AU2004100923B4 - Bench Guard - Google Patents

Description

28.0ot. 2004 16:41 WalIintor-ODuner SyJnhe' No, I I31 4 P/OD/009 Regulation 3.2B

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: BENCH GUARD The invention Is described in the following statement together with the best method of performing it known to us: Our Reference: 026016 COMS ID No: SBMI-00975529 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2004-10-28 28-ct. 2004 16:47 'Wal inston-Dum er Sydney No.71:30 P, 0 ci o BENCH GUARD 00 The present invention relates to safety devices associated with working surfaces such as the tops of kitchen, work or laboratory benches and the like, and more o particularly to means for the prevention of accidental dislodgement of objects or spillage of fluids from those Sworking surfaces.

ci

BACKGROUND

For many people the lack of a suitable device to prevent the accidental spillage of materials or fluids and the accidental dislodgement of objects from benches, cooktops and tables, has resulted in serious injury and or expense and even, in extreme cases, to fatalities.

The accidental spillage of hot or caustic fluids (for example hot tea or coffee) from benches and tables in the kitchen is one of the leading causes of death and injury for young children in western civilizations. The elderly and infirm also suffer from such occurrences.

The accidental dislodgement of objects and the spillage of fluids from work benches and tables can impact on industry both financially and through injury to employees. School science benches are another area of COMS ID No: SBMI-00975529 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2004-10-28 28.0ct. 2004 16:48 Wal hngton-Dm er Sydney No.7130 P. 6 2 0 potential risk if an object is accidentally dislodged or a 0 fluid spilled; hot and caustic substances again being a 0 0 leading cause of injury to school age children in the classroom.

Ce C 5 It is an object of the present invention to offer an o aid in the prevention of such incidents.

o BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention, there is provided a demountable safety guard adapted for prevention of accidental urged dislodgment of an article or liquid over an edge of a fixed horizontal surface; said edge not otherwise precluding the dislodgement of said article.

Preferably said surface includes a bench top, a cooktop or a table top.

Preferably said guard comprises a substantially vertical elongate rectangular member having an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface bounded by edges, extending along at least a portion of an edge of said surface.

Preferably said edge is any edge of said surface from which said article can fall when urged to within sufficiently close proximity of said edge.

COMS ID No: SBMI-00975529 Received by IP Auslralia: Time 16:57 Date 2004-10-28 28-ct. 2004 16:48 Wal ingtor-Dumer Sydney No.71 30 3 0 0 Preferably said guard is adapted to be inserted into a 0 0 slot in said surface.

0 0 Preferably said slot is provided with a cover strip; said strip adapted to prevent the ingress of dirt and other c- 5 matter into said slot.

0\ 0 Preferably said guard is adapted to be inserted into a guard retaining means attached to said surface.

O Preferably said retaining means is in the form of an extruded channel, said channel adapted to be attached to said surface.

Preferably said extruded channel is attached to said surface by attachment means including one or more of: a) an applied adhesive b) a double sided adhesive tape c) magnetic means d) suction means e) mechanical means including screws and rivets and the like.

Preferably said guard is attached to said surface by means of hinged elements.

Preferably said guard and said guard retaining means are formed of metallic materials.

Preferably said guard and said guard retaining means are formed of non-metallic materials.

COMS ID No: SBMI-00975529 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2004-10-28 28.0ct. 2004 1 :48 Wa llins ton-Dum er Sydney No.7130 P. 8 4 Preferably said guard and said guard retaining means O are formed of a combination of metallic and non-metallic 00 materials.

Accordingly, in another broad form of the invention, (i 5 there is provided a method for the prevention of the o accidental urged dislodgement of an article or liquid over an edge of a fixed horizontal surface, said method Sincluding the provision of a guard member disposed along at ci least a portion of said edge of said surface, said guard member extending a sufficient height above said surface thereby defining a barrier to dislodgement of said article or liquid.

Accordingly, in yet another broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of providing a safety guard member for the edge of a fixed horizontal surface wherein said guard member is inserted into a slot disposed along said edge of said surface.

Accordingly, in yet another broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of providing a safety guard member for the edge of a fixed horizontal surface wherein said guard member is retained in an extruded channel fixed along an edge of said surface.

Accordingly, in yet another broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of providing a safety COMS ID No: SBMI-00975529 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2004-10-28 28Qcet. 2004 16:48 F lingtor-0Lni- Sidno No-7130 P. .9 guard member for the edge of a fixed horizontal surface 0 wherein said guard memnber is attached along an edge of said 00 surface by hinge elements.

In still a further broad form off the invention there is provided a guard system for preventing accidental urged o dislodgement of an article over a leading edge of a fixed horizontal surface; said guard arrangement comprising a o rail adapted for alignment with reference to said edge and for affixing to said surface thereby to present a substantially vertically oriented slot for slidable engagement of a guard member therein; said guard member of substantially rectangular cross section in both longitudinal and lateral directions; said guard member adapted f or substantially vertical engagement and disengagement with respect to said slot in said rail; said guard member substantially opaque throughout.

Preferably, the height of said guard member is selected so that said guard member acts as a visual barrier, when installed on said surface, to visualisation of objects on the far side of said guard member when viewed by a child but not by an adult.

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of minimising accidental urged dislodgement of an article from a surface relative to an edge thereof; said COMS ID No: SBMI-00975529 Receied by IP Australia: 'lime (Jim) 16:57 Date 2004-10-28 28-Oot, 2004 IE:48 Wallinstor-Di lm er Sydney N 1 D- "6 0 method comprising providing the guard member of any one of 0 Claims 19 or 20 as a kit of two component parts.

oO Preferably, said two component parts comprise a rail having a slot therein and a substantially opaque guard member for Ce vertical reception in said slot.

0 o In still a further broad form of the invention there is provided a demountable safety guard adapted for prevention o of accidental urged dislodgment of an article or liquid ci over an edge of a fixed horizontal working surface; said surface including a bench top, a cooktop or a tabletop; said guard comprising a substantially vertical elongate rectangular member having an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface bounded by edges, said member extending along at least a portion of said edge of said surface; said safety guard comprised of two and only two components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bench top safety feature according to a first embodiment of the invention.

COMS ID No: SBMI-00975529 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2004-10-28 2 0 2004 16:49 Walrin:tor-Dum er Sydney No.77i30 P 1 7 0 0

C]

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an alternative 0 0 retaining means of the embodiment of fiure I.

00 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a bench top safety feature according to a second embodiment of the invention.

C] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a component for use o with the arrangement of any one of figures 1, 2 or 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of means of attachment of a component of the embodiment of figure 1.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of figure 1 in use, Figure 7 is a perspective view of visual alignment of a child's eyes compared with adult eyes with and without use of embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a bench guard in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a bench guard in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 is a bench guard in accordance with yet a further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PBPENEUD EMBODIIENTS Embodiments of the present invention provide for the addition of suitable guard elements to the periphery of COMS ID No: SBMI-00975529 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2004-10-28 28-CM. 2004 16:49 a l in itor-)Du er Sydney No- 713 0 P 2 0 0 working surfaces where the edges of those working surfaces O are not otherwise protected, such as for example by 00 splashbacks or abutting walls.

In a first preferred embodiment of the invention with M- 5 reference to figures 1 and 2, there is provided a 0\ 2 vertically extending guard element 1 located in a retaining element 2 (or Guard element 1 is in the form of an o elongate rigid strip of suitable height and thickness extending along at least a portion of an exposed edge of a working surface as may best be seen in figure 6.

As may be seen in figure 5, in this first embodiment the guard element 1 is secured to the working surface of a bench top 6 by means of a retaining element 2 (or 4) in the form of an extruded channel section. Retaining element 2 (or 4) may be secured to the bench top 6 by a variety of means as shown in figure 6, for example by screws 9, rivets or by means of two-sided self-adhesive strip 8. Further methods of holding the retaining element 2 (or 4) to the surface of bench top 6 may included bonding with suitable adhesives, or non-mechanical means such as magnetic strips or by suction means.

Guard element 1 may be fixed either permanently or releaseably or semi-permanently (for example by a friction fit or by a moulded locking fit) in retaining element 2 (or COMS ID No: SBMI-00975529 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2004-10-28 28,0ot. 2004 16":49 Walin tor-Dumier Sydney No,7130 P. I 0 0 4) or may be held in place as a friction fit so as to allow 0 0 for its removal when the guard function is not required.

00 Guard element 1 may optionally be provided with a hole 3 so ci as to allow for its storage at some convenient location by suspension from a hook (not shown).

0 0 In a second preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in figure 3, guard element 1 is mounted in a slot olocated along an edge of bench top 6. The slot may be ci formed by machining into the surface of the bench top or as part of an edging strip attached to the edge of the bench top.

In this embodiment also, guard element I may be permanently fixed either permanently or semi-permanently (for example by a friction fit or by a moulded locking fit) in slot 5 or alternatively may be located in the slot as a friction fit so as to be removable when desired. In this latter case slot 5 may be provided with a cover strip 7 (shown in figure 4) so as to prevent the ingress of material or liquids into slot 5 and as an aid to appearance.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the slot may be covered by a spring-loaded cover strip which is urged into position over the slot as. the guard element is removed.

COMS ID No: SBMI-00975529 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2004-10-28 28.00t. 2034 16:49 Wallinstor-Dumne Sydney Nc.7130 P. '4 In yet a further preferred embodiment of the O( invention, guard element 1 may be operatively attached to 0O bench top 6 by means of hinges. The hinges may be permanently attached to the working surface of the bench 5 top or alternatively could be demountable.

Ci 0\ o

I

n all the embodiments described, the guard element may be formed from any of a range of suitable materials, Sincluding laminates of timber, pressed fibre or plastic or ci combinations thereof and metals such as steel or aluminium.

Non-metallic materials may be transparent or opaque.

In use the guard element acts both to prevent liquids from flowing over the edge, or objects from accidentally being pushed over the edge of a bench top and as an impediment to small children reaching up to pull an object over the edge. In particular, a guard element arranged along the front of a cooktop located in the surface of a kitchen bench top will serve to minimize the possibility of this highly dangerous occurrence.

For embodiments of the invention in which the guard element is removable from the slot, different guard elements may be provided in a range of heights to suit different working and safety conditions. Thus for example in a laboratory situation where relatively tall vessels are in use, a relatively high guard can be inserted into the COMS ID No: SBMI-00975529 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2004-10-28 28.Cot. 2004 15:50 WalIhn tor-Dimier SydneP N0.7130 P. I 0 0 retaining element, whereas where the only concern is the 0 0 spilling of liquids, a relatively low guard may be 00 appropriate.

c With reference to Figure 7 a bench guard 10 in en -i 5 accordance with any of the previously described embodiments o is illustrated in position on a stove or bench surface 11 and is arranged to have barrier height H selected such that owhen viewed from the eyes of a child at child head height ci on a floor 12 adjacent the bench or cooktop 11 the guard acts as a visual barrier to the child seeing items beyond the barrier on the cook top or bench top 11. The barrier height H is further selected so that it is not so high that it impedes the sight line of an adult over the top of the guard 10. The end result is that the child is not able to see items on the other side of the guard whereby the child cannot become attracted to those items. Conversely the adult sight line is not impeded so that the adult may still operate effectively in a kitchen or like environment with the items such as saucepan 13 located on the stove or bench top 11.

With reference to Figures 8, 9 and 10, three different embodiments of a guard comprising, respectively, guards 40 are illustrated in perspective view. Each guard is arranged to have a different height H above the surface of COMS ID No: SBMI-00975529 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2004-10-28 28.0ct. 2004 16:50 Wallinr tor-Dum er Sydney No.7130 P. 6 12 a bench top comprising heights Hi, H2 and H3. Bearing in O mind that the guard material itself is made from an opaque OO substance it is possible for a user to select from the various heights Hi, H2, H3 so as to achieve the outcomes S 5 illustrated in Figure 7 as between a child and an adult.

0C o With further reference to Figure 8 the guard 0 comprises a guard support rail 21 having a vertically 0 Saligned slot 22 therein which slidably receives in a vertical direction a substantially solid and contiguous guard member 23 therein and throughout the length of the slot 22.

As illustrated by the vertical arrow disengagement of the guard member 23 from slot 22 is accomplished by a vertical movement in an upward direction relative to rail 21. Conversely engagement is carried out in the reverse direction. The shape and relative angle of slot 22 as compared with bench top 11 is such that only substantially vertical engagement and disengagement movements are possible.

This arrangement ensures that the guard member 23 cannot be disengaged by a lateral pulling motion as might be expected by a child. On the other hand vertical disengagement is relatively easy for an adult for the purposes of cleaning and the like.

COMS ID No: SBM1-00975529 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2004-10-28 28,ct 2004 15:5,1 Wa2linstor-Dum-Ter Sydney No- 713 0 P 7 13 0 0 The above describes only some embodiments of the 0 present invention and modifications, obvious to those 0 0 skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

ec (N o o o

(N

COMS ID No: SBMI-00975529 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2004-10-28

Claims (1)

1. 8.Jun. 2005 13:10 Wallingion-Dummer Sydney No.0871 P. 3 in 14 0 (cN CLAIMS I A guard system for preventing accidental urged 00 o dislodgement of an article over a leading edge of a fixed horizontal surface; said guard system comprising ci a rail and a guard member; said rail adapted for 0 Salignment with reference to said edge and for affixing to said surface thereby to present a substantially 0, vertically oriented slot for slidable engagement of said guard member therein; said guard member of substantially rectangular cross section in both longitudinal and lateral directions; said guard member adapted for substantially vertical engagement and disengagement with respect to said slot in said rail; said guard member substantially opaque throughout. 2. The guard member of Claim 1 wherein the height of said guard member is selected so that said guard member acts as a visual barrier, when installed on said surface, to visualisation of objects on the far side of said guard member when viewed by a child but not by an adult. 3. A method of minimising accidental urged dislodgement of an article from a surface relative to an edge thereof; said method comprising providing the guard COMS ID No: SBMI-01289152 Received by IP Australia: Time 13:11 Date 2005-06-08 8.Jun. 2005 13:11 Wallington-Dummer Sydney No.0871 P. 4 tfl 0 c( member of any one of Claims 1 or 2 as a kit of two Scomponent parts. 00 4. The method of Claim 3 wherein said two component parts 0 comprise a rail having a slot therein and a substantially opaque guard member for vertical 0c reception in said slot. The guard system of Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said Sguard system comprises two and only two components. DATED: 8 June 2005 Darras L 3 Hancock by his Patent Attorneys: WALLINGTON-DUdMER COMS ID No: SBMI-01289152 Received by IP Australia: Time 13:11 Date 2005-06-08