AU736809B2

AU736809B2 - Safety system

Info

Publication number: AU736809B2
Application number: AU10131/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kevin Elkin
Original assignee: LAKEMONT PINES Pty Ltd
Current assignee: LAKEMONT PINES Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1997-12-02
Filing date: 1998-11-05
Publication date: 2001-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2018-11-05
Also published as: AU1013199A

Description

WO 99/28574 PCT/AU98/00923 1 SAFETY SYSTEM The present invention relates to a safety system for workers working at dangerous heights. In particularly the present invention relates to a reusable safety system or fall protection system for workers during work on a building or similar construction. More particularly the present invention relates to a safety system for workers on a frame construction building or similar construction to prevent falls from the uppermost level, such as the roof of the building.

Although the present invention will be described with particular reference to a safety system for protecting workers working on the roof or uppermost stages of a frame construction building, it is to be noted that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the described arrangement or embodiment but rather the scope is more extensive so as to include other arrangements of the safety system and uses for the safety system in applications other than those specifically described and to the use of the safety system for a wide range of applications.

Safety systems, also known as fall protection systems, are used to prevent or limit workers falling from a building or other civil construction on which they are working.

Workers on the roof or uppermost stage of a building have potentially the greatest need for a safety system.

Currently, various safety systems are in use in the building and construction systems. Some safety systems consist of a harness which is worn by the worker and wire cable which tethers the harness to the building. Should the worker slip or fall from the roof, the tether prevents the worker hitting the ground and thus limits injury. However this type of system has the drawback that it interferes with free movement of the worker and is generally WO 99/28574 PCT/AU98/00923 2 inconvenient and awkward to wear and can still lead to injury. As an alternative, scaffolding can be assembled about the building or a railing connected to the periphery of the roof or uppermost level to restrain a fall. These alternatives use costly parts and are time consuming to assemble and disassemble.

Australian patent No. 10200/92 (659817) in the name of Roof Safe Pty Ltd describes one type of well known safety system comprising a support means which is adapted at one end for removable attachment to a structural member. The support means is adapted for attachment to a pitched rafter and is configured such that the support means has a centre of gravity located distant from the point of attachment to the roof which provides a downward force on the attachment means, which in turn keeps the engagement means firmly held against opposed faces of pitched rafters, such as those used in wooden frame housing construction. In general, this type of safety system would not be suitable for frame construction buildings which have a frame comprising horizontal and vertical girders.

Other types of safety systems are described for example in US-3,531,091 (Windham US-3,881,699 (Nusbaum US- 3,632,089 (Smith GB-2 205 871 (Spencer which describe safety systems comprising cables or other tensioned members; AU-12144/92 (626247) (Griek C.J., Mitchinson AU-31703/95 (Hayman Hayman J.D.) which describes a safety system comprising a relatively complex clamping mechanism for attaching a support post to a frame member; AU-31701/95 and 30694/95 (Hayman D.W., Hayman AU-11435/92 (Mitchinson Griek C.J, Stokes which describe safety systems for attachment to pitched wooden rafters. In general, the safety systems of the prior art are either not suitable for use on metal frame construction buildings or alternatively, the safety systems are expensive to manufacture and time consuming to WO 99/28574 W099/8574PCT/AU98/00923 3 attach to and remove from a building.

It has now been found that an improved safety system for preventing falls from the roof or upper level of a building can be provided which has few components, is not expensive to manufacture and can easily and quickly be attached to and removed from a frame building.

According to the present invention there is provided a safety system for frame buildings, the safety system including: a frame bracket which has at least one flange which is adapted to be clamped to a building frame, a stanchion which is slidably connected to the frame bracket; and safety rails which are removably connected to the stanchion.

Typically the frame bracket also has an elongate hollow tube of any convenient cross sectional shape, preferably square. Typically the frame bracket has two flanges extending from opposite sides of the elongate hollow tube.

The frame bracket may for example comprise an elongate hollow tube of square cross section which at one end abuts a flat rectangular member which extents outwards from opposite sides of the square tube to form two flanges.

Alternatively the frame bracket may comprise to or more integral flanges which are located at different distances along the elongate hollow tube.

In use, the frame bracket is clamped to a building frame.

Typically the frame bracket is clamped to a vertical building frame members such as a vertical I-beam.

Typically, in use the frame bracket will extend generally at an angle of between 45 and 1350 from the longitudinal axis of the building frame member. More typically the elongate frame bracket will extend generally at right WO 99/28574 PCT/AU98/00923 4 angles to the longitudinal axis of the building frame member.

Typically, the clamping is carried out by the flange and a clamping plate through which pass an adjustable bolt or the like. Part of the building frame member is located between the flange and clamping plate, and the adjustable bolt may be tightened to compress the flange and clamping plate against the building frame member, thus holding the elongate frame bracket in place.

Typically, in use the stanchion will form an angle of between 45 and 1350 with the frame bracket. Most typically the stanchion will be at right angles to the frame bracket.

The stanchion typically comprises a post of any convenient cross section and length which is adapted for slidable connection to the frame bracket. That is, the stanchion may be slid along at least part of the elongate frame bracket. This slidable connection may be achieved by any convenient means. For example, the stanchion may comprise a post connected to, or integral with, a hollow tube which is of slightly greater cross section than the appropriate portion of the frame bracket. In this conformation, the tube of larger cross section can slide along the elongate frame bracket.

Typically the stanchion can be locked in a particular position along the frame bracket by a locking means. The locking means may prevent sliding of the stanchion relative to the frame bracket. Typically the locking means is located on the portion of the stanchion which can be slid along the frame bracket. The locking means may comprise for example, one or more locating pins. The pins may for example be able to be located in aligned apertures in the stanchion and frame bracket.

WO 99/28574 PCT/AU98/00923 5 Preferably the stanchion may be disengaged from the frame bracket, for example, by releasing the locking means and sliding the stanchion off a free end of the frame bracket.

The safety rails may be of any convenient configuration, but typically the safety rails will comprise hollow tubes which can be connected to the stanchion. The rails and stanchion may be connected by any convenient means.

In another embodiment of the invention, the flange comprises a plate connected to the frame bracket and which is for engagement beneath the building frame and ancillary coupling means for coupling the frame bracket to the building frame.

Preferably the ancillary coupling means comprises a hole through the frame bracket which is adapted to receive a bolt which in turn passes through the building frame to secure the frame bracket to the building frame.

In this embodiment of the invention, the frame bracket is adapted to rest on another frame member which runs transverse to the building frame.

The stanchion is supported on the frame bracket substantially in the manner described above.

The invention may also be said to reside in a safety system for frame buildings, including: a support beam; an abutment member connected to the support beam for engagement beneath a building frame; a stanchion for mounting on the support beam, the stanchion being for supporting a safety rail; and connecting means for connecting the support beam to the building frame.

WO 99/28574 PCT/AU98/00923 6 Preferably the connecting means comprises a aperture through the support beam located intermediate the abutment member and the stanchion when the stanchion is mounted on the support beam, and a bolt for passing through the aperture and also an aperture in the building frame.

Preferably the beam is adapted to rest on a further building frame which extends transverse to the said building frame so that the safety system can be initially located by engaging the abutment member beneath the building frame, resting the support beam on the further building frame so that the support beam is held in cantilever fashion and then securing the support beam by locating the bolt through the aperture in the support beam and the building frame.

Preferably the stanchion includes a sleeve for movement on the support beam and aligned apertures in the sleeve and support beam for enabling adjustment and securement of the stanchion to the support beam.

Preferably the stanchion has a safety rail support plate which is coupled to a sleeve for movement on the stanchion to position the support plate and therefore a safety rail at a desired height on the stanchion.

Typically the safety system of the present invention will be constructed of metal, preferably steel.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the safety system of the present invention attached to a vertical Ibeam of a building frame; Figure 2 is a plan view of the safety system of WO 99/28574 PCT/AU98/00923 7 Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of a clamp suitable for attaching a frame bracket to an I-beam; Figure 4 is a view showing a further embodiment of the invention; and Figure 5 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 4.

In Figure 1 part of a safety system of the present invention is shown attached to a vertical I-beam 16 of a building frame. The elongate frame bracket has a beam formed from a hollow tube of square cross section which terminates at one end in a rectangular flat plate 20 which extends either side of the hollow tube to provide a pair of flanges 14a and 14b. The flanges 14a and 14b and two clamping plates 12a, 12b are held together by a screw bolt which passes through aligned apertures 15 of the flanges 14a and 14b and clamping plates 12a and 12b to form a clamp which holds the elongate frame bracket to part of the Ibeam 16. A stanchion 13 is attached at one end to a hollow tube 11 of square cross section which can slide along the length of the hollow tube 10 of the frame bracket. Both the hollow tube 10 and the hollow tube 11 have apertures 17 which can be aligned. A locking means such as a pin or screw bolt can be passed through the aligned apertures 17 to lock the stanchion and prevent the stanchion sliding along the hollow tube 10. The stanchion 13 also comprises rail attachment plates 14 to which rails can be attached.

Figure 2 shows the part of the safety system depicted in Figure 1 in plan. In this view it can be clearly seen that, the clamp comprises clamping plates 12a, 12b, flanges 14a and 14b formed from the rectangular flat plate 20 and bolts 25a, 25b which pass through the aligned apertures in the flanges 14a and 14b and clamping plates 12a and 12b.

The clamp is attached to part of the I-beam and holds the frame bracket in place on the I-beam. The tube 10 extends WO 99/28574 PCT/AU98/00923 8 generally at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the I-beam 16. The end of the stanchion 13 and the hollow tube 11 at the end of the stanchion which is in slidable connection with the tube 10, can be clearly seen. A screw bolt 18 passes through aligned apertures in the hollow tube 11 and tube 10 to prevent movement of the hollow tube 11.

The stanchion 13 has rail attachment plate 14 to which a rail 24 is attached by two bolts (not shown).

Figure 3 shows a view of a further embodiment of a clamp suitable for attaching the elongate frame member to a vertical I-beam. In this embodiment the elongate frame member has a post 30 of square cross section, the post being connected with two flanges 32a, 32b which extend from opposite sides of the post 30. The flanges 32a,32b rest flat against a face of the I-beam 16. Clamping plates 34a,34b are clamped to the flanges 32a and 32b by screw bolts (not shown) which pass through corresponding apertures in the flanges 32a, 32b and clamping plate 34a,34b. The clamping plates 34a, 34b and flanges 32a, 32b include several apertures so that they can be used for clamping a range of I-beam sizes.

With reference to Figures 4 and 5 which show a further embodiment of the invention, the safety system 100 has a beam 102 which would generally be the same as the tube 11 shown in Figure 1. The beam 102 has at one end an abutment plate 104 which is welded to the beam 102 and extends transverse with respect to the beam 102. As in the embodiment of Figure 1, the beam 102 has a plurality of apertures 106 arranged adjacent the end of the beam 102 remote from the abutment plate 104. An intermediate aperture 108 is also provided through the beam 102. A stanchion 110 includes a stanchion post 112 and a sleeve 114 at the lower end of the stanchion post 112. The sleeve 114 slides over beam 102 and has a hole 109 which can be aligned with one of the holes 106. A bolt 116 can locate WO 99/28574 PCT/AU98/00923 9 through the hole 109 and one of the aligned holes 106 to secure the sleeve 114 and therefore the stanchion 110 on the beam 102. The plurality of holes 106 enable the position of the stanchion 110 to be adjusted slightly relative to the beam 102 to suite the particular environment in which the safety system is being employed.

The stanchion post 112 carries a support plate 118 which is intended to support a safety rail 120. The plate 118 is connected to a sleeve 122. The sleeve 122 is slidable on the stanchion post 112 to position the plate 118 and therefore the safety rail 120 at a desired height relative to the stanchion post 112. The sleeve 122 has a screwthreaded boss 124 which receives a bolt 126 which can be screwed into the boss 124 and therefore clamp the sleeve 122 against the post 112 to locate the sleeve 122 and therefore the plate 118 in position. In alternative embodiments, the stanchion post 112 could be provided with holes (not shown) similar to the holes 106 into which the bolt 126 can locate to position the sleeve 122 at a desired height on the stanchion post 112.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the safety rail system is intended to be used with a building having a building frame 130 such as a purlin 130 and a rafter 140 beneath the purlin which extends transverse with respect to the purlin 130. The safety system is deployed in position by removing a lower purlin bolt from the purlin 130 to expose aperture 136 through the purlin 130. The beam 110 is then located in position by engaging the abutment plate 104 beneath the purlin 130 and resting the beam 102 on the rafter 140 which extends beneath the purlin 130 so that the beam 102 runs parallel to and beside the purlin 130.

The aperture 108 through the beam 102 can then be aligned with the exposed aperture 136 by sliding the beam 102 back and forward on the rafter 140 and with the plate 104 WO 99/28574 PCT/AU98/00923 10 engaged beneath the purlin 130 until the aperture 108 aligns with the aperture 136. A long bolt 140 can then be inserted through the aligned apertures 108 and 136 and secured in position to firmly and securely attach the beam 102 to the purlin 130. Depending on the position of the apertures 136 and 108, the beam 102 may rest on the rafter 140 or may be secured slightly above the level of the rafter 140. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the stanchion post 112 is slightly angled with respect to the vertical so it inclines outwardly from the purlin 130 and rafter 140.

The safety rail 120 may be secured to the plate 118 by bolts which pass through the safety rail 120 and through holes 144 in the plate 118.

The described arrangement has been advanced by explanation and many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which includes every novel feature and novel combination of features herein disclosed. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described.

It is understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope.

Claims

1. A safety system for connection to an I-beam, the safety system including: an end plate for abutment against a flange of the I-beam, the end plate having two flanges, the flanges, when the end plate abuts the I-beam, extending beyond the I- beam; two clamp plates one associated with each flange of the end plate, for coupling to the flanges of the end plate so that a part of the I-beam is sandwiched between the flanges of the end plate and the clamp plates to thereby clamp the safety system to the I-beam, the clamp plates, when coupled to the flanges of the end plates also extending beyond the I-beam; connectors for connecting the flanges of the end plates to the clamp plates at a portion of the clamp plates and flanges of the end plates which extend beyond the I- beam a support element extending outwardly from the end plate; a stanchion for mounting on the support element and adjustable in position along the support element; and at least one support rail for connection to the stanchion.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the support element is a beam.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the stanchion includes a sleeve for location on the beam and connection means for securing the sleeve and therefore the stanchion to the beam.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the connection means comprises at least one hole in the beam and at least one hole in the sleeve and a bolt for location through the AMENDED SHEET (Article 34) (IPEA/AU) PCT/AU98/00923 Received 26 August 1999 12 holes when the holes are aligned to thereby secure the sleeve and therefore the stanchion to the beam.

The system of claim 1, wherein the stanchion includes connection plates for facilitating coupling of the at least one safety rail to the stanchion.

6. The safety system of claim 6 wherein the connectors comprise holes in the flanges and clamp plates and bots for location through the holes.

7. A safety system for connection to a building frame including a purlin supported above a main frame member, including: a support beam for location substantially parallel to the purlin above the main frame member; an abutment member connected to the support beam for engagement beneath the purlin; a stanchion for mounting on the support beam, the stanchion being for supporting a safety rail; and connecting means located intermediate the stanchion and the abutment member for connecting the support beam to the purlin.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the connecting means comprises an aperture through the support beam for receiving a bolt for passing through the aperture and also an aperture in the purlin.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the beam, when the safety system is connected to the building frame, rest on the main frame member which extends transverse to the said purlin so that the safety system can be initially located by engaging the abutment member beneath the building frame, resting the support beam on the main frame member so that the support beam is held in cantilever fashion and then securing the support beam by locating the bolt through the AMENDED SHEET (Article 34) (IPEA/AU) PCT/AU98/00923 Received 26 August 1999 13 aperture in the support beam and the purlin.

The system of claim 7, wherein the stanchion includes a sleeve for movement on the support beam and aligned apertures in the sleeve and support beam for enabling adjustment and securement of the stanchion to the support beam.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the stanchion has a safety rail support plate which is coupled to a sleeve for movement on the stanchion to position the support plate and therefore a safety rail at a desired height on the stanchion. AMENDED SHEET (Article 34) (IPEA/AU)