AU728215B2

AU728215B2 - Safety rail

Info

Publication number: AU728215B2
Application number: AU18999/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Garry Lee Rowlands
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-04-21
Filing date: 1997-04-21
Publication date: 2001-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2017-04-21
Also published as: AU1899997A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 GARRY LEE ROWLANDS a

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: a a. a a a.

a a.

Safety rail The following statement is a ftill description of this invention including the best method of performing it knlown to us:- Safety rail Introduction The present invention relates generally to safety fencing and scaffolding for roofers and in particular, the invention provides an improved method of attaching a fence post or platform or wall beam during building.

Background to the Invention In recent times, there has been a growing concern for safety in the workplace with a corresponding increase in regulation of the building industry. In particular, in recent times it has become a requirement that roofers erect edge protection posts to guard against workmen falling off the edge of the roof on which they are working. A development to meet these statutory requirements, however, the fixing arrangements have been found generally to be unsatisfactory because they are either slow to erect and "disasselmble, or because they significantly interfere with the roof under construction.

Summary of the Invention *aaaa.

The present invention provides an attachment means for a fence post, platform support or scaffolding the attachment means including a pair of axially aligned U-channels to form a continuous linear passage extending end to end through both of the channels for accepting a beam to which the attachment means is arranged to attach the two open tops of the U-channels facing in opposite directions and the U-channels being connected via a connecting member and spaced apart by a distance greater than or equal to the minor dimension of the beam to which the attachment means is arranged S 25 to attach, and a structural member of the fence post, platform support or scaffolding extending from one of the U-channels or from the connecting member.

Preferably, the U-channels are arranged to engage a nominal 100 x 50 imm beam and have internal dimensions to provide a loose clearance fit about a beam of these nominal dimensions, although, it will be recognised that the device will work on beams of any beam adequate to carry the required load and the dimensions of the U-channel will be selected to accommodate the standard beam dimensions in use.

The preferred embodiment also includes clamping screws, passing through one side of each U-channel to allow more secure attachment.

Although these are not strictly required for secure attachment to the beam, some jurisdictions will require them.

Preferably, the connecting member is an L-section to provide rigidity without excess weight.

Embodiments of the invention include various fence and platform supporting structures that are arranged to attach to vertical wall beams and sloping roof beams.

Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 1 in use; Figure 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a side view of a third ebodiment of the invention; 15 Figure 5 is a side view of a fourthird embodiment of the invention; .Figure 6 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the invention; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 10 is a detailed perspective view of the attachment means as used in the first embodiment; 25 Figure 11 shows the attachment means of Figure 10 during attachment to a roof beam; and Figure 12 shows the attachment means of Figure 10 after attachment to a roof beam.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments Referring to figures 1, 2 and 3, a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated comprising a safety rail upright support member 11 extending vertically from attachment means 12. The upright member 11 is intended specifically to be an upright fence post of a safety rail or a safety fence for a roofing application and the attachment means 12 is designed to engage on a roof beam such that a removable fence may be erected around the perimeter of the roof while the roofers are working on the site. To this end, a plurality 4 of box sections 13 are welded to the upright member 11 and each includes a clamping screw 14 such that safety rails may be extended through these box sections, between adjacent uprights 11 spaced along the edge of the roof, to provide horizontal rails of the safety fence.

The attachment means 12 comprises two U-shaped channels 15 and 16 aligned axially with one another, the axial alignment of the U-shaped channels being at an angle to the upright member 11 commensurate with the angle of a roof beam on a standard pitched roof.

Referring to figures 10, 11 and 12, the clamping means 12, of figures 1, 2 and 3 is shown in greater detail, and it can be seen from these drawings that the two channels 15 and 16 are located in opposing orientations such that .a beam passing through the passage formed by the two channels is exposed on one face within channel 15 and on the other face within channel 16 (see to Figure 12). This configuration provides a novel method of attachment to the beam whereby, as shown in Figure 11, the attachment means 12 is first located over the beam 21, with the beam passing through the opening 31 located between the two channels 15 and 16, until the attachnment device is sitting down on the beam 21, at which time the attachment device is rotated until the two channels are in engagement with the beam as illustrated in Figure 12. Subsequent location of guard rails through the box sections 13 on adjacent uprights 11 will prevent rotation of the attachment means 12 and therefore, enable the upright member 11 to remain securely attached to the roof beam 21. However, for additional security, bolts 18 and 19 are located in threaded holes in the top of the attachment means 12 and enable the attachment means 12 to be clamped onto the roof beam 21 for additional security.

The two U-channels 15 and 16 are connected together by way of an Lshaped section 17 which provides rigidity and strength to the assembly. The upright member 11 is welded to the back of the U-channel 16 and the Lsection 17.

In the preferred embodiment, a spot of weld 35 is added to one wall of U-channel 15 to form a small projection which helps the attachment device 12 to grip the beam 12.

Referring now to Figures 4, 5 and 6, second, third and fourth embodiments of the invention are illustrated, having similar features to the first embodiment. In the case of the second embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 and Figure 7, the post assembly is essentially identical to that of Figures 1, 2 and 3, except that the upright member 11 is not connected directly to the attachment means 12, but via an intermediate horizontal member 31 which enables the fence to be erected slightly outside the perimeter of the roof, thereby avoiding hindrance to the roofer when the bottom sections of the roof are being fitted.

In the case of the third embodiment, illustrated in Figure 5 and Figure 8, the horizontal intermediate member 32 is longer than the equivalent member 31 in the embodiment of Figures 4 and 7, and enables the provision of planks 33 forming a platform outside the perimeter of the roof area to assist the roofer when attaching roofing material to the edge of the 0 OV.roof.

In the fourth embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 and 9, a structure is shown which is intended to be mounted to a vertical wall beam of a house.

This embodimnent is intended for situations where a building is being built in a cyclone area and building regulations require that the roof be firmly tied down. In such situations, it is inappropriate to leave part of the roof off in the areas where the fence is attached to the roof beams until after the rest of the roof is completed, as this prevents adequate attachment of the roof in the area remaining open after the removal of the fence structure. In cyclone areas, it is usual for the roof to be completed before the walls are finished therefore, when the roof is being built, the vertical wall beams 22 are still exposed and available for attachment of the safety fence structure.

a.....Therefore, as illustrated in Figure 6, the intermediate memnber 34 is 25 sufficiently long that it extends out under the eaves of the building and allows the fence to be connected to the vertical member 22 without hindering construction of the roof, such that the roofing material 23 and guttering 24 may be completed in the intended order without holes being required for attachment of the safety fence structure. In all other respects this embodiment operates in a similar manner to thos e of the preceding figures, with the possible exception that it will be more critical to use the clamping bolts 18 and 19 in this emubodimnent to prevent the structure from slipping down the vertical member 22 when the attachment means 12 is unloaded.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the 6 invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

1. An attachment means for a fence post, platform support or scaffolding, the attachment means including a pair of axially aligned U- channels forming a continuous linear passage extending end to end through both of the channels for accepting a beam to which the attachment means is arranged to attach, the two open tops of the U-channels facing in opposite directions and the U-channels being connected via a connecting member and spaced apart by a distance greater than or equal to the minor dimension of the beam to which the attachment means is arranged to attach, and a structural memnber of the fence post, platform support or scaffolding extending from one of the U-channels or from the connecting member.

2. The attachment means of claim 1 wherein, the U-channels are arranged to engage a standard building beam and have internal dimensions to provide a loose clearance fit about the beam.

3. The attachment means of claim 2, wherein the U-channels are arranged to engage a nominal 100 x 50 mm beam.

4. The attachment means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein clamping screws pass through one side of each U-channel.

The attachment means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the connecting mernber is an L-section member.

6. A support element of a safety fence, safety platform or scaffolding, the elenment having attachment means including a pair of axially aligned U- channels forming a continuous linear passage extending end to end through *both of the channels for accepting a beam to which the attachment means is 25 arranged to attach, the open tops of the U-channels facing in opposite directions and the U-channels being connected via a connecting member and spaced apart by a distance greater than or equal to the minor dimension of the beam to which the attachment means is arranged to attach, and a structural member of the safety fence, safety platform or scaffolding extending from one of the U-channels or from the connecting member.

7. The element of claim 6, wherein the structural element attached to the attachment means is a post for a safety barrier.

8. The element of claim 6, wherein the attachment means supports a post of a safety barrier and the structural member extending from the U- channel or connecting member is an intermediate member from which the post extends.

9. The element of claim 8, wherein the intermediate member is connected to the U-channel member such that it extends substantially horizontally when the support element is in use.

The element of claim 9, wherein the intermediate member is arranged to support a platform when the support element is in use.

11. The element of any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein, the U-channels are arranged to engage a standard building beam and have internal dimensions to provide a loose clearance fit about the beam.

12. The element of claim 11, wherein the U-channels are arranged to engage a nominal 100 x 50 mm beam.

13. The element as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein clamping screws pass through one side of each U-channel.

14. The attachment means as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 12, o wherein the connecting member is an L-section member.

15 15. An attachment means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A support element of a safety fence, safety platform, or scaffolding as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 10, 11 12, or Figures 4 and 7 or Figures 5 and 8, or Figures 6 and 9 of the accompanying drawings. Dated this twentyfirst day of April 1997 GARRY LEE ROWLANDS Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F.B. RICE CO.