AU2021200758A1 - Attachment Point for Safely Working at Heights - Google Patents

Abstract

A roof anchor point can provide a safety line attachment point for a worker operating at heights. The anchor point includes an anchor assembly at an anchor end of a threaded rod for securing a safety device to the anchor point. A nut mounted to an opposite end of the threaded rod supports a toggle bar that is able to rotate or pivot on the nut. The toggle bar may be aligned with the threaded rod for insertion through a structure, e.g. a roof section. Once the toggle bar is clear on the underside of the roof structure, the toggle bar can rotate to prevent removal. The threaded rod can then be rotated to tighten the nut and secure the anchor point to the structure. Figure recommended to accompany abstract: Fig. 2. 2/9 120 110 200 230 210 F 0R INST AL LATDN4 Fig. 2

Description

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ATTACHMENT POINT FOR SAFELY WORKING AT HEIGHTS FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This disclosure relates to anchoring systems that

provide an attachment point in structures such as roofs, walls,

etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Anchor points are often required in roofing and wall

structures to provide an anchor or attachment for securing a

safety harness for people working at heights. The anchor point

provides an attachment for a karabiner which is attached to a

rope which in turn attaches to a harness worn by the worker. A

typical anchor point includes an anchor eyelet to which the

karabiner can be secured. The anchor eyelet is secured to the

structure by a bolt and washer on the outside (i.e. the worker

side). A nut on the reverse side of the structure retains the

bolt, washer and anchor eyelet to the structure. Often, the

anchor eyelet is secured in a manner that allows rotation of the

anchor eyelet about the mounting bolt as the worker moves around

the roof site.

[0003] Securing of anchor points to roof structures can be

problematic, time consuming and cumbersome due to a lack of

access to the underside of the roof required to secure the nut.

The nut has to be lowered separately through the installation

hole and then maneuvered to engage the bolt. This can present a

dropped object hazard. Further, the anchor cannot be removed

since the nut on the underside will drop below. In many cases,

there is no way to release the nut from above only and so

removal of the anchor can become impossible. Certification

requirements in many countries mean that the anchor points must be removed, inspected and re-certified as safe. For example,

Australia requires recertification every 10 years and a

certification or inspection tag should be secured to the anchor

for easy inspection. Recertification of current anchor points

can be difficult due to the abovementioned difficulties in

removing the anchor points.

[0004] Similar installation and removal problems occur

where the anchor point is installed on vertical wall structures

that have limited or difficult access to the rear side of the

wall.

[0005] What is required is an improved anchor point and

method for securing the anchor point to a structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided

an anchor point for securing to a structure such as a roof, wall

or the like. The anchor point may include a threaded rod and a

nut that engages a thread of the threaded rod. The nut supports

a toggle bar that is able to rotate or pivot on the nut. The

anchor point may include an anchor assembly at an anchor end of

the threaded rod for securing a safety device to the anchor

point.

[0007] In one embodiment, a pin or similar may be used to

limit the range of rotation of the toggle bar on the nut.

[0008] In one embodiment, the connection point may include

an anchor eyelet or similar attachment point that can receive a

karabiner or the like.

[0009] In one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a

method for installing a roof anchor to a structure such as a

roof, wall or the like. The anchor may include a threaded rod, a

nut threaded onto the threaded rod, and a toggle bar that is

rotatably supported by the nut. The method may include inserting an end of the threaded rod including the nut and the toggle bar through an aperture in the structure wherein during the insertion the toggle bar is in substantial alignment with the threaded rod, causing the toggle bar to rotate from a position in substantial alignment with the threaded rod to a position lateral to the threaded rod, rotating the threaded rod to cause the nut to tighten on the threaded rod.

[0010] In one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided

an anchor point for securing to a roof or wall structure or the

like. The anchor point may include a threaded rod, a nut that

engages a thread of the threaded rod at an insertion end, a

press fit nut comprising an internal thread that engages the

threaded rod at an anchor end, the press fit nut including an

end that pressingly engages with a washer to define a gap

between a washer and a head of the press fit nut, the anchor

including an anchor eyelet that is received onto the press fit

nut in the gap such that the anchor eyelet is able to rotate

around the press fit nut.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Reference will now be made, by way of example only,

to specific embodiments and to the accompanying drawings in

which:

[0012] Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of an anchor in

accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0013] Fig. 2 shows the anchor in an installation

configuration;

[0014] Fig. 3 shows the anchor in an installed

configuration;

[0015] Fig. 4 shows a side view of a press fit nut;

[0016] Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the press fit nut

of Fig. 4;

[0017] Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of an angle eyelet;

[0018] Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a plug nut;

[0019] Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a toggle bar;

[0020] Fig. 9 shows a first step of an installation method;

[0021] Fig. 10 shows a second step of an installation

method;

[0022] Fig. 11 shows a third step of an installation

method; and

[0023] Fig. 12 shows a fourth step of an installation

method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of an anchor point 100

in accordance with one embodiment of the present application.

The anchor point 100 has an installation configuration (Fig. 2)

and an installed configuration (Fig. 3). The anchor point may

include a threaded rod 110 having a screw thread. The threaded

rod 110 has an insertion end 114 and an anchor assembly end 116.

An anchor assembly 120 is located at the anchor assembly end

116. To facilitate installation as will be described in more

detail below, the anchor point 100 includes a toggle bar

arrangement 200 that toggles between the installation

configuration and the installed configuration.

[0025] The anchor assembly 120 includes a washer 130, a

sealing disk 132, an angle eyelet 140, a press fit nut 150 and a

cap nut 160. The press fit nut is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The

press fit nut 150 has an internal threaded aperture 151 passing

through the length of the nut 150 that is sized to engage with

the threaded rod 110. The press fit nut 150 has a top section or

head 152 with a flat top surface 153. An outer shape of the top section 152 is hexagonal for engagement by conventional tools, e.g. a spanner, wrench, socket, etc. Beneath the top section 152 the press fit nut has a shaped profile with sections of varying diameter. A first section 154 is immediately below the top section 152. A second section 155 is a mounting ring receiving portion and is below the first section 154 and has a diameter that is narrower than the first section. The height of the second section is selected for purposes to be described below.

A third section 156 is below the second section and is a press

fit section. The third section has a diameter that is narrower

than the diameter of the second section 155. An outer

circumferential surface of the third surface 156 may have a

knurled texture 157. An end of the third section 156 may include

a bevel 158.

[0026] The angle eyelet 140 is shown in isolation in Fig. 6

and includes a mounting ring 141 having an aperture 142. The

diameter of the aperture 142 is large enough to loosely

accommodate the diameter of the second section 155 of the press

fit nut 150. The thickness of the angle eyelet in the region of

the aperture 142 is slightly less than the thickness of the

second section 155 of the press fit nut 150.

[0027] An angle bracket 144 extends from the mounting ring

141 and includes an upward bend that is substantially

perpendicular in the illustrations, though other angles are

within the scope of the present disclosure. An eyelet 145 is

formed in the angle bracket 144.

[0028] The washer 130 is a metal disc, e.g. of stainless

steel. The diameter of the disc is sufficiently large to

distribute clamping forces of the anchor point across the roof

surface. In one embodiment, the diameter of the disc is 72.5mm.

The disc 130 has an internal aperture 134 dimensioned to snugly

accommodate the third section 156 of the press fit nut 150.

[0029] To assemble the anchor assembly 120, the mounting ring 141 of the angle eyelet 140 is located on the underside of

the press fit nut 150 around the second section 155 (mounting

ring receiving portion). The press fit nut 150 is then pressed

into the aperture 132 of the washer 130 so that the knurled

surface 157 of the third section 156 (press fit section) tightly

engages the inner aperture 132 of the washer. When fully pressed

and engaged, there is a fixed gap provided by the second section

155 between the top surface of the washer 130 and the underside

surface of the top section 152 of the press fit nut 150. As

stated above, the second section 155 loosely accommodates the

aperture 142 of the mounting ring 141. Further, the thickness

of the mounting ring is less than the thickness of the second

section. Thus, the angle eyelet 140 is able to freely rotate

around the press fit nut 150 within the anchor assembly 120.

[0030] The eyelet 145 is offset from the aperture 142 of

the mounting ring. This offset ensures that when a pull force is

exerted on the eyelet 145, e.g. as a user moves around the

anchor point, the mounting ring will rotate within the anchor

assembly to a preferred straight line (minimum distance)

orientation. While the angle eyelet is able to rotate freely

and may appear loose to the user, the top section 152 is

oversize with regard to the size of the aperture 142 of the

mounting ring 141 to ensure that the mounting ring 141 cannot be

removed over the top section 152, even with any warping or wear

of the mounting ring 141.

[0031] Once the anchor assembly 120 is assembled, the

anchor assembly 120 may be threaded onto the threaded rod 110

and secured in place with the cap nut 160.

[0032] The toggle arrangement 200 includes a toggle bar

210, plug nut 220 and pin 230. The plug or nut 220 is shown in

Fig. 7 and includes an outer circular flange 222 and a stem 224 extending longitudinally from the flange. The stem 224 has a generally circular cross section having a particular diameter.

The circular cross section may have opposing flattened sides.

Extending laterally across the stem 224 between the flattened

sides is a threaded aperture 226 that is sized to receive the

threaded rod 110. The threaded aperture 226 is toward an end of

the stem 224 away from the flange end with sufficient length of

stem 224 between the aperture 226 and the flange 222 to receive

the thickness of the toggle bar 210. The plug 220 may be made of

a metal such as a stainless steel selected for strength and

longevity.

[0033] The toggle bar 210 is shown in Fig. 8 and is a

generally rectangular plate 212. The plate 212 has an angled

corner 216. The plate has an aperture 214 passing through the

approximate middle of the plate 212. The aperture 214 matches

the diameter of the stem 224 so that the stem may be received

into the plate 212. The plate 212 may be made of a metal such as

a stainless steel selected for strength and longevity.

[0034] The toggle bar may be assembled by first passing the

stem 224 of the plug 220 through the aperture 214 of the toggle

plate 212 from a first side until the threaded aperture 226 of

the stem protrudes from the opposite side of the plate. The plug

220 may then be loaded onto the threaded rod 110 from the

insertion end 114. The toggle bar 210 is retained between the

flange 222 and the threaded rod 110 and can rotate about the

stem 224. Because of the angled corner 216, the plate 212 is

unbalanced and thus the plate 212 will naturally hang at a

slight angle to the threaded rod 110 when the threaded rod is

maintained vertically.

[0035] The plate 212 includes a pin hole 218 that receives

a limit pin 230. In use, the limit pin 230 protrudes from the

plate 212 and engages the threaded rod 110 as the toggle bar 210 rotates. The pin hole 218 is disposed approximately on a diagonal from the centre of the aperture 214 with respect to the length and width of the plate 212. The pin hole 218 is located to offset the limit pin 230 by approximately half of the width of the threaded bar 110 from both the longitudinal and lateral centre lines of the aperture 214, with allowance for the diameter of the pin. Once the toggle bar 210 has been located sufficiently along the threaded rod 110, the toggle bar 210 will be limited to an approximately 90 degree range of rotation between a vertical configuration (Fig. 2) and a horizontal configuration (Fig. 3). Further rotation is prevented by contact between the pin 230 and the threaded rod 110.

[0036] A method of installing the anchor point 100 on a structure will now be described with reference to Figs. 9 to 12. For the purpose of the present example, it will be assumed that the structure is a roof structure 300 and that the anchor 100 is to be disposed substantially vertically. The roof structure may have an accessible upper side 312 and an underside 314 which has minimal or difficult access. As preparation, an anchor hole 310 is made in the roof 300 ready to receive the anchor 100. The anchor hole 310 is wide enough to receive the width of the toggle plate 212. To install the anchor 100, the toggle plate 210 is toggled to a vertical orientation (Fig. 9) in which the length of the toggle bar 210 substantially aligns with the threaded rod 110 and with the angled surface 216 pointing toward the anchor hole 310 (i.e. away from the anchor assembly 120) .

The anchor 100 may then be lowered into the anchor hole until the toggle bar 210 is clear of the underside 312 of the roof structure 300 (Fig. 10). The angled surface 216 facilitates insertion of the toggle plate 210 through any roofing materials, such as insulation etc.

[0037] Once the toggle bar 210 is clear of the underside

312 of the roof structure, the toggle bar will naturally rotate

out of vertical alignment with the threaded rod 110. If the

anchor 100 is then drawn back upwards (Fig. 11), the top edge

217 of the plate 212 can be made to contact the underside 314 of

the roof 300, for example by moving the threaded rod so that it

rubs against the side wall of the roof aperture 310. When the

top edge 217 of the toggle bar 210 engages the underside surface

of the roof 314, the toggle bar 210 will rotate substantially 90

degrees to become perpendicular to the threaded rod 110 until

the retention pin 230 engages the threaded rod 110 in the upper

position (Fig. 12).

[0038] By rotating the cap nut 160 clockwise, the threaded

rod 100 will rotate through the plug 220 and cause the plug 220

to tighten the toggle plate 210 against the underside 314 of the

roof structure 300. Rotation of the toggle bar arrangement 120

200 as the threaded rod rotates may be prevented by underside

roof features (not shown), e.g. flanges of roof purlins, that

prevent full 360 degree rotation of the toggle bar arrangement

200 in a horizontal plane. Alternatively, the anchor may be

drawn upwards so that friction between the toggle bar 210 and

the underside roof surface 314 prevents rotation of the toggle

bar arrangement 200 as the threaded rod 110 is rotated. However,

there may be cases where the toggle bar 210 needs to be held or

manipulated in order to tighten the anchor. To facilitate

manipulation of the toggle bar 210, the plate 212 is provided

with an aperture 219 in at least one corner or other convenient

location on the plate 212. The aperture 219 allows a zip tie,

cord, hook or other device to be connected to the toggle bar 210

and pass through the roof aperture 310 so that the toggle bar

210 can be manipulated by the installer from above the roof.

[0039] Once the toggle plate has engaged the underside of

the roof structure, it will not be able to rotate to the

vertical position. The roof structure is thus clamped between

the toggle plate 210 and the anchor assembly 120. The inability

for the toggle plate to rotate while it is clamped prevents the

anchor 100 from being removed from the roof structure. The cap

nut 160 can be rotated until the desired or required degree of

tightness has been achieved.

[0040] With the anchor 100 installed on a roof structure, a

worker can connect their safety harness via a safety line to the

eyelet 145. The safety line may include a rope or strap directly

secured to the eyelet, or secured to the eyelet via a karabiner

or similar device. As discussed above, it can be preferable if

the eyelet assembly 140 is able to rotate within the anchor as

the worker moves around the roof site. In prior art roof

anchors, if the roof anchor was overtightened onto the roof

structure, then the clamping forces could potentially be applied

to the eyelet assembly. The eyelet assembly could become clamped

against the roof structure where its rotation was prevented. The

presently described embodiments overcome this disadvantage by

the use of the press fit nut. The press fit nut defines a

portion that is received into the washer 130, i.e. the knurled

portion 156. The eyelet assembly 140 is located on the second

portion 155 which has a wider diameter than the knurled portion

156. The step between these two portions engages the top of the

washer 130 and prevents the press fit nut 150 from being over

inserted into the washer 130. Thus, no matter how much the

anchor assembly 120 is tightened, the gap provided by the second

portion 155 will be maintained so that the eyelet assembly 140

will always be able to rotate around the press fit nut 150. It

should be noted, that the advantages of the press fit nut 150

may be achieved with or without the use of the toggle bar arrangement 200. Thus, in an alternative embodiment, the toggle bar arrangement 200 may be replaced with a more conventional nut or other securing mechanism.

[0041] To remove the anchor 100 from the roof, e.g. for

replacement or inspection, the cap nut 160 and/or the press fit

nut 150 may be turned counter-clockwise. This will cause the

threaded rod 110 to rotate through the plug 220. Once the plug

220 has been loosened by a sufficient amount, the toggle bar 210

will naturally rotate to a vertical alignment in substantial

alignment with the threaded rod 110. The anchor 100 can then be

removed.

[0042] The threaded rod 110 can be of various sizes. In one

embodiment, the threaded rod 110 is an M12 rod. M16 rods may

also be used but the present Applicants have found under testing

that when used on roofing purlins, the larger rod tore through

the purlins material/steel, and acted like a scissor action and

cut the purlin though its web. An M12 rod was found to deform

under load and didn't tear the purlin web. There may of course

be other implementations and usages where an M16 rod would be

appropriate.

[0043] The sealing disk 132 is a partially yielding

element, e.g. of nitrile rubber, that provides a seal against

the roof surface.

[0044] The angle eyelet 140 includes a couple of apertures

149 in the vertical section adjacent the eyelet 145. The

apertures 149 allow an inspection tag to be secured to the angle

eyelet 140. Two apertures are provided to allow the inspection

tag to be secured to the angle eyelet 140 via zip ties (cable

ties) or similar without tearing or squeezing an edge of the

inspection tag. The apertures 149 are located on the same side

of the angle eyelet as the mounting ring 142. The pull side of

the angle eyelet is the side of the angle eyelet opposite the mounting ring. Thus, by locating the inspection tag opposite to the pull side of the angle eyelet, the inspection tag will not interfere with the karabiner connection which could otherwise lead to damage of the inspection tag. A further advantage is that the tag is retained on the angle eyelet 140 in a substantially vertical orientation which provides less sun exposure than if the tag were to be mounted horizontally.

[0045] The anchor assembly 100 may be used on a variety of

roofing structures including metal purlins on steeldeck type

roofs, thermal insulating raiser battens, through-fixed to

concrete where access from the underside isn't available. The

toggle may also be tied into reinforcement mesh within concrete

before it is poured for "cast in" installation.

[0046] As outlined briefly above, the anchor assembly may

also be used in wall assemblies. To insert the anchor assembly

into a wall assembly having a pre-prepared horizontal hole

therein, the anchor assembly may be disposed horizontally with

the toggle bar arrangement 200 aligned with the threaded rod 110

and disposed either vertically above or below the rod 110. That

is, the longitudinal axis of the plug 220 should be vertical and

the toggle bar 210 horizontal. In this disposition, the toggle

bar 210 will not rotate. The anchor assembly 100 can then be

inserted horizontally through the wall hole. Once the toggle bar

210 is fully through the wall hole, by 90 degree rotation of the

anchor assembly the toggle bar 210 will be able to rotate in a

vertical plane and will naturally rotate to a vertical alignment

that prevents the anchor assembly from passing back through the

wall aperture. The cap nut can then be tightened as described

previously to secure the anchor to the wall. Attachments to the

plate aperture 219 may allow additional manipulation of the

toggle bar 210 through the wall if required.

[0047] It will be apparent that with both vertical and

horizontal usages described herein, the anchor 100 may be used

in a full array of orientations.

[0048] It will be understood by the person skilled in the

art that terms of orientation such as top, bottom, front, back,

left, right, inner, outer, horizontal, vertical etc. are used

herein with reference to the drawings in order to provide a

clear and concise description. Such terms indicate examples of

the relative relationship of components to each other, rather

than specific orientations of those components in space. These

terms are not intended to limit the examples and embodiments in

any manner and the scope of the disclosure as defined herein

will encompass other possible orientations of the components as

will be perceived by the person skilled in the art.

[0049] Although embodiments of the present invention have

been illustrated in the accompanied drawings and described in

the foregoing description, it will be understood that the

invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is

capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and

substitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention

as set forth and defined by the any following claims that may

follow.

Claims (11)

CLAIMS WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An anchor point for securing to a structure such as a

roof, wall or the like, the anchor point including:

a threaded rod;

a nut that engages a thread of the threaded rod;

a toggle bar rotatably supported by the nut; and

an anchor assembly at an anchor end of the threaded rod

for securing a safety device to the anchor point.

2. The anchor point of claim 1 wherein the nut includes:

a stem that rotatably supports the toggle bar;

a threaded aperture toward a first end of the stem and

extending laterally through the stem for receiving the

threaded rod; and

a flange at a second end of the stem opposite the first

end of the stem;

wherein in use, the toggle bar is disposed between the

flange and the threaded aperture.

3. The anchor point of claim 1 or 2 wherein the toggle bar

includes a pin that, in use, contacts the threaded rod to

limit the range of rotation of the toggle bar on the nut.

4. The anchor point of any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the

toggle bar includes a substantially rectangular plate,

the rectangular plate including at least one angled

corner.

5. The anchor point of any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the

anchor assembly includes an angle eyelet including: a mounting ring including a mounting ring aperture for rotatably mounting the anchor assembly to the threaded rod; and an angle bracket extending from the mounting ring and including an anchor eyelet that can receive a karabiner, rope, or the like.

6. The anchor point of claim 5 wherein the anchor is offset

from the mounting ring aperture.

7. The anchor point of claim 6 wherein the angle bracket

includes a plurality of apertures on the same side of the

angle bracket as the mounting ring for securing an

inspection tag.

8. The anchor point of any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the

mounting ring is rotatably secured to the threaded rod by

a press fit nut such that the mounting ring can rotate

freely on the press fit nut.

9. The anchor point of claim 8 wherein the press fit nut

includes:

a threaded aperture for receiving the threaded rod;

a head section;

a press fit section; and

a mounting ring receiving portion that is received into

the mounting ring aperture, the mounting ring receiving

portion between the head section and the press fit

section;

the anchor point further including a washer, wherein the

press fit section is pressed into a washer aperture of

the washer such that the mounting ring is disposed on the mounting ring receiving portion between the washer and the head section.

10. The anchor point of claim 9 wherein a diameter of the

mounting ring receiving portion is greater than a

diameter of the washer aperture.

11. A method for installing an anchor to a structure such as

a roof, wall or the like, the anchor including a threaded

rod, a nut threaded onto the threaded rod, and a toggle

bar that is rotatably supported by the nut, the method

including:

inserting an end of the threaded rod including the nut

and the toggle bar through an aperture in the structure

wherein during the insertion the toggle bar is in

substantial alignment with the threaded rod;

causing the toggle bar to rotate from a position in

substantial alignment with the threaded rod to a

position lateral to the threaded rod; and

rotating the threaded rod to cause the nut to tighten on

the threaded rod.