Patent Publication Number: US-6698142-B2

Title: Netting system for use with bleachers and grandstands

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/245,784, filed Nov. 3, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a netting system for use with bleachers and grandstands. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There have been instances of children and persons falling through the benches of bleachers and grandstands, and these falls have resulted in serious bodily injury as well as fatalities. Therefore, there is a need for fall protection systems for use with bleachers and grandstands to prevent children and persons from falling to the ground. In addition, there is also a need for debris retention under bleachers and grandstands to not only aid in the ease of clean up but to prevent items from falling from the benches and injuring persons on the ground proximate the bleachers and grandstands. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A preferred embodiment netting system for use with bleachers operatively connected to a wall having a first attachment point includes a net having a first end and a second end, and the bleachers include at least one bench and a second attachment point. The first end of the net is operatively connected to the first attachment point of the wall, the second end of the net is operatively connected to the second attachment point of the bleachers, and the net is below the at least one bench. 
     In another preferred embodiment netting system for use with bleachers operatively connected to a wall having a first attachment point, a net has a first end, a middle portion, and a second end and the bleachers have at least one bench, an understructure, and a second attachment point. The first end of the net is operatively connected to the first attachment point. The middle portion of the net is passed over and supported by the understructure. The second end of the net is operatively connected to the second attachment point, and the net is below the at least one bench. 
     In another preferred embodiment netting system for use with bleachers operatively connected to a wall having a first attachment point, a net includes a first end, a middle portion, and a second end and the bleachers have at least one bench, an understructure, and a second attachment point. The first end of the net is operatively connected to the first attachment point, the middle portion of the net is passed over and supported by the understructure, and the second end of the net is operatively connected to the second attachment point. The net is below the at least one bench. A first cable is operatively connected to the first attachment point and the first end of the net is operatively connected to the first cable. A second cable is operatively connected to the second attachment point and the second end of the net is operatively connected to the second cable. 
     In another preferred embodiment netting system for use with bleachers, a net includes a first end, a middle portion, and a second end and the bleachers have a first attachment point, at least one bench, an understructure, and a second attachment point. The first end of the net is operatively connected to the first attachment point, the middle portion of the net is passed over and supported by the understructure, and the second end of the net is operatively connected to the second attachment point. The net is below the at least one bench. A first cable is operatively connected to the first attachment point and the first end of the net is operatively connected to the first cable. A second cable is operatively connected to the second attachment point and the second end of the net is operatively connected to the second cable. 
     In another preferred embodiment netting system for fall protection purposes used with bleachers operatively connected to a wall having a first attachment point, the bleachers have a width, an understructure, benches, and a second attachment point. The netting system includes a plurality of panels of netting field connected together to span the width of the bleachers having a first end, a middle portion, and a second end. A first cable is operatively connected to the first attachment point, and the first end of the panels of netting is operatively connected to the first cable. The middle portion is supported by the understructure of the bleachers below the benches. A second cable is operatively connected to the second attachment point, and the second end of the panels of netting is operatively connected to the second cable thereby providing fall protection below the benches of the bleachers. 
     A preferred embodiment safety netting and bleacher combination includes a net having a first end, a middle portion, and a second end. The bleachers have a first attachment point, at least one bench, an understructure, and a second attachment point. The first end of the net is operatively connected to the first attachment point, and the middle portion of the net is passed over and supported by the understructure. The second end of the net is operatively connected to the second attachment point, and the net is below the at least one bench. 
     A preferred embodiment method of providing fall protection for use with bleachers having a first attachment point, an understructure, and a second attachment point includes providing a net having a first end, a middle portion, and a second end. The first end is secured to the first attachment point, the second end is passed over the understructure of the bleachers whereby the middle portion of the net is supported by the understructure, and the second end is secured to the second attachment point. 
     Another preferred embodiment method of providing fall protection for use with bleachers operatively connected to a wall having a first attachment point, the bleachers having an understructure and a second attachment point, includes attaching a first cable to the first attachment point and attaching a second cable to the second attachment point. A net is provided having a first end, a middle portion, and a second end. The first end is secured to the first cable, the second end is passed over the understructure of the bleachers thereby supporting the middle portion of the net with the understructure, and the second end is secured to the second cable. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a netting system operatively connected to a grandstand according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing a first end of the netting system shown in FIG. 1 operatively connected to the grandstand; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing a middle portion of the netting system shown in FIG. 1 operatively connected to the grandstand; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing a second end of the netting system shown in FIG. 1 operatively connected to the grandstand; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the first end of the netting system shown in FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the second end of the netting system shown in FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like parts and assemblies throughout the several views, a netting system for use with bleachers and grandstands constructed according to the principles of the present invention is designated as numeral  10  in FIG.  1 . 
     The netting system  10  for use with bleachers and grandstands includes netting  12 , which is operatively connected to bleachers  11 , as shown in FIG.  1 . The netting  12  spans an area of protection  13  underneath the bleachers  11  to prevent children, persons, and debris from falling to the ground. In the preferred embodiment, netting  12  includes panels of netting approximately 9.0 feet long by 4.5 feet wide, which are field connected together at the site of installation by means well known in the art such as by clips  27 , as shown in FIG.  3 . The panels of netting are installed along the entire width of the bleachers  11  below the benches  19  in the area of protection  13 , which is approximately 9.0 feet long in the preferred embodiment. Netting such as Model #145 manufactured by SINCO, Inc. or other suitable netting known in the art may be used. The netting should be strong enough to support children and persons. It is understood that longer and/or wider netting or multiple netting panels may be used to accommodate various sizes of bleachers and grandstands. Once the appropriate number of netting panels is installed according to the principles of the present invention, the adjacent sides of the netting panels are field connected together at the site of installation by means well known in the art such as by using snap hooks, connecting links, lashing, clips, and the like. 
     Netting  12  includes a first end  12   a  and a second end  12   b , and each end  12   a  and  12   b  includes at least two corners. Each corner of the first end  12   a  is attached to an eye nut  16 , which is operatively connected to a threaded rod  15  existing in a wall  14  or other suitable structure proximate the back of the bleachers  11  thereby providing an attachment point  11   a . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, each eye nut  16  is threaded onto the threaded rod  15 , and a hook  17  connects each corner of the first end  12   a  of the netting  12  to each eye nut  16 . A horizontal top cable  18  is also operatively connected between the eye nuts  16  proximate each of the top corners of the netting  12 . In the preferred embodiment, the cable  18  is a continuous ¼ inch cable spanning the entire width of the bleachers underneath the top row of the benches. Along the cable  18 , the netting  12  is connected to the cable  18  by a plurality of hooks  17 . The hooks  17  are spaced along the cable  18  approximately one foot apart connecting the first end  12   a  to the cable  18 . It is understood that other means for attaching the first end  12   a  of the netting  12  to the bleachers  11  may be used such as a series of eyebolts and hooks along the wall  14  or other means well known in the art. 
     In another embodiment, the top cable may be operatively connected to an attachment structure on the bleachers rather than on the wall proximate the top of the bleachers. This is accomplished in a similar manner as the bottom cable  25  is operatively connected to the attachment structure  11   b , which is shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 and is described in more detail below. 
     Once the first end  12   a  is secured, the second end  12   b  is then passed over the steel understructure  11   c  of the bleachers  11  below the benches  19  and then connected to the horizontal bottom cable  25  by hooks  26 . In the preferred embodiment, the steel understructure  11   c  is a plurality of elongate members extending below the benches  19 , and the netting  12  is draped over the top of the elongate members. Thus, the middle portion  12   c  of the net  12  rests on and is supported by the understructure  11   c  below each bench  19  thereby providing a sectioned portion of netting below each bench  19  to ensure adequate fall protection in the area of protection  13 , as shown in FIG.  3 . Passing the netting  12  over the steel understructure  11   c  of the bleachers  11  ensures that the netting  12  will remain in position and simplifies installation by using the existing structure of the bleachers  11 . Connecting the second end  12   b  to the horizontal bottom cable  25  is accomplished in a similar manner as the first end  12   a  is connected to the horizontal top cable  18  and is shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. The horizontal bottom cable  25  is operatively connected to an attachment structure  11   b , which includes an attachment assembly  23  having an eyebolt  23   a , a nut  23   b , and a washer  23   c , at each end of the bleachers  11  proximate the bottom of the bleachers  11 . Along the cable  25 , the second end  12   b  of the netting  12  is connected to the cable  25  by a plurality of hooks spaced along the cable  25  approximately one foot apart. It is understood that other means for attaching the second end  12   b  of the netting  12  to the bleachers  11  may be used such as a series of eyebolts and hooks along the understructure  11   c  of the bleachers  11  or other means well known in the art. 
     The bleachers  11  include vertical members  21  and horizontal members  22 . In FIG. 4, the vertical member  21  is cut away for purposes of clarity. The attachment structure  11   b  is operatively connected to the horizontal members  22  of bleachers  11 , as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. Again, the attachment structure  11   b  includes an attachment assembly  23  having an eyebolt  23   a , a nut  23   b , and a washer  23   c , but it is understood that other attachment means well known in the art may also be used. The eyebolts  23   a  provide an attachment point for the corners of the second end  12   b  of netting  12  and the horizontal bottom cable  25 , as shown in FIG.  6 . The horizontal bottom cable assembly includes cable  25 , eyebolts, cable clamps, and other elements well known in the art. Again, the corners of the netting  12  are connected to the eyebolts by hooks  26 , and hooks  26  are spaced along the cable  25  approximately one foot apart connecting the second end  12   b  to the cable  25 . Again, the attachment structure  11   a  may be similar to the attachment structure  11   b  in that it is located on the bleachers rather than on the wall and the top and bottom cables may be operatively connected in a similar fashion to the respective attachment structures. 
     In operation, the bleacher netting system  10  protects children and persons from falling and injuring themselves, contains debris for ease of clean up, and contains debris to prevent injury to persons proximate the bleachers. Each sectioned portion of the netting  12  below each walking surface  20  ensures that the netting  12  will remain in position to maximize the fall protection provided between the vertical members  21 . The bleacher netting system  10  is easy to install, and installation of the bleacher netting system  10  may occur on fixed bleachers as well as retractable bleachers commonly used in many school gymnasiums. 
     The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.