GB2408284A

GB2408284A - Working platform assembly: guard rail

Info

Publication number: GB2408284A
Application number: GB0326499A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Moreby
Original assignee: ALTO TOWER SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: ALTO TOWER SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 2003-11-13
Filing date: 2003-11-13
Publication date: 2005-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2023-11-13
Also published as: GB0326499D0; GB2408284B

Abstract

A working platform assembly 10 includes a support frame and two working platforms 14 horizontally and vertically displaced from each other, each platform 14 having a working depth forward / backward of the assembly 10 and supported on the frame. A step 16 is arranged between the platforms and is movable between a storage position (shown) where it does not impinge on the working depth, and a step position (Fig 1, not shown) where it provides access between the two platforms 14, e.g. the step may be pivotable about a horizontal member as shown. A guard rail is described and claimed which has a dog-leg fitting at each end thereof for co-operation with apertures 54 in side rails 36 and provides protection against falling down the apparatus; a guard rail with a tray for tools or the like is also described (Figs 7 -9, not shown).

Description

Working Platform Assembly The present invention relates to working

platform assemblies.

Known working platform assemblies include a support which stands on the ground, and platforms fixed to the support. The working platform has to be a certain working depth to meet health and safety requirements.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved working platform assembly which enables a user to move safely between platforms without compromising the working depth.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a working platform assembly including a support frame, two working platforms arranged vertically and horizontally displaced from one another and each having a working depth, whereby the frame supports the working platforms, and a step arranged between the working platforms, the step being moveable between a step position in which the step bridges a space between the working platforms thereby enabling the user to move between the adjacent platforms via the step, and a storage position in which the step does not substantially impinge upon the working depth of the lower working platform.

Advantageously this allows the user to move between adjacent platforms when the step is in the step position, and the user to work on the platform without the step reducing the working depth of the platform when the step is in the storage position.

Preferably the step is pivotally attached to the support, thereby providing means by which the step can be easily moved between the step and storage positions.

Preferably, a further working platform is provided and a further step is provided between the further working platform and the previous working platform, the step being movable as described above.

Another problem associated with known platform assemblies is that of protecting the user working on the platform from falling off the platform.

It is known to provide side guard rails which are fixed to the support of the platform assembly, these side guard rails preventing the user from falling sideways from the platform. However these side rails do not protect the person from falling backwards from the platform.

An object of another aspect of the present invention is to provide user protection against falling backwards from the platform.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a guard rail for a platform assembly, the guard rail including integral attachment means to enable it to be releasably attached to the platform assembly.

In one embodiment the guard rail is in the form of an elongate member, for example a round or tubular section bar, and the fixing means is arranged at each end of the bar.

Preferably the platform assembly includes a pair of side guard rails, and the attachment means cooperates with an attachment formation on the side guard rails. Preferably, the platform assembly comprises a plurality of different working platforms spaced, at least vertically, from one another. Each side guard rail, may include a plurality of attachment formations to allow the guard rail to be attached at one of a plurality of different positions.

Preferably the fixing means is in the form of a projecting member which projects from the guard rail and cooperates with an aperture formed in the side guard rail of the platform assembly.

More preferably the projecting member describes a dog-leg shaped such that, when attached, the guard rail must be tilted upwards to enable it to be released from the platform assembly. This is advantageous since a user falling onto the guard rail will not cause it to be released from the platform assembly, thereby protecting the user from falling offthe platform.

In an alternative embodiment the guard rail is in the form of a U-shaped member. The U-shaped member provides additional clearance for working on the platform. The guard rail may carry a shelf for tools.

In another embodiment, the guard rail includes an integral compartment located thereon for holding working materials. This allow the user to stand on the platform from which he is working, and have materials, for example tools or consumables such as paint, located nearby.

It will be appreciated that the guide rail can be used with the platform assembly of the present invention or any other platform assembly where it is required to protect the user from falling backwards from the platform.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a platform assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention with the step in the step position, showing a guard rail in accordance with the second aspect of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the platform assembly of figure 1 with the step in the storage position, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the platform assembly of figure 1 in the collapsed position, Figure 4a is a side elevation ol' the platform assembly of Figure 1, Figure 4b is a front elevation of the platform assembly of Figure I, Figure 4c is a rear elevation of the platform assembly of Figure 1, Figure 4d is a plan view of the platform assembly of Figure I, Figure 5 is a front view of a guard rail according to a second aspect of the present invention, Figure 6 is a side view of the guard rail of figure 5, Figure 7 is a perspective view ol an alternative guard rail, Figure 8 is a perspective view of the guard rail of figure 6 prior to attachment to the platform assembly of figure I, and, Figure 9 is a perspective view of the guard rail of figure 7 after attachment to the platform assembly of figure 1.

In figure 1, a platform assembly 10 includes a support in the form of side supports 12, three platforms 14a, 14b, 14c, three steps 16a, 16b, 17, a side guard rail 34, and a ground support 56.

In this description, "horizontal" shall mean substantially parallel with the surface on which the platform assembly 10 is standing, while "vertical" shall mean substantially perpendicular thereto and "inclined" shall mean at an angle thereto mutatis mutandis.

The side support 12 has a pair of upper 20 and lower 22 inclined bars arranged on each side of the assembly, the upper 20 and lower 22 inclined bars being connected by support bars 18. The support bars 18 are welded to the inclined bars and are substantially horizontal.

The side support 12 further includes a vertical support bar 24 which is welded to each lower end 23 of the upper inclined bars 20, the vertical support bar extending above and below the lower end 23. The vertical support bars 24 have upper ends 25 to which are welded an L-shaped section plate 26 (seen more clearly in figure 8), and lower ends 27.

The lower ends 27 are connected to respective lower ends 28 of the lower inclined bars 22 by respective horizontal bars 30. An L-shaped section plate 32 is also welded to upper ends 34 of the lower inclined bars 22.

In this embodiment, the side support 12 has six pairs of equally vertically spaced support bars 18, starting from a first pair of support bars 18A proximate the ground, followed by a second 18B, a third 18C, a fourth 18D, a fifth ME, and a sixth pair of support bars 18F located at the top of the side support 12 (see Fig.4a).

Working platforms 14 are fixed respectively to the second 18B, fourth 18D, and sixth 18F support bars using nuts and bolts. In this embodiment, the second, fourth, and sixth support bars are vertically spaced by half a metre, and thus adjacent platforms are similarly spaced by half a metre.

Two of the three steps 16A and a second step 16B are pivotable. The first pivotable step 16A is arranged between the third support bars 18C, and the second step 16B is arranged between to the fifth support bars 18E, both using nuts and bolts. Thus it can be seen that the steps are arranged between adjacent platforms.

Each platform 14 comprises three individual plank sections 15 which butt up against each other to form the platform 14. The steps 16A,16B comprise just one individual plank section 15 carried by side plates 13, fixed to the individual plank section using nuts and bolts.

Whereas the plank sections 15 are fixed to the support bars 18 using several nuts and bolts, the side plates 13 of the steps are fixed half way along the support bars using a single nut and bolt, so that the step is free to pivot about the nut and bolt. A step support member 19 (Fig.2) is provided at the end of each step support bar 18c and e arranged to support the step 16 in its step position.

It can also be seen that a non-pivoting step 17 is fixed to the first support bars 18A, this step not being required to pivot since there is no platform located below it.

The side guard rail 34 has a pair of upper 36 and lower 38 inclined bars, the bars being connected by cross members 40 which are perpendicular and welded to the inclined bars 36,38. Vertical bars 42 are welded to lower free ends 44 of the inclined bars, the vertical bars extending from the upper inclined bars 36 to below the lower inclined bars 38. A pair of reverse C-shaped bars 46 are welded to free ends 48 of the upper 36 and lower 38 inclined bars.

The upper inclined bars 36 of the side guard rail 34 include a three sets of oppositely located, through holes 54. The through holes 54 are drilled such that they are perpendicular to the angle of the inclined bars.

The side guard rail 34 is fixed to the side support 12 by fixing the Lshaped section plates 26 of the vertical support bars 24 to the vertical bars 42 using a nut and bolt. The C-shaped bars 46 are fixed to the side support by fixing an A-shaped bar 48 to a vertical part of the C-shaped bar using nuts and bolts, and then fixing lower free ends 52 of the Ashaped bar to the L-shaped section plate 32 of the lower inclined bars 22 of the side support 12 using nuts and bolts (best seen in figures 4 and 8) . Thus it can be seen that once fixed to the side support 12, the side guard rail 34 affords protection to the user from falling sideways (via the inclined bars 36,38), and falling forwards (via the A-shaped bar 48).

The ground support 56 has a pair of horizontal bars 58, and a pair of vertical bars 60, the vertical bars being connected by cross members 61 which are welded to the vertical bars.

The vertical bars 60 have an upper end 62 and a lower end 64. The horizontal bars 58 have an inner end 66 and an outer end 68. A bracket 70 is fixed to the lower inclined bar 12 and is removably connected to the inner end 68 of each horizontal bar 58.

The outer end 68 of each horizontal bar 58 is pivotally fixed to respective vertical bar 60.

A wheel 67 is fixed proximate the lower end 64 of each vertical bar 60 of the ground support 56, at a position which enables the lower ends 64 to rest upon the ground. Once assembled, the platform assembly 10 engages with the ground via the horizontal bars 30 of the side support and the lower ends 64 of the vertical bars 60.

The platform assembly 10 is collapsed by disconnecting the horizontal bars 58 of the ground support 56 from the bracket 70. The horizontal bars 58 pivot down about pivot 68 and the platform assembly 10 is then tilted such that the wheels 67 engage with the ground. The platform assembly 10 can be transported by grasping the C-shaped bar 46 of the side guard rail and manoeuvring it via the wheels 67.

Once assembled, the user can position himself on the platform corresponding to the height he wishes to work at.

Figure 2 shows the assembly with the steps 16a, 16b having been pivoted upwardly such that they are in the storage position. In this storage position, the steps do not impinge over the platform 14 below, i.e. the working depth of the platform below is not substantially reduced or compromised.

In figures 5 and 6, a guard rail 78 is provided in the form oi an elongate round tubular bar 80 with free ends 82. The tubular bar 80 includes fixing means in the form of a dog leg rod 84 projecting from each free end 82. The rod 84 has first 86 and second 88 substantially horizontal portions connected by an inclined portion 90. The first horizontal portion 86 is welded to the exterior of the tubular bar 80.

It will be appreciated that the guard rail 78 can be used with any platform assembly which includes a suitable feature, for example, apertures located at an appropriate height on the platform assembly, to enable the fixing means to be releasably attached to the platform assembly.

Figs.1,2 and 4a all show guard rails 78, one assembled on the upper bars 36 of the side guard rail 34 and the other shown prior to assembly. The dog leg rods 84 extend through the through holes 54 in the upper bars 36 of the side guard rails 34. The dog leg nature of the rods prevents the guard rail 78 from being pushed out from the bars 36 by a simple pushing action. In order to remove the rail a more convoluted manoeuvring of the rail is required. Thus the guard rail can be installed to provide rear guarding of a user on a working platform.

Figure 7 shows an alternative guard rail 178, with features similar or identical to the guard rail of figures 5 and 6 numbered 100 greater.

Guard rail l 78 is identical to the guard rail of figures 5 and 6 except the guard rail is substantially U-shaped rather than elongate. Furthermore, the guard rail includes an integral compartment in the form of a tool tray 192.

By way of example only, figures 8 and 9 show the guard rail of figure 7 in use with the platform assembly of figure I. The guard rail 180 is attached to the platform assembly as follows: With the user standing on the platform 14, the guard rail 180 is tilted at an angle so that the second horizontal portions 188 can be inserted through holes 54 of the side guard rail 34. After insertion, the guard rail 180 is tilted downwards so that it is substantially horizontal, with the inclined portion 190 abutting against the edge of the hole. Thus the guard rail is attached to the side guard rail 34, and can only be removed by tilting it upwards, i.e. opposite to the way in which it was attached. In the event that the user falls onto the guard rail 180 it will not become detached from the side guard rail 34 since it will not have been tilted. ! <

If the user then proceeds to work on a different platform he can remove the guard rail and attach it to the platform at holes corresponding to the new platform upon which he is working.

Thus the guard rail of the present invention provides protection to the user when working on the platform, and enables the guard rail to be easily attached and removed as the user moves between platforms.

It will be appreciated that the guard rail of figure 7 can be used with other known platform assemblies, and is not limited to use with the platform assembly of the present invention, in particular not limited to platform assemblies with a moveable step arranged between adjacent platforms.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A working platform assembly including a support frame, two

working platforms arranged vertically and horizontally displaced from one another and each having a working depth, whereby the frame supports the working platforms, and a step arranged between the working platforms, the step being moveable between a step position in which the step bridges a space between the working platforms thereby enabling the user to move between the adjacent platforms via the step, and a storage position in which the step does not substantially impinge upon the working depth of the lower working 1 0 platform.
2. A working platform assembly according to claim 1, in which the step is pivotally attached to the support.
3. A working platform assembly according to claim 1 or 2, in which a further working platform is provided and a further step is provided between the further working platform and the previous working platform, the further step being movable between step and storage positions.
4. A guard rail for a working platform assembly, the guard rail including integral attachment means to enable it to be releasably attached to the platform assembly.
5. A guard rail for a working platform assembly according to claim 4, in which the guard rail is in the form of an elongate member and the integral attachment means is arranged at each end of the member.
6. A guard rail for a working platform assembly according to claim 4, in which the guard rail is in the form of a U-shaped member.
7. A guard rail for a working platform assembly according to any of claims 4 to 6, in which the guard rail carries a shelf for tools.
8. A guard rail for a working platform assembly according to any of claims 4 to 7, in which the guard rail includes an integral compartment located thereon for holding
9. A guard rail for a working platform assembly according any of claims 4 to 8, on a working platform assembly.
10. A guard rail for a working platform assembly according to claim 9, in which the platform assembly includes a pair of side guard rails, and the integral attachment means cooperates with an attachment formation on the side guard rails.
11. A guard rail for a working platform assembly according to claim 9 or 10, in which the platform assembly comprises a plurality of different working platforms spaced, at least vertically, from one another.
12. A guard rail for a working platform assembly according to claim 10 in which each side guard rail, includes a plurality of attachment formations to allow the guard rail to be attached at any of a plurality of different positions.
13. A guard rail for a working platform assembly according to claim 10, in which the integral attachment means is in the form of a projecting member which projects from the guard rail and cooperates with an aperture formed in the side guard rail of the platform assembly.
14. A guard rail for a working platform assembly according to claim 13, in which the projecting member is dog-leg shaped such that, when attached, the guard rail must be tilted upwards to enable it to be released from the platform assembly.
15. A guard rail for a working platform assembly according to any of claims 9 to 14 in which the working platform includes a support frame, two working platforms arranged vertically and horizontally displaced from one another and each having a working depth, whereby the frame supports the working platforms, and a step arranged between the working platforms, the step being moveable between a step position in which the step bridges a space between the working platforms thereby enabling the user to move between the adjacent platforms via the step, and a storage position in which the step does not substantially impinge upon the working depth of the lower working platform.
16. A guard rail for a working platform assembly according to claim 15 in which the working platform includes any of the features of claims 2 or 3.