GB2425094A

GB2425094A - Fall arrest assembly for a lorry trailer

Info

Publication number: GB2425094A
Application number: GB0507516A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Jon Massey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-14
Filing date: 2005-04-14
Publication date: 2006-10-18
Also published as: GB0507516D0

Abstract

A fall arrest assembly for a lorry trailer (18, figure 2). The assembly includes bars 20 extending along the sides and ends of the trailer 18. A plurality of mounting brackets 12 hang spaced from each other on the bar 20. A telescopic support member (14) is provided on each bracket 12 extending gently upwardly, and sheet like members (16) extend between the respective support members 14. The sheet like members may comprise netting or canvas, and may also include cushioning means for absorbing the impact of a person falling thereon. The assembly may also comprise deformable members for damping the load received on the sheets.

Description

Fall Arrest Assembly This invention concerns a fall arrest assembly, and

particularly but not exclusively such an assembly usable to catch a person falling from a lorry trailer.

It is often required for a lorry driver and/or unloading gangs to stand on a lorry trailer to assist with unloading of material therefrom. Such material could typically include concrete or steel beams. Such items would usually be lifted off the trailer using a crane, and during this operation there is a possibility of a person falling off the trailer, or perhaps being knocked off by the load as it is lifted, and this could result in significant injury to the person.

The term "lorry trailer" when used in the specification is intended to encompass a trailer for a lorry or other towing vehicle, as well as the rear of a fixed lorry or similar vehicle.

According to the present invention there is provided a fall arrest assembly, the assembly including a plurality of mounting brackets, each bracket selectively locatable on a respective elongate member, the elongate member extending around the periphery of a lorry trailer, a plurality of support members each mountable to a respective of the mounting brackets to extend generally laterally therefrom, and a plurality of sheet like members locatable on the support members so as to extend therebetween to provide a barrier around the lorry trailer to catch a person falling therefrom.

The mounting brackets may be arranged so as to hang from the respective elongate member. The mounting brackets may be arranged such that they can only be located onto the respective elongate member by rotation of the mounting bracket relative to the elongate member by greater than 900.

The mounting brackets may include a hanging formation engageable with the respective elongate member, and the mounting brackets may be arranged such that to locate a mounting bracket onto an elongate member the hanging formation must be rotated from substantially beneath the elongate member to rest thereon.

The mounting brackets may be arranged such that they cannot be removed from a respective elongate member by upward movement, and rather require to be rotated off the elongate member.

The mounting brackets may include a formation for receiving a part of a one of the support members, and the formation may comprise a slot and may comprise a pair of spaced slots.

The mounting brackets may include a formation for each receiving a retaining member engageabie against an upper surtace of a respective one of the support members to retain same on the mounting bracket. A plurality of retaining member receiving formations may be provided to permit retention of the support members at one of a range of inclinations. The retaining members may comprise pins.

The mounting brackets may include a formation engageable with the sheet like members, and the formation may include an upstanding pin, which pin may be slidably movable relative to the remainder of the mounting bracket.

The assembly may include an elongate member or members mountable around at least part of the periphery of a lorry trailer to receive a plurality of mounting brackets thereon.

The assembly may extend from the sides and rear of the lorry trailer.

The assembly may include damping means for partially absorbing a load received on the sheet like members. The damping means may include a deformable member, and the support members and/or the retaining members may be deformable.

The support arrangement may be configured such that in use the support members are inclined gently upwardly from the trailer, and typically at an inclination of between 5 and 200. The support members may be telescopic.

The sheet like members may include sheets of textile materials such as canvas, or may include netting. The sheet like members may include cushioning means for absorbing the impact of a person falling thereon. The cushioning means may include stitching within the sheet like members which is designed to break upon a person falling thereon to provide impact absorption.

The sheet like members may include sleeves which fit around the support members.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of part of a fall arrest assembly according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the assembly of Fig. 1 in use on a lorry trailer.

The drawings show a fall arrest assembly 10 which includes a plurality of mounting brackets 12 from each of which can extend a support member 14.

Sheet like members 16 extend between the support members 14 to provide a barrier around a lorry trailer 18 as shown in Fig. 2.

Considering the drawings in more detail, Fig. 1 shows an elongate member in the form of a bar 20, and such bars 20 are provided down the sides and along the ends of the trailer 18. The bars 20 are spaced below a respective horizontal flange 22 providing protection therefor. The bar 20 is supported by a plurality of plates 24 extending downwardly from the flange 22.

It is to be realised that Fig. 1 is schematic and could for instance show the end of the lorry. Longer bars 20 will be provided on the sides of the lorry with a greater number of support plates 24.

Three mounting brackets 12 are shown in Fig. 1 illustrating how the brackets 12 can be located onto the bar 20. Each bracket 14 comprises a spaced pair of side plates 26. The plates 26 have a generally triangular configuration, though gentle angles are provided in two of the sides of the plates 26. A pair of inwardly facing projections 28, 30 are provided towards the ends of the third side of the plate 26, within the plane thereof. A first of the projections 28 defines a slot 32, whilst the second projection 30 defines a slot 34 of greater width than the slot 32. Three aligned holes 38 are provided in each of the plates 26 towards the third corner of the triangle away from the slots 32, 34.

The side plates 26 are spaced apart by a base plate 40 adjacent the holes 38. A web 42 also connects the plates 26 between the projections 30.

An upstanding pin 44 is provided on the web 42, and in a modified version (not shown) the pin may be slidably mounted on the web 42.

A bracket 12 can be mounted on the bar 20 such that the bar locates in the slots 34, as follows. As shown at 46 the bracket 12 is presented to the bar with the slots 34 inclined upwardly and away from the trailer 18. The bracket 12 is moved upwardly and outwardly to locate the bar 20 in the slots 34. The bracket 12 is then rotated in an anti-clockwise direction until it hangs freely, as shown at 50, on the bar 20, and the base plate 40 can abut against the trailer 18. The bracket 12 is dimensioned such that it cannot be lifted vertically off the bar 20 due to engagement of the pin 44 with the horizontal flange, and can only be removed by clockwise rotation to the alignment shown at48.

The brackets 12 will only be mounted on the bar 20 when the assembly is required for instance during loading or unloading. At other times the assembly can be stored on the lorry or elsewhere. Following mounting of the brackets 12 on the bar 20 as described above, a support member 14 can be mounted on each bracket 12. The support members, which may be telescopic, have a transverse pin extending from opposite sides thereof adjacent one end. This pin can be located in the slot 32. A retaining pin (not shown) can be located to extend between a respective one of the pairs of holes 38 to prevent said one end of the support member 14 from pivoting upwardly. By selection of a required pair of the holes 38, the inclination of the support member 14 can be chosen.

The sheet like members 16 are fitted onto the support members 14 if not already fitted. The sheet like members 16 are made of a canvas material with a plurality of stitching therein which is designed to tear when a person falls thereon to absorb the impact of the fall. A plurality of sleeves are provided in the member 16 to locate the support members 14. Eyelets (not shown) or other formations are provided on the inner end of the sheet like members 16 to locate on the pins 44.

The support members 14 and also retaining pins are designed to deform upon a heavy fall on the sheet like members to provide additional impact absorption.

There is thus described a fall arrest assembly which can readily be fitted onto lorry trailers whilst providing secure mounting thereon. Where an appropriate bar is not already provided on a trailer this can readily be fitted, and this could be removably mounted on the trailer. The assembly is of relatively simple construction and can thus be inexpensively and robustly manufactured for reliable long term use. The assembly can readily be stored in a lorry or on a trailer when required.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance the brackets, support members and/or sheet members can take a different form.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A fall arrest assembly, the assembly including a plurality of mounting brackets, each bracket selectively locatable on a respective elongate member, the elongate member extending around the periphery of a lorry trailer, a plurality of support members each mountable to a respective one of the mounting brackets to extend generally laterally therefrom, and a plurality of sheet like members locatable on the support members so as to extend therebetween to provide a barrier around the lorry trailer to catch a person falling therefrom.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mounting brackets are arranged so as to hang from the respective elongate member.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the mounting brackets include a hanging formation engageable with the respective elongate member.

4. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the mounting brackets are arranged such that they can only be located onto the respective elongate member by rotation of the mounting bracket relative to the elongate member by greater than 900.

5. An assembly according to claim 4 when dependent on claim 3, wherein the mounting brackets are arranged such that to locate a mounting bracket onto an elongate member the hanging formation must be rotated from substantially beneath the elongate member to rest thereon.

6. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting brackets are arranged such that they cannot be removed from a respective elongate member by upward movement, and rather require to be rotated off the elongate member.

7. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting brackets include a formation for receiving a part of a one of the support members.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, wherein the formation comprises a slot.

9. An assembly according to claim 8, wherein the formation comprises a pair of spaced slots.

10. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting brackets include a formation for each receiving a retaining member engageable against an upper surface of a respective one of the support members to retain same on the mounting bracket.

11. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of retaining member receiving formations are provided to permit retention of the support members at one of a range of inclinations.

12. An assembly according to claims 10 or 11, wherein the retaining member or members comprise pins.

13. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting brackets include a formation engageable with the sheet like members.

14. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein the sheet like member engagement formation includes an upstanding pin.

15. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein the upstanding pin is slidably movable relative to the remainder of the mounting bracket.

16. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the assembly includes an elongate member or members mountable around at least part of the periphery of a lorry trailer to receive a plurality of mounting brackets thereon.

1 0

17. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the assembly extends from the sides and rear of the lorry trailer.

18. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the assembly includes damping means for partially absorbing a load received on 1 5 the sheet like members.

19. An assembly according to claim 18, wherein the damping means includes a deformable member.

20. An assembly according to claim 19, wherein the support members and/or the retaining members are deformable.

21. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the support arrangement is configured such that in use the support members are inclined gently upwardly from the trailer.

22. An assembly according to claim 21, wherein the support arrangement is configured such that in use the support members are inclined upwardly from the trailer at an inclination of between 5 and 20 .

23. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the support members are telescopic.

24. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet like members include sheets of textile materials such as canvas.

25. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 23, wherein the sheet like members include netting.

26. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet like members include cushioning means for absorbing the impact of a person falling thereon.

27. An assembly according to claim 26, wherein the cushioning means 1 5 includes stitching within the sheet like members which is designed to break upon a person falling thereon to provide impact absorption.

28. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet like members include sleeves which fit around the support members.

29. A fall arrest assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

30. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.