AU2014203752A1 - Fall barrier apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Safety apparatus for use in fall prevention for persons carrying out repairs or other work on a roof is described. The apparatus can be provided in kit form. It includes a post adapted to support a barrier rail and means for temporarily attaching the post to a roof structure, in particular making use of a fascia board. The attachment means is shaped to engage with the roof structure, in particular having a hook that hooks over the board from within a gutter, where present. A bracing extension is provided from the post to the facia board for location against the fascia board or a wall below the line of the gutter, while the post extends upwardly beyond the outermost perimeter of the gutter. The height of the post extending above the gutter is adjustable. Sheet 1of 3

Description

1 FALL BARRIER APPARATUS Field of invention [001] This invention relates to safety apparatus for use in fall prevention from a roof. Background to the invention [002] An ever-present danger experienced by workmen performing task on roofs particularly pitched roofs, is that of falling as a result of losing their footing and sliding down over an edge, suffering injury or even death as a result. Slate tiles can be particularly slippery. This hazard is significantly increased with the popularity enjoyed by present-day steel roof-sheeting materials, such as the corrugated sheeting sold under the trade mark Colorbond*. This sheeting has a baked-on paint finish, giving it a relatively smooth surface - even when dry. Even tiles having a relatively rough finish can be very slippery when wet. [003] Arising from the above, there has arisen a need for a means of ameliorating fall hazards for roof workers and for allowing them to feel safer in a wider range of weather conditions and on various roofing materials. This enables them to engage in a wider range of tasks and increase overall efficiency. Objects of the invention [004] It is an object of this invention to address the shortcomings of the prior art and, in doing so, to provide fall barrier apparatus that is suitable for use by persons performing work on pitched or sloping roofs. [005] A further objective is to provide a fall barrier that is temporarily erectable and removable when no longer needed.

2 [006] Another objective is to provide a temporary fall barrier that still enables good access to the very edge of a roof, whether tiled or of iron sheeting. [007] The preceding discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere as at the priority date of the present application. [008] Further, and unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words 'comprise', 'comprising', and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense - that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not being limited to" - as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense - that is to say meaning "including this and nothing else". Summary of invention [009] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided fall barrier apparatus for temporary attachment to a roof structure having a roof edge that defines a fall, said apparatus comprising: a. roof structure-engaging means for temporarily engaging with such roof structure, below the fall-defining edge, and b. barrier support means for supporting a generally horizontally extending barrier element at fall-arresting height above the edge. [0010] In a preferred form of the invention, the structure-engaging means comprises a part shaped to be engageable with a fascia board of said roof structure. [0011] In a further preferred form, the engageable part comprises an end portion defining hooking means. [0012] In a preferred embodiment, the hooking means is defined by an "N"-shaped formation adapted to fit within a gutter, where present, that extends along the roof edge, with the hooking means being locatable behind the fascia board in operative 3 engagement therewith, and to space the support means from the fascia board and beyond the gutter. [0013] In a further preferred form of the invention, the apparatus comprises brace means for bearing against a load-bearing surface in use, thereby resisting displacement of the barrier support means when under load from a potentially falling object. [0014] The load-bearing surface may be provided by the fascia board. In this embodiment, the brace means comprises location assistance means defining a locating angle for locating at a bottom edge of the fascia board. The locating angle may be defined by a right-angled bracket element. Such bracket element is so configured for receiving a lower periphery of a fascia board in abutting relationship. [0015] Alternatively, the load-bearing surface may be provided by a wall below the roof structure. [0016] Further according to the invention, the barrier support means comprises a post having an upper portion standing proud of the roof edge in use and a lower portion from which the brace means extends. [0017] In an embodiment, the brace means is integrally formed with the post. [0018] In an embodiment, the brace means is adjustably extensible for enabling adjustment of spacing between the post and the load bearing surface. [0019] The above arrangements provide the post, at a position proximate its lower end, with means for bracing it against a structure located below said gutter, so that in the event the post is subjected to a load in the general direction of the fall of a downwardly sloping roof, the brace means bears against the structure, gaining fall inhibiting support therefrom. This support is in turn transferred to the horizontal barrier element the post supports. [0020] Thus, the engageable part, when in use, defines generally a pivot point between the load and the structure against which the formation bears.

4 [0021] Connection means between the engagement means and the post enables the engagement means to be adjustably positionable along the post between a position at which said barrier element is located in use, and a lower end of the post. Thus, there is provided adjustable connection means for connecting the post with the structure engaging means in height-adjustable manner with respect to the roof edge. [0022] In a still further preferred form of the invention, the adjustable connection means comprises a sleeve portion for slidably receiving the post, and removable slide prevention means. [0023] The connection means thus provides for the sleeve to be slidable up and down the post and preferably has clamping screw means for securing it at a desired position along the post so that the post extends above the engagement means to a desired height for supporting the fall barrier element in effective operative orientation. [0024] Still further, according to the invention, the barrier support means is adapted to support an elongate barrier element by means of element support means located preferably at a position that is proximate an upper end of the post. [0025] In a further embodiment, the element support means is adjustably positionable at a desired height in relation to the roof edge. [0026] In an embodiment, the barrier support means comprises support means for two or more barrier elements. These elements are supportable at respective different heights in relation to the roof edge. [0027] In a yet further preferred form of the invention, the element support means comprises cradle means. [0028] The barrier element support means may further comprise locking means against dislodgment of the element under load. [0029] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a kit for setting up a fall barrier at a lower edge of a sloping roof, the kit comprising at least two units of the fall barrier apparatus as described above and an elongate barrier element 5 for extending from one unit to the other when positioned to be supported by the posts of said units. Brief description of drawings [0030] In order that the invention may be readily understood, and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying figures. Thus: Figure 1 shows in side view a sketch of a preferred embodiment of the fall barrier apparatus of this invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the apparatus of the invention. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the apparatus of the invention. Figure 4 is a schematic view of the invention ready for use: (a) from a perspective from below; and (b) as seen from the side in partially sectional view. Detailed description of embodiments of the invention [0031] Referring to figure 1, in a preferred embodiment of this invention, the fall barrier apparatus is generally denoted by the number 10 and provides a post 12 to which is attached a rail-supporting bracket 14, proximate its upper end 16. The bracket is welded to post 12, which is of square cylindrical steel tubing. It will be appreciated that other equivalents may be used, including cylindrical tubing of other cross-sectional shapes, for example round cylinders, or solid bars or rods. All these need to be appropriate strength for the service of arresting the sliding momentum of a large adult toward the edge of a roof to which the apparatus is attachable in use. [0032] In this embodiment, further down the post 12 there is a sleeve 16 fitted around the post, so that the sleeve is able to be slid vertically up and down the post (in the directions of arrows 20 and 20') and be fixed at a desired position by means of clamping thumb screw 18. This arrangement enables the position of the sleeve along the length of the post to be adjusted to cater for guttering of differing dimensions.

6 [0033] Welded to sleeve 16 and extending generally laterally towards a roof is engagement member 22. When viewed side-on, it appears generally to be shaped somewhat like a letter "N". As will be illustrated in figure 4, the N-like shape renders member 22 engageable with structural elements in a typical roof and guttering assembly. The member illustrated here is adapted for the distal leg of the "N" 24 to define a hook to locate in use behind a fascia board. [0034] Proximate the lower end of post 12 is a transversely directed extension piece 26 to which is welded a length of angle iron 28, to provide a stabilising configuration for bracing the post against the lower edge of a fascia board. This feature will be further described with reference to figure 4. [0035] Reference is first made to figure 2, which illustrates a variant of the embodiment of figure 1. Here, like numbering refers to like parts in the other drawings. This time, instead of post 12 ending with a transverse extension piece extending at a right-angle, as shown in figure 1 by part 26, the post ends in a curved foot 32, to which the stabilising bracing piece 28 is connected at the "toe" end, in this case by welding. [0036] A further alternative embodiment is illustrated in figure 3. Again like numbering refers to like parts in the other drawings. In this embodiment, the extension piece 26 is adjustable in length in the directions of arrow 60, so that it is able to fit and be used with a wider range of gutter widths. Extension is achieved by connecting the brace member 28 (the angle iron length) to an outer sleeve portion 62, by welding. Outer sleeve portion 62 is sized to fit snugly, yet slidably, over extension piece 26. It is secured in chosen position by means of a locking pin 64 which fits into correspondingly positioned holes (not shown) in the sleeve portion 62 and extension piece 26. The locking pin is loosely tethered to the upright by means of a chain 66. [0037] Use of the invention will now be described. In the embodiment illustrated schematically in perspective form in figure 4, the reader is imagined in drawing (a) to be viewing the apparatus of the invention, mounted in operative configuration, from below the level of a length of guttering 40, mounted to a fascia board 42. The fascia 7 board in turn is secured to a roof supporting rafter, shown as 44 in figure 2(b) behind it. The rafter extends almost to the lower edge of the roof, shown as 46 in figure 2(b). The roof itself is shown made of tiles 54, resting on battens 56. [0038] There are two post units, 12 and 12' according to the present invention, extending substantially vertically upwardly to stand proud of the level of rim 48 of gutter wall 40, which is transversely mounted to a fascia board 42. The gutter wall defines an open channel 50, which is shown holding a small quantity of water 52 for illustrative purposes (figure 3). [0039] The posts 12, 12' are of square cylindrical steel tubing. Welded to each is a pair of brackets, an upper bracket 14a, 14a' and a lower bracket 14b, 14b'. Each pair of corresponding level brackets is adapted to support a guard rail. Only an upper guard rail element 36 is shown in position in figure 2(a). In figure 2(b), there are shown both an upper rail 36 and a lower rail 38 in operational arrangement. These are of course not drawn to scale. [0040] To place the apparatus in operative position, the lowest roof tile defining edge 46 of the roof is lifted or displaced sideways to admit the distal end leg 24 of N shaped engagement member 22 (figure 2(b)). The proximate end of member 22 is welded to adjustable sleeve 16, which surrounds post 12 at the outer side of the gutter channel 50. Post 12 extends downward to its transverse piece 26 which ends in angle iron length 28. The length of transverse piece 26 is selected to correspond substantially to the transverse or horizontal distance that gutter 40 extends away from fascia board 42. By adjusting the location of sleeve 16 along the length of post 12, angle iron length 28 is brought into abutment with the lower end of the fascia board, preferably with the bottom of the fascia board resting in the angle of the angle iron length, as shown in side view in figure 2(b). [0041] Hence, in the event an object (such as a worker who has lost his footing) exerts transverse vector force on either of the rails 36, 38 and/ or posts 12, 12' the upwardly extending and proudly standing upper portion of the posts will be pushed outwardly, away from generally vertical orientation. This causes angle iron length 28 to 8 exert force against the lower part of the fascia board, while N-shaped member 22 brings leg 24 to bear against the fascia board and exert force transversely away from the edifice (not shown). [0042] An advantage of this barrier apparatus is its ease of installation, not needing the use of fixing devices such as bolts or screws to be applied to the permanent structure bearing the roof, or the roof assembly itself. As the rails and the posts are located outside the line of the gutter, they do not encroach on the roof itself, allowing work such as retiling or restoration to be performed without interference. At the end of the task, or when the barrier is no longer needed, it can be dismantled and removed with relative ease, by disengaging the barrier element/s from the post/s and angling the post towards the roof and lifting, so as to disengage the engagement member 22 from the gutter and its leg 24 from behind the fascia board. [0043] The barrier element is shown at 36 and 38 as a pair of rails. These may be separably interconnectable. It will be appreciated that other types of barrier elements or structures may be employed using the posts of the invention for support. Examples may include barrier sheeting - metallic, plastic or fabric - or ropes or cables. These may be secured to and suspended in effective positions using the bracket formations on the post units. [0044] This invention enables good access to the very edge of the tiles or iron sheeting of a roof, while still providing a fall barrier for those carrying out work on them, for example restoration work, which can involve pressure cleaning, rebedding, repointing, replacing screws on loose sheets, and surface coating. [0045] These embodiments merely illustrate particular examples of the apparatus and kit of the invention, providing a fall barrier apparatus. With the insight gained from this disclosure, the person skilled in the art is well placed to discern further embodiments by means of which to put the claimed invention into practice.

Claims (19)

1. Fall barrier apparatus for temporary attachment to a roof structure having a roof edge that defines a fall, said apparatus comprising: a. roof structure-engaging means for temporarily engaging with such roof structure, below the fall-defining edge, and b. barrier support means for supporting a generally horizontally extending barrier element at fall-arresting height above the edge.

2. Fall barrier apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the structure-engaging means comprises a part shaped to be engageable with a fascia board of said roof structure.

3. Fall barrier apparatus of claim 2 wherein the engageable part comprises an end portion defining hooking means.

4. Fall barrier apparatus of claim 3 wherein the hooking means is defined by an "N"-shaped formation adapted to fit within a gutter, where present, that extends along the roof edge, with the hooking means being locatable behind the fascia board in operative engagement therewith, and to space the support means from the fascia board and beyond the gutter.

5. Fall barrier apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, comprising brace means for bearing against a load-bearing surface in use, thereby resisting displacement of the barrier support means when under load from a potentially falling object.

6. Fall barrier apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the load-bearing surface is provided by the fascia board.

7. Fall barrier apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the brace means comprises location assistance means defining a locating angle for locating at a bottom edge of the fascia board. 10

8. Fall barrier apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the load-bearing surface is provided by a wall below the roof structure.

9. Fall barrier apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the barrier support means comprises a post having an upper portion standing proud of the roof edge in use and a lower portion from which the brace means extends.

10. Fall barrier apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the brace means is integrally formed with the post.

11. Fall barrier apparatus according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the brace means is adjustably extensible for enabling adjustment of spacing between the post and the load bearing surface.

12. Fall barrier apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 11, comprising adjustable connection means for connecting the post with the structure engaging means in height-adjustable manner with respect to the roof edge.

13. Fall barrier apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the adjustable connection means comprises a sleeve portion for slidably receiving the post and removable slide prevention means.

14. Fall barrier apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the barrier support means comprises barrier element support means that is adjustably positionable at a desired height in relation to the roof edge.

15. Fall barrier apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the barrier support means comprises barrier element support means for two or more barrier elements.

16. Fall barrier apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the barrier element support means comprises cradle means.

17. Fall barrier apparatus according to claim 15 or claim 16 wherein the barrier element support means comprises locking means against dislodgment of the element under load. 11

18. A kit for setting up a fall barrier at a lower edge of a sloping roof, the kit comprising at least two units of fall barrier apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and an elongate barrier element for extending from one unit to the other when positioned to be supported by the posts of said units.

19. Fall barrier apparatus for supporting a barrier element above the edge of a roof and being operatively engageable with a fascia board of a roof structure, said apparatus being substantially as described herein with reference to any one of more of the accompanying drawings.