  with optional support brackets 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Generally, the present disclosure involves a safety apparatus for manlifts. Specifically, the present disclosure is directed to an apparatus of preventing tools and other objects from falling over the side of manlift. The present disclosure is also directed to protecting people and objects below the manlift from damage due to objects falling from the manlift. The present disclosure is susceptible to embodiments of different forms. There are shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, specific embodiments of the present disclosure with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the present disclosure to that illustrated and described herein. 
       FIGS. 1A-1D  show different views of one embodiment of the safety apparatus  100  according to the present disclosure. The apparatus  100  includes a frame made up of horizontal bottom members  110 , angled middle members  120 , and horizontal top members  130 . The frame is configured to be disposed on an open-sided manlift  150 . The open-sided manlift  150  includes a platform  155 , a lifting mechanism  165  configured to vertically raise/lower the platform  155 , and wheels  175 . A perimeter formed by the horizontal bottom members  110  is approximately the same size as the surface dimensions of the platform  155 . The horizontal bottom members  110  support the angled middle members  120 , which are angled outward from the perimeter of the platform  155 . The angled middle members  120  may be angled outward relative to one rectangular dimension ( FIG. 1B  right) or both rectangular dimensions ( FIG. 1B  left). The horizontal top members  130  are attached to the middle members  120  and form a larger perimeter than the horizontal bottom members  110 . The members  110 ,  120 ,  130  may be made of rigid or flexible materials. In some embodiments, the members  110 ,  120 ,  130  may be made of one or more of: i) metal, ii) plastic, iii) fiberglass, iv) composite, and v) rubber. 
     The members  110 ,  120 ,  130  may be attached to one another using any attachment means  190  known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The attachment means  190  may be rigid or flexible. In some embodiments, the attachments may be configured so that the frame is collapsible. In some embodiments, the frame may be configured to partially collapse in one or more directions, such that, the frame will collapse on one side of the open-sided manlift  150  while maintaining position on the other sides when the open-sided manlift  150  is positioned against the face of a structure, such as a building. This allows the apparatus  100  to continue to operate while the open-sided manlift  150  is positioned for close-in work on a structure. 
     The horizontal bottom members  110  may be attached to the open-sided manlift  150  at a toe board  160 . The attachment between the bottom members  110  and the toe board  160  may be any suitable attachment mechanism as understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art, including, but not limited to, brackets, clips, hook and loop fasteners, plastic ties, hinges, and magnets. 
     Netting  140  may be disposed between the members  110 ,  120 ,  130 . The netting  140  may be configured so that the horizontal plane formed between the perimeter of the horizontal top members  130  and the perimeter of the horizontal bottom members  110  intercepts falling objects that would otherwise fall below the height of the platform  155 . The netting  140  may be configured as taut or slack. When the netting  140  is sufficiently taut, objects that are intercepted by the netting  140  will be redirected onto the platform  155  by sliding down the netting  140 . If the netting  140  is sufficiently slack, a falling object may be captured by a pocket formed by the netting  140  along side the toe board  160  or next to the platform  155 . The netting  140  may be a water resistant material (i.e. canvas), a mesh, or a combination thereof. The netting  140  may be made of a waterproof material. The netting  140  may be made of a fire resistant material. The netting  140  is configured to prevent the passage of small macroscopic objects. In some embodiments, the netting  140  may be made of nylon or polyester. 
     As seen in  FIG. 1C , in some embodiments, the open-sided manlift  150  may include a railing  170 , and the apparatus  100  may include standoff members  180  configured to maintain the position of the horizontal top members  130  at a selected distance from the railing  170 , thus, maintaining the area of the horizontal area where falling objects may be intercepted. The selected distance may be selected to be approximately a human arm length. In some embodiments, the selected distance may be 24 inches. It is also contemplated that the apparatus  100  may be held in position on the open-sided manlift  150  by the standoff members  180  and the no toe board  170  attachment be required. 
       FIG. 2  shows an exemplary attachment means  190  between the horizontal bottom member  110  and the toe board  160 . Here a hinge bracket  210  is attached to the toe board  160  using bolts  120  and similarly attached to the horizontal bottom member  110 . The hinge bracket  210  is secured with a pin  230  to complete the attachment. In some embodiments, the attachment of the horizontal bottom member  110  and the toe board  160  may include a hold open hinge. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  show schematics of a safety apparatus  300  for a closed-sided manlift made up of a platform  360 , closed sides  370 , and a lip  380 . The safety apparatus  300  may include a set of horizontal rectangular frames made up of inside members  305 , outside members  310 , and outward members  320 . The horizontal rectangular frames may be attached to netting  330  such that netting  330  is configured to catch falling objects. The netting  330  may be similar in composition and structure as the netting  140 . Angled outward members  325  may be used to attach netting  335  for providing continuous netting coverage around corners of the manlift. In some embodiments, the members  305 ,  310 ,  320 ,  325  may be made of one or more of: i) metal, ii) plastic, iii) fiberglass, iv) composite, and v) rubber. The outward members  320 ,  325  are configured with sufficient stiffness to support the weight and torque of at least the horizontal rectangular frame and the netting  330 ,  335 . In some embodiments, the stiffness of the outward members  320 ,  325  may be sufficient to support the weight and torque of the horizontal rectangular frame, the netting  330 ,  335 , and small objects that may fall into the netting  330 ,  335 . 
     The inside members  305  may be supported by an attachment mechanism  350  connected to the lip  380 . Suitable attachment mechanisms  350  may include, but are not limited to, hooks, brackets, clips, and plastic ties. The outward members  320 ,  325  may be attached to a suitable attachment mechanism  350  (the same or different from the attachment mechanism corresponding to the inside members  305 ). The outside members  310  are supported by the outward members  320 ,  325 . The members  305 ,  310 ,  320 ,  325  may be rigid or flexible (such as cable). In some embodiments, the horizontal rectangular frames may be disposed on two, three, or four sides of the closed-sided manlift. In some embodiments, the horizontal rectangular frame members  305 ,  310 ,  320 ,  325  may have flexible attachments such that the apparatus  300  is collapsible and so that the apparatus  300  is not damaged if the closed-sided manlift is too close to a structure (such as a wall). In some embodiments, the flexible attachments may include compression springs configured to 1) maintain the shape of the horizontal rectangular frame when nominal force is applied to the horizontal rectangular frame and 2) allow the horizontal rectangular frame to at least partially collapse when lateral force is applied to the horizontal rectangular frame (as in encountering the surface of a building). 
       FIG. 3C  shows a schematic of the safety apparatus  300  with optional supports  390  attached to the lip  380  and configured to support the horizontal rectangular frame at a selected distance or distances from the lip  380 . The supports  390  may be attached to one or more of the outside members  310 , the outward members  320 , or both. The supports  390  may be attached to the members  310 ,  320  and the lip  380  using any of the aforementioned attachment mechanisms as would be known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The foregoing disclosure and description of the disclosure are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the details of the illustrated apparatus and apparatus, and the construction and the method of operation may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.