Safety and debris drop netting system and related methodology

Abstract

A drop netting system configured to installation on a building slab such as a balcony to protect against falling debris, overspray, concrete, and the like. The system includes plurality of spaced apart brackets disposed around the perimeter of the slab so as to form an array of attachment points for a drop net to be attached to and suspended from the brackets. The brackets extend outward from the edge of the slab and are each optionally angled slightly upward from the surface of the slab. A drop net is secured to the distal end of each bracket and suspended therefrom such that the drop net is spaced away from the edge of the slab to permit construction workers to have access of the slab edge in order to carry out construction work. The drop netting system can be installed on adjacent floors to encase the space between the floors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A netting system for construction, comprising:
 at least one beam having a proximal end adapted to be secured to a top surface of a slab, and a distal end;   at least one spacing bracket having a proximal end adapted to be secured to the top surface of the slab, and a distal end interconnected to the at least one beam between the proximal end and the distal end thereof;   wherein when the at least one beam and the at least one bracket are secured to the top surface of the slab, the distal end of the at least one beam is positioned away from an edge of the slab, wherein a midpoint of the at least one beam is positioned a first distance from an upper surface of the slab, and the distal end is positioned a second distance from the upper surface of the slab, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance;   a cable associated with the distal end of the at least one beam; and   a net attached to and suspended from the cable.   
     
     
         2 . The netting system of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the at least one beam is spaced no more than  18  inches from the edge of the slab. 
     
     
         3 . The netting system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one beam and the at least one spacing bracket constitute an array of subassemblies, a plurality of which are interconnected to the slab, the system further comprising at least a first and a second terminal bracket and at least two corner brackets adjacent to the terminal brackets, the corner brackets extending further from the edge than the terminal brackets. 
     
     
         4 . The netting system of  claim 3 , wherein one or more secondary brackets are disposed between the terminal brackets and the corner brackets. 
     
     
         5 . The netting system of  claim 3 , wherein each of the terminal brackets comprise:
 a support beam having a proximal end adapted to be secured to the slab and a distal end;   a cross beam having a proximal end adapted to be secured to the slab and a second end interconnected in a perpendicular orientation to the support beam and between the proximal end and the distal end of the support beam, the cross beam having a first lateral edge and a second later edge, and wherein the support beam is interconnected to the cross beam adjacent to the second lateral edge thereof;   a stabilizing beam having a first end interconnected to the cross beam adjacent to the first lateral edge, and a second end interconnected to the support beam adjacent to the distal end thereof; and   wherein the support beams are configured to receive the cable, and wherein the support beam is spaced from the end of the slab when the support beam and cross beam are interconnected to the slab.   
     
     
         6 . The netting system of  claim 3 , further comprising a second array of sub-assemblies configured to be attached to a second slab and extending away from an edge of the second slab, wherein a second cable is associated with each distal end of the beams of the second array, wherein the net is attached to the second cable. 
     
     
         7 . The netting system of  claim 6 , wherein the net is spaced apart from the edge of the second slab. 
     
     
         8 . The netting system of  claim 1 , further comprising a terminal member spaced from the beam and interconnected spacing bracket, the terminal member comprising:
 a support beam having a proximal end adapted to be secured to the slab and a distal end;   a cross beam having a proximal end adapted to be secured to the slab and a second end interconnected in a perpendicular orientation to the support beam and between the proximal end and the distal end of the support beam, the cross beam having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, and wherein the support beam is interconnected to the cross beam adjacent to the second lateral edge thereof;   a stabilizing beam having a first end interconnected to the cross beam adjacent to the first lateral edge, and a second end interconnected to the support beam adjacent to the distal end thereof; and   wherein the distal end of the support beams are spaced from the end of the slab and configured to receive the cable.   
     
     
         9 . A netting system, comprising:
 a first array of spaced brackets, each of the brackets being rigid and comprising:
 a beam having a proximal end adapted to be secured to a top surface of a slab, and a distal end; 
 a spacing bracket having a proximal end adapted to be secured to the top surface of the slab, and a distal end interconnected to the beam between the proximal end and the distal end of the beam, 
 wherein when the beam and the spacing bracket are secured to the top surface of the slab, the distal end of the beam is positioned away from an edge of the slab, wherein a midpoint of the beam is positioned a first distance from an upper surface of the slab, and the distal end is positioned a second distance from the upper surface of the slab, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance; 
   a first cable associated with each distal end of the beams of the first array;   a second array of spaced brackets configured to be secured only on a top surface of a second slab and spaced along an edge of the second slab, the brackets of the second array being of similar construction to the brackets of the first array;   a second cable associated with each distal end of the beams of the second array; and   a net attached to each of the first and the second cables and suspended across a space between the first and the second slabs, the net having an inner surface that is spaced from the edge of the first slab and the second slab when the first array of spaced brackets and the second array of spaced brackets are interconnected thereto.   
     
     
         10 . The netting system of  claim 9 , wherein each of the brackets extends from the edge of the slab no more than 18 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The netting system of  claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second array of brackets includes at least a first and a second terminal brackets and at least two corner brackets adjacent to the terminal brackets, the corner brackets extending further from the edges of the first slab and the second slab than the terminal brackets. 
     
     
         12 . The netting system of  claim 11 , wherein one or more secondary brackets are disposed between the terminal brackets and the corner brackets. 
     
     
         13 . The netting system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the terminal brackets comprise:
 a support beam having a proximal end adapted to be secured to the slab and a distal end,   a cross beam having a proximal end adapted to be secured to the slab and a second end interconnected in a perpendicular orientation to the support beam and between the proximal end and the distal end of the support beam, the cross beam having a first lateral edge and a second later edge, and wherein the support beam is interconnected to the cross beam adjacent to the second lateral edge thereof, and   a stabilizing beam having a first end interconnected to the cross beam adjacent to the first lateral edge, and a second end interconnected to the support beam adjacent to the distal end thereof; and   wherein the support beam is spaced from the end of the slab when the support beam and cross beam are interconnected to the slab.   
     
     
         14 . A netting system for construction, comprising:
 an array of a plurality of spaced brackets, each of the brackets, comprising:
 a beam having a proximal end adapted to be secured to a top surface of a slab, and a distal end; 
 a spacing bracket having a proximal end adapted to be secured to the top surface of the slab, and a distal end interconnected to the beam between the proximal end and the distal end of the beam; 
 wherein when the beam and the spacing bracket are secured to the top surface of the slab, the distal end of the beam is positioned away from an edge of the slab, such that the edge is accessible to permit the application of construction material thereto, wherein a midpoint of the beam is positioned a first distance from an upper surface of the slab, and the distal end is positioned a second distance from the upper surface of the slab, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance; 
   a cable associated with a distal end of each beam;   a net attached to and suspended from the cable; and   wherein the plurality of brackets include at least one terminal bracket, comprising:
 a support beam having a proximal end adapted to be secured to the slab and a distal end, 
 a cross beam having a proximal end adapted to be secured to the slab and a second end interconnected in a perpendicular orientation to the support beam and between the proximal end and the distal end of the support beam, the cross beam having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, and wherein the support beam is interconnected to the cross beam adjacent to the second lateral edge thereof, 
 a stabilizing beam having a first end interconnected to the cross beam adjacent to the first lateral edge, and a second end interconnected to the support beam adjacent to the distal end thereof, and 
 wherein the distal end of the support beams are spaced from the end of the slab and configured to receive the cable. 
   
     
     
         15 . The netting system of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of brackets include at least one corner bracket adjacent to the at least one terminal bracket, the at least one corner bracket extending further from the edge than the at least one terminal bracket. 
     
     
         16 . The netting system of  claim 15 , wherein one or more add-on brackets are disposed between the at least one terminal bracket and the at least one corner bracket. 
     
     
         17 . The netting system of  claim 13 , wherein the bracket constitute a first array of spaced brackets, and further comprising a second array of a plurality of spaced brackets, which are of similar construction to those of the first array, configured to be attached to a second slab and extending away from an edge of the second slab, wherein a second cable is associated with each distal end of the beams of the second array, wherein the net is attached to the second cable.