AU2007201540B2

AU2007201540B2 - A barrier assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2007201540B2
Application number: AU2007201540A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Roland Bruce Blundell; Andrew Pandazopoulos; Brian Eugene Whelan
Original assignee: Workright Edge Protection Systems Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Workright Edge Protection Systems Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-01-19
Filing date: 2007-04-05
Publication date: 2009-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2027-04-05
Also published as: NZ578316A; NZ593738A; SG171629A1; DK2122085T3; AU2008252004A1; AU2008252004B2; AU2007201540A1

Description

S&FRef: 803215

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address of Applicant Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Workright Edge Protection Systems Pty Ltd, An Australian Company ACN 123 564 910, of Morrisey Way, Rouse Hill, New South Wales, 2155, Australia Andrew Pandazopoulos Roland Bruce Blundell Brian Eugene Whelan Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) A barrier assembly The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845c(744838_1) o00 O A BARRIER ASSEMBLY o Technical Field SThe present invention relates to barrier assemblies and more particularly but not exclusively to barrier assemblies employed on construction sites and more particularly but not exclusively to barrier assemblies such as temporary fencing and rail systems for floor slab edge installation during the construction of multi storey buildings.

Background of the Invention During construction, and prior to the floors being permanently closed (for Sexample by a curtain wall) temporary fencing is required adjacent the periphery of floor slabs for safety purposes.

Current barrier assemblies have a number of disadvantages including difficulty in providing openings for the purposes of gates, difficulty in respect of accommodating different lengths to which the barrier assemblies are to be applied, difficulty in respect of installation adjacent slab edges, difficulty in accommodating columns and other protrusions, inhibiting work that is to be performed beyond the barrier assembly, such as the installations of brackets and curtain walls, with the workmen remaining on the safe side of the barrier assembly and providing suitable connection points for anchors used for safety lines and harnesses.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a barrier assembly including: a barrier having a longitudinal generally horizontal length provided by a pair of slidably coupled barrier members, with relative sliding longitudinal movement between the barrier members providing for adjustment of said length; at least one upright attached to the members to support the members, the upright being provided to be attached to a supporting surface; and wherein said upright is a frame extending generally laterally from said barrier to engage said surface so as to extend upwardly from said surface, said frame including a clamp 1872517-1:hxa 00 0 operable to releasably secure the barrier to the frame so as the barrier is supported thereby, and to clamp the barrier members together to provide a desired length for said

U

Sbarrier.

Preferably, said frame supports the members at a position spaced from the s surface so that said barrier is spaced from said surface.

Preferably, said assembly includes a support attached to the members and extending downwardly therefrom to engage said surface to aid in supporting the members above said surface, said support being spaced from said upright.

N, Preferably, said clamp is an arm pivotally mounted for angular movement about a horizontal axis between a release position and a clamp position with respect to said Smembers.

Preferably, said frame includes a generally upright post against which said barrier is clamped by the pivoting movement of said arm towards said post.

Preferably, said assembly further includes a rotatable threaded member operatively associated with said post and said arm to pivotally move the arm toward said post so that said barrier is clamped between said post and arm.? Preferably, said first member has at least one longitudinally extending channel within which said second member is slidably located.

Preferably, said first member has two longitudinally extending channels, the channels being an upper channel and a lower channel within which said second member is slidably located.

Preferably, said upright is provided with a harness anchor point.

Preferably, said upright is provided with at least one shaped aperture to provide for the attachment of accessories to the upright.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic isometric view of a barrier assembly; Figure 2 is a further schematic isometric view of the barrier assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation of a kickboard assembly to be used with the barrier assembly of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic enlarged view of portion of the assembly of Figure 3; 1872517-1:hxa

I

3 00 Figure 5 is a schematic end elevation of a kickboard base employed in the assembly of Figure 3; and SFigure 6 is a schematic side elevation of a frame employed in the barrier Cc assembly as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a barrier assembly The barrier assembly 10 is to be fixed to the upper surface 12 of a concrete floor slab 11 having an edge 13.

The assembly 10 includes an upright 14 which in this embodiment is a frame C io The frame 15 has generally vertically oriented posts (uprights) 16 joined at their upper ends by a transverse brace 17 and a bottom plate 18. Typically the plate 18 would be bolted to the slab 11.

The posts 16 are generally parallel and the brace 17 and plate 18 are generally normal to the posts 16 and therefore also generally parallel.

In the present embodiment only one frame 15 is illustrated. However a plurality of frames 15 may also be employed.

Supported by the frame 15 and a foot (support) 19 is a barrier 20. The barrier has a longitudinal generally horizontal length 21 and includes a pair of barrier members 22 and 23. The members 22 and 23 are slidably coupled so that sliding relative movement therebetween adjusts the length 21.

The member 23 includes a top and a bottom rail 24 and 25, each rail 24 and includes a tubular member 26 to which there is attached an "angle" member 28 so that there are guide channels 27 provided within which the member 23 is slidably located.

In this respect it should be appreciated both members 22 and 23 are slidable through the stirrup 19, with the foot 19 being spaced from the frame 15 so as to support the barrier 20 in a raised position relative to the surface 12 with the frame 15 extending laterally from the barrier 20 as best seen in Figure 1.

The barrier member 23 has end vertical end portions 29.

The member 22 has upper and lower tubular rails 30 and vertical end portions 31.

To retain the members 22 and 23 in a desired configuration providing a desired length 21, they are clamped together by means of a clamp device 32. The clamp device 1872517-1:hxa r 4 4 00 32 includes a clamp bar 33 pivotally attached at its upper end to the portion 17 by means of a pivot pin 34 for angular movement about a generally horizontal axis 35 that is

U

Sgenerally parallel to the barrier 20. The axis 35 is spaced from the barrier 20 so the clamp Cc member 33 provides a space within which the members 22 and 23 are located.

s The lower end of the clamp bar 33 is provided with a threaded shaft 36 having a Shandle 37 that is manipulated by a user. The threaded shaft 36 engages a nut 38 fixed to Sthe post 16. Upon angular movement of the shaft 36 by manipulation of the handle 37, the clamp bar 36 is moved into clamping engagement with the members 22 and 23 to clamp them, and therefore fix them, in a predetermined position relative to the frame As is best seen in Figures 1 and 2, the barrier 20 is horizontally longer than it is vertically deep.

The frame 15 is provided with a bracket 39 providing an aperture 40 aligned with the aperture 41 of the stirrup 19. The apertures 40 and 41 receive portion of the kickboard assembly 42 so as to retain the kickboard assembly 42 generally positioned below the barrier 20. The kickboard assembly 42 includes a base 43 that would have end portions engaged in the apertures 40 and 41 so as to be supported thereby. The base 43 has longitudinally extending grooves 44. In this regard the base 43 has an upper longitudinally extending portion 45 and a lower longitudinally extending portion 46, with the lower groove 44 being located adjacent or at the lower portion 46. The upper groove 44 is located adjacent the upper portions Releasably attached to the base 43 is a flexible member 47. The flexible member 47 has an end lip 48 with a longitudinally extending projection 49 that is received within the lower groove 44 so as to attach the flexible member 47 to the base 43. As is best seen in Figure 3, the flexible member 47 has a lower sheet portion 50 joined to the lip 48, with the sheet portion 50 having a further projection 51 that is received within the upper groove 44 to aid in securing the flexible member 47 in a raised position generally abutting the base 43.

Preferably, the base 43 is an extruded aluminium section and is generally rigid relative to the flexible member 47. Typically the flexible member 47 would be formed of rubber, synthetic rubber or other flexible plastics material.

As best seen in Figure 4, each groove 44 has entrance flanges 52 that engage the head 53 of each projection 49. Each head 53 has steps 54 that engages the adjacent flange 1872517-1:hxa 00 52 to aid in retaining the projection 47 in the associated slot 44. Resilient deformation of the head 49 provides for insertion and removal with respect to the associated slot 44.

As best seen in Figure 6, the frame 15 includes an eyelet 55 providing an anchor point for a harness to be worn by a user. At least one of posts 16 is provided with one or more apertures 56 that are preferably of a "key hole" configuration providing for the attachment of accessories such as stands and screens to the frame 1 In the above described preferred embodiment, the barrier assembly 10 has the advantage of being locatable adjacent the edge 13 while also being adjustable in length 21. Still further the flexible member 47 covers apertures extending inwardly from the edge 13, while the projection 51 is selectively locatable in the upper groove 44 to retain the sheet portion in a raised position spaced from the horizontal rest portion laying on the surface 12. Use of the clamp assembly 32 enables sliding movement of the members 22 and 23 to provide openings when desired.

1872517-1:hxa

Claims

1. A barrier assembly including: U a barrier having a longitudinal generally horizontal length provided by a pair of slidably coupled barrier members, with relative sliding longitudinal movement between the barrier members providing for adjustment of said length; at least one upright attached to the members to support the members, the upright being provided to be attached to a supporting surface; and wherein said upright is a frame extending generally laterally from said barrier to engage said surface so as to extend upwardly from said surface, said frame including a clamp operable to releasably secure the barrier to the frame so as the barrier is supported thereby, and to clamp the barrier members together to provide a desired length for said barrier.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said frame supports the members at a position spaced from the surface so that said barrier is spaced from said surface.

3. The assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein said assembly includes a support attached to the members and extending downwardly therefrom to engage said surface to aid in supporting the members above said surface, said support being spaced from said upright.

4. The assembly of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said clamp is an arm pivotally mounted for angular movement about a horizontal axis between a release position and a clamp position with respect to said members.

The assembly of claim 4, wherein said frame includes a generally upright post against which said barrier is clamped by the pivoting movement of said arm towards said post.

6. The assembly of claim 5, further including a rotatable threaded member operatively associated with said post and said arm to pivotally move the arm toward said post so that said barrier is clamped between said post and arm.

7. The assembly of anyone of claims 1 to 6, wherein said first member has at least one longitudinally extending channel within which said second member is slidably located.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said first member has two longitudinally extending channels, the channels being an upper channel and a lower channel within which said second member is slidably located.

1872517-1:hxa 7 00 8

9. The assembly of anyone of claims 1 to 8, wherein said upright is provided with a harness anchor point. The assembly of anyone of claims 1 to 9, wherein said upright is c provided with at least one shaped aperture to provide for the attachment of accessories to the upright. 11. A barrier assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Dated 2 December, 2008 Workright Edge Protection Systems Pty Ltd 0

10 Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person N SPRUSON FERGUSON 1872517-1:hxa