AU2003257925A1

AU2003257925A1 - Safety barrier mount

Info

Publication number: AU2003257925A1
Application number: AU2003257925A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mark O'Boyle
Original assignee: Oboyles Roof Plumbing Pty Ltd
Current assignee: O'BOYLES ROOF PLUMBING Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2002-10-29
Filing date: 2003-10-29
Publication date: 2004-05-20

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): O'BOYLES ROOF PLUMBING PTY LTD Invention Title: SAFETY BARRIER MOUNT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 SAFETY BARRIER MOUNT Field of the Invention This invention relates to a safety barrier mount for mounting a safety barrier to be used on buildings to provide a safety barrier for workmen working on the building above ground level.

Background Art Safety regulations generally require that when a workman is required to work above ground level, such as a storey or floor of a building above ground level or on a roof of a building, a safety barrier be installed about the periphery of the building to protect workmen from falling off the floor or roof of a building.

Such safety barriers generally include a mounting which is secured to a frame member of the building, and which supports upright stanchions which, in turn, support safety rails. In general, a number of the mountings and stanchions are provided about the periphery of the building. Safety rails are supported by the stanchions so that the safety rails form a continuous barrier about the periphery of the building, or that part of the periphery of the building which is required to be protected.

Many different designs of mounting assemblies have been proposed in order to enable the mountings to be connected to a frame of a building and then support the stanchions in the required orientation to provide the safety barrier.

One problem suffered in this field is the lack of flexibility with mounting assemblies and the fact that in general, they may only amount to one type of frame member.

This therefore requires a number of different mounting assemblies to be provided, depending on the nature and type of building which is being constructed.

H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 3 A further problem with conventional mounting assemblies is that, when the mounting assembly is connected to a frame rafter of a roof structure, the connection of the mounting necessitates removal of part of the outer roof covering, such as tiles or sheets of galvanized iron or the like.

In order to prevent ingress of rain and whether into the roof, it is usually necessary to attempt to seal the opening over the mounting by a tarpaulin or other suitable covering. This is both time consuming and, in some instances, not successful in preventing the ingress of rain into the roof, which can damage the roof structure and, in particular, the ceiling of the roof if the ceiling is in place.

Summary of the Invention The object of the present invention is to provide a safety barrier mounting which provides more flexibility and enables connection to different frame members of a building.

The invention may be said to reside in a safety barrier mounting comprising: a first clamp member; a second clamp member; a support element connected to the first clamp member; a receiving member connected to the second clamp member for receiving the support element, and for allowing the second clamp member to slide on the support element so as to be moveable towards and away from the first clamp member; locking means on one of the first clamp member and second clamp member and couplable with the other of the first clamp member and second clamp member to lock the second clamp member relative to the first clamp member to prevent the first clamp member moving away from the second clamp member; and H:\Luis.\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 4 stanchion support means coupled to the mounting for supporting a stanchion which in turn is for supporting at least one safety rail.

Because the first and second clamp members are moveable relative to one another, and the locking means prevents movement of the first and second clamp members away from one another when in the locking position, the mounting can be used with frame members of different sizes, thereby increasing the number of frame members with which the mounting can be used.

Preferably the support element comprises a tongue and the receiving element comprises an elongate opening for receiving the tongue so as to enable the second clamp member to slide on the tongue relative to the first clamp member.

Preferably the locking means comprises a pivotal mounting, a locking element fixed to the pivotal mounting and pivotally moveable from a first position in which the locking element is separated from the said other of the first and second clamp members, to a second position coupled to the said other of the first and second clamp members to thereby lock the first clamp member relative to the second clamp member.

Preferably the locking element comprises a screw-threaded shaft upon which is mounted a nut member, the other of the first and second clamp members carrying a catch into which the shaft locates when in the second position, and whereupon the nut is moveable on the screw-threaded shaft to engage the catch to thereby lock the first clamp member relative to the second clamp member and prevent the first clamp member from relative movement away from the second clamp member.

H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 5 Preferably each of the first and second clamp members comprises an angle iron section having a first wall for engaging a first face of a frame member to which the mounting is to be connected, and a second wall extending substantially perpendicular to the first wall for respectively engaging opposed sides of the frame member, and wherein when the locking element is in the second position, the second wall of the first clamp and the second wall of the second clamp member are prevented from moving away from one another to thereby clamp the mounting to the opposed sides of the frame member.

Preferably the first and second clamp members also include adjustable clamp elements which are adjustable to engage a second face of the frame member opposite the first face so as to accommodate different thicknesses of frame members, and facilitate securement of the mounting to the frame member.

Preferably the stanchion support means includes a bar extending at an oblique angle with respect to the second walls of the first and second clamp members.

Preferably the stanchion support further includes a first post extending substantially at right angles to the bar for receiving the stanchion when the mounting is to be used with a first type of frame member in the form of an inclined frame member.

Preferably the first post is in the form of a stem for location in a sleeve of the stanchion to support the stanchion.

Preferably a second post is mounted on the bar for receiving the stanchion when the mounting is used with a second type of frame member in the form of a vertical frame member, the second post being arranged at an acute H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 6 angle with respect to the bar.

Preferably the second post is in the form of a hollow sleeve for receiving an extension bar which in turn supports the stanchion.

In this embodiment the stanchion includes a foot member arranged substantially at right angles with respect to the stanchion for receiving the extension bar so that the stanchion is supported on the extension bar, and therefore supported by the stanchion mounting means.

A second aspect of the invention may be said to reside in a safety barrier mounting comprising: first and second clamp members for clamping the mounting to a frame member; a stanchion support having a first stanchion coupling element to which a stanchion is couplable to locate the stanchion in a substantially vertical orientation when the first and second clamp members are clamped to a first type of frame member, and a second stanchion coupling element for supporting a stanchion in a substantially vertical orientation when the first and second clamp members are clamped to a second type of frame member.

The two different coupling elements therefore enable the stanchion to be supported in a substantially vertical orientation when used with at least two different types of frame members.

Preferably a support element is connected to the first clamp member and a receiving member is connected to the second clamp member for receiving the support element, and for allowing the second clamp member to slide on the support element so as to be moveable towards and away from the first clamp member.

H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 7 Preferably the support element comprises a tongue and the receiving element comprises an elongate opening for receiving the tongue so as to enable the second clamp member to slide on the tongue relative to the first clamp member.

Preferably locking means is provided on one of the first clamp member and second clamp member, and couplable with the other of the first clamp member and second clamp member to lock the second clamp member relative to the first clamp member to prevent the first clamp member moving away from the second clamp member.

Preferably the locking element comprises a screw-threaded shaft upon which is mounted a nut member, the other of the first and second clamp members carrying a catch into which the shaft locates when in the second position, and whereupon the nut is moveable on the screw-threaded shaft to engage the catch to thereby lock the first clamp member relative to the second clamp member and prevent the first clamp member for relative movement away from the second clamp member.

Preferably each of the first and second clamp members comprises an angle iron section having a first wall for engaging a first face of a frame member to which the mounting is to be connected, and a second wall extending H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 8 substantially perpendicular to the first wall for respectively engaging opposed sides of the frame member, and wherein when the locking element is in the second position, the second wall of the first clamp and the second wall of the second clamp member are prevented from moving away from one another to thereby clamp the mounting to the opposed sides of the frame member.

Preferably the stanchion support comprises a bar extending at an oblique angle with respect to the second walls of the first and second clamp members, and the first stanchion coupling element is a first post extending substantially at right angles to the bar for receiving the stanchion.

Preferably the second stanchion coupling element is a second post for receiving the stanchion, the second post being arranged at an acute angle with respect to the bar.

In this embodiment the stanchion includes a foot member arranged substantially at right angles with respect to the stanchion for receiving the extension bar so that the H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 9 stanchion is supported on the extension bar, and therefore supported by the stanchion mounting.

A second invention is concerned with providing a mounting structure which addresses the problem of needing to remove part of the outer roof covering such as tiles or galvanized iron, and then using a separate covering such as a tarpaulin or the like to seal the opening caused by location of the mounting device to a frame member of the roof structure.

This invention therefore provides a safety barrier mounting for connection to a roof frame member, comprising: an abutment member for abutting a top surface of the frame member; a coupling member extending downwardly from the abutment member; an outwardly extending support portion connected to the coupling member for location beneath a lower surface of the frame member; a securing element for securing the safety barrier mounting to the frame member; a holder coupled to the abutment member remote from the coupling member and arranged below the abutment member; and a support member carried by the holder for receiving a stanchion which in turn is for supporting at least one safety rail.

Because the abutment portion abuts the top surface of the frame member and the holder portion is below the abutment member and the coupling member extends at an angle so as to support the support portion for location beneath a lower surface of the frame member, the attachment of the safety barrier mounting enables the outer roof covering of the building to be replaced after the mounting is H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 10 connected to the frame member. Thus, the mounting can be connected by removing a tile or sheet of galvanized iron, and when the mounting member is attached, the abutment member will generally be flush with the top surface of the frame member and the remainder of the mounting in the vicinity of the frame member is below the top surface of the frame member so the tile or sheet of galvanized iron can be put back in place to thereby seal the roof above the mounting so that separate coverings are not required to seal the roof after connection of the device to the frame member.

Preferably the coupling member extends downwardly at an inclined angle away from the abutment member.

Preferably the holder comprises a downwardly extending leg connected to the abutment member and at least one support element extending away from the leg to which the support member is connected so that the leg and element are receivable in a gutter arranged at an outer end of the frame member.

Preferably the support member comprises an upwardly standing post for receiving the stanchion.

Preferably the abutment member comprises an abutment plate which has a width greater than the width of the coupling member.

Preferably the support portion comprises a support stem extending outwardly from the coupling member.

Preferably the securing element comprises a plate connected to the end of the stem and a screw threaded bolt arranged for screw threaded movement through the plate so as to clamp the frame member with the plate resting on the top surface of the frame member and the stem abutting the H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 11 bottom surface of the frame member.

Preferably the coupling member comprises a coupling element which has a width less than the width of the plate so that the coupling element can abut a side surface of the frame member when the plate rests on the top surface of the frame member, so that the frame member is sandwiched between the screw threaded bolt and the coupling element when the safety barrier mounting is connected to the frame member.

Preferably the securing element is carried by the support portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a safety barrier mounting according to the preferred embodiment; Figure 2 is an end view of the mounting of Figure 1 from the left in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view of the mounting showing connection to a first type of frame member; Figure 4 is a view of the mounting in a fully clamped position on the first type of frame member; Figure 5 is a view showing the support of a stanchion in the case of the first type of frame member; Figure 6 shows a plurality of stanchions on a plurality of the first type of frame member for supporting a plurality of safety rails; Figure 7 is a view of the stanchion of Figure 1 on a second type of frame member showing the stanchion in a disassembled orientation; Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing the stanchion in an assembled orientation; Figure 9 shows a plurality of the mounting H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 12 supporting a plurality of stanchions for forming a safety barrier in the case of the second type of frame member; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a mounting according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 11 is a plan view of the mounting of Figure Figures 12, 13 and 14 show the manner in which the mounting is connected to a frame member; and Figure 15 shows the mounting in place supporting a stanchion for forming a safety barrier.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a safety barrier mounting is shown which comprises a first clamp member and a second clamp member 12. The clamp members 10 and 12 are formed from angle iron and have a first wall 14 and 16 respectively which are arranged substantially in the same plane and are intended to engage the same face of a frame member (not shown in Figure 1) onto which the mounting is to be coupled. The clamp members 10 and 12 also have second walls 18 and 20 which are formed at right angles with respect to their respective first walls 14 and 16, and which are intended to engage opposed sides of the frame member (not shown) to which the mount is to be coupled. The first wall 14 of the clamp member 10 has welded to it a tongue 22. As is clearly shown in Figure 1, the tongue 22 is welded to the outer surface of the wall 14.

The first wall 16 of the second clamp member 12 has an elongate opening 24 which receives the tongue 12 and which may be formed by welding a generally C-shaped bracket 26 to the outer surface of the first wall 16 of the clamp member 12.

The clamp members 10 and 12 are therefore moveable relative to one another by sliding the clamp member 12 H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 13 along the tongue 22 so that the outer surface of the first wall 16 slides on the tongue 22. The tongue 22 may be formed with a ledge or abutment 28 which can be welded to the end of the tongue 22 to prevent the tongue from pulling out through the opening 24 so that the clamp member 12 cannot be separated from the tongue 10. The abutment 28 also defines the maximum amount of displacement of the clamp member 12 relative to the clamp member The outer surface of the second wall 18 of the clamp member 10 carries a pivotal mounting 30 which is formed by a pair of lugs 32 and 34 which mount a pivot pin 36. A screw-threaded shaft 38 is welded to the pivot pin 36 so the screw-threaded shaft can be pivoted in the direction of double-headed arrow A in Figure 1.

The second wall 20 of the clamp member 12 carries a catch which is formed by a pair of lugs 42 which define therebetween a slot 44. The shaft 38 can therefore be pivoted into and out of engagement with the slot 44 in the direction of double-headed arrow A shown in Figure 1.

The shaft 38 carries a washer 46 and a nut 48.

The second wall 20 of the second clamp 12 carries a pair of mounting plates 50 and 52 which are welded to the outer surface of the second wall 20 and project outwardly of the second wall 20 generally perpendicular to the second wall 20. A stanchion support 60 is fixed to the clamp member 12 and comprises a bar 62 formed from a tube of generally square cross-section which locates between the plates and 52 at an acute angle a with respect to the longitudinal axis of the clamp members 10 and 12 (or, in other words, to the walls 13 and 20). The bar 62 carries a first post 64 which is arranged substantially perpendicular with respect to the bar 62, and a second H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 14 post 66 which is arranged at an acute angle P with respect to the bar 62. The posts 64 and 66 are formed from tube of generally square cross-section, although the post 64 is of smaller size than the post 66, as will become apparent from the following description.

The post 66 is provided with a hole 68, the purpose of which will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The second wall 18 of the clamp member 10 carries a bracket 70 which is provided with a hole (not shown). A nut 72 is welded to the bracket 70 in registry with the hole, and a screw-threaded bolt 74 engages with the nut 72 and passes through the hole so the nut 74 can be screwed into or out of the nut 72. The second wall 20 of the clamp 12 also carries a bracket 80 which is provided with a hole (not shown) and a nut 82 is welded to the bracket in registry with the hole (not shown). A screwthreaded bolt 84 is engaged with the nut 82 so the bolt 84 can be screwed into and out of the nut 82. The bolts 74 and 84 both carry handles 85 to facilitate easy rotation of the bolts 74 and 84, and therefore movement of the bolts 74 and 84 into and out of the respective nuts 72 and 82.

Figure 3 shows the safety barrier mounting of Figures 1 and 2 being attached to a first type of frame member Fl in the form of a roof rafter of a house or like building. As is apparent from Figure 1 and as is well known, roof rafters are generally arranged in an inclined fashion in a roof of a building. The mounting of the preferred embodiment is attached to the frame member Fl by pivoting the shaft 38 on pivot pin 36 so that the shaft 38 is out of engagement with the catch 40. The second clamp member 12 is moved relative to the first clamp member 10 by sliding on the tongue 22. The second wall 18 of the clamp member 10 is engaged with side Fa of the frame member Fl, H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 15 and the second clamp member 12 is moved so it slides on tongue 22 towards the frame member Fl so that second wall engages opposed side Fb of the frame member Fl. The first wall 14 of the clamp member 10 and the first wall 16 of the clamp member 12 therefore engage side Fc of the frame member Fl. The brackets 70 and 80 are therefore located adjacent face Fd of the frame member Fl which is opposed to face Fc. The bolts 74 and 84 are screwed into their respective nuts 72 and 82 so the ends of the bolts 74 and 84 engage the face Fd of the frame member Fl to sandwich the frame member Fl between the ends of the bolts 74 and 84 and the first walls 14 and 16 of the clamp members 10 and 12. The bolts 74 and 84 thereby enable the mount to be attached to frame members Fl which have varying thickness in the direction of double-headed arrow T in Figure 1. The movement of the clamp member 12 on the tongue 22 enables the mount to be used with frame members Fl which have varying width shown by double-headed arrow W in Figure 1.

In order to secure the mount to the frame member Fl, the shaft 38 is pivoted in the direction of arrow A in Figure 3 so that the shaft 38 locates in slot 44 of the catch The washer 46 locates on the upper surface of the catch shown in Figure 3. The nut 48 is then tightened on the shaft 38 so that it engages the washer 46 and securely clamps the wall 20 of the second clamp member 12 onto the side Fb of the frame member Fl so that the mount is securely clamped to the opposed faces Fa and Fb of the frame member Fl. The nut 48 and washer 46 prevent the second clamp member 12 from moving away from the first clamp member 10, thereby securely locating the mount onto the frame member Fl.

Figure 4 shows the mount securely attached to and clamped onto the frame member Fl. As is apparent in Figures 3 and 4, because the frame member Fl is inclined to the vertical H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 16 and horizontal, and the bar 62 is attached to the clamp member 12 at an acute angle a, as previously described, the bar 62 extends generally horizontally. Preferably the angle a should be selected such that the general angle at which rafters Fl are installed in a building, the bar 62 will be generally in a horizontal disposition when the mount is fixed to those frame members Fl.

Because the bar 62 is generally horizontal, the first post 64 is generally vertical (and as is apparent from Figure 4, the second post 62 clearly inclined to both the vertical and horizontal).

With reference to Figure 5, a safety barrier is completed by locating a stanchion 90 which is formed from tube of generally square cross-section, over the first post 64.

As previously mentioned, the first post 64 is of slightly smaller size than the second post 66, and forms a stem locatable within a sleeve 92 of the stanchion 90. The sleeve 92 may simply be formed from the hollow configuration of the stanchion The stanchion 90 has a hole (not shown) and a nut 92 is welded onto the stanchion 90 in registry with the hole (not shown). A bolt 94 is engaged with the nut 92 and carries a handle 95 so that the bolt 94 can be screwed into the nut 92 and through the hole so as to clamp on the post 64 when the stanchion 90 is located over the post 64.

The stanchion 90 carries a plurality of generally horizontal sleeves 96 which receive safety rails 98. Each of the sleeves 96 has a similar nut 95 and bolt 94 arrangement so that when the safety rail 98 is located within the respective sleeve 96, the bolt 94 is tightened to clamp onto the safety rail 98 to securely hold the safety rail within the sleeve 96.

Thus, it is apparent from Figure 5 that the safety barrier H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 17 mount is able to connect to a roof rafter of varying width and thickness.

As is shown in Figure 6, a number of the safety barrier mounts are located on frame members Fl of a roof structure to support a plurality of stanchions 90 so that safety rails 98 can be supported and extend about the periphery of a roof so as to form a safety barrier about the periphery of the roof.

Figures 7 to 9 show use of the safety barrier mount of Figures 1 and 2 with a second type of frame F2 generally in the form of a vertical frame member such as a wall stud or the like.

The mount is connected to the frame member F2 in the same manner as described with reference to Figures 1 to 6, except that the mount is basically orientated with the clamp members 10 and 12 arranged vertically to engage the frame member F2, rather than in the inclined position shown in Figures 4 and 5 which matches the inclination of the rafter Fl in those figures. The method of attachment of the mount is exactly the same as the earlier embodiments, and the movement of the clamp members 12 and 14 with respect to one another accommodates frame members F2 of different width W, and the bolts 74 and 84 enable the mount to be attached to frame members F2 which are of different thickness T. Once again, the engagement of the shaft 38 in the locked position shown in Figure 7 prevents the clamp members 12 and 14 from moving apart relative to one another, thereby securely clamping the clamp members and 12 onto the frame member F2.

In the orientation shown in Figure 7, it is apparent that the bar 62 projects downwardly at an angle inclined to the vertical and this locates the second post 66 in a substantially horizontal manner. The second post 66 is in H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 18 the form of a hollow sleeve formed from tube of square cross-section, as previously mentioned, and receives an extension piece 100 which is of slightly smaller size (and typically the same size as the post 64. The extension piece 100 has a hole 102 which, when the extension piece 100 is located within the post 66, registers with the hole 68. A safety chain 104 is attached to the extension piece 100 and carries a pin 106 which locates through the hole 68 and the hole 102 (which holes pass entirely through the post 66 and the extension piece 100) and is engageable with a clasp 108 by locating clasp pin 109 through a hole 110 in the pin 106. Thus, the extension piece 100 is securely fastened to the post 66. In this embodiment, stanchion 90' carries a foot member 112 which is arranged at right angles with respect to stanchion 90' and which forms a sleeve into which the end of the extension piece 100 locates. The foot member 112 carries a bolt 114 which engages a nut 116 on the foot member 112. Again, the nut 116 registers with a hole (not shown) so that the bolt 114 can be screwed into the nut 112 to securely clamp on the extension piece 100 and thereby secure the stanchion to the extension piece 100. The stanchion 90' carries sleeves 96' which are the same as the sleeves 96 previously described.

Figure 8 shows the stanchion 90' assembled onto the mount with the extension piece 100 secured to the post 66 and the stanchion 90' secured to the extension piece 100.

In the orientation shown in Figures 7 to 9, the first post 64 forms a support for the extension piece 100, as is best shown in Figure 8, because it terminates just slightly below where the extension piece 100 is located when the extension piece 100 is secured to the post 66.

With reference to Figure 9, as in the earlier arrangement, a number of the mounts are connected to frame members F2 H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 19 to support a plurality of stanchions 90' so that safety rails 98 can be connected to the stanchion 90' to complete a safety barrier about the perimeter of the building.

Whilst the embodiment described above is able to attach to either the frame member Fi as shown in Figure 6, or F 2 as shown in Figure 7, it is more likely that the stanchion mounting will be used with a wall stud as per frame F 2 and therefore the post 64 could be omitted if desired. The stanchion mounting would still be useful with a number of different frame types because of the structure of the clamping mechanism previously described, but its primary intention would be for mounting on a vertical wall stud such as the frame F 2 rather than an inclined rafter such as the frame Fl.

Figures 10 to 15 show a further embodiment of the invention which is particularly suited for connection to a frame member Fi which is in the form of a rafter or top inclined chord of a building truss, as shown in Figures 12 to 15. As is shown in Figures 13 to 15, the frame member Fi has a fascia board F 3 connected to its end, to which a conventional rainwater gutter 150 is connected. The frame member Fi supports batons F 4 and tiles 152 are fixed to the batons F 4 as is conventional.

Figures 10 and 11 are a perspective view and plan view respectively of a safety barrier mounting according to this embodiment of the invention. With reference to these figures, the safety barrier mounting comprises an abutment plate 160 which has a downwardly extending leg 162 at one end. The leg 162 may be formed by welding the leg 162 to the plate 160 or may be formed by bending the plate 160 so that the leg 162 is integral with the plate 160. The other end of the plate 160 has an inclined coupling member 164 which is formed from tube and, as is best shown in Figure 11, the coupling member 164 is approximately half H:\Luia\JCCp\Speci\Sfety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 20 the width of the plate 160. The coupling member 164 has an outwardly extending stud 166 which extends substantially at right angles to the coupling member 164.

A support plate 168 is connected to the end of the stem 166 and, as is best shown in Figure 11, is spaced slightly outwardly from edge 160' of the plate 160. The plate 168 generally extends upwardly with respect to the stem 166 and has a hole 169. A nut 170 is welded to the plate 168 in registry with the hole 169 and the nut 170 and hole 169 receive a screw threaded bolt 171 which may be provided with a handle 172.

The leg 162 carries a pair of plates 173 which in turn support a post 174 for receiving a stanchion 90 of the type previously described, and which is shown in this embodiment in Figures 14 and The post 174 is formed from tube of generally square shaped cross-section and has a hole 177. A nut 178 is welded to the post 174 in registry with the hole, and a screw threaded bolt 179 is received in the nut 177 and hole 178 to secure the stanchion 90 in place. The bolt 179 may be provided with a handle 180 to facilitate rotation of the bolt 179 and therefore loosening and tightening of the bolt 179.

The safety barrier mounting of Figures 10 and 11 is connected to the frame member F, in the manner shown in Figures 12 to 14. In order to attach the safety barrier mounting to the frame Fi, one of the tiles 152' shown in Figure 12 is removed from the roof of the building and the mounting is applied to the frame member F, by locating the coupling section 164 generally adjacent to the frame Fi so that the plate 160 is above the frame Fi and the stem 166 is below the frame F 1 The mounting is rotated slightly so as to bring the plate 160 down on top of the frame member Fi as is shown in Figure 14 so the plate sits on upper H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 21 surface 190 of the frame Fl. The stem 166 engages the bottom surface 191 of the frame member Fi so the frame Fi is therefore engaged between the plate 160 and stem 166.

The frame member Fi also locates between the plate 168 and the coupling section 164. The side 164a of the section 164 engages or sits adjacent side 192 of the frame Fl. The nut 171 is then tightened so that it clamps tightly against the frame member Fi so as to secure the mounting in place. The mounting is therefore supported in a somewhat cantilever fashion by the abutment of the plate 160 on top of the frame member Fi and the engagement of the stem 166 with the bottom of the frame Fl. The nut 171 locks the mounting securely to the frame Fi so it cannot slide along the frame F 1 As is best shown in Figure 14, the leg 162 extends down the fascia board F 3 and into the gutter 150 so that the plate 160 generally sits substantially flush with the top of the frame Fl. The plates 173 and the post 174 sit inside the gutter 150 and the post, as is shown in Figure 14, extends upwardly from the gutter 150 to support the stanchion Depending on the thickness of the frame member F 1 the frame member Fi may be completely covered by the plate 160 or the plate 160 may sit on top of only part of the top surface 190 of the frame F 1 The length of the stem 166 is such that it can accommodate the entire thickness of the frame Fi and by tightening the nut 171, the device is secured to the frame Fi so it cannot move. The location of the leg 162 adjacent the fascia F 3 and in the gutter 150 also resists rotational movement in the substantially horizontal plane of the barrier mounting when connected to the frame F 1 As is shown in Figure 14, the stanchion 90 and the rails 98 are connected to the post 174 in the same manner as H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 22 described in the previous embodiments to complete the safety barrier. Obviously a number of mounting devices are connected to a plurality of the frame members Fi of the building in order to form the barrier in the same manner as is shown with reference to Figure 6.

When the barrier mounting is in place, as is shown in Figure 14, the tile 152' which has been removed to enable the mounting to be connected to the frame Fi can then be replaced to seal the space above the mounting against weather so that the roof is in tact and a space is not left where the mounting is connected which would otherwise allow rain and the weather to enter the roof, which could possibly cause structural damage to a ceiling or the like within the building.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", is used in an inclusive sense, ie. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03

Claims

1. A safety barrier mounting comprising: a first clamp member; a second clamp member; a support element connected to the first clamp member; a receiving member connected to the second clamp member for receiving the support element, and for allowing the second clamp member to slide on the support element so as to be moveable towards and away from the first clamp member; locking means on one of the first clamp member and second clamp member and couplable with the other of the first clamp member and second clamp member to lock the second clamp member relative to the first clamp member to prevent the first clamp member moving away from the second clamp member; and stanchion support means coupled to the mounting for supporting a stanchion which in turn is for supporting at least one safety rail.

2. The mounting of claim 1 wherein the support element comprises a tongue and the receiving element comprises an elongate opening for receiving the tongue so as to enable the second clamp member to slide on the tongue relative to the first clamp member.

3. The mounting of claim 1 or 2 wherein the locking means comprises a pivotal mounting, a locking element fixed to the pivotal mounting and pivotally moveable from a first position in which the locking element is separated from the said other of the first and second clamp members, to a second position coupled to the said other of the first and second clamp members to thereby lock the first clamp member relative to the second clamp member. H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 24

4. The mounting of claim 3 wherein the locking element comprises a screw-threaded shaft upon which is mounted a nut member, the other of the first and second clamp members carrying a catch into which the shaft locates when in the second position, and whereupon the nut is moveable on the screw-threaded shaft to engage the catch to thereby lock the first clamp member relative to the second clamp member and prevent the first clamp member from relative movement away from the second clamp member.

The mounting of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein each of the first and second clamp members comprises an angle iron section having a first wall for engaging a first face of a frame member to which the mounting is to be connected, and a second wall extending substantially perpendicular to the first wall for respectively engaging opposed sides of the frame member, and wherein when the locking element is in the second position, the second wall of the first clamp and the second wall of the second clamp member are prevented from moving away from one another to thereby clamp the mounting to the opposed sides of the frame member.

6. The mounting of claim 5 wherein the first and second clamp members also include adjustable clamp elements which are adjustable to engage a second face of the frame member opposite the first face so as to accommodate different thicknesses of frame members, and facilitate securement of the mounting to the frame member.

7. The mounting of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the stanchion support means includes a bar extending at an oblique angle with respect to the second walls of the first and second clamp members.

8. The mounting of claim 7 wherein the stanchion support further includes a first post extending H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 25 substantially at right angles to the bar for receiving the stanchion when the mounting is to be used with a first type of frame member in the form of an inclined frame member.

9. The mounting of claim 8 wherein the first post is in the form of a stem for location in a sleeve of the stanchion to support the stanchion.

10. The mounting of claim 8 wherein a second post is mounted on the bar for receiving the stanchion when the mounting is used with a second type of frame member in the form of a vertical frame member, the second post being arranged at an acute angle with respect to the bar.

11. The mounting of claim 10 wherein the second post is in the form of a hollow sleeve for receiving an extension bar which in turn supports the stanchion.

12. The mounting of claim 11 wherein the stanchion includes a foot member arranged substantially at right angles with respect to the stanchion for receiving the extension bar so that the stanchion is supported on the extension bar, and therefore supported by the stanchion mounting means.

13. A safety barrier mounting comprising: first and second clamp members for clamping the mounting to a frame member; a stanchion support having a first stanchion coupling element to which a stanchion is couplable to locate the stanchion in a substantially vertical orientation when the first and second clamp members are clamped to a first type of frame member, and a second stanchion coupling element for supporting a stanchion in a substantially vertical orientation when the first and second clamp members are clamped to a second type of frame H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 26 member.

14. The mounting of claim 13 wherein a support element is connected to the first clamp member and a receiving member is connected to the second clamp member for receiving the support element, and for allowing the second clamp member to slide on the support element so as to be moveable towards and away from the first clamp member.

The mounting of claim 14 wherein the support element comprises a tongue and the receiving element comprises an elongate opening for receiving the tongue so as to enable the second clamp member to slide on the tongue relative to the first clamp member.

16. The mounting of claim 13 wherein locking means is provided on one of the first clamp member and second clamp member, and couplable with the other of the first clamp member and second clamp member to lock the second clamp member relative to the first clamp member to prevent the first clamp member moving away from the second clamp member.

17. The mounting of claim 16 wherein the locking means comprises a pivotal mounting, a locking element fixed to the pivotal mounting and pivotally moveable from a first position in which the locking element is separated from the said other of the first and second clamp members, to a second position coupled to the said other of the first and second clamp members to thereby lock the first clamp member relative to the second clamp member.

18. The mounting of claim 17 wherein the locking element comprises a screw-threaded shaft upon which is mounted a nut member, the other of the first and second clamp members carrying a catch into which the shaft H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 27 locates when in the second position, and whereupon the nut is moveable on the screw-threaded shaft to engage the catch to thereby lock the first clamp member relative to the second clamp member and prevent the first clamp member for relative movement away from the second clamp member.

19. The mounting of any one of claims 13 to 18 wherein each of the first and second clamp members comprises an angle iron section having a first wall for engaging a first face of a frame member to which the mounting is to be connected, and a second wall extending substantially perpendicular to the first wall for respectively engaging opposed sides of the frame member, and wherein when the locking element is in the second position, the second wall of the first clamp and the second wall of the second clamp member are prevented from moving away from one another to thereby clamp the mounting to the opposed sides of the frame member.

20. The mounting of any one of claims 13 to 19 wherein the first and second clamp members also include adjustable clamp elements which are adjustable to engage a second face of the frame member opposite the first face so as to accommodate different thicknesses of frame members, and facilitate securement of the mounting to the frame member.

21. The mounting of any one of claims 13 to wherein the stanchion support comprises a bar extending at an oblique angle with respect to the second walls of the first and second clamp members, and the first stanchion coupling element is a first post extending substantially at right angles to the bar for receiving the stanchion.

22. The mounting of claim 21 wherein the first post is in the form of a stem for location in a sleeve of the stanchion to support the stanchion. H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 28

23. The mounting of claim 22 wherein the second stanchion coupling element is a second post for receiving the stanchion, the second post being arranged at an acute angle with respect to the bar.

24. The mounting of claim 23 wherein the second post is in the form of a hollow sleeve for receiving an extension bar which in turn supports the stanchion.

The mounting of claim 24 wherein the stanchion includes a foot member arranged substantially at right angles with respect to the stanchion for receiving the extension bar so that the stanchion is supported on the extension bar, and therefore supported by the stanchion mounting.

26. A safety barrier mounting for connection to a roof frame member, comprising: an abutment member for abutting a top surface of the frame member; a coupling member extending downwardly from the abutment member; an outwardly extending support portion connected to the coupling member for location beneath a lower surface of the frame member; a securing element for securing the safety barrier mounting to the frame member; a holder coupled to the abutment member remote from the coupling member and arranged below the abutment member; and a support member carried by the holder for receiving a stanchion which in turn is for supporting at least one safety rail.

27. The mounting of claim 26 wherein the coupling member extends downwardly at an inclined angle away from H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 29 the abutment member.

28. The mounting of claim 26 or 27 wherein the holder comprises a downwardly extending leg connected to the abutment member and at least one support element extending away from the leg to which the support member is connected so that the leg and element are receivable in a gutter arranged at an outer end of the frame member.

29. The mounting of any one of claims 26 to 28 wherein the support member comprises an upwardly standing post for receiving the stanchion.

The mounting of any one of claims 26 to 29 wherein the abutment member comprises an abutment plate which has a width greater than the width of the coupling member.

31. The mounting of any one of claims 26 to wherein the support portion comprises a support stem extending outwardly from the coupling member.

32. The mounting of any one of claims 26 to 31 wherein the securing element comprises a plate connected to the end of the stem and a screw threaded bolt arranged for screw threaded movement through the plate so as to clamp the frame member with the plate resting on the top surface of the frame member and the stem abutting the bottom surface of the frame member.

33. The mounting of any one of claims 26 to 32 wherein the coupling member comprises a coupling element which has a width less than the width of the plate so that the coupling element can abut a side surface of the frame member when the plate rests on the top surface of the frame member, so that the frame member is sandwiched between the screw threaded bolt and the coupling element H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03 30 when the safety barrier mounting is connected to the frame member.

34. The mounting of any one of claims 26 to 33 wherein the securing element is carried by the support portion. A safety barrier mounting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 9 or 10 to 15 of the accompanying drawings. .H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Safety Barrier Mount Prov.doc 29/10/03