EP3443181B1

EP3443181B1 - Anti-fall safety structure for formwork with load-bearing panels for floor slabs

Info

Publication number: EP3443181B1
Application number: EP17716542.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Guido Faresin
Original assignee: Faresin Formwork SpA
Current assignee: Faresin Formwork SpA
Priority date: 2016-04-11
Filing date: 2017-04-11
Publication date: 2021-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 2037-04-11
Also published as: EP3443181A1; ES2882589T3; RS62068B1; ITUA20162458A1; WO2017178459A1

Description

The present invention relates to an anti-fall safety structure for formwork with load-bearing panels for floor slabs.
The structure has the purpose of building a vertical barrier to be applied to formwork systems in order to create suitable operating conditions during the assembly of said structure.
It is known that formwork systems for floor slabs can be composed of elements such as vertical supporting props, supporting heads to be applied to the upper end thereof and load-bearing formwork panels which are mounted directly on the supporting heads.
Known vertical protection systems applicable to floor slab formwork are currently composed of elements which are applied generally to the load-bearing beams or to the formwork panels EP 1 9 44 430 A2 discloses an anti-fall safety structure with the features of the preamble of claim 1.
One drawback of the systems of this type known so far is constituted by the fact that they can be moved only with mechanical and non-manual means, which slows the operations for installing such systems at a building site, consequently entailing an extension of building times and therefore of the costs for the building company.
A further drawback of systems of this type known so far is constituted by the fact that they can be assembled to the floor slab formwork system by virtue of mechanisms which are often complicated and awkward from the practical point of view, which slows the operations for installation of these systems at the building site, consequently entailing an extension of building times and therefore of the costs for the building company in addition to increasing the risk from the point of view of correct installation and thus compromising the level of safety ensured to workers.
A last drawbacks of systems of this type known so far is constituted by the fact that they have a rather limited field of application, since they do not offer a complete technical solution from the point of view of vertical protection, because it is usually necessary to complete the protection on each side of the formwork system with other systems which are expensive and slow to execute.
The aim of the present invention is to provide an anti-fall safety structure for formwork with load-bearing panels for floor slabs that has a reduced space occupation and weight and can be handled not necessarily with mechanical lifting means.
An important object of the present invention is to provide an anti-fall safety structure that is very simple and can be managed with mechanisms that are easy to handle.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a safety structure that allows to perform multiple applications, specifically to provide a vertical protection that is complete, allows to protect any side of the formwork system with load-bearing panels and therefore renders work safe for workers in every respect.
This aim, as well as these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an anti-fall safety structure for formwork with load-bearing panels according to claim 1.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the anti-fall safety structure according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a formwork system with two safety structures according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a load-bearing panel of the anti-fall safety structure according to the invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a component of the safety structure according to the invention in a first embodiment thereof;
Figure 4 is a front view of the component of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a view of a detail of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a front view of the component of Figures 3 and 4 applied to the panel of Figure 2;
Figure 7 is a view of a component of the safety structure according to the invention;
Figure 8 is a side view of the component of Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a further component of a safety structure according to the invention;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a safety structure according to the invention.

With reference to the figures, an anti-fall safety structure for formwork with load-bearing panels for floor slabs is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 in a first embodiment thereof.
The safety structure 10 comprises:

a load-bearing panel 11, which comprises two lateral longitudinal profiles 12 and 13, for resting on load-bearing heads of a corresponding number of props, to be understood as being of a per se known type, the lateral profiles 12 and 13 being mutually connected by transverse elements 14 and 20,
at least two supporting posts 15 and 16 for one or more anti-fall protection elements, for example a grid 17,
for each post 15 and 16, a post supporting bracket 22 and 18, provided with clamp means 19 for reversible coupling either to an external transverse element 20 or to a lateral longitudinal profile 12 and 13 of the panel 11,
the clamp means 19 are provided with a wedge-type closure system 21.

Specifically, the post supporting bracket 22 and 18 is clearly visible in Figure 3, which shows by way of example a post supporting bracket 22, the other post supporting bracket 18 being understood to be identical.
The post supporting bracket 22 comprises, with respect to a configuration for use, a load-bearing longitudinal element 24, constituted for example by a tube with quadrangular cross-section 25 from which a coupling tube 26, for example having a round cross-section, for a post 15 and 16, protrudes upward.
The clamp means 19 are fixed on the load-bearing longitudinal element 24.
The clamp means 19 comprise

a lower resting plate 27, which is supported by a horizontal tubular segment 28 which is fixed to the load-bearing longitudinal element 24,
and the wedge-type closure system 21, which is fixed in an upper region of the load-bearing longitudinal element 24.

The resting plate 27 is designed to rest against the lower part 30 of a lateral transverse element 20, while the wedge-type closure system 21 acts against the upper surface 31 of the lateral transverse element 20, as shown in Figure 6.
In particular, the load-bearing panel 11 is provided with lower reinforcement bars 35, arranged below and transversely to the transverse elements 14 and 20, and the resting plate 27 is provided in an upper region with two centering elements 29 adapted to arrange themselves at the sides of a reinforcement bar 35, as shown in Figure 6; the centering elements 29 can be constituted by two tubular segments having the sectional height of the reinforcement bar 35.
The wedge-type closure system 21 comprises a tubular guiding body 32, constituted for example by a tubular segment having a quadrangular cross-section and a vertical axis in the configuration for use, and a translation slider 33, clearly visible in Figure 5, arranged so as to slide vertically in the tubular guiding body 32.
The translation slider 33, constituted for example by a tubular segment having a quadrangular cross-section, supports at the upper end a grip plate 36, which is adapted to be pressed against the upper surface 31 of the lateral transverse element 20.
The downward movement of the translation slider 33 is provided by means of a wedge-shaped body 34, clearly visible in Figures 3 and 4, inserted in a transverse direction with respect to the vertical direction of translation of the slider 33, the wedge-shaped body 34 being inserted in corresponding through openings formed respectively in the guiding body 32 and in the slider 33.
In a per se known manner, the inclined side of the wedge-shaped body 34 acts by pushing against a corresponding edge or rim 37 of the through opening 38 in the translation slider 33, while the opposite horizontal side of the wedge-shaped body 34 rests against the upper edge or rim 39 of the through opening 40 in the guiding body 32.
During assembly, therefore, the wedge-shaped body 34 is in a partially extracted configuration and the translation slider 33 is in a free configuration and can be lifted manually during engagement of the post supporting bracket 22 with a lateral transverse element 20; when the bracket 22 is positioned correctly on the transverse element 20, as shown in Figure 6, striking the wedge-shaped body 34 pushes the slider 33, with the grip plate 36, against the upper surface 31 of the lateral transverse element 20, causing the closure of the clamp means 19.
The coupling tube 26 is engaged in the post 15 and 16.
The post 15, by way of example, is shown in Figure 9, it being understood that the other posts 16 are identical.
The post 15 comprises, in the example described herein, a tubular body 45; the tubular body 45, for example having a quadrangular cross-section, is provided on a first side with a lower resting brace 46 for a net or grid 17, or other similar anti-fall protection element, and on a second side with three L-shaped braces, respectively 47, 48 and 49, which are fixed so as to be spaced in a vertical direction, each cooperating with a symmetrical L-shaped brace of another post 16 to the support of an anti-fall board 117, 117a and 117b, as shown in Figure 1.
At the upper end of the post 15 there is an engagement protrusion 53, indeed for the engagement of a corresponding upper portion of a grid 17.
An anti-fall grid 17 is provided with a vertical central mesh 55, a lower inclined flap 56, for resting on the brace 46, and an upper inclined flap 57, for engagement with the engagement protrusions 53 of the various posts 15 and 16.
A foot retention plate 50 is interposed between the grid 17 and the posts 15 and 16 and rests on the braces 46.
In a preferred embodiment of the safety structure according to the invention, shown in Figures 1, 7 and 8 and designated therein by the reference numeral 110, the posts, 115 and 116 in Figure 1, are identical to the posts 15 and 16.
The posts 115 and 116 are exemplified in Figure 1 as supporting anti-fall boards 117, 117a and 117b, by virtue of the different arrangement on the post supporting brackets 122 and 118 with respect to the arrangement of the identical posts 15 and 16 in the above described embodiment of the invention.
By rotating the assembly configuration of the posts 15 and 16 through 90° the L- shaped braces 47, 48 and 49 in fact are available to support the boards 117, 117a and 117b, as can be seen for the posts 115 and 116 in Figure 1.
In this preferred embodiment of the invention, each post supporting bracket 122 and 118, for example the bracket 122 of Figures 7 and 8, comprises, with respect to a configuration for use, a load-bearing longitudinal element 124, constituted for example by a tube with quadrangular cross-section 125 from which a coupling tube 126, for example having a round cross-section, for a post 115 and 116, protrudes upward.
The further clamp means 119 are fixed on the load-bearing longitudinal element 124.
The further clamp means 119 are adapted to act by closure in a vertical direction as in the first embodiment of the invention.
The further clamp means 119 comprise:

a first lower plate-like resting body 127, which is supported by the load-bearing longitudinal element 124 and is adapted to rest against the lower face 160 of a lateral longitudinal profile 12 or 13 of a load-bearing panel 11;
and a wedge-type closure system 121, which incorporates a portion of the load-bearing longitudinal element 124, the wedge-type closure system 121 moving a second plate-like body 163 against the upper surface 131 of the lateral longitudinal profile 12, as shown in Figure 8.

The wedge-type closure system 121 comprises a tubular guiding body which is constituted for example by the same tube with quadrangular cross-section 125 of the load-bearing longitudinal element 124, having a vertical axis in the configuration for use, and a translation slider 133, arranged so as to slide on the quadrangular tube 125.
The translation slider 133, constituted for example by a tubular segment having a quadrangular cross-section, supports at the upper end the second plate-like body 163.
The second plate-like body 163 is supported by two bars 164 for connection to the slider 133.
The first plate-like body 127 is constituted, for example, by a metallic plate.
The slider 133 also bears a spacer 165 adapted to rest against the external vertical surface 166 of the lateral longitudinal profile 12.
The movement of the translation slider 133 is provided by means of a wedge-shaped body 134, inserted in a transverse direction with respect to the direction of translation of the slider 133, the wedge-shaped body 134 being inserted in corresponding through openings formed respectively in the guiding body, i.e., the quadrangular tube 125, and in the slider 133, in a manner similar to what has been described above for the previous embodiment of the invention.
In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects.
In particular, the invention provides an anti-fall safety structure with reduced bulk and weight, which can be moved not necessarily with mechanical lifting means, since the post supporting brackets, the posts and the anti-fall grids or boards are all components that can be managed easily by a single operator or at the most by two operators, without the need to resort to particular lifting means.
Moreover, the invention provides a safety structure that is very simple and can be managed with mechanisms that are easy to handle, by virtue of the wedge-type closure system of the clamp means, which can be managed easily with adapted hammers or sledgehammers.
Furthermore, the invention provides a safety structure that allows to provide a vertical protection that is complete, i.e., allows to protect any side of a formwork system comprising load-bearing panels, and therefore without load-bearing beams, and which therefore renders work safe for workers in every respect, since it can be provided with post supporting brackets that are suitable for fixing to a frame profile of a formwork panel.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, as long as they fall within the scope of the invention which is only defined by the appended claims.
In practice, the components and materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.
This application claims the priority of the Italian Patent Application No. 102016000036668 ( UA2016A002458 ).
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

An anti-fall safety structure (10) for formwork with load-bearing panels for floor slabs, comprising:
- a load-bearing panel (11), which comprises at least two lateral longitudinal supporting profiles (12, 13), mutually connected by transverse elements (14, 20),

- at least two supporting posts (15, 16) for one or more anti-fall protection elements (17),

- for each post (15, 16), a post supporting bracket (22, 18), provided with clamp means (19) for reversible engagement either with an external transverse element (20) or with a lateral longitudinal profile (12, 13),

- said clamp means (19) having a closure system of the wedge type (21),
said post supporting bracket (22) comprising, with respect to a configuration for use, a load-bearing longitudinal element (24), the clamp means (19) being fixed on the load-bearing longitudinal element (24),
said clamp means (19) comprising:
- a lower resting plate (27), which is supported by a horizontal tubular segment (28) that is fixed to the load-bearing longitudinal element (24),

- and the wedge-type closure system (21), which is fixed in an upper region of said load-bearing longitudinal element (24),
characterized in that said load-bearing panel (11) is provided with lower reinforcement bars (35), which are arranged below and transversely with respect to the transverse elements (14, 20), and said resting plate (27) is provided in an upper region with two centering elements (29), which are adapted to arrange themselves at the sides of a reinforcement bar (35).
The anti-fall safety structure according to claim 1, characterized in that said resting plate (27) is preset to rest against the lower part (30) of a lateral transverse element (20), said wedge-type closure system (21) acting against the upper surface (31) of said lateral transverse element (20).
The anti-fall safety structure according to claim 2, characterized in that said wedge-type closure system (21) comprises a tubular guiding body (32), with an axis that is vertical in the configuration for use, and a translation slider (33), which is arranged so as to slide vertically in the tubular guiding body (32), said translation slider (33) supporting, at the upper end, a grip plate (36), which is adapted to be pressed against the upper surface (31) of the lateral transverse element (20).
The anti-fall safety structure according to claim 3, characterized in that said wedge-type closure system (21) comprises a wedge-shaped body (34), which is inserted in a transverse direction with respect to the vertical direction of translation of the slider (33), said wedge-shaped body (34) being inserted in corresponding through openings formed respectively in the guiding body (32) and in said slider (33).
The anti-fall safety structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said post (15) comprises a tubular body (45); said tubular body (45) for example having a quadrangular cross-section, being provided on a first side with a lower resting brace (46) for a net or grid (17) or other similar anti-fall protection element, and on a second side with L-shaped braces (47, 48, 49), which are fixed and spaced in a vertical direction, each cooperating with a symmetrical L-shaped brace of another post (116) in supporting another anti-fall board (117, 117a, 117b), an engagement protrusion (53) being present at the upper end of the post (15), for the engagement of a corresponding upper portion of a grid (17).
The anti-fall safety structure according to claim 5, characterized in that said other post (116) comprise a further clamp means (119) which comprise:
- a first lower plate-like resting body (127), supported by a load-bearing longitudinal element (124) and adapted to rest against the lower face (160) of a lateral longitudinal profile (12, 13) of a load-bearing panel (11);

- and a wedge-type closure system (121), which incorporates a portion of said load-bearing longitudinal element (124) of said further clamp means (119), said wedge-type closure system (121) of said further clamp means (119) moving a second plate-like body (163) against the upper surface (131) of said lateral longitudinal profile (12, 13).