Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04G—SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS
  • E04G21/00—Preparing, conveying, or working-up building materials or building elements in situ; Other devices or measures for constructional work
  • E04G21/32—Safety or protective measures for persons during the construction of buildings
  • E04G21/3204—Safety or protective measures for persons during the construction of buildings against falling down
  • E04G21/3223—Means supported by building floors or flat roofs, e.g. safety railings
  • E04G21/3233—Means supported by building floors or flat roofs, e.g. safety railings without permanent provision in the floor or roof
  • E04G21/3242—Means supported by building floors or flat roofs, e.g. safety railings without permanent provision in the floor or roof using clamps

Definitions

• the present invention relates to temporary guard rail systems disposed at the peripheral edge of a structure such as an elevated floor slab. More generally, the present invention relates to a clamping apparatus that can be used, inter alia, in the erection of such a temporary guard rail system.
• Typical of systems used in constructing temporary guard rails or other perimeter guard constructions are those disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,863,900; 3,995,833; 4,307,824; 5,029,670; 6,585,080; and 6,679,482.
• U.S. Patent No. 5,560,588 there is disclosed a support for a temporary guard railing that comprises a base adapted to be removably attached to a floor surface, e.g., the surface of a slab, and support walls upstanding from the base and defining between them an inwardly opening socket for receipt of a post. At least one pair of parallel rail guide flanges are adjoined to the base and project laterally outwardly with respect to one of the support walls whereby a rail such as a 2 x 4 can be received between the rail guide flanges.
• 5,560,588 has found wide-spread success in the construction industry, particularly, in use in forming temporary guard rails around wooden floors, stairs and the like. Further, while the support system disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,560,588 can be employed with concrete slabs, stairs and the like, it suffers from the , disadvantage that in such circumstances holes must be drilled into the concrete slab in order to mount the support. This is time consuming and furthermore requires, in many cases, that the drill holes be patched once the temporary guard rail system is removed.
• clamp assemblies that can be used to clamp along the peripheral edge of a slab, stairs, or similar structure, have a wide variety of uses in addition to being used in the construction of a temporary guard rail.
• the present invention provides an apparatus for clamping a structure at its edge, the structure having opposed, generally upper and lower surfaces.
• the clamping apparatus includes a stanchion and a first clamping assembly attached, generally fixed, to the stanchion.
• the second clamping assembly includes a support plate that extends laterally outward in a direction away from the stanchion, e.g., generally inwardly of the edge of the structure being clamped.
• the support plate is positioned closely adjacent a surface of the structure when the structure is clamped between the first and second clamping assemblies, and is in operative compressive engagement with such surface of the structure being clamped.
• the present invention provides an apparatus for use in erecting a temporary guard rail, the apparatus comprising a stanchion and a first clamping assembly attached, generally fixedly, to the stanchion.
• a second clamping assembly selectively slidably moveable along the stanchion, the second clamping assembly including a support plate extending laterally outwardly in a direction away from the stanchion, i.e., generally inwardly from the edge of the structure being clamped.
• There is a holder for a selectively removable post for a temporary guard rail the holder comprising a base adapted to be removably attached to the support plate. Support walls, upstanding from the base, define an upwardly opening sc receipt of a post.
• Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a guard rail system constructed using the apparatus of the present invention.
• Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the guard rail system shown in Fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.
• Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3.
• Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines of 5-5 of Fig. 3.
• Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines of 6-6 of Fig. 3.
• Fig. 7 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a portion of the second clamping assembly used in the apparatus depicted in Fig. 3.
• Fig. 8 is a top, plan view of an embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 9.
• Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing a portion of the second clamping assembly used in the apparatus of the present invention.
• Fig. 10 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing another embodiment of the clamping apparatus of the present invention.
• Fig. 11 is a view taken along the lines 11-11 of Fig. 10.
• Fig. 12 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing still another embodiment of the clamping apparatus of the present invention.
• Fig. 13 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing another embodiment of the clamping apparatus of the present invention.
• Fig. 14 is a view taken along the lines 14-14 of, Fig. 13.
• Fig. 15 is an elevational view of another embodiment of the clamping apparatus of the present invention.
• Fig. 16 is a view taken along the lines 16-16 of Fig. 15.
• Fig. 17 is an elevational view of another embodiment of the clamping apparatus of the present invention.
• Fig. 18 is a view taken along the lines 18-18 of Fig. 17.
• Fig. 19 is an elevational view of another embodiment of the clamping apparatus of the present invention.
• Fig. 20 is a view taken along the lines 20-20 of Fig. 19.
• Fig. 21 is an elevational view of another embodiment of the clamping apparatus of the present invention.
• Fig. 22 is a view taken along the lines 22-22 of Fig. 21.
• Fig. 23 is a partial, elevational view showing a modification of the clamping apparatus shown in Figs. 21 and 22.
• the term "structure,” “structural members” or any variation thereof, with which the apparatus of the present invention would be used is intended to mean a slab, concrete or otherwise, a parapet, a stair, or for that matter, any structural body that has a peripheral edge or edges and that has opposed surfaces, e.g., top and bottom, which can be engaged by the clamping apparatus of the present invention in a compressive type engagement.
• a temporary guard rail system employing the apparatus of the present invention is shown.
• a slab shown generally as 10 which could be the floor of a multi-story structure, has a peripheral edge 12. Spaced at intervals along the peripheral edge 12 are a series of clamping apparatuses shown generally as 14 and described more fully below.
• a temporary guard rail system comprising generally vertically, upwardly extending support posts 16, supported by clamping apparatus 14, toe boards 18, mid rails 20, and top rails 22 extends around the periphery 12 of the slab 10.
• the temporary rail is comprised of wood, e.g., 2 x 4's and the like, it will be recognized that it could be made of steel, aluminum or other materials, if desired.
• Clamping apparatus 14 comprises a stanchion 17 having a front surface 18 and a back, opposed surface 20, surface 20 being provided with a series of apertures 22 spaced longitudinally therealong. At its lower end, stanchion 17 is welded to a first clamping assembly shown generally as 24, which can conveniently comprise a pair of side support plates 26 to which, in turn, is welded a plate or pad 28 that extends laterally outwardly from support plates 26.
• first clamping assembly 24 is fixedly attached to stanchion 17, it will be appreciated that provision could be made to, have clamping assembly 24 slidably moveable along stanchion 17.
• Component 3OA is comprised of a collar formed by spaced first and second plates 32 and 34, which are attached to a rib 36 welded therebetween, rib 36 being adjacent front surface 18 of stanchion 17.
• a second rib 38, spaced from rib 36, is welded to plates 32 and 34, plates 32, 34 and ribs 36 and 38 serving to form a collar that is slidably mounted on stanchion 17.
• Stanchion 17 is provided at its upper end with a stop 29 that prevents the collar from being inadvertently removed or slipping off when the apparatus is being moved from job site to job site.
• Rib 38 carries a fixed dog 40, which as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, is received in one of the apertures 22.
• Welded to the underside of cross-member 42 is a threaded nut 44 in which is threadedly received a bolt 46.
• a second collar formed by a generally U-shaped member, having a first leg 50, a second leg 52, legs 50 and 52 being interconnected by a web 54.
• Legs 50 and 52 are welded to a top or bearing plate 56, portions of legs 50 arid 52, web 54 and the edge of bearing
• legs 50 and 52 are also welded to a base plate 58 that extends laterally outwardly away from stanchion 17, i.e., in a direction away from surface 20. Effectively, the portion of legs 50 and 52 welded to support plate 58 and bearing plate 56 form a second frame which is longitudinally movable, relative to stanchion 17, with the collar formed by legs 50 and 52, web 54 and bearing plate 56.
• support plate 58 comprises a generally rectangular portion 60 and a generally trapezoidal portion 62.
• Support plate 58 is provided with a series of bores 63, four of such bores being in the rectangular portion 60 of base plate 58 and one of said bores 63 being in the generally trapezoidal portion 62 of support plate 58.
• Holder 70 Secured to support plate 58 is a holder, shown generally as 70, in which is removably positioned post 16.
• Holder 70 comprises a base 72 in which are four holes 74 which are in register with the four holes 63 in support plate 58.
• Base 72 of holder 70 is connected to support plate 60 by means of nut/bolt assemblies 75.
• the heads of nut/bolt assemblies 75 are provided with projections 76 that are generally sharp or roughened surface and that can bite into the top surface 10A of slab 10.
• similar nut/bolt assemblies 75 that are received through the bore in the trapezoidal portion 62 of support plate 58 have a similar projection that likewise can -bite into the surface 10A of slab 10.
• any reference to support plate 58 being "adjacent" or “closely adjacent” to surface 10A is intended to take into account a spacing or standoff between support plate 58 and Surface 10A occasioned by the thickness of the heads of the connector 75 and/or any projections, etc. that are integrally formed on the bottom surface of support plate 58.
• holder 70 there are four upstanding support walls 77, 78, 80 and 82, which are attached to base 72.
• Adjoining base 72 and projecting laterally outwardly from support wall 76 are a pair of rail guide flanges 84 and 86 which, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5, are dimensioned so as to receive a toe board, generally a 2 x 4, therebetween.
• a pair of guide flanges 90 and 92 adjoin base 72 and project outwardly laterally from support wall 80 in generally parallel alignment with flanges 84 and 86.
• a second toe b6ard 94 is received in the space between flanges 90 and 92 in the manner
• flanges 84, 86 and 90, 92 there are also rail guide flanges, essentially the same as flanges 84, 86 and 90, 92, that ' are attached to base 72, are orthogonal to flanges 84, 86, 90 and 92 and that project laterally outwardly from support walls 78 and 82.
• a pair of the rail guide flanges form a channel for receiving the end of bearing plate 56 distal stanchion 17 to which is attached abutment 57 that abuts wall 82 of holder 70.
• holder 70 is essentially as described in U.S. Patent No.
• Figs. 8 and 9 depict a slightly different embodiment of component 3OA of second clamping assembly 30.
• plate 32A and a corresponding, spaced plate 34A are interconnected by means of elongate teeth 100 and 102, plates 32A and 34A, together with teeth 100 and 102 forming a collar that is slidably moveable on stanchion 17A, tooth 100 being positioned to engage back surface 20A of stanchion 17A, tooth 102 being positioned to engage, front surface 18A of stanchion 17A.
• Figs. 10, 11 and 12 there are shown modified embodiments of the present invention.
• the embodiment shown therein differs from the embodiments shown in Fig. 3 in that instead of the holder 70 described with reference to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, there is a socket forming member 120 secured to support plate 58A and side plates 5OA and 52A, socket forming member 120 forming a socket 122 in which is received a pair of 2 x 4's 124 and 126, 2 x4's 124 and 126 cooperating to form a vertical post to which can be attached side rails 128 and 130 by suitable fasteners such as nails, screws or the like.
• channel 132 formed by an L-shaped extension 134 of support plate 58A.
• Received in channel 132 is a toe board 136.
• FIG. 12 there is shown a slightly modified embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention shown in Figs. 10 and 11.
• the embodiment of Fig. 12 differs from that shown in Figs. 10 and 11 in that instead of the upward post being formed by two 2 x 4's 124 and 126, received in a socket 122, there is a metal post 140 that is welded to support plate 58A and has secured thereto a series of L-shaped brackets 142 and 144 in which can be received generally horizontally extending side rails 146 and 148, respectively.
• stanchion 17A serves as the upright post or support for the horizontal rail members to form the temporary guard rail.
• stanchion 17A is comprised of a fixed section 160 and a moveable section 162, section 162 being teiescopically received over section 160 although it could be received teiescopically in section 160 or otherwise be attached to be slidably moveable with respect to section 110.
• Section 160 has a series of longitudinally spaced holes 164, the holes 164 being on opposite faces or surfaces of fixed section 160 and being in register with one another.
• fixed section 162 has a plurality of vertically spaced collars 170 and 172 in which are received side rails 174 and 176.
• Secured to side plates 5OB and 52B 1 and to support plate 58B are a series of spaced flanges forming channels 180, 182 and 184. Channels 180, 182 and 184 are dimensioned so as to receive toe boards 186, 188 and 190, respectively.
• the toe boards. are notched as at 192 to insure the bottom edge of toe boards, is closely adjacent surface 10A of slab 10 to prevent tools or other objects from falling off of slab 10 onto workers below.
• FIGs. 15 and 16 there is shown an embodiment of the present invention suitable for use in clamping to the edge of a structural member having non-parallel spaced surfaces and/or spaced surfaces wherein one or more of the surfaces is at an angle to the horizontal.
• the apparatus shown in Figs. 15 and 16 can be used in conjunction with the support or post holder 70 described with respect to Fig. 3 to erect a temporary rail on a pre ⁇ formed concrete stair.
• the stairs, shown generally as 200 has a series of treads 202, which are generally horizontally disposed and interconnected by risers 204.
• the underside 206 of the stair 200 is at an angle to the horizontal and hence at an angle to the treads 202.
• the clamping apparatus has a stanchion 208 at the lower most end of which is attached a first clamping assembly comprised of side braces 210 and 212 to which are welded a pad 214, pad 214, as shown, being engageable with surface 206 of stairs 200.
• the clamping assembly has a support plate 216 to which is attached holder 70 in the same manner as described above with respect to the embodiment of Fig. 3.
• Support plate 216 is attached to a back plate 218 and a spaced, front plate 220, plates 218 and 220 extending upwardly from support plate 216.
• plates 218 and 220 are spanned by and connected to a series of bearing plates 222, 224 and 226.
• Bearing plates 222, 224 and 226, as seen in Fig. 15, form a trapezoidal structure.
• back plate and face plate 218 and 220 are connected to support plate 216, such that any compressive force urged against any of bearing plates 222, 224 and 226 is transferred to support plate 216.
• Plates 218 and 220 have registering bores in which is journaled a shaft 228.
• shaft 228 is connected to a collar 230, which is slidably mounted on stanchion 208. Since shaft 228 is rotatably journaled in plates 218 and 220, collar 230 and hence stanchion 218 are rotatable relative to support plates 222, 224 and 226 or support plate 216.
• a collar 240 similar to component 3OA shown in Fig. 3 is also slidably mounted on stanchion 208 and carries a threaded bolt 242 that is received in a threaded receptacle 244 attached to collar 240. As shown, bolt 242 can be tightened against bearing plate 222 with the result that pad 214 and support plate 216 will compressively engage surface 206 and tread 202.
• support plate 216 is provided with upturned flanges 216A and 216B of one of which, 216A, nests in the corner between the tread 202 and the riser 204.
• the apparatus disclosed in Fig. 15 and 16 can be used on either side of a stair to form a temporary guard rail.
• bearing plate 226 will be engaged by bolt 242.
• the apparatus shown in Figs. 15 and 16 can be used on a slab that has generally parallel upper and lower surfaces and in that event, bearing plate 224 would be engaged by bolt 242.
• a temporary guard rail along the stair 200 can be erected, for example, by using two 2 x 4's, 260 and 262 received in holder 70 and attached by nails or the like to hand rails 264.
• a socket forming member such as member 120 could be welded to support plate 216, as per Fig. 10, or a post 140 such as shown in Fig. 12 could be welded to support plate 216, in both cases the socket forming member and post also being secured, if desired, to the back plate 218.
• FIGs. 17 and 18 there is shown another embodiment of the present invention suitable for use in clamping the edge of a structural member having non-parallel, spaced surfaces and/or spaced surfaces wherein one or more of the surfaces. is at an angle to the horizontal.
• the apparatus shown in Figs. 17 and 18 can be used in conjunction with the support or post holder 70 described with respect to Fig. 1 to erect a temporary rail on a preformed concrete stair or other such structure.
• the clamping apparatus shown in Figs. 17 and 18 includes a stanchion 300 at the lower most end of which is attached a first clamping assembly shown generally as 302, clamping assembly 302 being substantially the same as the first clamping assembly shown in Figs. 15 and 16.
• the clamping apparatus also includes a support plate 308, having an upturned flange 309. Attached to support plate 308 is a back plate 310 and a spaced front plate, plates 310 and 312 extending upwardly from support plate 308. Plates 310 and 312 are spanned by and connected to an arcuate bearing plate 314 forming an arcuate bearing surface 316.
• any compressive force urged against arcuate surface 316 of arcuate bearing plate 314 is transferred to support plate 308.
• the stanchion 300 is rotatably journaled in back plate 310 and front plate 312 such that stanchion 300 can be rotated to accommodate differing angles between the treads 202 and the underside 206 of stair 200.
• the clamping apparatus shown in Figs. 17 and 18, like the clamping apparatus shown in Fig. 10, includes a post 318 conveniently formed by a piece of square tubing which is welded to support plate 308 as shown at 320.
• U-shaped members 322 Pivotally attached to plates 318 by a series of pins 320 received in holes in plates 318 are spaced U-shaped members 322 forming an upwardly opening channel for receipt of a rail member 324. Since U-shaped members 322 can be rotated relative to post 318, the rails 324 can be oriented at proper angle relative to the stairs 200 or other structure.
• flange 309 cooperates with post 318 to form an upwardly open channel for receipt of the toe board in the event the clamping apparatus is used on a structure having generally parallel upper and lower surfaces.
• Figs. 19 and 20 there is shown yet another embodiment of the present invention for use with stairs or structures having non-parallel upper and lower surfaces to which the clamp is attached.
• the clamping apparatus shown in Figs. 19 and 20 has a stanchion 400 to the lower end of which is pivotally attached a jaw member 402 which forms a first clamping assembly.
• Jaw member 402 includes a section of box tubing 404 which, as seen in Fig. 20, is pivotally attached to the lower end of stanchion 400 by means of a shaft 406.
• Jaw member 402 also includes a laterally extending gripping member 408 attached to box tubing 404, member 408 being conveniently formed by a piece of angle iron, gripping member 408 having what can be generally referred to as a knife edge 410.
• the term "knife edge” as used herein is intended to include not only a sharp edge but also edges that may not be sharp but which forms an elongate, relatively narrow bearing surface such that any compressive force applied is concentrated?along the narrow path defined by the edge.
• the clamping apparatus of Figs. 19 and 20 also includes at least one U- shaped member 412 which is secured to a shaft 414 which in turn is received in registering slots 416 in stanchion 400.
• One end of shaft 414 is rigidly attached to U-shaped member 412, while the other end which extends through stanchion 400 is threaded to receive a nut 418.
• U-shaped member 412 can be rotated to any orientation relative to stanchion 400.
• U-shaped member 412 can be adjusted longitudinally along the length of post 400. The net result allows a rail 420 to be oriented relative to the stairs 200 at the proper disposition both as to height above the stairs 200, an angularly with respect to the treads 202.
• knife edge 410 can be positioned to engage the underside 206 of stair 200 over a wide range of angles of the underside surface 206 relative to tread 202. Accordingly, it will be recognized that when the support plate 422 is urged against a tread 202, edge 410 will grippingly engage the underside 206 of stair 200 and because of the small bearing area of edge 410, a concentrated compressive force will be exerted on the underside 206 of stairs 200.
• Figs. 21 and 22 there is shown yet another embodiment of the clamping apparatus of the present invention for use with a structural member having non-parallel spaced surfaces and/or spaced surfaces wherein one or more of the surfaces is at an angle to the horizontal.
• the clamping apparatus shown in Figs. 21 and 22 is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 17 and 18 with the exception that instead of a metal post 318 as shown in Figs. 18 and 18, a rectangular socket 500 is formed by a series of upwardly extending plates attached to support plate 502, .
• Socket 500 forms a receptacle for a pair of 2 x 4's 504 and 506 to which ⁇ an be nailed rails 508 to form a guard rail along the edge of stairs 200 or the edge of a structural member having non-parallel spaced surfaces.
• the operation of the clamping apparatus shown in Figs. 21 and 22 is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 17 and 18 which in turn is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 15 and 16 with the exception that the bearing plate 314 is arcuate and forms an arcuate bearing surface 316 which ensures direct point contact with tightening bolt 510 against surface 316 over a wide range of angles.
• one wall of the socket 500 is provided with a hole 520 such that nails, screws or the like, indicated as 522, could be passed through a toe board 524 such that the toe board 524 would be secured to the 2 x 4's 506 when the clamping apparatus is used on a structure with an upper surface that is substantially horizontal or when the upper and lower surface are parallel.
• Fig. 23 shows a variation of the clamping apparatus shown in Figs. 21 and 22 wherein the lower clamping assembly shown generally as 600 includes a laterally extending gripping member 602 formed conveniently by a piece of angle iron, the gripping member 602 having a knife edge, as that term is described above, which engages the bottom surface 206 of the stairs 200.
• the knife edge 604 provides an elongate but narrow bearing area ensuring that a concentrated compressive force will be exerted on the underside 206 of stairs 200 when the stairs 2OjE ) are clamped between the upper and lower clamping assemblies of the clamping apparatus.
• a holder shown generally as 70 in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 could be secured to the support plate, the holder serving the same purpose as described above with respect to the embodiments shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.
• any type of socket forming member could be secured to the support plate such that the socket could be sized and shaped to accommodate not only two 2 x 4's as described above, but a square metal tube, a round metal tube, a fiberglass rod or tube, etc.
• the socket is shown as abutting the front plate of the housing upon which the arcuate bearing plate is mounted, it will be appreciated that the socket could be freestanding and spaced from the front plate.
• any size or shape of socket can be employed such that any size and shape of rod out of a variety of materials can be removably positioned in the socket.
• the socket could include registering bores on opposed faces suchf that a holding pin could be placed through the registering bores as well as registering bores in the metal tube( or the like to prevent the tube from being dislodged.
• provision could be made, if desired, to affix a toe board to any shape or type of tube or post whether it be metal, wood, fiberglass, etc. when the clamping apparatus was used on a structure having opposed, generally horizontal surfaces.
• rail or railing e.g., rail 420
• rail 420 is shown as being wood, e.g., a 2 x 4, it will be understood that the railing could be of metal, fiberglass, reinforced plastics, etc.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Forms Removed On Construction Sites Or Auxiliary Members Thereof (AREA)
• Clamps And Clips (AREA)
• Vehicle Cleaning, Maintenance, Repair, Refitting, And Outriggers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (3)

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• 2005
  • 2005-07-08 AU AU2005271937A patent/AU2005271937B8/en not_active Expired
  • 2005-07-08 CA CA2573619A patent/CA2573619C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2005-07-08 WO PCT/US2005/024133 patent/WO2006017127A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2005-07-08 EP EP05769574.4A patent/EP1765533B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

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