GB2379240A

GB2379240A - A support for a safety apparatus such as a net

Info

Publication number: GB2379240A
Application number: GB0120293A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony James Peter Carden
Original assignee: SHIRESAFETY COM Ltd; Shire Precast Erection Ltd
Current assignee: SHIRESAFETY COM Ltd; Shire Precast Erection Ltd
Priority date: 2001-08-21
Filing date: 2001-08-21
Publication date: 2003-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 2021-08-21
Also published as: GB2379240B; GB0120293D0

Abstract

A support (10) comprises a base (11), a support arm (12) attached to the base and an engagement means (23) to engage a catching element, such as a net. The support arm may extend telescopically (12a, 12b) and may be pivotally attached to the base. Preferably holding means (14) are provided to hold the support arm in one of a plurality of positions. In a second embodiment (Figure 7) the support further comprises a wall support (54, Figure 7) and a support arm engagement means, which may permit relative movement between the support arm and the wall support. The base (51, Figure 7) may be adjustably connected to the support and a means of pre-stressing the support arm may be included. Also claimed is a safety apparatus (Figures 4 and 5) comprising a number of supports and a catching element, with the supports located at the corners of the catching element and spacing elements (44, Figure 4) positioned between the supports.

Description

Title: Safety Apparatus and a Support Therefor Description of Invention This invention relates to a safety apparatus and a support therefor, particularly not exclusively for use as a fall arrest apparatus in the construction or maintenance industries.

It is a requirement that when working above head height, a safety apparatus should be provided to arrest a fall, whether of a person or of debris.

The safety apparatus should also serve to protect anyone below the working position from falling objects.

It is known to use a complex false floor system which requires a large number of supports and, due to the support structure, a totally cleared area below. Such a system is time consuming to install, due to the necessity of clearing the area first and due to the erection of the support structure. It is also known to provide a cushioned floor covering, but this again also requires that the area of the covering is totally cleared and will be prone to damage. The cushioned area will also be impassable and may result in an unacceptable distance of fall before fall arrest occurs.

An object of the invention is to provide a new improved safety apparatus and support therefor.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a support for a safety apparatus, the support comprising a base part, a support arm attached to said base part, and engagement means to engage a catching element.

In a first alternative, the support arm may be provided with a telescopically extendible part, and the engagement means may be provided on said extendible part.

The support arm may be pivotally attached to the base part, and may be movable between a collapsed position and an erected position.

The support may comprise holding means to hold said support arm in the erected position, and preferably in a selected one of a plurality of erected positions.

The base plate may be provided with at least one connection means to engage a spacing element.

The support may comprise a pair of orthogonally arranged connection means.

The base plate may be provided with at least one further connection

means disposed transversely to said pair of orthogonally arranged connection means gea means.

The support may be provided with clamp means to clamp the extendible part in a desired position relative to the base arm part.

In a second alternative, the support may be provided with a wall engagement element adapted to engage a wall and a support ann engagement means operable to engage the support arm.

The support arm engagement means may be operable to permit relative movement between the support arm and the wall engagement element.

The support arm engagement means may comprise an arm connector part pivotally attached to the wall engagement element and adapted to slidably engage an end part of the support arm.

The arm connector part may be pivotally attached to the wall engagement element such that the arm connector part is pivotally movable about two generally transverse axes.

The engagement means may be connected to the arm connection part.

The base part may comprise a surface engagement part adjustably connected to the support arm.

The base part may comprise a second threaded part and the support arm may comprise a first threaded part to engage the second threaded part.

The support surface engagement part may be pivotally connected to the first threaded part.

The support may be provided with prestressing means, which may comprise the first threaded part and second threaded part.

The engagement means may comprise a roller.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a safety apparatus comprising a plurality of support means according to the first aspect of the invention and a catching element supported by said support means.

The safety apparatus may comprise at least one spacing element engaged with a connecting means of a support.

At least two of said supports may be connected by one or more spacing elements.

At least two of said supports may be interconnected by a plurality of spacing elements, the spacing elements being connected in end to end relationship by an auxiliary connector.

The safety apparatus may comprise four comer supports disposed one at each comer of said catching element.

The safety apparatus may further comprise at least one further support disposed between said comer supports to support an edge part of the catching element.

The catching element may comprise a sheet material such as a net.

The sheet material may comprise a rope extending around the periphery of thereof, and wherein the rope may be received in the engagement means of the supports.

The invention thus provides a safety apparatus which is simple, but efficient and robust, and where the safety net can be located immediately below the working area, thus keeping the distance of free fall to a minimum and

permitting the provision of the safety apparatus in situations where no other vertical or horizontal support exists.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a side view with some features omitted of a support for a safety apparatus embodying the present invention, Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side view of part of the support of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a plan view of a safety apparatus embodying the present invention Figure 5 is a side view of the safety apparatus of Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a plan view of a safety apparatus according to a second aspect of the present application provided with additional supports.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a further support for a safety apparatus embodying the present invention.

Figure 8 is a perspective view on a larger scale of part of the support of Figure 7, and Figure 9 is a perspective view on a larger scale of a further part of the support of Figure 7.

Referring now to the Figures 1 to 3, a support 10 embodying the present invention is shown. The support 10 comprises a base plate 11 and an arm 12.

The arm 12 is pivotally attached to a pair of upstanding lugs 13 attached to the base plate 11. Preferably, the arm 12 is moveable to a collapsed position whereby the arm 12 lies alongside the base plate 11. To support the arm 12 in an erected position, a holding means 14 comprising two generally parallel limbs 14 each pivotally connected to a lug 15 attached to the base plate 11 is provided. Each limb 14 has an aperture 16 at its end remote from the lug 15. A pin 17 is passed through the apertures 16 and through corresponding apertures 18 provided in the arm 12 to rigidly hold the arm 12 at a desired angle, for

example at about 60 to the horizontal. As best seen in Figure 2, in the present example the base plate 11 comprises a square plate. The limbs 14 and arm 12 are disposed to extend generally diagonally of the plate 11 so that the support 10 is generally symmetrical about an axis 19.

The arm 12 in the present example is telescopic, comprising a lower part 12a and an upper part 12b slidably received within the lower part 12a. A clamping means 20 is provided to clamp the upper part 12b in a desired position relative to the lower part 12a. As seen in Figure 3, the upper part 12b comprises a tubular member 21 provided with a sleeve part 22 attached to the upper end thereof. Attached to the upper end of the sleeve part 22 is an engagement means 23, in the present example comprising a roller 24 which is rotationally movable about an axis 25 extending generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the upper part 12b. The roller 24 is mounted on a pin 25 held within a frame part 26, enclosing the roller. Also mounted on the sleeve 22 is a hook 27 disposed with its mouth extending in a generally upwards direction. Mounted on the lower part 12b is a further hook 28 disposed with its mouth extending in a generally downwards direction.

To interconnect and locate a plurality of such supports 10 relative to one another, the base plate 11 is provided with a plurality of connection means 29, 30,31 32. The connection means 29,30 are disposed orthogonally to one another, each extending along an outer edge of the base plate 11 and adapted to receive connection means in directions A, B respectively. The connection means 31,32 are disposed generally parallel to one another, one either side of the arm 12 and holding means 14, and generally parallel to and equidistant from the axis 19. The connection means 31,32 are adapted to receive connecting elements in the directions C, D respectively. The connection means 29,30, 31,32 may comprise sleeves to receive an end part of a spacing element or may comprise clamps or any other appropriate means as desired. It is envisaged that the connection element could comprise lengths of scaffolding, in

which case appropriate clamps may be used. Alternatively, where the connection elements comprise sections, the connecting elements may comprise sleeves to receive the end parts of the spacing elements in a sliding manner.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, a safety apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is shown. As apparent from Figure 4, the safety apparatus generally indicated at 40 comprises four support elements 10 disposed in a generally rectangular arrangement. The supports 10 are arranged such that the arms 12 project mutually outwardly and such that the connection means 29,30 of each adjacent support 10 are aligned. To interconnect the supports 10 spacing elements 41,42 are provided. In the present example the spacing elements 41 comprise a single spacing element is received in the connection means 29,30 of a pair of supports 10 to define the end parts of the rectangular arrangements. To provide the longer sides of the rectangle, a pair of spacing elements 42 are provided interconnected by an auxiliary connector 43 in end-to-end relationship. The free ends of the connected spacing elements 42 are then received in a connection means 29,30 of the supports 10. The supports 10 are thus held in a fixed relationship to one another.

To further anchor the supports and provide additional stability, the further spacing elements 44 are provided, one received in each connection means 31,32 of the supports 10. The spacing elements 44 thus project inwardly of the apparatus as shown in Figure 4 in the opposite direction to the arms 12.

To erect the apparatus, the arms 12 are pivotally raised to their desired angle and then held in the desired position by passing a pin 16 through the limb 14 and corresponding holes 18 provided in the arm 12. The upper parts 12b of the arms 12 are extended to their desired length, and then clamped in their desired position by means of the clamp 20. A catching element 45, in the present example comprising a net is provided. A rope or cable or other elongate flexible member 46 is threaded along one side of the net and through

the engagement means 23 of one arm, where it sits over the roller 24. The rope is then threaded along the next side of the net, and then through the engagement means 23 of the next support 10. This is continued until the net is supported on all sides by the rope 46 which itself passes through each engagement means 23.

The rope 46 is then pulled taut to tension the net. Any free length of the rope 46 can be wound around the hooks 27,28 on one of the supports 10 to maintain the tension in the net.

Where the area or shape of the apparatus is such that the edges of the catching element 45 will require support, a pair of additional supports 10'may be provided as shown in Figure 6. The additional supports 10'are of the same configuration as the supports 10 in the safety apparatus of Figure 4. The additional supports 10'are interconnected by a pair of spacing elements 47 each of which is engaged with the connection means 31 of one support 10'and the connection means 32 of the other additional support 10'. The arms 12 of the additional support means 10'are arranged such that the rope 46 is received in the engagement means 23 of each additional support means 10 at around a mid-point of the longer sides of the support apparatus 40.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, the supports 10 are primarily intended for use where there is an extensive generally horizontal surface suitable to support a safety apparatus 40, where there is little or no convenient electrical support surfaces or it is desirable not to use those vertical surfaces which are available.

A further support embodying the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 7 to 9. A support embodying the present invention is generally indicated at 50. The support 50 comprises a base part 51 and an arm 52. The support 50 further comprises a wall support part 54 which supports an upper part of the arm 52 and engages an internal comer of a wall

The support arm 52 is telescopic, comprising in this example an upper part 52a of generally square cross section and a lower part 52b of generally circular cross-section slidably received in the upper part 52a. A clamp 56 is provided to clamp the lower part 52b in a desired position relative to the upper part 52a. Attached to the free end of the lower part 52b is a base part connector 57, in this example similarly attached to the lower part 52b by a clamp 58. The base part connector is provided with a first threaded part comprising an internally threaded aperture 59. In the present example, the arm 52 has the same structure as the arm 12, but is used in an inverted orientation with the part 52a of larger cross-section uppermost.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, the base pan 51 comprises a base plate 60 provided with a pair of spaced generally parallel upstanding lugs 6 la, 6 in. A pivot block 62 is disposed between the lugs 61, 6112, and a threaded bolt 63 passes through appropriate apertures in the lugs 61a, 61b, and pivot block 62 and a nut 64 is threadidly received on the bolt 63 to hold the bolt 63 in position. A second threaded part comprising an externally threaded rod 65 extends upwardly from the pivot block 62 of such a size that it can threadedly engage the aperture 59 of the base part connector 57. In this present example, the base plate 60 is provided with a aperture 66 to enable the base part 51 to be connected to a bracket or otherwise as desired.

Referring now to Figure 9, a wall support part is shown at 54. The wall support part 54 comprises a wall engagement element 70, in the present example comprising a first limb 71 and a second limb 72 which extend generally perpendicularly to one another and are interconnected by a web 73.

Each limb 71,72 is provided at its free edge with an in-turned lip 7 la, 72a. Extending between the limbs 71,72 are a pair of spaced flanges 73 a, 73b on which is supported a support arm engagement means 74. The support arm engagement means 74 comprises a support bracket 75 which is disposed between the flanges 73a, 73b and pivotally attached thereto by a bolt 76. The

bracket 75 comprises a pair of generally parallel lugs 76a, 76b extending outwardly therefrom. Disposed between the lugs 76a, 76b is an arm connector part 77. The arm connector part 77 is pivotally connected to the lugs 76a, 76b by a bolt 78. The arm connector part 77 is thus mounted for pivotal movement relative to the wall engagement part 54 about two axes, axis A of the bolt 76 and axis B of the bolt 78.

The arm connector part 77 comprises a first, upper, part 77a through which the bolt 78 passes, and a second, lower, part 77b. Disposed between the upper part 77a and lower part 77b is a collar 79, in the present example comprising a flange of generally circular cross section. The lower part 77b is of a diameter such that it is slidably and rotatably received in the upper part 52a

of the support arm 52. A roller engagement means 80 is slidably received on the upper part 77a of the sleeve part 77 and is clamped thereto with a suitable clamp 81.

A support 50 as shown in Figures 7 to 9 may be used in a safety apparatus similar to that shown in Figures 4 and 5 to provide support for a net or other catching element. The wall support part 54 is fixed in an internal comer of a wall 55 and held in place, for example by suitable bolts passing through apertures 70a provided in the limbs 71,72. Once the wall support part 54 is mounted in place, a support arm 52 is engaged with the wall support part 54 by sliding an upper part 52a of the support arm 52 onto the lower part 77b of the arm connector part 77. The base part 51 is moved until it is located at a suitable fixing place, for example on a beam or other solid surface to which it may be attached. Because the sleeve part 77 is pivotal about two axes and because the support arm 72 is telescopically extendible, the base part 51 may be disposed in a suitable location selected from a large potential area. Preferably, the support arm 52 extends at an angle of approximately 300 to the wall 55.

Once a suitable location for the base part 51 has been found, the base part 51 may be fixed in place, for example by passing a bolt through the aperture 66.

The clamps 56,58 are tightened to hold the upper part 52a, lower part 52b, and connecting block 57 relative to one another. The support arm 52 is then rotated about its longitudinal axis in such a direction as to attempt to rotate the threaded rod 65 out of engagement with the connection block 57, thus pre-stressing the support arm 52. It will be apparent that any other suitable prestressing means may be provided as desired. Once the support 50 is installed, a wire rope may be passed through the roller 80 and a net attached thereto as discussed herein before. The tension in the wire and net will act in a direction to pull the wall support part 54 away from the wall 55; however, the support arm 52 will have been appropriately pre-stressed and counteract the inward force, thus reducing any stresses on the wall 55.

It will be apparent that a safety apparatus comprising one or more supports 50 and one or more supports 10 may be used, for example where a net is required to extend into a comer of a room and where there is no sufficiently solidly horizontal surface for a support 10. It will be clear that a safety apparatus may be provided comprising a plurality of supports 50 alone.

If desired, it would be possible to omit the support arm 52 and fix the arm connector part 77 rigidly relative to the wall engagement element 70, and rely on suitable connectors passing through the apertures 70a to hold the wall support part 54 in place. This will however place additional loads on the wall 55 which may not be desirable.

It will thus be apparent that the invention provides a safety apparatus which is simple and efficient to erect and, being collapsible, is easy to transport. The configuration of the support 10, so is such that the catching element 45 can be disposed in a comer of a structure immediately below the working area, and can for example, directly abut a wall or other vertical surface. The adjustable angle and length of the arms 12,52 permits the catching element 45 to be raised to a desired height and ideally immediately below the working area, thus keeping the distance of free fall to a minimum.

The safety apparatus as described herein is further advantageous in that the area below the catching element 45 is not obstructed and so will permit passage in an emergency. The area below the apparatus 40, does not have to be completely cleared, but only to the extent necessary. The area covered by the safety apparatus 40, may also of course be varied by adjusting the angle and extension of the arms 12 and the size and tension of the catching means 45.

Where a larger area is desired to be covered, it will be apparent that an assembly of any number of supports 10,50 interconnected as seen in Figure 6 or otherwise as appropriate may be provided. Multiple nets can be placed side by side or end to end and the edges of adjacent nets connected.

Whilst the invention has been described specifically in relation to the support of the safety net in connection with the building industry, it will be understood that the apparatus may also be used as a safety cover for walkways etc. from protection from falling debris.

Although this description refers to"a net"as the catching element, it will be apparent that any suitable sheet-like or other material may be provided as desired, whether or not tensioned by a peripheral rope.

In the present specification"comprise"means"includes or consists of and"comprising"means"including or consisting of.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A support for a safety apparatus, the support comprising a base part, a support arm attached to said base part, and engagement means to engage a catching element.

2. A support according to Claim I wherein the support arm is provided with a telescopically extendible part, and the engagement means is provided on said extendible part.

3. A support according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the support arm is pivotally attached to the base part, and is movable between a collapsed position and an erected position.

4. A support according to Claim 3 comprising holding means to hold said support arm in the erected position.

5. A support means according to Claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the holding means is operable to hold the support arm in a selected one of a plurality of erected positions.

6. A support according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the base plate is provided with at least one connection means to engage a spacing element.

7. A support according to Claim 6 comprising a pair of orthogonally arranged connection means.

8. A support according to claim 7 wherein the base plate is provided with at least one further connection means disposed transversely to said pair of orthogonally arranged connection means.

9. A support according to Claim 2 or any one of Claims 2 to 8 where dependant on Claim 2 wherein the support is provided with clamp means to clamp the extendible part in a desired position relative to the base arm part.

10. A support according to claim 1 further comprising a wall support part comprising a wall engagement element adapted to engage a wall and a support arm engagement means operable to engage the support arm.

11. A support according to claim 10 wherein the support arm engagement means is operable to permit relative movement between the support arm and the wall engagement element.

12. A support according to claim 11 wherein the support arm engagement means comprises an arm connector part pivotally attached to the wall engagement element and adapted to slidably engage an end part of the support arm.

13. A support according to claim 12 wherein the arm connector part is pivotally attached to the wall engagement element such that the arm connector part is pivotally movable about two mutually transverse axes.

14. A support according to claim 12 or claim 13 wherein the engagement means is connected to the arm connector part.

15. A support according to any one of claims 10 to 14 wherein the base part comprises a surface engagement part adjustably connected to the support arm.

16. A support according to claim 15 wherein the base part comprises a second threaded part and the support arm comprises a first threaded part to engage the second threaded part.

17. A support according to claim 16 wherein the surface engagement part is pivotally connected to the first threaded part.

18. A support according to any one of claims 10 to 17 comprising prestressing means.

19. A support according to claim 18 where dependent on claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the prestressing means comprises the first threaded part and second threaded part.

20. A comer support according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the engagement means comprises a roller.

21. A support substantially as described herein and or with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A safety apparatus comprising a plurality of support means according to any one of the preceding claims and a catching element supported by said support means.

23. A safety apparatus according to Claim 22 comprising at least one spacing element engaged with a connecting means of a support.

24. A safety apparatus according to Claim 23 wherein at least two of said supports are connected by one or more spacing elements.

25. A safety apparatus according to Claim 24 wherein at least two of said supports are interconnected by a plurality of spacing elements, the spacing elements being connected in end to end relationship by an auxiliary connector.

26. A safety apparatus according to any one of Claims 22 to 25 comprising four comer supports disposed one at each comer of said catching element.

27. A safety apparatus according to Claim 26 further comprising at least one further support disposed between said comer supports to support an edge part of the catching element.

28. A safety apparatus according to any one of Claims 22 to 27 wherein the catching element comprise a sheet material such as a net.

29. A safety apparatus according to Claim 28 wherein the sheet material comprises a rope extending around the periphery of thereof, and wherein the rope is received in the engagement means of the supports.

30. A safety apparatus as described herein and/or with reference to the accompanying drawings.

31. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.