GB2404415A - Inflatable support, e.g. for use during building - Google Patents

Abstract

A support 21 includes an inflatable member which is inflated via a valve 31 and is provided with a wear - resistant surface 21; a loose fill impact-absorbing packing 36 may fill the interspace. The apparatus is inflated at a use site, e.g. the device 20 may provide a safety floor across the joists 24,25, of a building under construction, and surface 21 may bear a rigid board to allow walking on. Instead of loose fill 36, restraint membranes may be present within the device, as may be double skin plastics sheets (Figs 4 - 7, not shown).

Description

:e ee.. a: 24044 1 5

USER SUPPORT

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a support for an object at a target location. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention provides an inflatable support which may be placed in or over dangerous locations so that human users can be prevented from falling at the location and damaging themselves.

Many devices and methods for using those devices are known which provide protection for human users or other objects to prevent possibly dangerous falls through holes. A particular example of such a scenario is on a building site where workers construct buildings. As the building increases in height the workers working on upper levels of the construction are continually forced to work under the potentially hazardous conditions caused by the fact that floor levels are often omitted until later on in a buildings construction. Thus as the building increases in height only key construction elements, such as rafters, are placed across the building to mark the various levels. Workers working on these rafters often run the risk of falling through gaps in those rafters.

It is known that such falls can be potentially fatal.

To overcome such problems fall arrest devices in the form of large sacks, filled with polystyrene balls, of a predetermined volume have been developed. These comprise an outer jacket formed from some sack like material which is filled off-site with some form of fill material. This is often polystyrene balls. The sacks are filled until they are sufficiently full of fill material that they become substantially rigid so that they can bear a load.

:e ce.e ee:e Thereafter the sacks may be transported to a building site and then placed over a potentially hazardous hole, such as the gap between rafters in a building, at a target location. Construction workers can thereafter walk upon an upper surface of the rigid sack. As levels are completed in the building the sacks can be moved up to other levels for use thereat.

Other forms of support include planks of wood or other rigid covers.

However there are problems inherent in all of these forms of support. In the case of rigid planking the planking needs to be fixed over a hole at a target location. This can be time consuming and expensive. In the case of fall arrest devices the sacks must be manufactured off-site and then transported to the work site. The sacks themselves take up a large volume and this increases transportation costs. Also the volume of each of the sacks is predetermined which limits access to a target location and general versatility. This is particularly difficult when the sacks must be manoeuvred around corners or through narrow spaces in order to access a target location.

In addition with some known fall arrest devices the sacks, because of their fixed volume, must be held together because they may not otherwise fit into a desired space at the work site. Without being fixed together sacks may be urged apart when a user treads on them. A fall may therefore not be prevented. The manner in which these sacks may be fitted together often causes problems because users can trip on any strapping or other securing measures.

:. ;. ce.. eee. ee:e cece It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to at least partly mitigate the above-mentioned problems.

It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to provide a fall arrest device which can be transported to a target location with ease and deployed at that target location so as to provide a support of variable volume at that location.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for providing a support at a target location comprising: a valve; and an inflatable member inflatable from a deflated state to an inflated state when a gas is input at said valve; wherein said apparatus has an outer wear resistant surface, is locatable in said deflated state at said target location and is inflatable at said target location to thereby provide support at said target location.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for providing a support at a target location comprising the steps of: locating a fall arrest device comprising a deflated inflatable member at a target location; inputting gas via a valve of said inflatable member thereby inflating said inflatable member at said target location; and providing said support via a wear resistant outer surface of said fall arrest device.

:. ;. .e ec. À:e Àe According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a fall arrest device for preventing an object from falling through a hole at a target location comprising: an inflatable member including a valve arranged to receive input gas, said inflatable member being inflatable from a deflated; wherein an outer wear resistant surface of said fall arrest device provides support for an object at said target location when said inflatable member is inflated.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a device which may be easily transported to a location at which a hazardous hole is located. This hole may be the space between rafters or merely a hole in some other surface.

At the target location the device may be inflated by any convenient means and placed over the hole. As an alternative the device may be inflated within the hole so as to substantially fill that hole. A wear resistant outer surface of the device means that people or even reasonably heavy objects may be supported by the device to prevent those objects from falling through the hole.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a fall arrest unit which can be placed across rafters forming the basis for a new floor during the construction of a building so as to rest across the rafters. A lower surface of the support rests on an upper surface of the rafters whilst workmen or other objects may be supported by an upper surface of the fall arrest device.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a device which may be inflated at a particular location and which includes a rigid platform secured to an inflatable :e' ;e ceee'ce. ce:e a..

portion. The platform may be secured via adhesive or other securing mechanism or may be formed integrally with the inflatable device. When inflated the rigid platform is arranged on an upper surface of the inflatable device.

The platform may include securing lugs and inlets or other securing means so that when a plurality of the devices are placed adjacent to each other the rigid platforms can lock together to provide a floor structure.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a target location) Figure 2 illustrates the target location in which a support device has been located; Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of a fall arrest unit; Figure 4 illustrates a second embodiment of a fall arrest unit; Figure 5 illustrates a third embodiment of a fall arrest unit; Figure 6 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a fall arrest unit; Figure 7 illustrates a fifth embodiment of a fall arrest unit; Figure 8 illustrates a fall arrest unit having a rigid platform; and s À : À he À : : a. ce. ce. :: :: cents. ce. ce. : Figure 9 illustrates multiple fall arrest units with rigid platforms locked together.

In the drawings like reference numerals refer to like parts.

Figure 1 illustrates a possible target location 10 where embodiments of the present invention may be used. It will be understood that the present invention is not limited to use in such an environment but rather may be generally applied where there is a hole in a surface through which an object (including a human for example) may fall. Figure 1 illustrates a building as it is constructed showing a cut-away portion of the side walls 11 and cross beams (rafters) 12. It is well known that as buildings are constructed the outer wall may be built and rafters which will subsequently support a floor are embedded in the walls. As the building advances upwards the floor portions are not put in place immediately. As such builders working on upper levels may stand on an upper surface of the rafters or may be supported by scaffolding (not shown). It will be understood that the gaps 13 between the rafters 12 provide potentially dangerous holes through which a worker may fall when working on an upper level. The term hole will be referred to hereinafter and is to be broadly interpreted to mean any hole, gap, cut-away portion or other space through which an object such as a human worker may fall.

The hole defines a drop zone or area through which an object could potentially fall.

Figure 2 illustrates a target location in which a support device in accordance with an embodiment of the present ::: c:e::: a. A: at. c. À À À invention has been located. As may be seen in figure 2 the support device 20 is a substantially rectangular elongate structure including an upper portion 21 and corresponding lower portion, sides 22 and ends 23. It will be understood that other shapes may be provided in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention. For example the support structure may be substantially cuboid or cylindrical. The support may be located across the rafters 24 and 25. The support ]0 structure 20 in an inflatable state is substantially rigid as will be described hereinafter. As such the body of the support 20 is sufficiently stiff so that it can bear weight placed upon the upper surface 21. It will be understood that multiple support devices 20 may be placed side by side across the rafters 24 and 25 so that the whole space within the building may be filled. In this way the upper surface 21 of adjacent supports will provide a pseudo floor on which workmen may walk or on which objects may be rested.

Figure 3 illustrates a support device which can be used to support an object. It will be understood that the term object includes any physical object such as a human worker, toolbox or other building material. The support device includes an inflatable member such as a bladder 30 having a valve 31 and a flexible outer protective jacket 32. Figure 3a illustrates a plan elevation of the support device in an inflated state. Figure 3b illustrates an end elevation of the inflated support device and figure 3c illustrates an end of the support device in a deflated state.

The inflatable bladder 30 which is formed from some gas proof material such as a polyethylene material may be :. ;. ce. acece a.:e ceee.

inflated from a deflated state to a partially inflated state and then to a fully inflated state. The inflation takes place by securing a gas source to valve 31 and inputting gas under pressure as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The valve 31 may be any form of non-return valve such as a bayonet fitting or screw cap. As air is input into the valve 31 the air pressure within the inner space 33 of the inflatable member increases and the bladder expands pushing the surface of the inflatable member 30 outwardly. As this occurs the protective jacket 32 which forms an outer wear resistant coating also unfolds. The inflatable member 30 is surrounded by the protective coating during the inflation process.

In alternative embodiments it will be understood that the protective jacket 32 may not be required in which case the support device will be provided by just the inflatable member 30 which, under those circumstances, must be formed from a sufficiently tough thickness of inflatable material so that weight may be borne by the inflatable member during use. Also the material should be tough enough to resist puncturing.

As shown in figure 3 a gap is formed between the outer wear resistant surface of the protective jacket 32 and the inflatable member 30 when the support device is in a substantially fully inflated state. The gap may have varying widths so that the side regions have a relatively large gap 34 whilst the end regions may have a substantially smaller gap. The gaps provide a space in which energy absorbent fill material may be located. The fill material may be any sort of freely movable energy absorbent material such as polystyrene balls, rubber À À e: :. : 2 1 shards or foam rubber. When in the deflated state illustrated in figure 3c the fill material is contained loosely by the outer body 32. As the inflatable member is inflated when air or other gas is introduced the pressure of the outer surface of the inflatable member urges the fill material into areas determined by the shape and size of the outer jacket 32.

The fill material may be placed in the support device at JO a manufacturing plant and sealed within the outer casing 32. Alternatively the outer jacket 32 may be provided with a fill material inlet such as a zipped opening (not shown) and the fill material may be pumped or poured into the support device on site. When fully inflated the outer surface of the inflatable member 30 pushes the fill material 36 outwardly away from the central longitudinal axis of the support device. The fill material urges an inner surface 37 of the protective jacket 32 outwardly.

The support device 20 is manufactured remote from a target location where the support structure may be used.

The inflatable member, such as a bladder 30, and valve 31 are manufactured and then covered with a folded protective outer jacket 32. The outer jacket forms an outer protective casing and may be made from four rectangular panels sewn or otherwise secured together along their outer longitudinal edges. Alternatively the outer jacket may be circular woven with two end panels or any other appropriate construction. Two square end panels may likewise be secured to thus from a substantially coffin shaped casing. It will be understood that embodiments of the present invention are not limited to construction in this manner. The panels, if secured by stitching, are arranged in use so that the c: ted: a. /1. ,.e : stitching appears on the inside of the support structure.

This prevents the likelihood of users tripping when walking on the upper surface. This also reduces the problem of wearing away stitching. Inside and outside sewing (is used) should be covered. Fill material may then be added. In the collapsed, deflated state one or many of the support devices may be transported to a location such as a work site where support is required to cover or fill a potentially dangerous hole. Because the support device is in a deflated state many of them can easily be carried through a work site to a target location. At the target location an inflating gas such as air is pumped into the inflatable member thus inflating the inner bladder. As the bladder inflates the outer jacket unfolds thus expanding to cover and protect the bladder at all times. During the expansion from a deflated or partially deflated state to a partially deflated or fully inflated state respectively any fill material present and which is freely movable will adopt a shape determined by the dimensions of the inflatable member and the outer jacket 32. A desired predetermined amount of fill material can be located in the support device so that when the inflatable member is fully inflated a sufficient amount of fill material is provided so that an outward pressure on the inner surface 37 of the protective jacket forces the protective jacket into a predetermined volume and shape. In the fully inflated state the support device is substantially rigid so that weight may be borne both in compression and in tension when placed over rafters. Rather than provide the bladder 32 already in its protective jacket the parts may be transported to a desired location and assembled there by placing the bladder inside a protective jacket À : : e;:e I:: .t a. ;.

containing a predetermined quantity of fill material and inflating.

Rather than merely place the support device across rafters as shown in figure 2 the support device may be located within a gap and inflated thereat. The gap may in fact be smaller than a particular dimension of the support device in its fully inflated state. As such a portion of the target location will constrain the l0 expansion of the support device. In this situation air may be input into the inflatable member until a substantially rigid state is achieved regardless of the fact that the maximum volume of the support device has not be attained.

When fully expanded or when expanded within a constraining target location the support device not only provides support for people standing on a side 21 but also provides impact absorption so that anyone falling from a height onto an upper surface 21 will have the impact absorbed. This lessens damage to an object such as a potential user.

Builders or installers may receive the bags (which will form the support devices) folded on pallets or in boxes.

They may carry the inflatable bags to their intended location and inflate the first bag. The inflation may involve the use of an air compressor, pump or compressed air cylinder. The bags may be orientated at 90 to the floor joists of the roof they wish to protect their workers from falling onto and against a wall. Further bags are inflated adjacent to the first and in a similar manner until a raft of bags has covered the intended surface. The last bag may be fitted into small remaining À À À . . . À À : e. A::: :: À: À À À void and inflated until the bag is constrained by the remaining void. In this way the need for complicated packing arrangements or indeed many differing sizes of bags may be obviated. Awkward corners may also be protected as partially inflated bags may be inserted around an obstacle and further inflated to fill the void.

As the bags do not need ties or handles they reduce the risk of falls associated with tripping over ties and handles used in other methods of fall arrest systems.

When the building moves up a floor or is completed the bags are deflated and folded either for reuse on the next floor or may be easily transported to another location or site.

Figure 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a support device 20. An outer protective jacket 40 formed from a wear resistant material includes an outer wear resistant surface 41 and an inner surface region 42.

Divider sections 43 are formed from the same woven wear resistant material which help compartmentalize the inner region of the fall arrest device 20. These help in locating the inner bladder carrying tube. They will also help with shape retention. The inner structures 43 do not completely stretch along the whole length of the support device but rather are separated at end regions 45. This is to allow the fill material to freely move around within the impact absorbent support structure during inflation. The support structures such as the inner layer 42 and support layers 43 may be sewn into an outer jacket 44 or may be formed integrally therewith.

Figure 5 illustrates a still further embodiment of a fall arrest device 20 in which an alternative internal structure to the outer protective jacket is formed. An À À À À À À À À À e À À À À À À À À À À À À À À À À À À À À À À À inner sheath 50 producing an inner surface to the protective jacket is formed which helps contain the fill material. The inner sheath 50 is supported by connectors 51 which may be stitched to the outer protective jacket or may be formed integrally therewith.

The inner sheath 50 and support connectors 51 are connected to corners of the outer jacket 32. The connectors run substantially along the whole length of the support device or may be formed of multiple straps connected in only two or three locations.

Embodiments of the present invention shown in figures 3 to 5 thus provide an outer wall of either flat or circular woven polypropylene or other material. This outer wall may be printed to a customers requirements.

Additionally a still further outer sheath (not shown) may be slipped over the support device which includes some pattern or printing to help identify the fall arrest device. The woven nature of the material surface makes it resistant to wear and may also provide an anti-slip surface. This offers benefits with regard to slipping since the bags may grip onto each other causing a raft effect when placed adjacent to one another. They may also grip to other adjacent surfaces with which they are in contact for example to the internal surface of a wall on a building site. This reduces the necessity to have physical ties between the support structures. An air bladder is protected within the outer wall by energy absorbent "fill" material to protect the inner bladder from being pierced by nails, splinters etc. This fill material may be formed from easily moveable spheres. The fill material may also act as a cushioning device to reduce the spring effect of a falling object impacting e e e e ce e e e e e e e À e e e e e e e e see e e e e see e e e e e e e e the support device, rebounding and causing a chain reaction injury or fatality.

Inner structures may be incorporated to reduce the movement of the fill material and help locate the inner bladder. The walls of the inner structures may have apertures to assist the migration of inner fill material.

An inner structure may also be employed to retain the inner bladder and reduce the effect of over inflation causing potential pressure damage to the outer housing.

The inner structure complete with fill and inner bladder may be removed from the outer wall and used again in a new outer.

When outer and inner wall structure components are sewn together this may be achieved in such a way as to reduce the wear effect of a abrasive surfaces on the sewing yarn causing the components to become detached from one another.

Figure 6 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention and illustrates a support device 60 which does not include freely movable fill material. An outer protective jacket 61 formed from a wear resistant material includes an outer wear resistant surface 62 and a box-like section of impact absorbent semi-rigid corrugated plastic such as cortex. / This correx is a twin walled polypropylene board material which may be provided at a variety of weights and thicknesses which will determine the overall stability of the support device.

An inner bladder 63 may be inflated or deflated via valve 31 and as may more clearly be seen in figure 6b when fully inflated the four panels of corrugated plastic form a box-like section including upper and lower panels 64 À À . À À . . . À À À À À À À À À Àa. À À * e À.

À À À À À À À À C À À À À and 65 respectively and left and right side panels 66 and 67. The panels are formed as a single box unit and may be collapsed during transport (as shown in figure 6c) by manufacturing or forming creases in a central region of the two side panels. In this way as shown in figure 6c the support device may be manufactured at a remote location and then transported to a target location in a substantially flat and certainly convenient manner. At a target location a gas or other liquid may be introduced via valve 31 causing the bladder to inflate. As this occurs this creased side portions of the support device will extend into a non-creased arrangement (as shown in figure 6b). The support device is then in a configuration to bear weight on the upper and lower surfaces as well as the side surfaces. It will be understood that according to embodiments of the present invention rather than produce the support device with collapsed corrugated plastic support at a manufacturing node the bladder valve and outer protective jacket may be transported to a target location such as a building site and then the box-like support structure 67 introduced at a convenient time as the bladder is inflated.

Figure 7 illustrates a still further embodiment of a support device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The support device 70 includes a outer protective jacket 71 which has an outer wear resistant surface 72. The support device includes an inflatable/deflatable bladder 73 which may be inflated with fluid such as carbon dioxide gas via valve 31. As with the preceding embodiments the valve may also enable fluid to flow outward from the bladder to deflate the support device at a convenient juncture as selected by a user. The outer protective jacket includes four pockets À À e e À À C À e which may be seen more clearly in figure 7b. Each pocket is formed from a side wall (74) part of the outer protective jacket, an inner side wall portion 75 and pocket ends 76. Rather than pocket ends the inner side walls 75 may be extended to connect to the outer side walls. Each pocket is filled with a corrugated plastic panel 77 which is formed from a rigid or semi-rigid impact absorbing material such as cortex. As shown in figure 7c two of the panels 77, notably the upper and lower panels are Increased during transportation however the left and right side panels may be creased at a central region so that when deflated the support device may be transported in a substantially flattened arrangement as shown in figure 7c. When located at a target site the bladder is inflated which extends the concertina arrangement shown in figure 7c until the fully inflated support device shown in figure 7b and 7a is achieved.

Figure 8 illustrates a further embodiment of a support device which includes a rigid platform 80 on an upper surface of a support device 81. The support device includes an outer wear resistant surface 82 formed as the outer surface of a protective jacket. The protective jacket is formed by substantially rectangular side portions and two substantially square end portions. As described hereinabove. One end portion has a valve 31 via which gas may be input to inflate an inflatable bladder. The support device may include fill material as noted hereinabove. The rigid platform 80 provides a substantially flat upper surface 83 which may be covered in some form of non-slip material. Alternatively a tread may be moulded or cut into the upper surface 83 so that a good gripping surface is achieved. The rigid platform l À À À À À À . . À À À À À À may be manufactured from wood or from some rigid plastic material in which case the platform may be injection moulded. Securing means 84 act as lugs which engage with other parts of the securing means 85. It will be understood that other forms of securing mechanism may be used.

Figure 9 illustrates three support devices placed adjacent to one another with the lugs 84 engaging in the corresponding inlets on the adjacent rigid platforms. As shown in figure 8 the securing means may have different shapes and may only lock onto adjacent supporting devices along a pre-selected edge. By selecting the amount of gas pressure input into each support device the upper surface formed by adjacent rigid platforms may be levelled. Also the height h from an upper surface 83 to a lower surface 90 may be varied until a desired height is achieved.

In all the embodiments described hereinbefore the fill material may, instead of being free flowing, be pre- placed within a number of inner tubes which could, for example, pass along the length of the support device.

Four substantially cylindrical inner tubes which may be placed one down each of the corners of the support device is particularly advantageous. If one of these inner tubes is pierced it can be easily replaced.

Embodiments of the present invention also include a gas source for inflating the inflatable bladder. For example this may be a small gas canister or a chemical or chemicals which when mixed with air or each other produce a gas for expanding the bladder. Carbon dioxide is particularly advantageous as an inflating gas as it will À À À À À À À À À À À À À . . À À À À Àe À À À À À À a À À À . help extinguish fires if a fire occurs proximate to the support device. The gas source may be used/operated independently of any other gas source which obviates theneed to have a pump or other generator on site.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described hereinabove by way of example only and it will be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (35)

1. À c * c.

   À À c .: : ce: CLAIMS: 1. Apparatus for providing a support at a target location comprising: a valve; and an inflatable member inflatable from a deflated state to an inflated state when a gas is input at said valve; wherein said apparatus has an outer wear resistant surface, is locatable in said deflated state at said target location and is inflatable at said target location to thereby provide support at said target location.
2. 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim l further comprising: a flexible outer body portion, arranged to unfold as said inflatable member inflates and to provide a protective cover around said inflatable member, the outer surface of said outer body portion comprising said outer wear resistant surface.
3. 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim l or 2 further comprising: a protective gap between an outer surface of said inflatable member and said outer wear resistant surface said gap being filled with energy absorbent fill material when said inflatable member is in said inflated state.
4. 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said energy absorbent material is freely moveable.
5. 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim l or 2 wherein said target location comprises a drop zone being an area r.: e e e À e À À at. e À .'e ' À a' ee. À e through which an object could fall if not supported in said drop zone.
6. 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said object comprises a human worker and said target location comprising a location at a work site.
7. 7. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said inflatable member comprises a bladder.
8. 8. The apparatus as any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said inflatable member is formed from a polyethylene material.

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9. 9. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the inflatable member is formed from a gas proof material.
10. 10. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claim 2 wherein said body portion comprises a protective jacket.
11. 11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said body portion is formed from woven polypropylene.
12. 12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said body portion is formed from woven fabric.
13. 13. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 further comprising energy absorbent fill material locatable at desired regions of said apparatus when said apparatus is in an inflated state.
14. 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said fill material comprises a plurality of polystyrene balls.

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15. 15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said fill material comprises a freely moveable energy absorbent material.
16. 16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said fill material comprises a plurality of deformable polystyrene tubes.
17. 17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said fill material comprises a plurality of rubber shards.
18. 18. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims wherein said inflatable member is partially inflatable to thereby provide support at a target location having an associated dimension smaller in size than a corresponding dimension of said apparatus when in a fully inflated state; whereby a portion of said target location constrains the full expansion of said inflatable member so that said apparatus achieves a substantially rigid state without expanding to its fully inflated state.
19. 19. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a rigid platform portion secured to said outer wear resistant surface.
20. 20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said rigid platform portion includes at least one securing means for enabling rigid platforms of adjacent support apparatus to be secured together.
21. 21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising: À: .ÀÀ ÀÀ: À e:e À À :: :: A. a.. À. À À at least one impact absorbing panel located between the inflatable member and the outer wear resistant surface.
22. 22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein said at least one impact resistant panel comprises a four sided open ended longitudinally extending box member.
23. 23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein said box member is formed from cortex.
24. 24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein said at least one impact resistant panel comprises four independent impact absorbing panels.
25. 25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24 further comprising pockets each arranged to hold a respective panel.
26. 26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein each said panel is formed of cortex.
27. 27. A method for providing a support at a target location comprising the steps of: locating a fall arrest device comprising a deflated inflatable member at a target location; inputting gas via a valve of said inflatable member thereby inflating said inflatable member at said target location; and providing said support via a wear resistant outer surface of said fall arrest device.
28. 28. The method as claimed in claim 27 further comprising the steps of: c:

    he À . . À À À . À e Be, À À À À À unfolding a flexible outer body portion as said inflatable member inflates thereby providing a protective jacket around said inflatable member; and providing said wear resistant outer surface via an outer surface of said body portion...CLME:
29. 29. A method as claimed in claim 27 or 28 further comprising the steps of: generating gas pressure in said inflatable member as said gas is input; and via said gas pressure urging said outer surface into a substantially rigid load bearing state.
30. 30. A fall arrest device for preventing an object from falling through a hole at a target location comprising: an inflatable member including a valve arranged to receive input gas, said inflatable member being inflatable from a deflated; wherein an outer wear resistant surface of said fall arrest device provides support for an object at said target location when said inflatable member is inflated.
31. 31. The fall arrest device as claimed in claim 30 further comprising: in an inflated state, a protective gap between an outer surface of said inflatable member and said outer wear resistant surface said gap being filled with energy absorbent fill material.
32. 32. The fall arrest device as claimed in claim 31 wherein said fill material is freely moveable.

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33. 33. The fall arrest device as claimed in any one of claims 30 to 32 further comprising a rigid platform secured to said outer wear resistant surface.
34. 34. Apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
35. 35. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.