Edge protection barrier

Abstract

A barrier that includes a plurality of first wires that each have a vertical portion that extends in a vertical direction and a transverse portion that extends within sixty degrees of a transverse direction is provided. The transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires can collectively define a midline that extends in a horizontal direction and can substantially bisect the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires. The midline can define a proximal portion for each of the transverse portions and a distal portion for each of the transverse portions. The barrier can include a plurality of second wires that each extend in the horizontal direction. At least one of the plurality of second wires can be coupled to the proximal portions of each of the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A barrier that defines a horizontal direction H, a vertical direction V that is orthogonal to the horizontal direction H, and a transverse direction T that is orthogonal to the horizontal direction H and the vertical direction V, wherein the barrier comprises:
 a plurality of first wires that each have a vertical portion that extends in the vertical direction V and a transverse portion that extends within sixty degrees of the transverse direction T,   wherein the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires collectively define a midline that extends in the horizontal direction H and substantially bisects the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires,   wherein the midline defines a proximal portion for each of the transverse portions and a distal portion for each of the transverse portions; and   a plurality of second wires that each extend in the horizontal direction H, wherein at least one of the plurality of second wires is coupled to the proximal portions of each of the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires.   
     
     
         2 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein at least another one of the plurality of second wires is coupled to the distal portions of each of the transverse portions of the plurality of first wires. 
     
     
         3 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first wires have an end, and wherein at least another one of the plurality of second wires is coupled to the ends of the plurality of first wires. 
     
     
         4 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the transverse portion extends within two degrees of the transverse direction T. 
     
     
         5 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires are first transverse portions, and wherein each of the plurality of first wires have a second transverse portion that extends in a direction opposite to the first transverse portion, wherein the vertical portions of each of the plurality of first wires are positioned between the first transverse portions and the second transverse portions. 
     
     
         6 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first wires have a curved portion that connects the transverse portion to the vertical portion. 
     
     
         7 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of second wires is coupled to the vertical portions of the plurality of first wires at a location proximate to the transverse portions. 
     
     
         8 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein a distance D 1  is defined that extends in the transverse direction T from the vertical portions of the plurality of first wires to a position corresponding to a center of the at least one of the plurality of second wires that is coupled to the proximal portions of each of the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires,
 wherein the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires has a length that defines a distance D 3 , and 
 wherein a ratio D 1 :D 3  between the distance D 1  and the distance D 3  is less than 1:2. 
 
     
     
         9 . The barrier of  claim 8 , wherein the ratio D 1 :D 3  between the distance D 1  and the distance D 3  is less than 1:5. 
     
     
         10 . The barrier of  claim 8 , wherein at least another one of the plurality of second wires is coupled to the distal portions of each of the transverse portions of the plurality of first wires,
 wherein a distance D 4  is defined that extends from the at least one of the plurality of second wires that is coupled to the proximal portions of each of the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires to the at least another one of the plurality of second wires that is coupled to the distal portions of each of the transverse portions of the plurality of first wires, and   wherein a ratio D 1 :D 4  between the distance D 1  and the distance D 4  is at least 1:4.5 and up to 1:3.9.   
     
     
         11 . The barrier of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of second wires is coupled to the vertical portions of the plurality of first wires,
 wherein a distance D 2  is defined that extends in the vertical direction V from a center of the at least one of the plurality of second wires that is coupled to the vertical portions of the plurality of first wires to a position that corresponds to a center of the at least one of the plurality of second wires that is coupled to the proximal portions of each of the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires, and   wherein a ratio D 1 :D 2  between the distance D 1  and the distance D 2  is at least 1:0.5 and up to 1:0.11.   
     
     
         12 . The barrier of  claim 9 , wherein at least another one of the plurality of second wires is coupled to the distal portions of each of the transverse portions of the plurality of first wires,
 wherein a distance D 4  is defined that extends from the at least one of the plurality of second wires that is coupled to the proximal portions of each of the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires to the at least another one of the plurality of second wires that is coupled to the distal portions of each of the transverse portions of the plurality of first wires, and   wherein a ratio D 1 :D 4  between the distance D 1  and the distance D 4  is at least 1:4.5 and up to 1:3.9.   
     
     
         13 . The barrier of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of second wires is coupled to the vertical portions of the plurality of first wires,
 wherein a distance D 2  is defined that extends in the vertical direction V from a center of the at least one of the plurality of second wires that is coupled to the vertical portions of the plurality of first wires to a position that corresponds to a center of the at least one of the plurality of second wires that is coupled to the proximal portions of each of the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires, and   wherein a ratio D 1 :D 2  between the distance D 1  and the distance D 2  is at least 1:0.5 and up to 1:0.11.   
     
     
         14 . An edge protection barrier configured to be coupled proximate to an edge of a building, the edge protection barrier defining a horizontal direction H, a vertical direction V that is orthogonal to the horizontal direction H, and a transverse direction T that is orthogonal to the horizontal direction H and the vertical direction V, wherein the edge protection barrier comprises:
 a plurality of first wires that each have a vertical portion that extends in the vertical direction V and a transverse portion that extends within sixty degrees of the transverse direction T,   wherein the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires collectively define a midline that extends in the horizontal direction H and substantially bisects the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires,   wherein the midline defines a proximal portion for each of the transverse portions and a distal portion for each of the transverse portions; and   a plurality of second wires that each extend in the horizontal direction H, wherein at least one of the plurality of second wires is coupled to the proximal portions of each of the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires.   
     
     
         15 . The edge protection barrier of  claim 14 , wherein at least another one of the plurality of second wires is coupled to the distal portions of each of the transverse portions of the plurality of first wires. 
     
     
         16 . The edge protection barrier of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the plurality of second wires is coupled to the vertical portions of the plurality of first wires at a location proximate to the transverse portions. 
     
     
         17 . The edge protection barrier of  claim 14 , wherein a distance D 1  is defined that extends in the transverse direction T from the vertical portions of the plurality of first wires to a position that corresponds to a center of the at least one of the plurality of second wires that is coupled to the proximal portions of each of the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires,
 wherein the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires has a length that defines a distance D 3 , and 
 wherein a ratio D 1 :D 3  between the distance D 1  and the distance D 3  is less than 1:2. 
 
     
     
         18 . The edge protection barrier of  claim 17 , wherein the ratio D 1 :D 3  between the distance D 1  and the distance D 3  is less than 1:5. 
     
     
         19 . The edge protection barrier of  claim 17 , wherein at least another one of the plurality of second wires is coupled to the distal portions of each of the transverse portions of the plurality of first wires,
 wherein a distance D 4  is defined that extends from the at least one of the plurality of second wires is coupled to the proximal portions of each of the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires to the at least another one of the plurality of second wires that is coupled to the distal portions of each of the transverse portions of the plurality of first wires, and   wherein a ratio D 1 :D 4  between the distance D 1  and the distance D 4  is at least 1:4.5 and up to 1:3.9.   
     
     
         20 . The edge protection barrier of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the plurality of second wires is coupled to the vertical portions of the plurality of first wires,
 wherein a distance D 2  is defined that extends in the vertical direction V from a center of the at least one of the plurality of second wires that is coupled to the vertical portions of the plurality of first wires to a position that corresponds to a center of the at least one of the plurality of second wires that is coupled to the proximal portions of each of the transverse portions of each of the plurality of first wires, and   
       wherein a ratio D 1 :D 2  between the distance D 1  and the distance D 2  is at least 1:0.5 and up to 1:0.11.