AU2010101026A4

AU2010101026A4 - Anchor device

Info

Publication number: AU2010101026A4
Application number: AU2010101026A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Michael Fitzgerald
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-09-16
Filing date: 2010-09-16
Publication date: 2010-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 2018-09-16

Description

Our Ref: 20731098 P/00/0 1 Regulation 3:2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant(s): Peter Michael Fitzgerald 51 Tramway Road, North Avoca, New South Wales 2260, Australia Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys 255 Elizabeth Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Invention Title: "Anchor device" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- C \NRPortblDCC\AZC\3196771_I DOC-1509/2010 ANCHOR DEVICE Field of the Invention 5 The invention generally relates to an anchor device for coupling an article such as a safety line to a support structure such as a building structure. Background of the Invention 10 A person working on elevated structures, for example, the roof of a building is generally required to be tethered to the elevated structure by a safety arrangement. Typically, such a safety arrangement includes a harness, a rope and an anchor point secured to the elevated structure. In use, the harness is secured to the person and the rope is secured to the anchor point which in turn is connected to the elevated structure. In the event the person slips or 15 falls the rope becomes tight and restricts the fall of the person. In some instances the rope may be slack to allow the person freedom of movement. If the person falls, for example, with four meters of slack in the rope the person may fall four meters before the rope becomes tight. Just prior to the rope becoming tight the person will 20 have accelerated to a particular velocity depending on the height from which the person has fallen and as such there is a certain amount of kinetic energy which must be absorbed by the safety arrangement to bring the person to rest. If components of a safety arrangement are rigid or cannot otherwise absorb the kinetic 25 energy there will be a relatively high shock force on the person and the anchor point when the rope becomes tight. This relatively high shock force may, for example, injure the person, damage the anchor point or damage the elevated structure. However, if components of a safety arrangement are able to move or otherwise absorb at 30 least some of the kinetic energy the shock force on the person and the anchor point will be relatively lower.

C NRPorbl\DCC\AZC 186771 1.DOC-IS309/2011 -2 Accordingly, it is beneficial to introduce some energy absorption elements into the safety arrangement to reduce the force on the person, rope, anchor point and elevated support structure. 5 Summary of the Invention In accordance with the invention there is provided, an anchoring device for anchoring an article to a structure, the anchoring device including first and second bodies, each of the first and second bodies including a base member which is adapted to be mounted to the 10 structure in a fitted position and mounting element which extends from the base member, whereby in the fitted position the mounting elements are located adjacent one another such that the article is able to be operatively coupled to the mounting elements, the mounting elements being deformable relative to the base members when a load above a threshold amount is applied thereto. 15 In one form, each of base members is elongate in form and each of the mounting elements comprises an upstanding flange with a contact surface, wherein each upstanding flange extends from one end of a respective one of the base members, wherein in the fitted position the contact faces of the upstanding flanges are in abutting relation with respect to 20 one another, the base members extending in opposing directions with respect to the upstanding flanges. In one form, each upstanding flange includes an aperture, each aperture being coaxially aligned in the fitted position, wherein the article, when coupled, extends through each 25 aperture. In one form, the contact faces are able to slide relative one another when the load above the threshold amount is applied. 30 In one form, anchoring device further includes a joint between the upstanding flanges, the joint being adapted to break to allow the contact faces to slide relative one another when C \NRPonbl\DC ZC\3 6771_I DOC-15/09/2l1O -3 the load above the threshold amount is applied In one form, the joint is formed by one of a tack weld, adhesive, rivet or plug. 5 In one form, each of the first body and the second body are formed from a single piece of material. In one form, the single piece of material is one of stainless steel, aluminium or a composite plastic. 10 In one form, the single piece of material is stainless steel with a thickness of 1 mm to 4 mm. In one form, each of the first and second body is formed of a single stainless steel sheet 15 which has been folded to provide the upstanding flange. In one form, the elongate base elements include a series of apertures whereby in the fitted position fasteners are passed through the apertures to couple the elongate base elements to the structure. 20 In one form, the threshold amount is in the range of I kN to 10 kN. In one form, the threshold amount is in the range of 5 to 15 kN. 25 Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; 30 Figure la is a perspective view illustrating an anchor device with a first body coupled to a second body; C WRorbl\DCCAZC\18677! 1 DOC- SA)W2010 -4 Figure l b is a side view illustrating the anchor device of Figure Ia; Figure Ic is a top view illustrating the anchor device of Figure Ia; 5 Figure Id is a bottom view illustrating the anchor device of Figure la; Figure le is a front view illustrating the anchor device of Figure Ia; 10 Figure 2a is a perspective view of the anchor device coupled to a support structure during testing to demonstrate the deformation of a mounting member through which an article is coupled; Figure 2b is a perspective view of the anchor device in a deformed state after a load above 15 a threshold amount has been applied during testing as illustrated in Figure 2a; Figure 3a is a top view of a flat piece of sheet metal prior to bending the flat piece of metal to form either the first body or the second body; and 20 Figure 3b is a perspective view of one of the first body of the second body. Detailed Description of the Invention Referring to Figures la to le, 2a and 2b there is illustrated an anchor device (1) for 25 anchoring an article (50) to a structure (60). The anchor device (1) including a first body (2) and a second body (3). The first body (2) includes a base member (4) which is adapted to be mounted to the structure (60) and a mounting element (5) extending from the base member (4). The base 30 member (4) is provided in the form of an elongate base element (6) with a series of apertures (7). The mounting element (5) comprises an upstanding flange (8) with an C \URPorbi\DCC\AZC i 1M6771 DOC-15/D9120110 -5 aperture (9) which extends from one end (10) of the elongate base element (6). The second body (3) is similarly configured to the first body (2). Accordingly, the second body (3) includes a base member (14) which is adapted to be mounted to the structure (60) 5 and a mounting element (15) extending from the base member (14). The base member (14) includes an elongate base element (16) and a series of apertures (17). The mounting element (15) includes an upstanding flange (18) with an aperture (19) which extends from one end (20) of the elongate base element (16). 10 In this example, the first body (2) and the second body (3) include a joint (40) between the upstanding flanges (8, 18). This joint (40) keeps the first body (2) and second body (3) together for convenience purposes and for safety purposes such that a user would not attempt to use only one of the first body (2) or the second body (3). The joint (40) may be formed with any suitable bonding agent such as a tack weld, adhesive or rivet. 15 When the first body (2) and the second body (3) are joined together upstanding flanges (8, 18) are adjacent each other. In a preferred form, the faces (21, 31) are in contact so that the upstanding flanges (8, 18) provide abutting support for one another. In this configuration, the elongate base elements (6, 16) extend in opposing directions. 20 It should also be appreciated that the device (1) could also be formed without the joint (40). For example, in a fitted position the first body (2) could be assembled adjacent the second body (3) such that the contact faces (21, 31) are immediately adjacent or abutting one another. 25 With or without the joint (40) when assembled together for use in the fitted position, such as that shown in Figure 2a, the fasteners (63) pass through the series of apertures (7, 17) to mount the device (1) to the support structure (60). In this example, the support structure (60) is a roof with metal roof sheeting. However, it should be appreciated that the support 30 structure may be any suitable structure such as, but not limited to, a roof structure, a steel beam, a timber beam, concrete beams or slabs.

C \NRPorlblIDCC\A2CulX677I I DOC-I)'/12010 -6 Referring to Figure 2a, once secured to the support structure (60) an article (50) may be coupled to the upstanding flanges (8, 18) by inserting the article (50) through the apertures (9, 19). In this example, the article (50) shown is a testing apparatus with a bolt (51) and 5 nut arrangement (52). However, the article (50) may be anything which can be coupled to the upstanding flanges (8, 18). For example, it is envisaged that in use the article (50) may be a rope, clip or other of tether arrangement which may be used to couple a person working on an elevated support structure to the anchor device (1). 10 The anchor device (1) may find particularly advantageous use when coupled to a metal roofing structure (60). Typically, a person such as a construction worker will be tethered to the anchor device (1) by an article (50) such as a rope. Generally, whilst working there is a degree of slack in the rope to allow a person to move around. Accordingly, if the person falls the slack in the rope is taken up and the rope becomes tight a shock force is generated 15 between the falling person and the upstanding flanges (8, 18). The magnitude of this shock force will be generally be dependant upon several factors including: the kinetic energy of the falling person just prior to the rope becoming tight; the distance the person moves after the rope becomes tight; and any energy absorption or 20 energy conversion in the person, rope, anchor point or structure, for example, such as elastic movement, plastic deformation, and conversion of energy to heat, sound or otherwise. More particularly, the shock force causes a load to be applied to the upstanding flanges (8, 25 18). When this load is above a threshold amount the upstanding flanges (8, 18) begin to deform relative the elongate base elements (6, 16). In this example, the threshold amount is approximately 8 kilonewtons. However, the threshold amount can be configured to be of any suitable amount depending on the application. For example, the threshold amount may be in range of 0.5 to 20 kilonewtons. 30 The device (1) may be formed from any suitable material, for example, stainless steel, C WRPorbl\DCCAZC\3 186771 1 DOC-15 I09/2010 -7 aluminium and composite plastics. Preferably, the device (1) is formed from stainless steel which is 1 mm to 4 mm thick. The thickness of the stainless steel may affect the magnitude of the threshold load which is required to begin to deform the upstanding flanges (8, 18). For example, thinner steel may generally result in lower threshold load being required to 5 initiate deformation. It should also be appreciated that when the contact faces (21, 31) are together the combined thickness of the upstanding flanges (8,18) is twice that of the thickness of the elongate base elements (6, 16) which generally stiffens the upstanding flanges (8,18) so 10 that the upstanding flanges (8,18) bend at their respective lower ends adjacent their respective elongate base elements (6, 16). An example of the deformation of the upstanding flanges (8, 18) is shown in Figure 2b. In this example, a load of 20 kilonewtons has been applied to test the strength of the anchor 15 device (1) which has significantly deformed the upstanding flanges (8, 18). As may be appreciated from Figure 2a and 2b, in the fitted position the anchor device (1) is generally oriented with one the elongate base elements (6, 16) pointing in the direction the person is likely to fall. In this example, elongate base element (6) points down the roof 20 structure and elongate base element (16) points up the roof structure. Accordingly, in this orientation, when the load above the threshold load is applied to the upstanding flanges (8, 18) the upstanding flanges (8, 18) both bend in the direction of the applied load and generally towards, in this example, elongate base element (6). During 25 deformation, upstanding flange (8) is bent toward elongate base element (6) and is folded partially underneath upstanding flange (18). The upstanding flange (18) is also bent towards elongate base element (6). As may be appreciated, the deformation of each of the upstanding flanges (8, 18) is different. For example, the upstanding flange (8) provides resistance to the movement of upstanding flange (18) and is more so under a compressive 30 load and upstanding flange (18) is bent away from the elongate base element (16) and is more so under a tensile load.

C \NRPonblDCC\AZC1 16771.1 DOC- I5/9/2010 -8 When each of the upstanding flanges (8, 18) begins to deform the contact faces (21, 31) begin to slide relative one another. Accordingly, if the joint (40) is present the joint will break to allow this sliding movement. For example, as shown in Figure 2b the upstanding 5 flange (8) bends over to provide a seat to support the upstanding flange (18). In resisting the bending, the contact face (21) of the upstanding flange (8) proceeds upwardly relative to the contact face (31) upstanding flange (18), that is, in a direction generally away from the support structure (60). Accordingly, when deformed the top of the upstanding flange (8) may protrude relative to the upstanding flange (18). 10 In this example, the deformation takes place by way of plastic deformation of the stainless steel upstanding flanges (8, 18). This plastic deformation allows the anchor device (1) to absorb a portion of the kinetic energy associated with the falling person. Furthermore, energy is absorbed by the sliding movement between the contact faces (21, 31) which may 15 produce frictional heat. As such, the energy absorbed by the anchor device (1) is able to reduce the shock force which is applied to the parts of the safety arrangement such as the person falling (not shown), the harness (not shown), the rope (not shown), the anchor device itself, fasteners 20 (63) and the support structure (50). Referring to Figure 3a, each one of the first body (2) and the second body (3) may be formed from a flat sheet of stainless steel. As each of the first body (2) and second body (3) are identical, the following is explained with reference to the first body (2) only. 25 The outline of the elongate base element (6), the series of apertures (7), the upstanding flange (8) and the aperture (9) may be cut out of the flat sheet of stainless steel by a laser cutting machine or similar. The elongate base element (6) is then folded about fold line (F) relative to flange (8) such that the flange (8) becomes upstanding, the angle between the 30 upstanding flange (8) and the elongate base element (6, 16) being generally 90 degrees.

C \NRPonbnDCC\AZCuI867711 DOC-159A/20i1 -9 In this example, the length of the upstanding flange (8) to the fold line (F) is approximately 140 mm, the series of apertures (7) have a diameter of 9 mm, the upstanding flange (8) has a height of approximately 60 mm and the aperture (9) has a diameter of 30 mm. The steel sheet may be a 304 stainless steel sheet with a thickness of 2 mm. 5 An example of the first body (2) formed in accordance with the above described is shown in Figure 3b. As aforementioned the second body (3) may be likewise formed. The first body (2) and second body (3) may then be joined by abutting the faces (21, 31) of the respective upstanding flanges (8, 18) together and applying a tack weld to form a joint 10 (40). Alternatively, as aforementioned, the first body (2) and the second body (3) may simply be placed together in the fitted position so that the faces (21, 31) of the respective upstanding flanges (8, 18) are abutted together. Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the 15 scope of the present invention. The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived 20 from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will 25 be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

C \RPorbI\DCC\AZC\3 186771-1 DOC-l 5M912010 - 10 List of Parts (1) Device (2) First body 5 (3) Second body (4) Base member of the first body (5) Mounting element of the first body (6) Elongate base element of the first body (7) Series of apertures of the first body 10 (8) Upstanding flange of the first body (9) Aperture of the upstanding flange of the first body (10) One end of the first body (14) Base member of the second body (15) Mounting element of the second body 15 (16) Elongate base element of the second body (17) Series of apertures of the second body (18) Upstanding flange of the second body (19) Aperture of the upstanding flange of the second body (20) One end of the second body 20 (21) Face of the upstanding flange of the first body (31) Face of the upstanding flange of the second body (40) Joint (50) Article (60) Support structure 25 (61) Bolt (62) Nut (63) Fasteners

Claims

1. An anchoring device for anchoring an article to a structure, the anchoring device including first and second bodies, each of the first and second bodies including a 5 base member which is adapted to be mounted to the structure in a fitted position and mounting element which extends from the base member, whereby in the fitted position the mounting elements are located adjacent one another such that the article is able to be operatively coupled to the mounting elements, the mounting elements being deformable relative to the base members when a load above a 10 threshold amount is applied thereto.

2. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein each of base members is elongate in form and each of the mounting elements comprises an upstanding flange with a contact surface, wherein each upstanding flange extends from one end of a respective one 15 of the base members, wherein in the fitted position the contact faces of the upstanding flanges are in abutting relation with respect to one another, the base members extending in opposing directions with respect to the upstanding flanges.

3. The anchoring device of claim 2, wherein each upstanding flange includes an 20 aperture, each aperture being coaxially aligned in the fitted position, wherein the article, when coupled, extends through each aperture.

4. The anchoring device of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the contact faces are able to slide relative one another when the load above the threshold amount is applied. 25

5. The anchoring device of claim 2 or claim 3, further including a joint between the upstanding flanges, the joint being adapted to break to allow the contact faces to slide relative one another when the load above the threshold amount is applied.