Patent Application
20060237607
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus used for securing a device to a structure, more particularly, to an apparatus that secures a net system around the perimeter of a building or structure to ensure a safe work area for construction crews, members of the public, and property that are near a building undergoing construction or renovations. Specifically, the present invention utilizes an adjustable mounting bracket that attaches to a variety of sizes of support structures and rigidly secures a net system to a building or structure under construction.
A crew maintaining or constructing a building or structure 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 to prevent injuries from falls or falling objects. Additionally, the public on the premises of a construction or maintenance project must be aware of potentially hazardous situations, such as dropped objects falling from above that could cause bodily injury or property damage.
One way to ensure protection of the crew, public, and property is to install a net system that surrounds the perimeter of the building or structure near the area where objects may fall. However, the installation process of the net system can be difficult because most buildings or structures have support structures that vary in size and width from building to building. Therefore, there is not one standard size bracket that will attach a net system to the support structures of every building or structure. This can become problematic and time consuming for a crew trying to install a net system because the mounting bracket will have to be measured and changed each time the net system is moved from building to building. Because the process of installing the bracket is so time consuming, a crew may not take the time to properly secure the net system, ultimately causing serious accidents.
The present invention provides crew members with an easy and secure way to fasten a net system around the perimeter of all sizes of buildings or structures. The present invention is a mounting bracket that includes a separate top piece and bottom piece that are adjustably connected to fit varying sizes of support structures. The top piece and bottom piece each include overlapping members with holes that line up. When the desired distance between the top and bottom pieces is reached, a bolt or other securing device is inserted into the holes to secure the top piece and bottom piece of the mounting bracket together. Additionally, an extension plate can be attached to the overlapping members when the support structure is larger than the top and bottom piece can fit around.
Further, the top pieces of the mounting brackets include a slot where a cantilever beam is inserted. The cantilever beam is secured in the slot with a pivot pin so that the cantilever beam can rotate. The adjustability of the mounting bracket is critical because crews must be able to secure the mounting bracket to various size buildings.
Currently, there are devices that attach net systems to buildings or structures to protect people working on construction crews, members of the public accessing areas below the building or structure, and property on the ground that could be damaged by falling objects. However, each of these devices suffers from several disadvantages. First, the devices are difficult to install on varying sizes of building support structures. Because the support structures vary in size from building to building, each mounting bracket must be changed on the net system every time it is installed on a different building. This can become time consuming and may result in an accident caused by human mistakes. Second, the prior art devices are complicated and require a time consuming and inconvenient process to install and secure.
Presently, there is no net system that is easy to install on varying sizes of support structures. For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a device that would allow construction crews to easily install a mounting bracket that supports a net system around a building or structure with varying sizes of support structures.
The present invention is directed to a device that satisfies the needs of providing a mounting bracket that is easy to install on varying sizes of building support structures, providing a mounting bracket that is adjustable, providing a mounting bracket that allows a cantilever beam to be folded up against the building for cleaning or in inclement weather conditions, and providing amounting bracket that quickly and easily secures to support structures.
A mounting system having features of the present invention comprises a mounting bracket with a top piece and bottom piece that are adjustably connected to each other. The top and bottom pieces of the mounting bracket include overlapping members with holes that line up. A fastener such as a bolt is inserted into the holes to secure the top and bottom pieces of the mounting bracket when the mounting bracket is the preferred width. The top piece of the mounting bracket can include a slot where a cantilever beam is inserted and rotates. This configuration allows a net system to be attached to the mounting bracket.
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.
Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C 5112, 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.
As shown in
The mounting bracket 200 includes a top piece 210 and a bottom piece 220 that are detachably connected as depicted in
Also shown in
In addition to having holes 240 along the overlapping members 230, the mounting bracket 200 also has holes 260 along the edge 270 of the slot 250 of the top piece 210 of the mounting bracket 200 as shown in
As shown in
At the end of the cantilever extension arm 600 is a cantilever extension bracket 620. The cantilever extension bracket 620 includes two holes 630. A pivot pin 640 is inserted through the first hole 630, the cantilever beam 300, and the second hole 630 to secure the cantilever beam 300 in the cantilever extension bracket 620. The cantilever beam 300 can rotate around the axis of the pivot pin 640 allowing the cantilever beam 300 and attached safety net to adjust to various positions to repair and protect the net.
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.
