GB2430006A

GB2430006A - Clamping unit for a stairway

Info

Publication number: GB2430006A
Application number: GB0616277A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Wroblewski
Original assignee: Billington Structures Ltd
Current assignee: Billington Structures Ltd
Priority date: 2005-09-08
Filing date: 2006-08-16
Publication date: 2007-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 2026-08-16
Also published as: GB0518299D0; GB2430006B; GB0616277D0

Abstract

A clamping unit 1 for attachment to a stairway 2 for supporting a mounting post 31 for a barrier panel 34, 35 comprises a body member 3 for seating on an upper surface 5 of a selected tread 6; a downwardly projecting abutment member 11 for engaging a side 14 of the tread 6; a socket 15 projecting upwardly from the body member 2 for receiving a panel mounting post 31; and a pivot 17 on the body member 2 which supports a telescopically adjustable swing arm 18. A bearing plate 28 for engagement on the underside 30 of the stairway 2 is located at the end of the arm 18 and a headed bolt 24 engages an internal nut to vary the length of the arm 18 so as to clamp the body member 3 to the stairway 2.

Description

1 2430006

Title of the Invention

Clamping unit for a stairway

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a clamping unit for securing a mounting post to a part finished stairway during the course of building construction.

Background of the Invention

In the construction of multi-storey buildings for example, concrete stairways - either prefabricated or cast in situ - are erected between adjacent floors, with open edges, and the provision of a safety barrier along one, or both edges is desirable, if not essential as a HSE requirement.

Object of the Invention A basic object of the invention is the provision of a clamping unit for attachment to a stairway for supporting a mounting post for a barrier panel.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a clamping unit for attachment to a stairway for supporting a mounting post for a barrier panel comprising: (I) a body member; (ii) a seating plate projecting from one lateral side and adapted, in use, to seat on an upper surface of a selected tread of a stairway; (iii) an abutment member projecting downwardly from the body member and adapted, in use, to engage a side of the selected tread; (iv) a socket projecting upwardly from the body member and adapted, in use, to receive the lower end of a mounting post; and (v) a pivot provided on the body member and pivotally supporting a telescopically adjustable swing arm carrying, at an end distal from the pivot, a bearing plate for engagement on the underside of the stairway, with a headed bolt and a nut to achieve length variations of the swing arm to create tensile loading within the swing arm to clamp the body member to the stairway.

Advantages of the Invention The incorporation of a telescopic swing arm in the clamping unit of the invention ensures that the clamping unit may be used with a variety of differently dimensioned stairways, at locations where a mounting post is required.

Preferred or Optional Features of the Invention The seating plate is provided by one (horizontal) flange of a short length of angle.

The other (upright) flange is welded to the abutment plate and forms one wall of the body member.

The abutment member is of box section, with one face engaging the stairway, in use.

A closure plate, of dimensions corresponding to the upright flange of the seating plate, is at one end welded to the box section abutment member, at a spacing from that flange dictated by the box section, and at the other end is welded to the socket and forms another wall of the body member.

The socket is also welded to the upright flanges of the angle.

The socket is of box section.

The socket is provided with multiple, spaced-apart through holes, and a captive pin, for alignment with selected through holes of a post.

The swing arm is of box section.

The swing arm comprises an inner arm part, and an outer arm part.

The outer arm part is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin extending between the closure plate and the upright flange of the angle.

A pivot plate, provided with a through hole to receive the pivot pin, is welded to one outer face of the outer arm part.

One end of the outer arm part is closed by a washer adapted to be engaged by a head of a bolt, the threaded stem of which engages a nut welded to an inner end of the inner arm part, so that rotation of the nut effects length adjustments of the swing arm, initially of excess length for ease of engaging a stairway, and, after initial engagement, for tightening to a clamping length by applying a spanner to the head of the bolt.

The bearing plate is provided at the outer end of the inner arm part.

The bearing plate is of angle.

To a terminal end of each flange of the angle constituting the bearing plate, a short length of circular section rod is welded, to engage the underside of the staircase.

The bearing plate is pivotally mounted to the outer arm part, so as to be self- adjusting to the angle of the underside of the stairway.

Brief Description of the Drawings

One example of clamping unit in accordance with the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the assembled clamping unit; Figure 2 is an exploded view of Figure 1 but from the other side, and Figure 3 is an end elevation of Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 4 shows two clamping units in accordance with Figures 1 to 3 fitted to a stairway and supporting a safety barrier at the edge of the stairway to which they are fitted.

Detailed description of the drawings

A clamping unit 1, for attachment, together with at least one other unit 1, to a part finished concrete stairway 2 of a building under construction, comprises a body member 3 of relatively short length and of angle section, with a horizontal flange of the angle section providing a seating plate 4 for seating on an upper surface 5 of a selected tread 6 of the stairway 2.

The upright flange of the angle section forms one wall 8 of the body member 3 and to outer surface 9 of one end of the wall 8 is welded an upper portion 10 of a box section abutment member 11 having a lower portion 12 projecting downwardly from the body member 3, the portion 12 having a face 13 adapted to engage a side 14 of the stairway 2.

To the outer surface 9 of the other end of the wall 8 is welded an upwardly projecting socket 15 of the same box section as that of the abutment member 11, whilst a closure plate 16, is at one end welded to the socket 15 and at the other end welded to the abutment member 11.

Across the wall 8 and closure plate 16 is secured a pivot pin 17 to pivotally connect a telescopically adjustable swing arm 18 to the body member 3. The swing arm 18 is also of box section and comprises an outer arm part 19 and an inner arm part 20. As best seen in Figure 2, the inner arm part 20 is provided with a nut 21 at its inner end, and the outer arm part 19 is provided with a washer 22 at its outer end, whereby a stem 23 of a hexagon headed bolt 24 may pass freely through the washer 22, and be threaded through the nut 21, so as to telescopically adjust the inner arm part 20 with respect to the outer arm part 19.

To one face of the outer part 19 is welded a short length 25 of box section with co-axial apertures 26 in two opposed faces for rotational mounting on the pivot pin 17.

At its end distal from the nut 21, the inner arm part 20 carries a pivot pin 27 for a bearing plate 28 also of angle, with a terminal end of each flange of the bearing plate 28 carrying a short length of circular section rod 29.

As best seen in Figure 4, the bearing plate 26, and specifically its rods 29, in use, engages underside 30 of the stairway 2, with a spanner applied to the hexagon head of bolt 24 to achieve the required tightening. A post 31 may then be inserted a selected distance into each socket 15 of each clamping unit I, and a captivated pin 32 inserted into aligned holes 33. The posts 31 are then ready to receive a unit length panel 34, generally of rectangular section and secured to the posts by ties, with the barrier completed by triangular end pieces 35 releasably attached to opposite ends of the panel 34.

Claims

1. A clamping unit for attachment to a stairway for supporting a mounting post for a barrier panel comprising: (I) a body member; (ii) a seating plate projecting from one lateral side and adapted, in use, to seat on an upper surface of a selected tread of a stairway; (iii) an abutment member projecting downwardly from the body member and adapted, in use, to engage a side of the selected tread; (iv) a socket projecting upwardly from the body member and adapted, in use, to receive the lower end of a mounting post; and (v) a pivot provided on the body member and pivotafly supporting a telescopically adjustable swing arm carrying, at an end distal from the pivot, a bearing plate for engagement on the underside of the stairway, with a headed bolt and a nut to achieve length variations of the swing arm to create tensile loading within the swing arm to clamp the body member to the stairway.

2. A clamping unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the seating plate is provided by one (horizontal) flange of a short length of angle.

3. A clamping unit as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the other (upright) flange is welded to the abutment plate and forms one wall of the body member.

4. A clamping unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the abutment member is of box section, with one face engaging the stairway, in use.

5. A clamping unity as claimed in Claim 4 when appended to Claim 2 wherein a closure plate, of dimensions corresponding to the upright flange of the seating plate, is at one end welded to the box section abutment member, at a spacing from that flange dictated by the box section, and at the other end is welded to the socket and forms another wall of the body member.

6. A clamping unit as claimed in Claim 2, and any claim appendant thereto, wherein the socket is also welded to the upright flanges of the angle.

7. A clamping unit as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the socket is of box section.

8. A clamping unit as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the socket is provided with multiple, spaced-apart through holes, and a captive pin, for alignment with selected through holes of a post.

9. A clamping unit as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the swing arm is of box section.

10. A clamping unit as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the swing arm comprises an inner arm part, and an outer arm part.

11. A clamping unit as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the outer arm part is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin extending between the closure plate and the upright flange of the angle.

12. A clamping unit as claimed in Claim 10 or 11, wherein a pivot plate, provided with a through hole to receive the pivot pin, is welded to one outer face of the outer arm part.

13. A clamping unit as claimed in any one of Claims 10-12, wherein one end of the Jo outer arm part is closed by a washer adapted to be engaged by a head of a bolt, the threaded stem of which engages a nut welded to an inner end of the inner arm part, so that rotation of the nut effects length adjustments of the swing arm, initially of excess length for ease of engaging a stairway, and, after initial engagement, for tightening to a clamping length by applying a spanner to the head of the bolt.

14. A clamping unit as claimed in Claim 10, and any claim appendant thereto, wherein the bearing plate is provided at the outer end of the inner arm part.

15. A clamping unit as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the bearing plate is of angle.

16. A clamping unit as claimed in Claim 15, wherein to a terminal end of each flange of the angle constituting the bearing plate, a short length of circular section rod is welded, to engage the underside of the staircase.

17. A clamping unit as claimed in Claim 10, and any claim appendant thereto, wherein the bearing plate is pivotally mounted to the outer arm part, so as to be self-adjusting to the angle of the underside of the stairway.

18. A clamping unit for attachment to a stairway for supporting a mounting post for a barrier panel, substantially as hereinbefore described in the accompanying drawings.