GB2459340A

GB2459340A - Fall protection apparatus for use with cargo transport vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2459340A
Application number: GB0807604A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Skinner
Original assignee: Schmitz Cargobull AG
Current assignee: Schmitz Cargobull AG
Priority date: 2008-04-25
Filing date: 2008-04-25
Publication date: 2009-10-28
Also published as: GB0807604D0

Abstract

A fall protection apparatus for use with a cargo transport vehicle 100 comprising elevation portions 102, 104 located at each end of a cargo support surface of the vehicle with an elongate object 106 in the form of a cable or lanyard strung between the elevation portions above the cargo surface. The lanyard is connected to a person 101 via a cable 107 and harness 105 so as to restrict the extent to which the person may fall. Preferably the apparatus is height adjustable and collapsible and is stored within the vehicle cargo space. Preferably the second elevation portion 104 has a further elongate object 110 attached to it and attached to the cargo transport means 113 to exert force on the second elevation means equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the force exerted by the first elongate object 106 parallel to the surface of the transport means.

Description

A Fall Protection Apparatus The present invention relates to fall protection apparatus, and relates particularly but not exclusively, to a fall protection apparatus for use with a cargo transport vehicle.

When unloading the trailer of a lorry, a person may be required to climb onto the trailer to attach unloading means e.g. a chain hanging from a crane, to cargo such that it may be unloaded from the trailer. In the event of a person accidentally falling from the trailer, the person may incur significant injuries impacting the floor.

One method currently used to reduce the extent of injury incurred by a person in the event of a fall is to provide an air cushion system around a trailer. In the event of a fall a person should land on a soft air cushion, therefore minimising injuries. The main problem with this system is that the person is required to park their lorry adjacent the *.20 location of the air cushion system. Further problems are :::.: associated with keeping the air cushion system sufficiently inflated and repairing punctures to the air cushions. Such a ::::. puncture may occur as a result of a person landing on an air cushion wherein the person is wearing a sharp object.

Punctures may also easily be caused by a person accidentally :: dropping a sharp tool onto an air cushion. The occurrence of a puncture without the awareness of a person unloading a trailer shall jeopardise the safety of that person.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to

overcome the above disadvantages of the prior art.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a fall protection apparatus for use with a cargo transport vehicle, the system comprising:-a first elevation portion located adjacent a first end of a cargo support surface of a vehicle; a second elevation portion located adjacent a second end of the surface; and at least one first elongate object adapted to engage the first and second elevation portions above the surface, and adapted to engage a connector to connect a person to the elongate object in order to restrict the extent to which the person may move in a downwards direction relative to the elongate object.

As the fall protection apparatus of the present invention is entirely attached to a trailer, this provides the advantage that a person may park the trailer anywhere and subsequently unload it safely in that location. Also, it is harder to damage the components that form the fall protection apparatus of the present invention than it is to puncture an air cushion of the prior art. This provides the advantage of reducing the maintenance required by the fall protection ::. apparatus. Further, it is easier to observe that the protection apparatus of the present invention is incorrectly assembled than it is to assess whether an air cushion of the *. .* : * prior art is sufficiently inflated. This provides the *,. advantage of reducing injuries resulting from falls because a person is able to more easily assess that the fall protection apparatus of the present invention is satisfactorily operational.

As the fall protection apparatus of the present invention is entirely attached to a trailer, this ensures that the fall -.3-protection apparatus does not need to be transported to the location where a trailer is to be unloaded. This provides the further advantage of eliminating the fuel costs incurred as a result of the necessary transportation of the components comprising the fall protection apparatus of the prior art.

Furthermore, the apparatus of the present invention is compact and can be easily transported without significantly increasing the size of the vehicle or taking up space that 1o According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a fall protection apparatus, wherein at least one elevation portion is movable relative to the cargo transport surface.

By allowing the components forming the fall protection apparatus of the present invention to move relative to the trailer to which they are attached allows the position of such components to be adjusted such that they do not substantially protrude from the trailer when the fall ::..: protection apparatus is not in use, the apparatus of the present invention therefore being collapsible. This provides :. the advantage that the components comprising the fall protection apparatus do not hinder the use of the trailer when the apparatus is not in use. A further advantage of the * * collapsible nature of the fall protection apparatus of the present invention is that the components comprising the fall protection apparatus do not need to be stored in a specific location when they are not in use.

In another preferred embodiment, the elevation portion comprises a rigid substantially elongate object, pivotally attached adjacent the cargo transport surface.

In a further preferred embodiment the elevation portion is removably attached adjacent the cargo transport surface.

The fall protection apparatus may further comprise at least one second elongate object in engagement with the second elevation portion and at least one slideable member, the slideable member being slidably connected to the cargo transport means adjacent to the second elevation portion, wherein the second elongate object is adapted to exert a component of force on the second elevation portion equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the component of force exerted by the first elongate object parallel to the surface * of the cargo transport means.

In a preferred embodiment at least one said elongate object is flexible.

In another preferred embodiment the height of the first elongate object above the surface of the cargo transport means may be adjusted. * * ****

:. By allowing the height of the first elongate object to be adjusted provides the advantage that individuals of different height may safely use the fall protection apparatus of the : * present invention. The height can also be varied in response *..: to different heights of cargo stacked on the vehicle.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a side view of a trailer to which a fall protection apparatus according to the present invention has been incorporated; Figure 2 is an end view of the trailer of figure 1 shown from one end; Figure 3 is a close up view of a section of figure 1; Figure 4 is a close up view of another section of figure 1; Figure 5 is an end view of the trailer of figure 1 shown from the other end to figure 2; Figure 6 illustrates a catch forming part of the fall protection apparatus of figure 1 holding portions of the second elevation system in place; and Figure 7 is a close up view of a portion of a fall protection apparatus showing the connection of components. * SS*

A trailer 100, forming part of a cargo transport vehicle with : * a driven cab portion (not shown), includes a fall protection * apparatus according to the present invention, illustrated in figure 1. The fall protection apparatus comprises a first *: elevation portion 102 and a second elevation portion 104 *..: adjacent respective opposite ends of the trailer 100. A first elongate object in the form of a pole, belt, cable or lanyard 106 engages the first and second elevation portions 102, 104 above the cargo support surface 108 of the trailer A person 101 wearing a harness 105 is able to attach a connector in the form of cable 107 extending from the harness to the lanyard 106 by means of a carabineer 109 or the like, such that in the event of a fall, the extent to which the person may move in a downwards direction relative to the lanyard 106 is limited by the connecting cable 107. Provided that the maximum length of the cable 107 connected to the person is the less than the difference between the height of the lanyard 106 above the ground and the length of the person's legs, that person should not impact the ground in the event of a fall.

With reference to figures 2 and 3, the first elevation portion 102 preferably includes a rigid elongate object 120, preferably a pole, fixably attached to a hook 122 which pivotally engages a hook receiving portion 124 which is fixably attached to a surface 126 of the trailer 100. The first elevation portion 102 may however comprise a rigid elongate object which is fixably attached to the trailer 100.

The rigid elongate object or pole 120, of the first elevation ::. portion 102 is adapted to be pivoted such that it is brought into engagement with a surface 126 of the trailer 100.

: Therefore, when the fall protection apparatus is not in use the first elevation portion 102 may be folded away so as to not substantially protrude from the trailer 100. *( *. * S * S

The lanyard 106 is fixably attached to the first elevation portion 102 by feeding it through a ratchet 128 which grips the lanyard. The ratchet 128 allows the tension in the lanyard to be increased when the lanyard is fixably attached to both the first and second elevation portions 102, 104.

The second elevation portion 104, illustrated in figure 4, includes a second elongate object in the form of support cable 110 in engagement with two rigid elongate objects in the form of support poles 116, 118 (see figure 5) and a slideable member 112 extending from the end of the trailer adjacent the second elevation portion 104 to a position where it is able to be fixed relative to the trailer. The support cable 110, which could alternatively be a rigid pole, is adapted to exert a component of force on the support poles 116, 118 equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the component of force exerted by the lanyard 106 also attached to poles 116, 118, along a direction parallel to the cargo support surface 108 of the trailer 100. As a result, the support cable 110 and slideab]e member 112 keep the support poles 116, 118 substantially vertical when a vertically downward force is applied to lanyard 106.

With further reference to figure 5, the two connected support poles 116, 118 forming part of the second elevation portion 104 are separately attached to different sides, at the same end, at angles relative to the cargo support surface 108, of *se the trailer 100. The second elevation portion 104 may however be a single rigid elongate object either fixably or removably a...

attached to the trailer ioo, perpendicular to or at an angle relative to the cargo support surface 108. Further, one or both support poles of the second elevation portion 116, 118 has an aperture or recess 131 adjacent its end connected to the trailer 100. This aperture is adapted to receive a protruding portion 132 of a catch 130, illustrated in figure 6, the catch extending vertically from the side of the trailer 107, iOY adjacent to where the pole it engages is attached. The protruding portion 132, which horizontally extends from a vertically extending flange portion 133 of the catch 130 is adapted to be received in the aperture or recess 131 in a pole of the second elevation portion 104 when an axis 136 along the centre of the pole is perpendicular to the axis 114 along which the slidable member 112 is able to move (see figure 4) . Also the slidable member 112 has two apertures or recesses along its length 138, 140 which engage a catch 142 exhibiting a spring loaded bolt (not shown), the catch protruding downwards from beneath the trailer and being adapted to hold the slidable member 112 in position (see figure 4).

With reference to figure 7, each pole 116, 118 comprising the second elevation portion 104 of the present invention has a flange portion 117 with an aperture (not shown) at the end of the pole which is not so attached to the trailer 100.

The lanyard 106 and support cable 110 are preferably attached to the support poles 116, 118 using a shackle 119. The shackle 119 comprises a split ring having two apertures, or looped portions ll9a and ll9b in alignment with one another.

The lanyard 106 and support cable 110 each have a respective looped portion 107, 111 at their ends arid connect to the : **, shackle 119. The shackle is made to extend through the looped S. *S portion 107 of the lanyard 106 before the apertures or looped portions 119a and 119b in the shackle 119, the aperture (not _ S. shown) in the flange 117 at the end of each pole 116, 118 and S. S the looped portion 111 of the support cable 110, are brought into alignment with one another as illustrated in figure 7, before a pin 121 is made to extend through the aligned portions fixing the pin 121 in place relative to the shackle.

The support cable 110 is attached to the slideable member 112 (see figure 4) by use of aperture 113, using a shackle (not shown) similar to the one illustrated in figure 7. The shackle is made to extend through the aperture 113 before a pin is made to fixably extend through the aligned apertures or looped portions in the shackle and a looped portion (not shown) of the support cable 110 at the end which is to be attached to the slideable member 112.

The support poles 116, 118 are preferably pivotally connected to the trailer 100 so that the height above which they extend from, and the angle at which they extend relative to, the cargo support surface 108 may be simultaneously adjusted.

When the fall protection apparatus of the present invention is not in use the support poles 116, 118 are disconnected from one another, and their positions are separately adjusted so that they are parallel with the cargo support surface 108.

The support poles 116, 118 are then fixably attached sides 107, 109 of the trailer 100 (see figure 5) such that they do not substantially protrude from the trailer 100. Also, when the fall protection apparatus is not in use the slideable member 112 is slidably moved along axis 114 (see figure 4) such that it also does not substantially protrude from the *** * trailer 100 and is fixed in that position. * *. *s * S...

When assembling the fall protection system according to the present invention, a person must first pivot the pole 120 of SS ** : . the first elevation portion 102 into a vertical position such that it extends above the surface 108 of the trailer 100. The person may climb up a ladder 121 (see figure 2) which is preferably attached to surface 126 of the trailer 100, in order to reach the pole 120 of the first elevation portion 102. The person next clips a first end of the lanyard 106 to the first elevation portion by feeding the lanyard partially through a ratchet 128. The person must ensure that the lanyard 106 extends from the ratchet and over the upper most end of the pole 120 before climbing back down the ladder 121.

The person then removes a pole (not shown), removably attached to the trailer 100 and feeds an end of the pole through the looped portion 107 at the second end of the lanyard 106 not clipped to the ratchet 128. The person then uses the pole to pull the second end of the lanyard 106 slightly beyond the end of the trailer opposite to the end where the first elevation portion 102 is. The person then replaces the pole and reattaches it to the trailer 100.

The person then removes the poles 116, 118 of the second elevation portion 104 by loosening the catches (not shown) holding them to the sides 107, 109 of the trailer 100. The person also releases the catch 138 holding the slidable member 112 in place using aperture 140 before moving the slidable member 112 outwards until the catch engages aperture 138 so as to hold the slidable member in a protruding position relative to the trailer 100. The person then ::.. connects the support cable 110 to the fully extended slidable member 112 as previously discussed. The person 101 wearing a :.:::. harness 105 having a connector 107 which is connected to the harness 105 at one end and a carabineer 109 at the other end, ensures that the lanyard extends through the carabineer. Then the person connects the poles 116, 118 of the second * elevation portion 104, the lanyard 106 and support cable 110 as previously discussed, before pivoting the erected second elevation portion 104 relative to the trailer 100 until it engages the catch adapted to hold it in a substantially vertical position relative to the trailer.

The person then goes to the end of the trailer 100 where the first elevation portion 102 is and uses the ratchet 128 to put tension into the lanyard such that it is held above the cargo support surface 108 of the trailer as illustrated in figure 1. The person is then able to walk on the surface 108 of the trailer 100 safely without the risk of incurring significant injury if they fall off it. The reverse steps of the assembly process are required to be performed in order to de-assemble the fall protection apparatus.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example the components comprising the or each elevation * portion 102, 104 may be removably attached to the trailer.

The first and second elongate object 106, 110 may be either a cable, belt, lanyard or a pole and therefore may be either flexible or rigid. The connector attached to a person's * * S harness which may be preferably but not exclusively a cable, **** belt or lanyard, may be connected to an inertial reel which ::::. itself is connected to the first elongate object 106. The height of the first elongate object 106 above the cargo support surface 108 of a trailer 100 may be adjusted using a height adjustment mechanism comprising the first and second * ** elevation portions 102, 104. A portion of the cab of a lorry may be used as a component of the first elevation portion 102. The first elevation portion 102 may include a component either fixably, or removably attached to the cab of a lorry.

Driving means, preferably a lorry, may not necessarily be connected to the cargo transport vehicle. The slidable member 112 may be adapted to extend a plurality of lengths from the end of the trailer adjacent to where it is connected. *.I. * . * S. * * S

S * S. * * . S... SS ** * S S * S S. S

S SI S **

Claims

Claims 1. A fall protection apparatus for use with a cargo transport vehicle, the apparatus comprising:-a first elevation portion located adjacent a first end of a cargo support surface of a vehicle; a second elevation portion located adjacent a second end of said surface; and at least one first elongate object adapted to engage said first and said second elevation portions above said surface, and adapted to engage a connector to connect a person to said elongate object in order to restrict the extent to which said person may move in a downwards direction relative to said elongate object.
2. A fall protection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one said elevation portion is movable relative to said cargo transport surface.
3. A fall protection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said elevation portion comprises a rigid substantially elongate object, pivotally attached adjacent said cargo ::. transport surface.
4. A fall protection apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said elevation portion is removably attached adjacent * .. said cargo transport surface.
5. A fall protection apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one second elongate object in engagement with said second elevation portion and at least one slideable member, said slideable member being slidably connected to said cargo transport means adjacent to said second elevation portion, wherein said second elongate object is adapted to exert a component of force on said second elevation portion equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the component of force exerted by said first elongate object parallel to said surface of said cargo transport means.
6. A fall protection apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one said elongate object is flexible.
7. A fall protection apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the height of said first elongate object above said surface of said cargo transport means may be adjusted.
8. A fall protection apparatus for use with cargo transport means, as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings. *..* * * * ** * **** * * S... * .* * . . S... * * * S * S * . * . S 55