GB2396195A

GB2396195A - Support for a safety line

Info

Publication number: GB2396195A
Application number: GB0228162A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Louis Rood; Kenneth Joseph Walsh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-03
Filing date: 2002-12-03
Publication date: 2004-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 2022-12-03
Also published as: GB0228162D0; GB2396195B

Abstract

A support post 10 comprises a base 12 for attachment to a structure, an integral deformable member 14, and a cover 22. The deformable member 14 is in the form of a pair of coils, 16, 18, which spiral upwards from the base 12 at positions diametrically opposite one another, and terminate in an upper supporting disc 20. The cover 22, shaped as a truncated cone, fits snugly over the coils 16, 18 and upper supporting disc 20 and may be bonded to the base and supporting disc 20 with adhesive. The shape of the cover 22 allows rainwater and snow to run off, which helps to prevent build up of snow and ice in bad weather. A rigid connector (not shown) for attaching to a safety line is intended to be bolted to the upper supporting disc 20 and cover 22.

Description

1 2396195

Title: Support Post for a Safety Line The present invention relates to a support post for a safety line.

Supportposts ofthis type are used to secure a safetylineto aroof, for example of an industrial or commercial building having a covering or cladding, e.g. of metal sheeting. For safety, for example 5 when maintenance or construction work is to be carried out on a roof, there should be provided means for preventing a worker from falling from the roof and/or means for arresting such a fall if it should occur. One wayofarresting a fall is to provide a safety line extending across the roofat a suitable distance from the edge of the roof. The worker wears a safety harness from which a length of rope or the like extends to an attachment device engaging the safety line. The attachment 10 device is able to move along the safety line as the worker moves his position.

A safety line of more than minimal length must be supported at a number of intermediate positions between its ends, and some attachment devices provide for movement along the safety line past intermediate supports thereofwithout becoming detached from the safety line. In this way a worker is ableto work along all ornearlyall en edge ofthe roof, being limitedonlybythe length ofthe 15 safety line and of the rope connecting him thereto.

If the worker falls from the roof, the fall is arrested when the connecting rope to the safety line becomes taut. This applies a substantial force to the safety line, its supporting posts and their attachment to the roof structures, which must be strong enough to resist such a force. A support post adjacent the fall is pulled transversely ofthe safetyline, whilst posts et the ends ofthe safety 20 line are pulled in the direction ofthe length ofthe safety line due to the tension created therein. The structure which supports theroofusuallyis strong enough to resist such impact, and one wayin which the supporting posts for the safety line can be fixed is to attach them to such a roof supporting structure, e.g. to apurlin. This, however, requires the support post to extend upwardly through the roofcovering, and where the roofcovering is thus penetrated there is a possibilityof 25 rainwater leakage, necessitating additional measures to avoid such a problem.

If the support posts areattacheddirectlytotheroofcovering, the problem of leakageis avoided, but means have to be provided to absorb the forces applied to the roofcovering, for example, metal sheeting or a reinforced plastics material, when a fall is arrested. A shock absorbing support has been disclosed in GB2325719B, in which et feast three deformable arms provide a connection 5 between a base for connection to a roof structure and an anchor element for connection to a safety line. In the event of a fall, plastic distortion of the arms absorbs energy and prevents or reduces damage and injury. Distortion ofthe support provides a permanent visual indication that there has been a fall and a high load has been applied to the support.

It has also been proposed in GB 2354052 A to provide a support post for a roof safety line, 10 comprising a base; a support member adapted to be connected to the safety line; and elastomeric connecting means providing a connection between the support member and the base; the connecting means providing for displacement ofthe support memberrelative to the tease and for shock absorption in the course of such displacement.

It is a disadvantage of known support posts ofthis type that they are constructed from arelatively 15 large number of parts, and are consequently expensive to produce and assemble. Furthermore, the support posts are not particularly aesthetically pleasing.

It is an object ofthe invention to provide a support post for a safety line which is weatherproof, relatively easy to manufacture, has a small number of components, is aestheticallypleasing and relatively inexpensive to recycle.

20 According to present invention there is provided a support post for a safety line comprising a base for attachment to a structure, a deformable member integral with the base, and a cover member which covers the deformable member.

Preferablythe deformable member includes apair of coils. The coils may terminate in an integral supporting disc for attachment to a safety line connector.

Preferably the base, coils and supporting disc are made from a single sheet of material, which may be stainless steel.

The cover may be made from plastics.

The inventionwill now be describedbywayofexample onlywith reference to the accompanying 5 drawings in which: Fig 1 shows a perspective view of a support post in accordance with the invention, the outer cover of the support post being partly cut away to reveal a deformable member; Fig 2 shows a side view ofthe support post shown in Fig 1 when viewed in the direction of arrow A; 10 Fig 3 shows a side view of the support post shown in Fig 1 when viewed in the direction of arrow B.; and Fig 4 shows a plan view from above of the support post shown in Figs 1-3.

Referring to all Figs 1-4, a support post is indicated generally at 10. The support post 10 has a base 12 and a deformable member 14, integral with the base. The deformable member 14 is in the 15 formofapairofcoils, 16,18,whichspiralupwardstromthebase 12,bestviewedin Figs 1 and 2, and terminate in an upper supporting disc 20. The coils 16, 18 extend from the base 12 at positions diametrically opposite one another, and adj Din the upper supporting disc 20, again at diametric opposites, best seen in Fig 2.

A cover 22, shaped as a truncated cone, fits snugly over the coils 16, 18 and upper supporting disc 20 20 and may be bonded to the base and supporting disc 20 with adhesive. The cover 22 may be colourmatched with aroofcoveringorothersupportstructure, to which the support post 10 is to be attached, and is relatively aestheticallypleasing and unobtrusive. The shape ofthe cover 22

allows rainwater and snow to run off, which helps to prevent build up of snow and ice in bad weather. Holes 24, best seen in Fig 4, are provided in the base 10, through which the base can be attached to a roof or other structure, for example a gantry, wall or beam, with fasteners. A hole 26 is also 5 provided in the centre ofthe upper supporting disc 20, and a concentric hole 28, shown in part in dotted outline in Fig 4, can be drilled in the cover 22 immediately prior to use. A rigid connector (not shown) for attaching to a safety line is intended to be bolted to the upper supporting di sc 20 and cover 22, and a washer and seal, or other suitable sealing means is preferably used to keep the cover watertight.

10 The base 12, coils 16, 18 and upper supporting disc 20 are manufactured from a single sheet of material, for example galvanised steel, 316 marine grade stairdess steel or strong plastics. The coils 16, 18 and upper supporting disc 20 are cut out using a conventional laser cutting machine.

In use, a safety line connector (not shown) is bolted to the support post 10 as described above, and the support post subsequently bolted to a roofor other structure. It should be noted that if desired, 15 the support post can be fastened upside down, for example, to a ceiling or in any other desired position. A safety line is then connected to the safety line connector in conventional manner.

When a load is applied to the upper supporting disc 20 due to a worker falling, the shock loading ofthe fall is arrested by the coils 16, 18, which deform away from the base 12, and stretch in the manner ofan extending coil spring. The plastics cover22 deforms andusuallyruptures, depending 20 on the amount of load applied. In this way, the shock loading is not passed to the roof or other structure to which the support post is attached and damage is prevented.

The deformation ofthe coils 16,18 is substantiallypermanentalthough some recoveryis possible, depending on the extent ofthe loading. Therefore, the support post 10 must be replaced after 25 arresting a fall, and the deformed support post gives a clear visual indication that a fall and arrest has occured. This ensures that the fall arrest system is maintained in good order at all times. The

plastics and steel, if used, of the support post 10 can be separated after use, and the materials recycled with ease.

Claims

1. A support post for a safety line comprising a base for attachment to a structure, a deformable member integral with the base, and a cover member which covers the deformable member.

5

2. A support post as claimed in claim 1 in which the deformable member includes a pair of coils.

3. A support post as claimed in claim 2 in which the coils terminate in an integral supporting disc for attachment to a safety line connector.

4. A support post as claimed in claim 3 in which the base, coils and supporting disc are made 10 from a single sheet of material.

5. A support post as claimed in claim 4 in which the material is stainless steel.

6. A support post as claimed in any preceding claim in which the cover is made from plastics.

À À À.. À

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows.

CLAuvl 1. A support post for a safety line comprising a base for attachment to a structure, a deformable member integral with the base, and a cover member which covers the deformable member.

5 2. A support post as claimed in claim I in which the deformable member includes a pair of coils. 3. A support post as claimed in claim 2 in which the coils terminate in an integral supporting disc for attachment to a safety line connector.

6. A support post as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 in which the cover is bonded to the base and supporting disc with adhesive.

7. A support post as claimed in anypreceding claim in which the cover is made from plastics.

15

8. A support post substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figs 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.