AU7192800A

AU7192800A - A device for anchoring people to an elevated structure

Info

Publication number: AU7192800A
Application number: AU71928/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Nicky Manatakis; Andrew Zaf
Original assignee: RISING ACRES Pty Ltd
Current assignee: RISING ACRES Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1999-11-30
Filing date: 2000-11-30
Publication date: 2001-05-31

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): NEALE DE MALMANCHE Invention Title: A DEVICE FOR ANCHORING PEOPLE TO AN ELEVATED

STRUCTURE

9 9 9 99 99 9 9 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 A DEVICE FOR ANCHORING PEOPLE TO AN ELEVATED STRUCTURE The present invention relates to a device that may be used for anchoring one or more persons to an elevated structure such as a roof of a building. In particular, the device is capable of limiting the distance a person may fall from an elevated structure.

It has long been recognized that people working on an elevated structure are at risk of falling and suffering serious injury or death. For example, people tiling the roof of a house or painting the facia boards around a house are at risk of loosing their footing and falling. In the past, there has been extensive emphasis placed on safe work practices in both industry and at home. A major component in safe work practices particularly when working on an elevated structure involves the use of safety devices.

One such device that has been previously disclosed 20 involves assembling a number of vertical posts around the edge of the roof of a building and bolting interconnecting upper and lower rails to the posts. When assembled, the device forms a temporary fence around the edge of the roof to prevent people from falling from the roof. However, 25 this type of device has the disadvantage of being both time consuming to assemble and expensive to hire for the duration of a particular job. A further disadvantage with this known device is that it provides no protection or at best, only limited protection, to the person assembling the 30 device which is inherently dangerous as the task requires working close to the edge of the roof of a building. In any event, even when the device is assembled, there is still a chance of a person on the roof of a building \\melb_files\homeS\KarraR\Keep\speci\malmanche-device for anchoring people.doc 30/11/00 3 falling under, between or over the rails of the temporary fence.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved device to anchoring a person to an elevated structure.

According to the present invention there is provided a device that may by used for anchoring one or more persons to an elevated structure via a personal safety line, the device includes: a plurality of liquid impervious containers that are able to be filled with a liquid such that the weight of the liquid may be utilized for anchoring the device, each of said containers having a closable opening that may be used for supplying the liquid into the containers and/or draining the liquid from the containers, and (ii) attachment means for attaching the personal safety line to the device.

The division of the volume of liquid in the device between a plurality of liquid impervious containers reduces the wave motion of the liquid in the device and therefore minimises any movement of the device when subjected to external forces. A further benefit provided by the device of the present invention is that in the event of a puncture 30 in one of the containers, only a portion of the total liquid in the device will be spilt.

\\melbfiles\homeS\KarraR\Keep\speci\malmache-evice for anchoring people.doc 30/11/00 4 Preferably, the device further includes a housing shaped to receive the liquid impervious containers.

Preferably, the housing includes a plurality of compartments that each receive one of said containers.

More preferably, the compartments have access openings to enable the containers to be positioned inside and withdrawn from the compartments.

Preferably, the compartments are separated by internal walls in the housing such that the containers are arranged side-by-side in the housing.

Even more preferably, in the event that said container is ruptured, the ruptured container is able to be replaced.

Preferably, the containers and housing are made of a flexible membrane.

Preferably, the containers are in the form of water bladders.

Preferably, the housing is made of a reinforced vinyl.

Preferably, the housing includes covers for covering the access openings to the compartments so that any liquid spilt into the housing from a ruptured container is substantially retained within the housing.

According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the attachment means for attaching the personal safety line to the device is a loop projecting from an \\melb files\homeS\KarraR\Keep\speci\malmanche-device for anchoring people.doc 30/11/00 5 upper face of the housing to which the safety line is able to be coupled.

The loop is preferably formed from metal and is strapped to the device. This can be effected by passing one or more lengths of a high tensile strength strapping through the loop and securing the ends to the housing. It has been found by the present applicant that strapping of the type used in car seat belt manufacture is particularly suitable for this purpose, and can be sewn or micro-welded to the housing.

Preferably, one or more lengths of said strapping for attaching the loop are wrapped around the housing.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the means for attaching the personal safety line to the device may be in the form of an internal passageway through the housing through which the safety line is 20 threaded and secured to the device.

g Preferably, the closable openings are adapted to be connectable to a household garden hose or household garden hose fittings for filling the containers with water.

Even more preferably, each closable opening is connectable to a manifold for simultaneously filling each of the containers.

30 Preferably, the device is sized such that when the containers are filled with water, the device weighs in the range of 700 to 1800 kilograms.

\\melb_files\home$\KarraR\Keep\speci\malmanche-device for anchoring people.doc 30/11/00 6 Even more preferably, the device has the capacity to hold 1200 kilograms of water.

In the event that additional weight is required, the device preferably includes means for connecting one device to another like device.

Preferably, the means for connecting one device to another like device includes one or more rings on a first device that are capable of engaging hooks on a second device.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a single bladder.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view in the longitudinal 20 direction of a bladder positioned in a compartment of the housing.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device.

25 Figures 4 to 7 illustrate a preferred embodiment of present in use.

As can be seen from the figures, the device includes a housing generally identified by reference numeral a 30 plurality of liquid impervious containers in the form of elongated water bladders each bladder includes a closable opening for supplying or draining water.

Secured to the upper surface of the housing is an \\melb-files\home\KarraR\Keep\speci\almche-device for anchoring people.doc 30/11/00 7 attachment means for attaching a personal safety line to the device in the form of a closed loop or a D-shaped bolt.

The housing is made from one or more layers of heavy duty reinforced vinyl that is stitched, glued and or sealed along its seams. The housing includes a top wall side walls end walls and a bottom wall Located within the housing are four flexible internal walls that interconnect the top and bottom walls Each internal wall extends in a direction along the length of the housing so as to divide the inside of the housing into five compartments. Each compartment receives one of the bladders so that the bladders are arranged side-by-side across the width of the housing Access openings (10) are formed in the end walls at both ends of each compartment so as to allow the bladders to be removably positioned inside each compartment of the housing The internal walls separate and help retain each of the bladders relative to each other in the housing when the device is in use.

*9aa 25 Located at both ends of each bladder are two flexible flaps As can be seen from figure 2, when the bladder is positioned inside its respective compartment, each flap extends through the aperture adjacent the end of the bladder and either projects 30 upwardly or downwardly. A securing means in the form of a Velcro type fastener is fixed to the outside surface (12) of the housing adjacent each aperture (10) and cooperating sections of Velcro type fastener are fixed on \\melb-files\home\KarraR\Keep\speci\malmanchedevice for anchoring people-doc 30/11/00 8 the inside surface (13) of the flaps such that the flaps can be pressed against and releasable engage the housing The securing means help avoid the bladder being placed in a twisted arrangement inside the compartment thereby minimizing the chance of damage to the bladder (2) in use or during filling of the bladder with water.

To fill the bladders with water, the closable opening in the form of an inlet/outlet valve is connectable to a household garden hose or household garden hose fittings for water supply. Alternatively, a manifold may be connected to each inlet outlet/valve enabling all five bladders to be filled simultaneously.

Located on an upper surface of the bladder toward an end opposite to the inlet/outlet valve is a vent valve (14) that allows passage of air into and from the bladder Extending from the lower wall of the housing (1) are covers in the form of end flaps (15) that fold upwardly and cover one or more of the apertures (10) in the housing The end flaps (15) are releasably secured to the top wall of the housing by any suitable means to help prevent longitudinal movement of the bladders in the housing and to retain any water leakage from the bladders in the event of rupture in the housing One of the advantages provided by the end flaps (15) is that a person connected to the device via a personal safety line will still be safe despite rupture of any one of the 30 bladders The attachment means for attaching the personal safety lines to the device is provided in the form of a \\melb Eiles\homeS\KarraR\Keep\speci\malmanchedevice for anchoring people.doc 30/11/00 9 metal loop or D-shaped bolt. The metal loop or D-shaped bolt is attached to the device by one or more lengths of strapping (16) that extends through the loop or D-shape bolt and wrap around the housing In an alternative embodiment, the strapping (16) is either totally or partially wrapped between layers of reinforced vinyl that constitute the housing In any event, the strapping is sewn and micro-welded to the housing In use, the five bladders have a capacity to hold approximately 1200 kilograms of water. In order to move the device from one location to another, the inlet/outlet valve is opened and the water is allowed to drain. The empty device is then easily folded or rolled to assist movement to another site.

The device may be used in a number of different applications: r 20 As illustrated in Figure 4, the device can be slumped over the crest of a roof of a house. A person wearing a harness is anchored to the device via a personal safety line. The person is then able to conduct any of a variety of tasks safely such as tiling the roof, painting or 25 conducting routine maintenance.

The safety line includes suitable means for enabling the person to readily adjust the length of the safety line while working on the roof.

As illustrated in Figure 5, the device can be slumped over an existing beam thereby anchoring a worker in such a \\melbeiles\home$\KarraR\Keep\speci\malmanche-device for anchoring people.doc 30/11/00 10 way that the worker can perform alterations, construction or maintenance.

Figure 6 illustrates the device positioned on a flat roof with a number or workers anchored to the device by personal safety lines.

As can be seen from Figures 4 to 6, the walls of the device and in particular, the bottom wall is able to conform to the shape of the surface it is being supported by.

Figure 7 illustrates the device positioned on the ground below an elevated structure and a safety line connecting the person to the device via a point having a fixed elevation. In the event of the person loosing their footing and falling, the person will be suspended from the point of fixed elevation.

20 It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the present invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

25 For example, the lower wall of the housing may have a rough surface to provide greater friction between the device and the supporting elevated structure.

\\melb-files\home$\KarraR\Keep\speci\malmanche-device for anchoring peopledoc 30/11/00

Claims

1. A device for anchoring one or more persons to an elevated structure via a personal safety line, the device including: a plurality of liquid impervious containers that are able to be filled with a liquid such that the weight of the liquid may be utilized for anchoring the device, each of said containers having a closable opening that may be used for supplying the liquid into the containers and/or draining the liquid from the containers, and (ii) attachment means for attaching the personal safety line to the device.

2. The device according to claim 1, further including a housing shaped to receive the containers.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the housing a includes a plurality of compartments that each receive one of said containers. 25 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the compartments have access openings to enable the containers to be positioned inside and withdrawn from the compartments. 30 5. The device according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the compartments are arranged side-by-side in the housing. \\melbfiles\homeS\KarraR\Keep\speci\malmanche-device for anchoring people.doc 30/11/00 12

6. The device according to any one of claims 2 to wherein the housing includes covers for covering the access openings to the compartments so that any liquid spilt into the housing from a ruptured container is substantially retained within the housing.

7. The device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the housing is made of a flexible membrane.

8. The device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the housing is made of a reinforced vinyl.

9. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, whereby in the event that one of said containers is ruptured, the ruptured container is able to be replaced. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the containers are made of a flexible ***membrane. S11. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the containers are in the form of water bladders. 25 12. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment means is a loop projecting from an upper surface of the device.

13. The device according to any one of claims 2 to 12, 30 wherein the attachment means for attaching the personal safety line to the device is a loop projecting from an upper face of the housing to which the safety line is able to be coupled. \\melbfiles\homeS\KarraR\Keep\speci\malmanche-device for anchoring people.doc 30/11/00 13

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein one or more lengths of strapping for attaching the loop are wrapped around the housing. The device according to any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein the attachment means for attaching the personal safety line to the device is in the form of an internal passageway through the housing through which the safety line is threaded and secured to the device.

16. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closable openings are adapted to be connectable to a household garden hose or household garden hose fittings for filling the containers with water.

17. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each closable opening is connectable to a S° manifold for simultaneously filling each of the containers.

18. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is sized such that when the containers are filled with water, the device weighs in the range of 700 to 1800 kilograms.

19. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device has the capacity to hold 1200 kilograms of water. 30 20. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, further including connecting means for connecting one device to another like device. \\melb files\home$\KarraR\Keep\speci\malmanche-device for anchoring people.doc 30/11/00 14

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the means for connecting one device to another like device includes one or more rings on a first device that are capable of engaging hooks on a second device.

22. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. Use of the device according to any one of the preceding claims, whereby the device anchors a person or apparatus to an elevated structure.

24. Use of the device according to any one of claims 1 to 22, whereby the containers of the device are positioned on a roof of a building. Use of the device according to any one of claims 1 to 22, whereby the containers are slumped over the crest of a roof of a building.

26. Use of the device according to any one of claims 1 to 22 whereby the containers are positioned below an elevated structure on which the person is positioned and the safety line connecting the person to the device passes through a 25 point having a fixed elevation, such that, in the event of the person falling from the elevated structure, the person *o will be suspended from the point of fixed elevation. o Dated this 30th day of November 2000 0 30 NEALE DE MALMANCHE By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia \\melbfiles\home$\KarraR\Keep\speci\Malmanche-device for anchoring people.doc 30/11/00