AU4345799A - Barrier - Google Patents

Description

-1- Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT, 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT TRUE COPY I certify that the following 13 pages are a true and correct copy of the original complete specification lodged in respect of an invention entitled: Barrier BARRICADING SOLUTIONS NZ LIMITED A J PARK SON Patent Attorneys for the Applicant -2- The present invention relates to a barricade, and in particular although not solely a barrier for improving safety in work place construction sites, and specifically but not solely for multi storey buildings or other like structures.

Safety for people working on construction sites in paramount. During the construction of a structure such as a high rise building, ships or rigs or the like, there are often many places for workers to fall a sufficient height to at least injure the worker.

Occupational safety and health legislation enforce regulations for safety features to be provided to prevent such accidents from occurring. Study of work situations in the stages of construction of a structure such as a multi storied building or car park, indicate that workers are especially at risk when the floors are built but the building is not yet provided with a closure such as windows, railings or other barrier forming means. In particular the floor perimeters are usually unguarded while the building is constructed.

Some perimeters also include, for example, lift shafts where the lift structure is during the construction of the building are not yet provided. Such perimeters when in an unguarded condition remain a risk to workers in deaths in their vicinity.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to address these problems or to least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly in a first aspect the present invention consists in a method of providing a barrier said method comprising; locating to a support surface such as a floor or deck or the like, at least two anchor members, securing to each said anchor member an upright support member, said upright support members spaced apart and providing, extending therefrom, securing provisions for receiving and securing a screen or panel or the like member extending substantially or at least the entire space between said upright support members and which when engaged with said securing provisions of said upright support members is securable held thereby.

In a second aspect the present invention consists in a barrier comprising; at least two anchor members, an upright support member secured to each said anchor member, said upright support members spaced apart and providing, extending therefrom, securing provisions -3for receiving and securing a screen or panel or the like member extending substantially or at least the entire space between said upright support members and which when engaged with said securing provisions of said upright support members is securable held thereby.

Preferably said screen or panel or the like member is engagable with the securing provisions of said upright members by a sliding engagement.

Preferably said sliding engagement is in a downwardly direction.

Preferably said anchor members are secured to said support surface by a fastening means such as a bolt or dyna-bolt T M or other like fastening means, and present in such an engaged position an upwardly extending member having a perimeter profiled (whether internal or external perimeter) complementary with at least part of a perimeter profile (whether an internal or external perimeter profile) of said upright support S:members such that said support members can engage with said anchor member in a sliding downward direction.

15 Preferably substantially lateral to said sliding downward engagement direction of said upright support members with said anchor members, there is the provision of a securing pin to extend through said upwardly extending member of said anchor member and at least that portion of said upright support members slidingly engaged with said S"upwardly extending member of said anchor members.

Preferably said securing provisions of said upright support members are substantially "L-shaped" pins wherein a first distal end of said pin is secured to said I upright support member and the other distal end thereof is presented for receiving a pin engaging member secured to or located from said screen or panel.

Preferably said presentation of said other distal end of said pin is upwardly from said first distal end.

Preferably each said upright support member provides for each screen to be located therefrom, at least two securing provisions one located above the other on said support member.

Preferably said screen or panel or the like consists of a frame with a mesh extending within said frame.

Preferably said screen or panel is substantially rectangular in shape and said IrF_ Illl--l~ nil~l -4frame defines at least two opposite edges of said rectangular shape.

Preferably said frame defines all edges of said rectangular shape wherein said mesh extends substantially between all edges of said frame.

Preferably said securing pin provides an eye through which a cable may extend, said cable provided for allowing the securement of a life line secured to a harness of a person using the facilities where said barricade is provided.

In yet a further aspect the present invention consists in a barricade formed by providing at least two barriers as herein before described in series in an immediately adjacent condition wherein a common upright support member is provided between adjacent screen or panel like members.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the ooeo appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and 15 are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

Figure 1 is a front view of a single barrier, Figure 2 is a side view of the barrier of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a plan of the barrier shown in Figures 1 and 2, "r Figure 3 illustrates a plurality of barriers of the present invention wherein •oo° adjacent barriers share a common upright support, and Figure 4 shows a series ofbarriers.

The barrier of the present invention consists of 2 upright support members 6 which are spaced apart and located on for example a floor, deck 2 or the like surface.

The upright support members 6 extend from the surface 2 to such a height as to stably allow the location therewith of a screen or panel like member 16. The barrier of the present invention is assemblable by securing an anchor member 4 (whether part of the upright or as 1 separate members) for each of the upright support members to the floor or support surface 2. Such anchor members preferably consist of a base plate 8 onto which a vertical post 10 is located. Alternatively the anchor member 4 is entirely separate from the upright support member wherein it consists of a base plate 8 and has extending upwardly therefrom an upwardly extending member having a perimeter IX~ ~I 1__1 1~1 I profiled (whether internal or external perimeter) which is at least in part complementary with a perimeter profile (whether and internal or external perimeter profile) of the lower end of the upright support member with which it is to locate. In this configuration the upright support member is assemblable with the anchor member but can be removed therefrom in a vertically sliding direction.

However in the preferred form the anchor member 4 is provided as part of and at the lower the distal end of the vertical post 10 of the upright support member.

The anchor member has extending between the junction of the base plate 8 and the post 10, preferred flanges 12 which provide bracing for the post 10. The flanges preferably are in a plane substantially parallel with an imaginary line between upright support members.

°In the most preferred form the vertical post is of a box section steel. The flanges preferably consist of steel strip and are preferably secured to both the post and the base plate 8 by a suitable securing means such as welding or the like. The base plate is 15 preferably provided with apertures to allow a securing means such as a bolt or a dynaboltTM to extend therethrough and hence allow the vertical support member to be secured to a floor or other support surface 2.

The post 10 is provided with securing provisions 14 which are preferably mounts **of a substantially L-shaped member to allow the slidable engagement therewith and between pairs of vertical support members, of a screen or panel 16 or the like. With suitable and complementary securing provisions 22 provided on the screen or panel 16, the screen or panel can by sliding engagement (preferably a vertical sliding engagement) locate to and extend between a substantial and if not all and if not more of a region defined between adjacent vertical upright support members. With reference to figure 1 it can be seen how there are preferably provided two securing provisions 14 for each screen or panel 16 to be located therefrom. As it is envisaged by the inventor of the present invention that a barricade consisting of a plurality of barriers as shown in figure 1 may be provided in series, each vertical upright support member is provided with a set of securing provisions for each of the screens or panels which are to be located therefrom. In the example as shown in the figures, there are provided two sets of securing provisions 14 however and alternatively, there may be provided more than r_ I i 1--1 I .I1I two sets if there are situations where for example a T, Y or X shape configuration of barricading is required. Preferably for each screen or panel to be provided from the upright support member, there are at least two securing provisions 14. These are provide one above the other as shown in the preferred form detailed in figure 1. The preferred L shape form of the securing provisions 14 are of a nature wherein a first distal end is secured preferably by welding or alternative fastening means, to the post and the other distal end extends upwardly therefrom wherein a portion is substantially parallel to the general elongate direction of the post 10. This allows for a downwardly sliding engagement of the panel 16 with the upright support members 6.

The screen or panel 16 preferably consists of a frame 23 between which a screen or other barrier like providing member extends. In the preferred form such a member

S.

is a mesh however alternative forms of such materials will also be suitable. The frame 23 consists of at least two vertical members between which the mesh extends however in the preferred form the frame also includes two horizontal members located or spaced 15 between the vertical members. The vertical members of the frame are preferably provided with securing provision locating members 22 which are preferably a pair of tubular members which are of a shape to allow a sliding engagement with the securing means 14 of the vertical support member.

In the most preferred form where the barrier is provided on a high rise building, a pair of bolt holes are drilled 300mm from the edge of the high-rise. Preferably bolts (10mm) anchor the steel support 6 to the floor.

Each comprises a plate 8, a vertical post 10 and paired flanges 12 which brace the post. Each post has pairs of mounts 14 for supporting a rectangular panel 16 (2300x1200mm) made of standard wire mesh fixed to a frame 18. The base of the post has a 900kg rated eyebolt The panel has paired tubes 22 which engage the mounts 14. The panel extends to the flanges. The 110mm space beneath the panel is closed by a board (not shown).

In use a cable 24 is threaded through the eyebolts and the carabineer of a tradesman's harness fastened to the cable. Once the construction work to define a permanent boundary to the level is complete the barriers may then unbolted and erected on the next level. This may happen simultaneously as level is entirely bounded or it may happen sequentially as portions of the boundary of a level are bounded.

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Claims (22)

1. A method of providing a barrier said method comprising; locating to a support surface such as a floor or deck or the like, at least two anchor members, securing to each said anchor member an upright support member, said upright support members spaced apart and providing, extending therefrom, securing provisions for receiving and securing a screen or panel or the like member extending substantially or at least the entire space between said upright support members and which when engaged with said securing provisions of said upright support members is securable held thereby.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said screen or panel or the like member is engagable with the securing provisions of said upright members by a sliding engagement.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said sliding engagement is in a 15 downwardly direction.

4. A method as claimed in any one of claims I to 3 wherein said anchor members are secured to said support surface by a fastening means such as a bolt or dyna-bolt TM or other like fastening means, and present in such an engaged position an upwardly extending member having a perimeter profiled (whether internal or external perimeter) o* o complementary with at least part of a perimeter profile (whether an internal or external Sperimeter profile) of said upright support members such that said support members can engage with said anchor member in a sliding downward direction.

A method as claimed in any one of claims 3 or 4 wherein substantially lateral to said sliding downward engagement direction of said upright support members with said anchor members, there is the provision of a securing pin to extend through said upwardly extending member of said anchor member and at least that portion of said upright support members when slidingly engaged with said upwardly extending member of said anchor members.

6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein each said upright support member provides for each screen to be located therefrom, by at least two -9- securing provisions one located above the other on said support member.

7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein a fastening means is provided to said upright support members, each having an eye through which a cable may extend, said cable provided for allowing the securement of a life line secured to a harness of a person using the facilities where said barrier is provided.

8. A barrier comprising; at least two anchor members, an upright support member secured to each said anchor member, said upright support members spaced apart and providing, extending therefrom, securing provisions for receiving and securing a screen or panel or the like member extending substantially or at least the entire space between said upright support members and which when engaged with said securing provisions of said upright support members is securable held thereby.

9. A barrier as claimed in claim 8 wherein said screen or panel or the like member 15 is engagable with the securing provisions of said upright members which are adapted to allow a sliding engagement by said screen or panel.

10. A barrier as claimed in claim 9 wherein said screen or panel or the like member is engagable with the securing provisions of said upright members which are adapted to allow a downward sliding engagement by said screen or panel. oo

11. A barrier as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein said anchor members are adapted to be secured to said support surface by a fastening means such as a bolt or dyna-bolt TM or other like fastening means, and present in such an engaged position an upwardly extending member having a perimeter profiled (whether internal or external perimeter) complementary with at least part of a perimeter profile (whether an internal or external perimeter profile) of said upright support members such that said support members can engage with said anchor member in a sliding downward direction.

12. A barrier as claimed in claim 11 wherein substantially lateral to said sliding downward engagement direction of said upright support members with said anchor members, there is the provision of a securing pin to extend through said upwardly extending member of said anchor member and at least that portion of said upright ILX_~ l-l_ I I- 1 support members when slidingly engaged with said upwardly extending member of said anchor members.

13. A barrier as claimed in claim 12 wherein said securing provisions of said upright support members are substantially "L-shaped" pins or rod like members wherein a first distal end of said pin is secured to said upright support member and the other distal end thereof is presented for receiving a pin engaging member secured to or located from said screen or panel.

14. A barrier as claimed in claim 13 wherein said presentation of said other distal end of said pin or rod like member is upwardly from said first distal end.

15. A barrier as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 14 wherein each said upright support member provides for each screen to be located therefrom, at least two securing provisions one located above the other on said support member.

16. A barrier as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 15 wherein said screen or panel or the like consists of a frame with a mesh extending within said frame. i" 15

17. A barrier as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 16 wherein said screen or panel is substantially rectangular in shape and said frame defines at least two opposite edges of said rectangular shape.

18. A barrier as claimed in any one of claims 16 and 17 wherein said frame defines S-all edges of said rectangular shape wherein said mesh extends substantially between all •o 20 edges of said frame.

"19. A barrier as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 18 wherein a fastening means is "I attached to said upright members which provides an eye through which a cable may extend, said cable provided for allowing the securement of a life line secured to a harness of a person using the facilities where said barrier is provided.

20. A barricade formed by providing at least two barriers as claimed in any one or more of claims 8 to 19 or methods of claims 1 to 7 in series in an immediately adjacent condition wherein a common upright support member is provided between adjacent screen or panel like members.

21. A barrier as herein defined with reference to any one of more of the accompanying drawings. -11 I-

22. A barricade comprising one or more barrier as herein defined by reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. Dated: 9 August 1999 BARRICADING SOLUTIONS NZ LIMITED Patent Attorneys for the Applicant a a. a a a