U.S. patent application number 14/605342 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-30 for construction safety screen system.
The applicant listed for this patent is David Gembala, Henry Gembala, Jason Walls. Invention is credited to David Gembala, Henry Gembala, Jason Walls.
Application Number | 20150211247 14/605342 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53675758 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150211247 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gembala; Henry ; et
al. |
July 30, 2015 |
CONSTRUCTION SAFETY SCREEN SYSTEM
Abstract
A construction safety screen system includes a flexible net
member sized to cover an opening of a building, a plurality of
straps attached to the flexible net member, and a plurality of oval
snap hooks each being securable to the distal end of one of the
plurality of straps and to one of a plurality of fasteners attached
to the concrete building structure surrounding the opening.
Inventors: |
Gembala; Henry; (Delray
Beach, FL) ; Gembala; David; (Delray Beach, FL)
; Walls; Jason; (Delray Beach, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Gembala; Henry
Gembala; David
Walls; Jason |
Delray Beach
Delray Beach
Delray Beach |
FL
FL
FL |
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53675758 |
Appl. No.: |
14/605342 |
Filed: |
January 26, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61931181 |
Jan 24, 2014 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
182/138 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04G 21/3266
20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04G 21/32 20060101
E04G021/32 |
Claims
1. A safety apparatus for covering an opening in a building
structure; said safety apparatus comprising: a net having an
arrangement of cord segments forming a plurality of openings and
said net having at least one peripheral edge, and said net being
sized, structured and configured to substantially block the opening
in the building structure to prevent a human body from passing
through the opening; a net securing assembly for holding the net
taut in blocking relation to the opening in the building structure,
and said net securing assembly including: a plurality of fasteners
structured to be anchored to the building structure adjacent to the
opening; a plurality of straps attached to the at least one
peripheral edge of said net at spaced intervals along said at least
one peripheral edge and in corresponding alignment with said
plurality of fasteners; a plurality of hook members each being
structured and disposed to be secured to one of said plurality of
straps and a correspondingly aligned one of said plurality of
fasteners; and wherein said net is stretched and held taut in
blocking relation to the opening by said net securing assembly.
2. The safety apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said cord
segments are formed of a resilient, flexible material.
3. The safety apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said net
further comprises a flexible frame border along said at least one
peripheral edge.
4. The safety apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said net
includes four of said peripheral side edges.
5. The safety apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said flexible
frame border is formed of a resilient, flexible material.
6. The safety apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said
plurality of straps are each adapted to be adjustably secured
between said flexible frame border and the corresponding aligned
hook member.
7. A safety apparatus for covering an opening in a building
structure; said safety apparatus comprising: a net having an
arrangement of cord segments forming a plurality of openings and
said net having at least one peripheral edge and a flexible frame
border along said at least one peripheral edge, and said net being
sized, structured and configured to substantially block the opening
in the building structure to prevent a human body from passing
through the opening; a net securing assembly for holding the net
taut in blocking relation to the opening in the building structure,
and said net securing assembly including: a plurality of fasteners
structured to be anchored to the building structure adjacent to the
opening; a plurality of straps attached to said flexible frame
border of said net at spaced intervals along said at least one
peripheral edge and in corresponding alignment with said plurality
of fasteners; a plurality of hook members each being structured and
disposed to be secured to one of said plurality of straps and a
correspondingly aligned one of said plurality of fasteners; and
wherein said net is stretched and held taut in blocking relation to
the opening by said net securing assembly.
8. The safety apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said net
includes four of said peripheral side edges.
9. The safety apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said
plurality of straps are each adapted to be adjustably secured
between said flexible frame border and the correspondingly aligned
hook member to pull the net taut within the opening of the building
structure.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This non-provisional patent application is based on
provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/931,181 filed on Jan.
24, 2014.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to safety screens for use
during building construction and, more particularly, safety screens
for preventing construction workers from falling from edges of
building precipices.
DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART
[0003] Current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
safety standards require temporary installment of protective rails
at building construction sites for preventing construction workers
from falling from edges of building precipices, including windows,
balconies, stair wells and elevator shafts. Generally, an
arrangement of two-by-four boards is nailed and/or fastened to the
deck (e.g., slab) to support a top horizontal rail at forty-two
inches high in order to at least partially obstruct the opening in
order to prevent construction workers from accidentally falling. A
significant disadvantage of this well known practice is the limited
coverage of the opening, and limited protection provided by the 42
inch high protective rail. Consequently, this widely used method
minimizes accidental falls but does not prevent them.
[0004] While other safety practices utilizing restraints for
preventing accidental falls have been developed, they have largely
remained unused in the construction industry for various practical
reasons. One example of an attempt to address the problems
associated with presently used 42'' protective rails can be found
in U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,306, which discloses a construction safety
screen that is securable about worker-area precipices. However, the
'306 construction safety screen requires a variety of different
fasteners, which are not adapted for use with commonly used tools
and can be costly and complicated to install. Moreover, the '306
construction safety screen includes a net border that is
size-specific and limits flexible use with different sized
openings.
[0005] Accordingly, there remains a need for a construction safety
screen system that is easy to install and which provides complete
floor to ceiling coverage for preventing accidental falls.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Considering the foregoing, it is a primary object of the
present invention to provide a construction safety screen system
for preventing accidental falls from edges of building
precipices.
[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
construction safety screen system that is adjustable for
accommodating different sized openings.
[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
construction safety screen system that is re-usable.
[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
construction safety screen system that is lightweight and
durable.
[0010] It yet a further object of the present invention to provide
a construction safety screen system that can be quickly and easily
installed and removed using standard tools.
[0011] These and other objects and advantages of the present
invention are more readily apparent with reference to the detailed
description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention is directed to a construction safety
screen system including a flexible net member sized to cover an
opening of a building, a plurality of straps attached to the
flexible net member, and a plurality of snap hooks each being
securable to the distal end of one of the plurality of straps and
to one of a plurality of fasteners attached to the concrete
building structure surrounding the opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present
invention, reference should be made to the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the construction
safety screen system of the present invention affixed to the
opposing side walls, ceiling and floor portions of a building edge
surrounding a wall opening;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the construction
safety screen system of the present invention affixed to the
opposing side walls and floor portions of a building edge
surrounding a wall opening;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the construction safety
screen system of the present invention horizontally affixed to
opposing concrete slab portions of a building edge surrounding a
floor opening; and
[0017] FIG. 4 is an isolated side elevational view, shown in
partical cross-section, illustrating a fastener in connection with
an oval snap hook.
[0018] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the
several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Throughout the several views of the drawings, the
construction safety screen system of present invention is shown and
is generally indicated as 10.
[0020] Referring initially to FIG. 1, the construction safety
screen system 10 includes a flexible net member 12 sized to cover
an opening 100, such as a wall opening, at the edge of a building
precipice, a plurality of straps 14 attached to the flexible net
member 12, a plurality of fasteners 16, such as masonry fasteners,
each being structured to be anchored to a building edge surrounding
the opening 100, and a plurality of oval snap hooks 18 each being
securable to the distal end of one of the plurality of straps 14
and to one of the plurality of fasteners 16 attached to a building
edge 102 surrounding the opening 100. In one embodiment of the
construction safety screen system 10, each of the plurality of
straps 14 is adjustable for allowing a user to pull the flexible
net member 12 taut between the edges of the opening 100, thereby
permitting the net member 12 to be adjusted to accommodate the size
of a particular opening 100. The spacing between fasteners 16 is
dependent upon the tension and shear values between the fastener
and the specific type of substrate (e.g., concrete slab; concrete
masonry unit) to which the fastener 16 is secured.
[0021] The flexible net member 12 is surrounded by a flexible frame
border 20 made from a resilient, flexible material, such as nylon
rope. The flexible net member 12 is made from a resilient, flexible
material, such as polypropelyne, and may be arranged in a pattern
within the flexible frame border 20 leaving gaps 23 between
individual segments 21 of the resilient, flexible material. The
gaps in net member 12 serve to permit flow of wind therethrough for
avoiding wind resistance hazards. Moreover, the gaps between
individual segments 21 of the resilient, flexible material are
sufficiently sized to prevent passage of an individual's body. In
one embodiment, the flexible net member 12 includes individual
segments 21 of resilient, flexible material aligned in a
2''.times.2'' grid.
[0022] Still referring to FIG. 1, the fasteners 16 are installable
to the ceiling and floor portions, typically made from concrete
slabs 101, of the building edge of a wall opening 100 using a
standard electrically powered drill.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, the construction safety screen system
10 may be secured to edges 102 of opposing sidewalls at an opening
100 using fasteners 16 in connection with straps 14. As further
shown in FIG. 2, a wire 22 may be used as an attachment point for
securing a side of the net member 12. A turnbuckle 24 in connection
with wire 22 is used for adjusting the tension of the wire 22 after
installation of the wire 22. A plurality of snap hooks 18 each in
connection with one of a plurality of straps 14 are releasably
securable to the wire 22. Use of a wire 22 is ideal for instances
wherein there is no ceiling portion to which a fastener 16 can be
secured to or wherein the ceiling structure is considerably high
(e.g., 25' ceiling) or not suitable for securing a fastener 16 to
(e.g., scaffolding or cat walk structure).
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a kick plate 26 (as required by
OSHA standards) is installable above the floor portion to which the
fasteners 16 are secured. One or more apertures 28 are included
along the length of the kick plate 26 to permit passage
therethrough of one of the plurality of straps 14, which is secured
to a respective fastener 16 by a snap hook 18.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, a net member 12 may be horizontally
affixed to opposing concrete slab portions of a building edge
surrounding a floor opening. For example, exposed roof and floor
openings during construction can be fully covered by a net member
12 to prevent a worker from falling through the opening. As shown
in FIG. 3, the fasteners 16 must be installed at a sufficient
distance away from the opening to permit overlap of the net member
12 relative to the concrete slab 100 in order to complete cover the
exposed opening.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 4, a fastener 16 is shown in conjunction
with a snap hook 18. In one embodiment, the fasteners 16 are 1/4''
diameter, 13/4'' long fasteners and the snap hooks 18 are 1/4''
diameter oval snap hooks.
[0027] Each of the net member 12, plurality of straps 14, plurality
of fasteners 16, and plurality of snap hooks 18 are re-usable,
making the construction safety screen system 10 of the present
invention cost efficient.
[0028] The construction safety screen system 10 is designed to meet
and exceed the standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) standards for temporary guardrail
systems.
[0029] While the present invention has been shown and described in
accordance with preferred and practical embodiments thereof, it is
recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are
contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
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