GB2410222A

GB2410222A - Fall prevention apparatus for a vehicle load platform

Info

Publication number: GB2410222A
Application number: GB0418723A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony James Peter Carden
Original assignee: Shire Precast Erection Ltd
Current assignee: Shire Precast Erection Ltd
Priority date: 2004-08-21
Filing date: 2004-08-21
Publication date: 2005-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 2024-08-21
Also published as: GB2410222B; GB0418723D0

Abstract

A vehicle platform safety apparatus 10, comprising, a platform engaging member 16 engageable with an edge of the vehicle platform 12 and adapted for connection to a rigid bracing member 30, the rigid bracing member extending away from the edge of the platform and over an upwardly presented surface of the platform, the rigid bracing member being connectable to an opposing rigid bracing member extending from an opposite edge of the platform. Upright support members 50 are connected to the platform engaging members and allow guard members 80 to be located along the sides of the platform so as to help prevent a person from falling from the platform. The guard members 80 may include slidable members 60 so that they can be located at various heights on the support members 50.

Description

24 1 0222 Title: A Vehicle Platform Safety Apparatus

Description of Invention

This invention relates to a vehicle platform safety apparatus.

It is a requirement for a person working at height, particularly but not exclusively on construction work for example, to be provided with a suitable safety apparatus able to arrest a fall. Conventionally, such systems comprise nets supported just below the working height, or life line systems. However, when loading or unloading a vehicle using a crane or other lifting means, it is sometimes unavoidable that a person must climb upon a load platform of the vehicle and even the load itself to guide the crane and/or to attach the load to a crane hook. This is potentially dangerous in that the person may be working at a height sufficient to cause injury in the event of a fall.

It is known to provide a life line system in which a wire is run at a level above the load platform to which a lifeline and safety harness are clipped.

However, when loading or unloading a load from the load platform using a crane, such a system cannot be used due to the risk of the crane interfering with the wire. It is also known to provide a dedicated loading bay, where a vehicle is reversed into a defined area such that the load platform is surrounded by nets.

Such a system is unsatisfactory in that the vehicle must be unloaded at a particular point which may be located at a distance from the required position of the load, and hence require the load to be moved with attendant risks.

An aim of the present invention is to overcome or reduce one or more of the above problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a vehicle platform safety apparatus, comprising: a platform engaging member engageable with an edge of the vehicle platform and adapted for connection to a rigid bracing member, the rigid bracing member extending away from the edge of the platform and over an upwardly presented surface of the platform, the rigid bracing member being connectable to an opposing rigid bracing member extending from an opposite edge of the platform.

The platform engaging member may include a first part to engage the upwardly presented surface of the vehicle platform and may also include a second part to, in use, engage or lie near an underside of the platform. Thus the engaging member include parts which locate it relative to the edge of the platform.

The connection between the platform engaging member and the rigid bracing member may be a releasable connection.

The rigid bracing member may be received in a recess in the platform engaging member.

An end of the rigid bracing member which is connectable to the platform engaging member may include two spaced, substantially parallel, limbs, each limb, in use, extending transversely away from the edge of the platform. By providing the rigid bracing member with two spaced, substantially parallel, limbs, the connection between the platform engaging member and the rigid bracing member is not only stronger, but also assists in controlling the orientation of the engaging member relative to the edge of the platform. In other words, the two limbs of the rigid bracing member engaging the upwardly presented surface of the platform and the second part of the platform engaging member engaging the underside of the platform locate the platform engaging member relative to the edge of the platform.

Each of the limbs of the rigid bracing member may be received in a respective recess in the platform engaging member.

A part of the platform engaging member may be received between the limbs of the rigid bracing member.

The apparatus may include a support member connectable to the platform engaging member. The support member may be received in a recess in the platform engaging member.

The support member may, in use, extend upwardly from the platform engaging member, substantially perpendicularly to the upwardly presented surface of the vehicle platform.

The apparatus may include an intermediate member connectable to the free ends of opposing rigid bracing members.

The intermediate member may allow for adjustment of the distance between opposing rigid bracing members, so as to allow for adjustment for differing sizes of vehicle platform.

Each end of the intermediate member may include a receiving formation to receive the free end of a rigid bracing member.

The apparatus may include two of said platform engaging members, each engageable with opposing edges of the vehicle platform, and each having a respective rigid bracing member connectable thereto.

The rigid bracing members may be connectable to each other by the intermediate member to fix the platform engaging members relative to each other at opposites sides of the vehicle platform.

The apparatus may include a guard member connectable to the support member.

The guard member may be slidably connected to the support member.

This allows for the distance of the connection between the guard member and a part of the support member connectable to the platform engaging member to be adjusted, depending on, for example, the height of a load on the vehicle platform. It also allows for the position of the guard member to be adjusted whilst a load is being removed from the vehicle platform.

The slidable connection of the guard member to the support member may be provided by a slidable member connectable to the guard member.

The slidable member may include a receiving formation to receive part of the support member.

The slidable member may be fixable in a selected one of a plurality of positions relative to the support member, thus allowing the height of the guard member to be adjusted.

The slidable member may include a part engageable with the support member to fix the slidable member relative to the support member, such as, for example, a formation engageable with a recess or aperture in the support member.

The connection of the guard member to the slidable member may be a pivotable connection.

This allows for the orientation of the guard member relative to the vehicle platform to be adjusted. For example, if a load on the vehicle platform is higher at one end of the platform, the end of the guard member near the higher end of the load can be positioned higher up its respective support member (by positioning the respective slidable member near the upper end of the support member) and the end of the guard member near the lower end of the load can be positioned closer to the vehicle platform (by positioning the respective slidable member near the lower end of the support member).

The guard member may be adjustable in length. One benefit of this is that as the apparatus is likely to be use by one person, for example standing on or near the load on the vehicle platform whilst the load is being removed from the vehicle platform, he/she will only be able to adjust one slidable member at a time. As the guard member will be connected to a slidable member on an adjacent support member, adjusting the position of one of the slidable member would either require the other support member to be moved or the guard member being removed and a new one fitted, which would be unsafe. By providing a guard member, which is adjustable in length, means that this unsafe practice can be avoided.

A further benefit is that if it is necessary to position adjacent support members at a distance fixed from each other (for example by constraints such as, for example, the position of wheels under the platform) the guard member must be adjustable in length to accommodate this. This provides significant cost savings in that it is not necessary to have to hand a large number of guard members, each differing slightly in length. It also means that the apparatus is adjustable to fit vehicle platforms of differing sizes.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a vehicle platform safety apparatus, comprising: two vehicle platform engaging members, connectable to opposing edges of the vehicle platform; a respective rigid bracing member connected to each platform engaging member and extending over an upwardly presented surface of the vehicle platform towards the other of the rigid connecting members, wherein free ends of the rigid bracing members are connectable to each other.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention connected to a vehicle platform; Figure 2 is a perspective view from above and one side of a platform engaging member in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of two rigid bracing members in accordance with the present invention connected by an intermediate member; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the platform engaging member of figure 2 connected to a rigid bracing member; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a part of a support member in accordance with the present invention, Figure 6 is a perspective view of the platform engaging member of figure 2 connected to the support member of figure 6; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a slidable member in accordance with the present invention; Figure 8 is a further view of the slidable member of figure 7, Figure 9 is a detailed perspective view of a part of the slidable member of figures 7 and 8, Figure 10 is a additional component to the slidable member of figures 7 and 8; Figure 11 is a side view of two adjacent slidable members connected by two guard members in accordance with the present invention, and Figure 12 is a detailed side view of one of the guard members of figure 11.

Referring to Figure 1 there is a shown a vehicle platform 12. Around the edge (or "cill" as it is known in the art) of the platform 12 are spaced a plurality of apparatuses 10, each of which is in accordance with the present invention.

Each apparatus 10 includes a platform engaging member 16, which, in use, engages a portion of the cill of the vehicle platform 12 and a rigid bracing member 30, which, in use, is connected to the platform engaging member 16 and extends away from the cill of the platform 12 and over and upwardly presented surface of the platform 12 towards an opposing rigid bracing member 30. Each apparatus 10 also includes a support member 50, which, in use, is connected to the platform engaging member 16 and extends upwardly from the platform engaging member 16, substantially perpendicular to the upwardly presented surface of the platform 12. The rigid bracing members 30 of two opposing apparatuses 10 are connected by an intermediate member 40. The support member 50 of each apparatus 10 includes a slidable member 60 to which is connected a pair of guard members 80, to provide a barrier.

Figures 2 to 12 show detailed views of the components of the apparatus l O. each of which will be discussed separately below.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view from above and one side of the platform engaging member 16. The platform engaging member 16 has a main body part 17, which, in use, engages or lies near a portion of the cill of the vehicle platform 12. The main body part 17 has two substantially parallel upwardly extending passages 18, 19 each of which is adapted to receive a lower end of the support member 50 (which will be described in greater detail hereinafter). It must, however, be appreciated that the platform engaging member 16 could be provided with only one passage to receive a lower end of the support member SO, or more than two passages.

A part of the main body part 17 which, in use, faces the cill of the platform 12 is provided with an adjustable flange 22. In use, the flange 22 lies near or engages an underside of the platform 12. An upper end of the main body part 17 is provided with a pair of receiving formations 20, 21, each of which has a passage to receive a limb 32, 33 of the bracing member 30 (which will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter).

In use, a lower surface of each of the receiving formations 20, 21 engages an upwardly presented surface of the vehicle platform 12. Thus the lower surface of each of the receiving formations 20, 21 ensures that the platform engaging member 16 hangs over the cill of the platform 12, such that the passages 18, l 9 are oriented substantially perpendicularly to the upwardly presented surface of the platform 12. The receiving formations 20, 21 and the flange 22 also ensure that the platform engaging member 16 does not excessively rock relative to the cill of the platform 12.

Each of the receiving formations 20, 21 has a pair of apertures 23, 24 through which pins 25, 26 can pass to fix the limbs 32, 33 of the bracing member 30 relative to the platform engaging member 16 (as shown in figure 4).

Each of the passages 18, 19, at a lower end thereof, is provided with a pair of apertures 27, 28, which co-operate with a locking device 55 of the support member 50 to fix the support member 50 to the platform engaging member 16 (discussed hereinafter).

Moving onto Figure 3, this shows a pair of opposed rigid bracing members 30 connected at their free ends by an intermediate member 40. Each bracing member 30 has a pair of parallel limbs 32, 33, each of which has a rectangular cross-section corresponding to the dimensions of the receiving formations 20, 21. Each limb 32, 33 has a plurality of spaced apertures 34 extending transversely thereto, which, when the parallel limbs 32, 33 are engaged with the receiving formations 20, 21, receive the pins 25, 26 to fix the bracing member 30 relative to the platform engaging member 16 (see figure 4).

The ends of the parallel limbs 32, 33 remote from their connection to the platform engaging member 16 are connected by a transverse part 35.

Connected to and extending away from a mid point of the transverse part 35 is a further limb 36. (The appearance of each bracing member is somewhat like a tuning fork). The intermediate member 40 is a tube of rectangular cross section which has internal dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the limb 36.

To fix two opposing bracing members 30 together, the limb 36 of each bracing member 30 is inserted into the intermediate member 40 and a respective locking nut 44 is then passed through each aperture in the intermediate member and in the limb 36. This ensures that the rigid bracing members 30 are fixed relative to each other. There are two spaced apertures for each of the locking nuts 44 (a pair of apertures near a midpoint of the intermediate member 40 and a pair of apertures near the ends of the intermediate member 40). This means that the overall length of the two bracing members 30 and intermediate member 40 can be adjusted such as, for example, if a load ofthe platform 12 protrudes over the Gill of the platform 12.

Referring now to Figure 5, this shows a perspective view of a lower part of the support member 50. The support member 50 comprises a U-shaped channel section having two side walls 51a, 51b with a connecting wall 51_.

The connecting wall 51_ is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 52, each of which is substantially rectangular.

A lower most end of the support member 50, which end, in use, engages either of the upwardly extending passages 18, 19, includes a pair of substantially parallel plates 53, 54. The plate 53 is connected to a surface of the wall 51_ facing the wall 51_, and the plate 54 is connected to a surface of the wall 51_ facing the wall 51a. A strengthening member 58 is also provided between the plates 53, 54.

Between the free ends of the plates 53, 54 is provided a locking device 55. The locking device includes a pair of spring-loaded lugs 56, 57, each of which extend through respective apertures in the plates 53, 54. The purpose of the lugs 56, 57 is to engage the apertures 27 or 28 in the main body part 17 to hold the support member 50 in the passage 18, 19 as the case may be (see figure 6).

Turning now to Figures 7 and 8, these show perspective views of a slidable member 60. The purpose of the slidable member 60 is to provide a means of attaching guard members 80 (described later) to the support member 50, and also allowing for adjustability of the position of the guard members 80 along the support member 50.

The slidable member 60 comprises a U-shaped section 61 having substantially parallel side walls 61a, 61_ and a connecting wall 61_. At uppermost and lowermost parts of the slidable member 60, the free edges of the side walls 61a, 61_ are also connected by plates 62. Thus the slidable member provides a passage to receive the U-shaped section 51 of the support member 50.

An external surface of the connecting wall 61_ is provided with a pair of fasteners 63. The fasteners 63 are in the form of antiluce(g>-type fasteners, which allow releasable connection of an end of the guard member 80 to the slidable member 60.

An uppermost part of the connecting wall 61_ is also provided with a releasable locking member 66, which is shown in greater detail in Figure 9.

The releasable locking member 66 comprises a U-shaped section 67 having a pair of side walls 67a, 67b, and a connecting wall 67_. The side wall 67_, which is slightly longer than the side wall 67b, is connected to and extends away from an upper part the connecting wall 61c, substantially perpendicularly therefrom.

Pivotally connected to the side wall 67a, near its connection to the connecting wall 61c, is a lever 68. The lever 68 is moveable against the resistance of a resilient rubber member 69, which is supported between the side walls 67a, 67b and the connecting wall 67_. A part of the lever 68 adjacent the connecting wall 61_ of the slidable member 60 is provided with a wedged shaped engaging formation 70. The engaging formation 70 has a flat lower surface, which when the lever lies at rest, is substantially perpendicular to the connecting wall 61_, and a sloped upper surface. The engaging formation 70 passes through an aperture in the connecting wall 61_ of the slidable member 60.

In use, the engaging formation 70 engages in one of the apertures 52 of the support member 50 to fix the slidable member 60 relative to the support member 50. As the engaging formation 70 is wedged-shaped, if it is desired to move the slidable member 60 upwardly along the support member 50 it is not necessary for a user to actuate the lever 68. However, if it is desired to move the slidable member 60 downwardly along the support member 50 the lever 68 must be actuated so as to disengage the engaging formation 70 from the aperture 52. Thus the releasable locking member 66 acts like a ratcheted device.

Figure 10 shows an additional component to the slidable member of Figures 7 and 8. This additional component or end plate 72 is for use at an end of the platform 12, when it is necessary to attach two sets of guard members 80, substantially perpendicularly to each other, to the slidable member 60. The end plate 72 is substantially L-shaped in cross-section and has a first, relatively small, part 72a which is provided with a pair of spaced fasteners 76 (also antiluce(-type fasteners) and a second, relatively larger, part 72_ which is provided with a pair of spaced apertures 74. The spacing of both the fasteners 76 and the apertures 74 corresponds to the spacing of the anti-looses 63 provided on the slidable member 60.

In use, when it is necessary to, in effect, turn a corner with the guard members 80, the apertures 74 of the end plate 72 are engaged with the anti looses 63 of the slidable member 60. Guard members 80 can then be connected to the anti-looses 63 and the fasteners 76 to provide two sets of guard members which lie substantially perpendicular to each other.

Referring to Figure 11, this shows a side view of a pair of adjacent slidable members 60 connected by a pair of guard members 80. Each guard member 80 is adjustable in length and comprises a pair of tubes 82, 84 each of which is circular in cross section. The tubes 82, 84 are connected by an intermediate tube 86, which has a square cross section corresponding to the internal dimensions of the tubes 82, 84. A free end of each of the tubes 82, 84 is provided with a flattened section having an aperture 83, 85 to provide for connection to the fastener 63 or 76. This connection to the fasteners 63 or 76 provides a pivotal connection between the slidable member 60 and the guard member 80, which means that an adjacent slidable member 60 can be positioned at a different height along their respective support member 50, without having to firstly remove the guard member 80.

Each end of the square section tube 86 is each provided with an abutment member 88 (see figure 12), which in this example is a circular washer corresponding to the internal dimensions of its respective circular tube 82, 84.

Near the end of each tube 82, 84 remote from its flattened section is provided a fastener 89 which passes through a threaded aperture in the wall of the tube 82, 84. The purpose of the screw 89 is to provide a formation against which the washer 88 can abut to stop the end of the square section tube 86 from escaping from the tube 82, 84. This means that the guard member 80 is adjustable in length.

The invention has been devised as a safety apparatus for a vehicle platform, which is used during the unloading of a load from the platform.

When, for example, a vehicle arrives at a construction site with a load thereon which needs to be removed therefrom, operators must assemble the apparatus around the load before the load can be removed therefrom.

IS The following steps set out the order in which the apparatus should, most efficiently, be assembled.

A user should firstly connect the limbs 36 of two opposing bracing members 30 together with the intermediate member 40 so that they are provided at the correct width of the vehicle platform 12, i.e. so that when placed across the platform the limbs 32, 33 of each bracing member 30 extends slightly over the cill of the vehicle platform 12. The two bracing members 30 and intermediate member 40 are then slid underneath the load on the vehicle.

(Loads on vehicle platforms are typically supported on wooden struts extending across the platform. Thus the two bracing members 30 and intermediate member 40 can be slid through a gap beneath the load.) A platform engaging member 16 is then engaged with the Gill of the platform 12 near the limbs 32, 33 of the bracing member 30 and the receiving formations 20, 21 are engaged with the limbs 32, 33. This step is repeated on the opposing bracing member 30 and both platform engaging members 16 are fixed to their respective bracing member 30 by passing the pins 25, 26 through the apertures 23, 24 in the receiving formations 20, 21 and the apertures 34 in the limbs 32, 33.

If the load on the platform 12 protrudes over the cill of the platform 12 to a position where the passage 19 cannot be utilised, a further platform engaging member 16 can be engaged with the limbs 32, 33 of rigid bracing member 30, so that the further platform engaging member 16 lies adjacent the platform engaging member 16 closest to the cill of the platform 12. This means that the platform engaging member 16 closest to the cill of the platform 12 lO holds the apparatus 10 relative to the platform, whilst a passage of the further platform engaging member 16 provides support for a support member 50.

The next stage is to engage a support member 50 with each platform engaging member 16. The end of the support member 50 can be engaged with either of the two upwardly extending passages 18, 19 of the main body part 17.

If the load on the vehicle platform 12 protrudes slightly past the cill of the platform 12, it will be necessary for the user to engage the support member 50 in the upwardly extending passage 19, which lies farther away from the cill.

However, if the load on the platform 12 does not protrude past the cill, the support member 50 can be engaged with the upwardly extending passage 18.

The next step is to engage a respective sliding member 60 over the free end of the support member 50 and position the slidable member 60 such that it lies near a top of the load on the vehicle platform 12. The position of the slidable member 60 on its respective support member 50, as shown in Figure 1, can be varied depending on whether the load on the platform is even. For example, the load of the vehicle platform 12 may be higher at one end thereof.

Before a user can attach the guard members 80 it is necessary for the user to erect the required number of apparatuses 10 around the cill of the vehicle platform 12. These should, preferably, be spaced evenly around the cill of the vehicle platform 12. The user can then attach a guard members 80, as desired, between adjacent slidable members 60 by engaging the apertures 83, at the free ends of each guard member 80 with the fasteners 63 of the slidable member 60.

At the end of the vehicle platform 12 it may be necessary to provide guard members 80 which extends substantially at 90 to the guard members 80 extending along the side of the platform 12. This can be achieved by utilising the end plate 72 on the slidable member 60 near the end of the platform 12 and connecting guard members 80 to the fasteners 76.

When the above steps have been carried out it is then safe for the load to be removed from the vehicle platform 12. As the load is being removed from the vehicle platform 12 a user, who typically stands on the platform 12 or on a part of the load, can lower the position of the slidable members 60 (one at a time) and thus the guard members 80, as the height of the load decreases.

Once the load has been removed from the vehicle platform and is necessary to remove the apparatuses from the platform 12, the above steps should, preferably be reversed in sequence.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

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 vehicle platform safety apparatus, comprising: a platform engaging member engageable with an edge of the vehicle platform and adapted for connection to a rigid bracing member, the rigid bracing member extending away from the edge of the platform and over an upwardly presented surface of the platform, the rigid bracing member being connectable to an opposing rigid bracing member extending from an opposite edge of the platform.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the platform engaging member includes a first part to engage the upwardly presented surface of the vehicle platform and a second part to engage or lie near an underside of the platform.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the connection between the platform engaging member and the rigid bracing member is a releasable connection.

4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the rigid bracing member is received in a recess in the platform engaging member.

5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein an end of the rigid bracing member which is connectable to the platform engaging member includes two spaced, substantially parallel, limbs.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein each of the limbs of the rigid bracing member is received in respective recesses in the platform engaging member.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein a part of the platform engaging member is received between the limbs of the rigid bracing member. s

8. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus includes a support member connectable to the platform engaging member.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the support member is received in a recess in the platform engaging member.

lO. An apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the support member, in use, extends upwardly from the platform engaging member, substantially perpendicularly to the upwardly presented surface of the vehicle 1 5 platform.

11. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus includes an intermediate member connectable to the free ends of opposing rigid bracing members.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the intermediate member allows for adjustment of the distance between opposing rigid bracing members.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein each end of the intermediate member includes a receiving formation to receive a free end of a rigid bracing member.

14. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus includes two of said platform engaging members, each engageable with opposing edges of the vehicle platform, and each having a respective rigid bracing member connectable thereto.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 as appendant to any one of claims 1 1 to 13 wherein the rigid bracing members are connectable to each other by the intermediate member to fix the platform engaging members relative to each other at opposites sides of the vehicle platform.

16. An apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 15 wherein the apparatus includes a guard member connectable to the support member.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the guard member is slidably connected to the support member.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the slidable connection of the guard member to the support member is provided by a slidable member connectable to the guard member.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the slidable member includes a receiving formation to receive part of the support member.

20. An apparatus according to claim 18 or claim 19 wherein the slidable member is fixable in a selected one of a plurality of positions relative to the support member.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the slidable member includes a part engageable with the support member to fix the slidable member relative to the support member.

22. An apparatus according to any one 18 to 21 claims wherein the connection of the guard member to the slidable member is a pivotable connection.

23. An apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 22 wherein the guard member is adjustable in length.

24. A vehicle platform safety apparatus, comprising: two vehicle platform engaging members, connectable to opposing edges of the vehicle platform; a respective rigid bracing member connected to each platform engaging member and extending over an upwardly presented surface of the vehicle platform towards the other of the rigid connecting members; wherein free ends of the rigid bracing members are connectable to each other.

25. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

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