GB2338020A

GB2338020A - Anchoring device for use on a roof

Info

Publication number: GB2338020A
Application number: GB9809115A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Joseph Woods
Original assignee: SAFETY SYSTEM SOLUTIONS Ltd
Current assignee: SAFETY SYSTEM SOLUTIONS Ltd
Priority date: 1998-04-30
Filing date: 1998-04-30
Publication date: 1999-12-08
Also published as: GB9809115D0

Abstract

An anchoring device (1) for use on a roof with a plurality of beams (2), comprises a clamp (3) for attachment around the beam (2) and a closing means (4) for securing the clamp (3). The clamp includes a first Z-shaped component (7) and a second T-shaped component (9), both of which have apertures (8,13) through which the closing means (4,16) pass. The end of the closing means (4) is provided with an eyelet (not shown) to provide an anchor point for a harness &c.

Description

1 ANCHOR 2338020 This invention relates to an anchor and, more

particularly, to a roof anchor device that can be securely fixed around a beam or truss of a roof to provide an anchorage point for a harness. This will allow the harness user to safely carry out work on and around the roof.

Known anchor devices include those which are attached to the ridge mounted on the roof itself. Such devices require a dangerous ascent and decent of the roof for attachment or detachment of the harness.

is GB 2219826 proposed an anchor device which is formed from a clamp comprising two components, the first having an L-shaped section and the second having a U-shaped section. The two components in use enclose a generally rectangular beam and a shaft is passed through an aperture in each of the components to tighten the clamp around the beam.

Whilst this device overcomes some of the problems associated with known anchor devices, it is noted that this clamp is only useful on generally rectangular beams. In many applications, the beams of the roof are not rectangular nor are they of a uniform cross section along their length. Modifications have to be made to the anchor by way of additional corner or angle pieces in order to adapt the clamp to fit some beams. Furthermore, the clamp components have to be sized to the particular beam dimensions for each application.

2 This increases the costs of installation and increases the number of components that have to be carried by the user. This could also lead to dangerous working conditions if the wrong size of clamp is fitted 1) on a beam without proper supervision.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an anchor comprising a universal clamp which can be used in all anchoring situations regardless of the size or shape of the beam to which the clamp is to be fitted.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an anchor for use on a roof having a plurality of beams, said anchor comprising a clamp for attachment around a beam and closing means for tightening the clamp around the beam, the clamp comprising a first generally Z-shaped component and a second generally Tshaped component, the first and second components cc operating in use to surround the beam and, in use, the closing means passing through the roof and the clamp components to secure the clamp to the roof.

Preferably, the closing means comprises a threaded shaft passing through the first and second components and a threaded nut for holding the components in position.

The use of such Z-shaped and T-shaped clamp components allows for a universal clamp that can be used without further adaptation on most shapes of beams.

3 One embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a clamp of an anchoring device according to one aspect of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings there is described an anchor 1 that is adapted to be attached to a beam or truss 2 of a roof to enable a harness to be supported on the anchor.

The anchor comprises a clamp 3 and a securing device 4. The clamp comprises a first generally Z-shaped component 5 that may be formed of mild steel or stainless steel. The remote ends 6,7 of the arms of the first component are each provided with an aperture 8, the purpose of which will be described below.

The leading end of the Z-shaped component may be chamfered to facilitate easy mounting of the clamp.

The second component of the clamp comprises a substantially T-shaped component 9. Similarly to the Z- shaped component 5, this component may be formed of mild steel or stainless steel. The T-shaped component comprises a substantially planar member 10 that is of similar length to the horizontal length of the Z- shaped component. Each end 11,12 of the planar member is provided with an aperture 13 that is similar in size to the apertures 8 in the arms of the Z-shaped component. The purposes of these apertures will be described below.

4 An abutment member 14 is mounted on the planar member 10, adjacent to one of the apertures 13 but at the side remote from the end of the planar member. The abutment member 14 is perpendicular to the planar member 10 and, together with the planar member, forms the Tshaped component 9. The height of the abutment member 14 may be selected for the specific requirements of any job however, it is generally approximately a quarter of the height of the Z-shaped component 5.

The abutment member 14 may be fixed to the planar member 10, for example by welding.

The anchor 1 further comprises a securing device in the form of a threaded shaft 4 that is substantially circular in cross section. The shaft is of a slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of the apertures 8,13 in the clamp components. The shaft 4 passes through one of the apertures 8 in the Z-shaped component 5 and the aperture 13 adjacent the abutment member 14 of the Tshaped component 9. The shaft 4 is held in position by a plurality of threaded nuts 15.

One end of the threaded shaft is provided with an eyelet (not shows) that forms the anchor point for a harness or the like.

The other ends of the clamp components are held together by a threaded bolt 16 which passes through the remaining apertures 8,13 in the arms of the clamp members and is held in position by a threaded nut 17.

When connecting the anchor in position, the Z-shaped component 5 is places around a beam or a roof and the Tshaped component 9 is placed underneath the first component. The abutment member 14 is placed against the side of the beam and the apertures 8,13 in the ends of the components are aligned. The threaded shaft 4 is passed through the first set of apertures and the threaded nuts 15 are screwed up to the Z and T-shaped components to hold the threaded shaft in position. The threaded bolt 16 is then passed through the second apertures and the threaded nut 17 screwed up to the Z and T-shaped components.

This holds the clamp securely around the beam.

is The form of the clamp components enables the clamp to be used for beams of different cross-sectional shapes and sizes. This eliminates the need to carry different components to complete the installation process for each particular location. In this way, time and effort are reduced in carrying out the installation process.

6

Claims

1. An anchor for use on a roof having a plurality of beams, said anchor comprising a clamp for attachment around a beam and closing means for tightening the clamp around the beam, the clamp comprising a first generally Z-shaped component and a second generally Tshaped component, wherein, in use, the first and second components co-operate to surround the beam and the closing means passes through the clamp components to secure the clamp to the roof.

2. An anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second components are formed of mild steel or stainless steel.

3. An anchor as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the Zshaped component has two arms and the remote ends of the arms are each provided with an aperture.

4. An anchor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the Tshaped component comprises a substantially planar member, and each end of the planer member is provided with an aperture.

5. An anchor as claimed in claim 4, wherein the planar member, is provided with an abutment member.

6. An anchor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the abutment member is perpendicular to the planer member.

7. An anchor as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the height of the abutment member is approximately a quarter of the height of the Z-shaped component.

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8. An anchor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closing means comprises a threaded shaft passing through the first and second components and a threaded nut for holding the components in position.

9. An anchor as claimed in claim 8 as it depends from claim 4 when dependent upon claim 3, wherein the shaft passes through one aperture in the Z-shaped component and the aperture adjacent the abutment member of the T-shaped component.

10. An anchor as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein one end of the threaded shaft is provided with an eyelet to provide an anchor point for a harness or the like.

11. An anchor as claimed in claim 9 or 10 when dependent upon claim 9, wherein the other ends of the clamp components are held together by a threaded bolt which passes through the remaining apertures in the arms of the clamp members and is held in position by a threaded nut.

12. An anchor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawing.

13. The use of an anchor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein, in use, the Z-shaped component is placed around a beam of a roof and the T-shaped component is located underneath this component so that an abutment member or the T-shaped component abuts the side of the beam and apertures provided in the components are aligned, a threaded shaft is passed through a first set of apertures and threaded nuts fixed to hold the threaded shaft in position, and a threaded bolt is passed through 8 a second set of apertures and a threaded nut fixed to fit the anchor in place about the beam.