AU650590B2 - Stanchions for steel framed buildings - Google Patents

Description

650590 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

e r o o Name of Applicant: DGS Property Pty. Ltd.

Actual Inventor(s): CORNELIS JOHANNES GRIEK ANTHONY KENNETH MITCHINSON Address for Service: Invention Title: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

Stanchions for Steel Framed Buildings Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): PL 2325/92 8 May, 1992 Parent Invention Details Application number 38664/89 Patent number 608166 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: -1- -2- The present invention relates to frame buildings, especially steel framed buildings, and is particularly concerned with an adjustable stanchion assembly for a frame building and, capable of carrying a structure on the building.

Structures which may be advantageously supported on a building, or a building construction, include especially a safety barrier, for example, to prevent or assist in preventing site workers accidently falling from the construction, and display signs. A safety barrier may 20 advantageously be sufficiently secure to have connected to it a fall arrest system whereby someone connected to the safety S barrier may be protected from serious injury in an accidental fall. In order to provide adequate support, it is necessary that a stanchion assembly be securely connected to the 25 building and readily appropriate for use in different situations including on different frame buildings. It is advantageous if the stanchion assembly can be readily removed from the building, for example, in the case of a stanchion assembly associated with a safety barrier, when the building construction has been substantially completed.

Our Australian patent specification 38664/89 (or any overseas equivalent thereof derived from International Patent Application PCT/AU89/00291 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, including USSN 646776, all or any of which are hereinafter referred to as he earlier application") proposes such an adjustable stanchion assembly 930510,pr1operp1 dg cc 130,2 -3in which a support post for the safety barrier or other structure is secured to a clamping mechanism comprising an elongate connection member adapted to extend from one frame member to the other and two clamps which are selectively relatively adjustable along the connection member, each clamp being engageable with a respective one of the two frame members. In an alternative embodiment, used for example on a gable end of the building, the elongate connection member may extend along a single frame member and be secured thereto by the two longitudinally spaced clamps.

The present invention provides a stanchion assembly having a modified clamping arrangement compared to that described in the earlier application.

According to the present invention there is provided an adjustable stanchion assembly for a frame building (as herein defined) comprising at least one elongate frame member which :includes a distal lip extending along a flange of the frame member to define an L-shaped section, the assembly comprising a support post for a safety barrier and a clamping mechanism for the support post, the clamping mechanism comprising an elongate connection member of non-circular cross-section and a single clamp which is selectively adjustable along and non- 25 rotatable relative to the connection member, the clamp being engageable with said frame member, and comprising a pair of opposed longitudinally extensive open-ended jaws adapted to receive a longitudinal portion of the L-shaped section of said frame member through an open side of the jaws, and means to resist withdrawal of said portion of the one frame member from i •the jaws, and wherein the clamp comprises means defining a passage of non-circular cross-section to slidingly receive the connection member in non-rotatable manner and means to resist the relative sliding movement, said passage means extending parallel to the pair of open-ended jaws whereby in use the elongate connection member extends parallel to said at least one frame member.

930510,p-\oper\pbdscmop.3 -4- Preferably, the support post is supported in cantilevered manner from the frame member by the clamping mechanism.

The stanchion assembly is particularly adapted for use with, for example, C- or Z-shaped purlins or girts which have a distal lip along the top or bottom flange thereof. However, the stanchion assembly is also suitable for use with other shapes of frame member, including I-beams, provided they have a flange which can be received by the jaw of the clamp.

By the term "frame building" is meant a building or building construction having at least one frame member to which the adjustable stanchion assembly of the invention can be affixed.

This, for example, only the roof or floor construction of the building may be frame-like or the whole building may comprise a frame construction.

In a preferred embodiment described in the earlier application the clamp may advantageously comprise jaws having a mouth of 20 restricted width and a throat portion behind the mouth having a dimension substantially parallel to the width of the mouth which is greater than the restricted width. Where the at least one frame member includes a distal lip whose height is greater than the restricted width of the respective clamp, the flange can only be received in and withdrawn from the jaws by relative rotation of the clamp around the leg.

Thus, further according to the present invention there is provided an adjustable stanchion assembly comprising a support post for a safety barrier and a clamping mechanism for clamping the support post to a frame building, the clamping mechanism comprising an elongate connection member of noncircular cross-sectional shape and a single clamp which is selectively adjustable along the elongate connection member, said clamp including a passage means, said clamp being slidably mounted on said connection member by said connection member extending through said passage means, said passage means having an internal configuration of a cross-sectional 930M10,pAoper\pbhdgsccp130,4

I.

shape that,, in combination with the non-circular crosssectional shape of said connection member, makes said clamp non-rotatable with respect to said connection member, said clamp being adapted to be clamped to an elongate frame member of a frame building wherein said frame member includes an elongate flange and a distal lip extending along the flange, said clamp comprising a pair of opposed longitudinally extensive open-ended jaws which defines a mouth of restricted width and a throat portion behind the mouth having a dimension substantially parallel to the width of the mouth which is greater than said restricted width, said distal lip having a greater height than the restricted width of said mouth, whereby said flange with a distal lip is received in and removed from the jaws by relative rotation of the clamp around said flange with a distal lip, said connection member extending along the frame member and said support post being secured to the connection member with said support post supported in cantilevered manner from the frame member by the clamping mechanism.

The restricted mouth may be defined by a fixed lip of the mouth whereby the fixed lip resists withdrawal of the frame member flange from the jaws, but advantageously the jaws include releasable locking means adapted to secure the clamp 25 on the frame member, for example by means of one or more screw threaded locking bolts arranged, preferably, to engage the frame member in or adjacent the mouth of the jaws. In this arrangemtent, the releasable locking means resist withdrawal of the frame member flange from the jaws and, alone or with the aforementioned lip or other projections in the mouth, may define the restricted mouth.

In a most preferred embodiment the jaws are substantially in the form of a tube the interior of which defines the throat portion with an elongate slot in said tube forming the mouth.

The clamping mechanism is such that the clamp cannot be rotated relative to the elongate connection member and this 9351OpAo~pelphdpip.130,5

'I

-6may be by providing the connection member and the co-operating parts of the clamping mechanism with a suitable key and keyway arrangement. However, preferably the elongate connection member comprises a rod, which may be hollow, of, for example, square cross-section which may be received in the passage means of corresponding cross-section in the clamp. Releasable locking means is provided to selectively resist the adjustment of the clamp along the connection member.

The clamp passage means may comprise a sleeve sized to closely receive the elongate connection member. Alternatively, or in addition, the jaws may define the passage means whereby the aforementioned throat portion is adapted to receive the elongate connection member. If both the aforementioned sleeve is provided and the throat portion is sized to receive the connection member, either may be used as desired.

Rotation of the clamp once it is located on the frame member may be resisted by the substantially rigid connection of the 20 stanchion assembly with a second stanchion assembly, such as by means of a horizontal rail associated with a safety barrier, or by bracing the clamp against rotation by means of a bracing member which extends from said clamp, for example, to a further clamp engaged with a second laterally spaced 25 frame member. The clamp may include a sleeve for slidingly receiving a bracing member therein substantially normal to the passage means, and releasable locking means to resist said sliding.

The support post conveniently is adjustably secured to the clamping mechanism, preferably at one end, for example by a sleeve construction and a locking device, and may be removable from the clamping mechanism for storage and transportation purposes. The adjustability of the securement of the support post to the clamping mechanism is particularly convenient where the portion of the elongate connection member to which the support post is secured projects outwardly from the building since it will permit variation of the distance 930slOp:\opcpphhdgcomp.130,6 S, I I between the support post and the building. Conveniently the support post is variable in length, and this may be by way of a telescopic construction. The support post may include means by which the structure to be carried by the stanchion assembly may be mounted thereon, for example wedging means to receive the generally horizontal rails of a safety barrier and/or hooks to engage netting extending between adjacent stanchion assemblies.

One embodiment of a stanchion assembly in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the stanchion assembly engaged with a roof supporting purlin of a building; Figure 2 is an enlarged detail taken along the line A-A in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a modified clamp; 20 Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing a further modified clamp; and Figure 5 is an opposite end view of the further modified *'.clamp of Figure 4 but shown in use in a similar manner to the clamp of Figure 2.

'The various embodiments of stanchion assembly described hereinafter are closely similar in many respects and, for convenience only, where the same or similar parts are referred to, the same reference numerals will be used.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, an adjustable stanchion assembly 10, including an upright stanchion 12, is shown secured to a single metal purlin 14 which is intended to support a roof (not shown in dashed lines) and which spans a plurality of I-beams 96 (one only shown).

Purlin 14 is shown as "Z"-shaped but for the purposes of the invention purlin 14 could be C-shaped. Other shapes are also 9M3511,jrapeApbbdgspcn.130,7 -8possible-. The purlin includes a central web 20, an upper flange (not visible) on which the roof is to be supported and a bottom flange 24 which is L-shaped in cross-section having a leg 24a connected to the web 20 and a lip 24b projecting from the leg 24a (shown most clearly in Figure 2).

The stanchion assembly 10 includes a clamping mechanism which comprises a connecting rod 26 which extends parallel to the purlin 14 adjacent the lip 24b. The connecting rod is of square tubular cross-section and is supported relative to the purlin 14 by a clamp 28 to be described in detail hereinafter.

The stanchion 12 of the assembly 10 comprises a lower support post 30 which is tubular and has welded at its lower end a sleeve 32 of square cress-section whose axis extends perpendicularly to that of the lower support post 30. The sleeve 32 is closely received in sliding manner on a projecting end portion 34 of the connecting rod 26 and is lockable in the desired location by means of a screw threaded locking bolt 36 which threadedly engages the sleeve and 20 projects through the sleeve wall to abut the end portion 34 of the connecting rod.

I, The lower support post 30 telescopically receives an upper support post 38 which can be locked at the desired height by 25 means of a locking bolt 40 of similar construction to the locking bolt 36. The upper support post 38 carries a pair of barrier mounts 42 each of which has a pair of spaced plates 44 welded to the upper support post 38 and having aligned apertures therethrough to receive wedge shaped pegs 46. Each of the barrier mounts 42 is shown with a barrier rail 48 locked in place between the respective spaced plates 44 by means of the peg 46 forcing the barrier rail into abutment with the upper support post 38. Each barrier mount 42 is preferably capable of receiving at least one barrier rail 48 both transversely to the plane of Figure 1 as shown and parallel to the plane of the Figure. As shown in Figure 1 each barrier mount 28 has two pegs 46 for receiving a barrier rail 48 on either or both sides of the upper support post 38.

930510,p:\ope dph cip.130.&S -9- The other end of the barrier rails 48 are supported on a second stanchion assembly 10 (not shown) clamped to a further purlin. In an alternative embodiment, or in addition to the barrier mounts 28, the stanchion 12 may carry hooks or other devices to support netting or webbing between the stanchions 12 of the two spaced assemblies Referring now to Figure 2 in which the clamp 28 is shown in greater dctail, the clamp comprises a sleeve 50 of square cross-section to closely receive a bracing rod 98 in sliding manner. The sleeve 50 has a locking bolt 52, which is of sim:'-ar construction to the locking bolt 36, to secure the bracing rod in the sleeve. The locking bolt 52 comprises a wing 54 welded to a threaded nut 56 from which a screw threaded stud 58 fixedly projects. The stud 58 screw threadedly engages a threaded nut 60 welded to the wall of the sleeve 50 and the nut 60 overlies an aperture (not shown) in the wall of the sleeve so that the stud 58 can project therethrough to engage the bracing rod 26. The bracing rod 20 can be engaged in similar manner with an adjacent purlin to resist rotation of the clamp on purlin 14, but may not be necessary.

The sleeve 50 of the clamp 28 is welded to a generally sleeve 25 like clamping means 62 whose axis extends transversely of the sleeve 50 to engage the bottom flange 24 of the purlin 14.

The clamping means 62 comprises an elongate L-shaped steel section 64 whose longer leg 66 is welded to the sleeve 50 and whose upstanding leg 68 is welded to one leg 70 of an inverted U-shaped steel section 72. The opposite leg 74 of the Ushaped section 72 is spaced slightly from the opposing leg 66 of the L-shaped section 64 to define an endless narrow mouth 76 through which the lip 24b of the flange 24 of the purlin can be received. The sections 64 and 72 of the clamping means 62 together define an enlarged throat 78 inwardly of the mouth 76 whose height is greater than the height of the lip 24b.

The lip 24b has a greater height than the spacing between the leg 74 of section 72 and leg 66 of section 64. Thus, flange 930510,p:\oper\phdgscomp.130,9 24 can only be received in the throat 78 by inserting the lip 24b through the mouth 76 and rotating the clamp 28 around the junction between the leg 24a and lip 24b of the flange.

Likewise, the clamp 28 can only be removed from the flange 24 by rotating the clamp over the lip 24b.

It is preferred to lock the clamp 28 onto the purlin 14 and for this purpose a locking bolt 80 is provided which is identical to the locking bolt 52 and whose stud 82 projects through the leg 66 of section 64 to engage the flange 24 in the throat adjacent the mouth 76 and thereby urge the leg 24a into abutment with the end portion of the leg 74 of the section 72. Preferably, two locking bolts 80 are provided, one loc .ed on each side of the sleeve 50, generally as shown in Figure 1. The locking bolts 80 may replace the leg 74 of the section 72 altogether.

The clamping means 62 may be formed in one piece, as described hereinafter, so that the leg 68 of section 64 is continuous 20 with leg 70 of section 72.

In one embodiment, the throat 78 of the clamping means 62 is sized to receive the connecting rod 26 as shown in Figura 3, to be described hereinafter, but in the embodiment of Figures 25 1 and 2 a sleeve 92 is provided to accommodate the connecting rod 26 which extends parallel to the purlin 14.

The sleeve 92 on clamp 28 is formed by an elongate J-shaped metal section of which the shorter leg 102 is welded to the sleeve 50 and the longer leg 104 overlies and is welded to the base of the U-shaped section 72 of the clamping means 62. The sleeve 92 has a square internal cross-section and is shaped to closely receive the connecting rod 26 in sliding manner with such sliding being selectively prevented by the locking bolt 100. The close fit of the rod 26 in the sleeve 92 prevents relative rotation.

Referring now to Figure 3, as briefly described already the 9351Op-NopaerphAd&%dxup13O,1O -11arrangement described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 is modified so that rather than providing the sleeve 92 for the connecting rod 26 extending transverse to the bracing sleeve the connecting rod 26 is accommodated in a slightly enlarged throat 78 of the clamping means 62 of clamp 28.

In the arrangement of Figure 3, the flange 24 is introduced into the throat 78 in the same manner as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the bracing rod 98 if needed is introduced into the sleeve 50 and locked in place by the locking bolt 52, the connecting rod 26 is slid through the sleeve-like throat 78 to overlie the flange 24, and with the connecting rod 26 in the correct location the locking bolts are tightened so that the screw threaded stud 82 engages the leg 24a of the flange 24 which abuts the connecting rod 26 ane urges it into engagement with the base of the U-shaped section 72. Both the connecting rod 26 and the throat 78 are of square cross-section and are sized to prevent relative rotation.

In Figure 3 the locking bolts 80 are shown engaging the leg 24a within the throat 78 of the clamping means 62, whereas in Figure 2 the locking bolts 80 are displaced slightly to engage the leg 24a in the mouth 76. The reason for this variation is that in Figure 3 the leg 24a of flange 24 may be braced S. against the connecting rod 26 whereas in Figure 2 the connecting rod 26 extends through the separate sleeve 92 and the leg 24a of flange 24 is braced'directly against the end portion of leg 74 of the U-shaped section 72.

Referring now to Figure 4, the clamp 28 is very similar to the clamp described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 but the clamping means 62 is folded from a single sheet of steel and the throat 78 is sized to receive the connecting rod 26 as in the embodiment described with reference to Figure 3. The sleeve 92 is retained so as to receive the connecting rod when the rod cannot be passed through the throat 78. Such an occasion is illustrated in Figure 93050,p:\oper\phhdgscomp.130,11 -12- In Figure 5, the purlin 14 has an angle member 240 secured at its end (and likewise to adjacent purlins) by means of a nut and'bolt assembly 242. The angle member 240 is provided to secure wall cladding. While the clamp 28 will normally be clear of the angle member and bolt, being located just in from the end of the purlin 14 as shown in Figure 1, the connection rod 26 would be obstructed by the bolt 242 if it extended through the throat 78 of the clamping means 62 as described with reference to Figure 4. Accordingly, in this embodiment the connection rod extends through the sleeve 92.

The construction, arrangement and operation of the stanchion assembly and components thereof illustrated in the drawings can be readily understood by reference to the preceding description. It will be seen that the"described stanchion assemblies can enable a stanchion to be readily supported from purlins, beams and/or girts of a frame building and the stanchion can then be used to mount barriers, horizontal rails, barrier netting, display signs and the like. The 20 stanchion assembly can be readily dismantled from the building for reuse at another location. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications and variations may be made to the stanchion assemblies described herein, and all such modifications and variations should be considered as 25 falling within the scope of the present invention. In S. particular, it will be appreciated that the restricted mouth of the clamps may be defined by pegs or other projections which extend from one or both sides into an open side of the enlarged throat.

930510,poper\phhdgwnp.130,12

Claims (14)

1. An adjustable stanchion assembly for a frame building (as herein defined) comprising at least one elongate frame member which includes a distal lip extending along a flange of the frame member to define an L-shaped section, the assembly comprising a support post for a safety barrier and a clamping mechanism for the support post, the clamping mechanism comprising an elongate connection member of non-circular cross-section and a single clamp which is selectively adjustable along and non-rotatable relative to the connection member, the clamp being engageable with said frame member, and comprising a pair of opposed longitudinally extensive open- ended jaws adapted to receive a longitudinal portion of the L-shaped section of said frame member through an open side of the jaws, and means to resist withdrawal of said portion of the one frame member from the jaws, and wherein the clamp comprises means defining a passage of non-circular cross- section to slidingly receive the connection member in non- rotatable manner and means to resist the relative sliding movement, said passage means extending parallel to the pair of open-ended jaws whereby in use the elongate connection member extends parallel to said at least one frame member.

2. An adjustable stanchion assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the support post is adjustably secured to the clamping mechanism.

3. An adjustable stanchion assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the elongate connection member comprises a rod of square cross-section.

4. An adjustable stanchion assembly according to Claim 3 wherein the rod is hollow.

An adjustable stanchion assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the passage means comprises a sleeve sized to closely 9305lOp:Xoper\phbdgsctp.130,13 -14- receive the elongate connection member in sliding manner and said slide resist means comprises releasable locking means.

6. An adjustable stanchion assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the jaws of the clamp comprise a mouth of restricted width and a throat portion behind the mouth having a dimension substantially parallel to the width of the mouth which is greater than said restricted width.

7. An adjustable stanchion assembly according to Claim 6 wherein the jaws define the passage means whereby the throat portion of the jaws is adapted to receive the elongate connection member.

8. An adjustable stanchion assembly according to claim 7 further comprising a sleeve sized to closely receive the elongate connection member and defining said passage means whereby the elongate connection member may be received optionally in the sleeve or in the throat portion of the jaws. So

9. An adjustable stanchion assembly according to Claim 6 o* wherein the jaws are substantially in the form of a tube the interior of which defines the throat portion with an elongate slot in said tube forming the mouth.

10. An adjustable stanchion assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the means to resist withdrawal in each clamp comprises releasable locking means adapted to secure the frame member :I in the pair of jaws.

11. An adjustable stanchion assembly according to Claim wherein the releasable locking means comprises two longitudinally spaced bolts which extend through one of the jaws and which are adjustable towards and away from the other of the jaws.

12. An adjustable stanchion assembly according to Claim 1 Swherein the clamp includes a sleeve for slidingly receiving 94VV2,3:\opuAphhdgscomp.130,14 a bracing member therein substantially normal to the passage means, and releasable locking means to resist said sliding.

13. An adjustable stanchion assembly comprising a support post for a safety barrier and a clamping mechanism for clamping the support post to a frame building, the clamping mechanism comprising an elongate connection member of non- circular cross-sectional shape and a single clamp which is selectively adjustable along the elongate connection member, said clamp including a passage means, said clamp being slidably mounted on said connection member by said connection member extending through said passage means, said passage means having an internal configuration of a cross-sectional shape that, in combination with the non-circular cross- sectional shape of said connection member, makes said clamp non-rotatable with respect to said connection member, said clamp being adapted to be clamped to an elongate frame member of a frame building wherein said frame member includes an elongate flange and a distal lip extending along the flange, 20 said clamp comprising a pair of opposed longitudinally extensive open-ended jaws which defines a mouth of restricted width and a throat portion behind the mouth having a dimension substantially parallel to the width of the mouth which is greater than said restricted width, said distal lip having a 25 greater height than the restricted width of said mouth, whereby said flange with a distal lip is received in and removed from the jaws by relative rotation of the clamp around said flange with a distal lip, said connection member extending along the frame member and said support post being secured to the connection member with said support post supported in cantilevered manner from the frame member by the clamping mechanism. 930510,p:\oper\pbdgcomp.130,15 16

14. A stanchion assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. this 22nd day of April, 1994. DGS PROPERTY PTY. LTD. By its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE 940422,p:\operph,d5Cwlp-130,16 -17 ABSTRACT A stanchion assembly 10 comprises a stachion 12 which is supported from the end of a purlin 14 by a clamping assembly comprising a single clamp 28 and a connection rod 26. The clamp defines a throat 78 into which a distal lip 24b of the purlin 14 is received and the connection rod 26 may also be received in the throat 78 or in a separate sleeve 92. s e a* e 0** o* 0 ao *G a. 0S S 930510,p:\oper\ph,dscomp.13,17