CA2353337A1

CA2353337A1 - Bracket for supporting temporary barrier

Info

Publication number: CA2353337A1
Application number: CA002353337A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Daryl Roy Watson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-07-20
Filing date: 2001-07-20
Publication date: 2003-01-20
Also published as: US20030015696A1

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
'This invention relates to brackets and more particularly to a bracket for supporting an upright rod to which a number of horizontal rails can be attached. This invention also relates to a temporary barrier which includes the combination of the bracket, upright rod and rails.
The majority of accidents that occur on a site where buildings are being constructed result from falls. Houses under construction, for example, have many openings for such things as stairs and windows and usually the openings remain clear and unobstructed until the construction is substantially complete when the windows and stairs are installed.
Frequently workmen on the site accidentally fall through such openings with resulting injury or even death.
The conventional practice is to construct temporary barriers to prevent accidental falls. The barriers usually consist of two or more horizontal pieces of timber which are nailed to the frames of the openings. In the course of construction, however, the barriers must be removed to allow material or equipment to be passed through the openings.
Afterward, the barriers must be replaced but frequently they are not and the openings are then a hazard for workmen who are working on the site.
Temporary barriers are usually not replaced because of the inconvenience in doing so. The pieces of timber which make up the barrier may split when the barrier is removed and other pieces of timber may not be readily available to replace the split pieces. Alternatively the tool required to reattach the pieces of timber to the frame may not be readily available.
Whatever the reason, all too often a barrier is not replaced even though injury or even death may result from the failure to do so.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
I have invented a bracket to which a temporary barrier can be attached and from which the barrier can be conveniently removed and re-attached should it be necessary to do so. The bracket is nailed to the frame and does not protrude into the opening.
To remove the barrier, it need only be lifted and removed from the bracket. To replace it, it need only be reinserted into the bracket. The barrier is not damaged nor are any tools needed at this time.
Briefly the bracket of my invention comprises a pair of interconnected first plates disposed at right angles to each other and having a plurality of apertures formed therein. A
second plate extends from one first plate to the other. The second plate and a portion of the first plates define a space for receipt of an upright rod to which rails can be attached.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The bracket of my invention and the combination of the bracket and upright rod and rails are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bracket;

2 Figure 2 is a plan view of the bracket;
Figure 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the bracket;
Figure 4 is an elevation of a pair of brackets in combination with a pair of upright rods and horizontal rails; and Figure 5 is a side view of the combination of components illustrated in Figure

3.
Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the bracket of the invention, generally 10, includes a pair of first plates 12, 14 which are interconnected along an edge 16 of each such that the angle between the two plates is a right angle.
A number of openings 18 are formed in the two plates for receipt of nails or screws.
The nails or screws serve to attach the bracket to the frame of an opening.
A second plate 20 is connected to plate 12 and extends outwardly from it.
Plate 20 is connected to a second plate 22 which extends outwardly from the other plate 14. The inner walls 20a, 22a, of the second plates together with the portions 12a, 14a of the walls of the first plates which face them define a space 24 for receipt of an upright rod.
With reference to Figure 3, a second plate 30 is continuous and curved and extends from one first plate 32 to the other first plate 34. The inside wall 30a of the second plate together with the walls of the first plate which face it define the space for the upright rod.
With reference to Figures 4 and S, a barrier, generally 40, serves to prevent unintended movement through opening 42. The barrier includes a pair of the brackets 1 Oa,b of the invention. The brackets are attached to frame 44 of the opening, but they may also be attached to joists 46, to other timber in the vicinity of the opening or to whatever else is convenient. In general the brackets should not be attached in such a way that they will protrude into the opening. The brackets will not then be an obstacle for material that it is to be passed through the opening when the barrier is removed.
Upright rods 50, 52 are received in the spaces of each bracket between their first and second plates. A number of L-shaped supports 54 are spaced vertically apart on each upright and vertically spaced horizontal rails 56, 58 rest on supports at the same elevation. The rails may be two-by-fours, as illustrated, or wooden or steel rods of sufficient strength to prevent a person from accidentally breaking through them.
The barrier may be removed from the opening simply by removing the horizontal rails from the supports and the uprights are then raised to remove them from the space in each bracket that accommodates them.
It will be understood, of course, that modifications can be made in the embodiments of the bracket illustrated herein without departing from the scope and purview of the invention.

4

Claims

I claim:

1. A bracket for an upright rod comprising: a pair of interconnected first plates disposed at right angles to each other and having a plurality of apertures formed therein; and a second plate extending outwardly from said first plates, said second plate and a portion of said first plates defining a space for receipt of the upright rod.

2. A bracket for an upright rod comprising: a pair of interconnected first plates disposed at right angles to each other and having a plurality of apertures formed therein; and a pair of second plates each extending outwardly from a separate said first plate and joining the other said second plate at a joint, said second plates and a portion of said first plates defining a space for receipt of the upright rod.

3. A temporary barrier comprising, in combination, a bracket having a pair of interconnected first plates disposed at right angles to each other and having a plurality of apertures formed therein and a second plate extending outwardly from said first plates, said second plate and a portion of said first plates defining a space; an upright rod removable receivable in said space and having a plurality of supports; and a rail adapted to rest on said support.