GB2499038A

GB2499038A - Framed skylight safety net

Info

Publication number: GB2499038A
Application number: GB201201988A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Gerard Whelan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-02-03
Filing date: 2012-02-03
Publication date: 2013-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 2032-02-03
Also published as: GB201201988D0; GB2499038B

Abstract

A safety apparatus is shown and a method of fitting the safety apparatus is disclosed. The safety apparatus prevents entry through a skylight (104). A metal frame 201 is configured to surround a vertical housing. A netting (202) is connected to the frame and extends over a cover of the skylight. The frame is constructed from substantially straight lengths of metal connected by angled connectors. The frame may be galvanized or coated steel. The net may be polypropylene knotless netting having a diameter between 4mm and 8 mm and a mesh spacing between 80 mm and 140 millimetres. The net may have sacrificial portions which are removable to allow periodic strength testing.

Description

INTELLECTUAL

PROPERTY OFFICE

Application No. GB1201988.1 RTM Date :30 May 2012

The following terms are registered trademarks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document:

Allen

Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk

1

Safety Apparatus

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application represents the first application for a patent directed towards the invention and the subject matter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to safety apparatus for preventing entry through a skylight, wherein the skylight extends from a substantially flat roof by defining a housing that's supports a cover of transparent/translucent material.

The present invention also relates to a method of fitting a safety apparatus to a skylight extending from a substantially flat roof to prevent entry there-through.

The present invention also relates to a method of preventing the accidental entry of a person through a skylight extending from a substantially flat roof.

2. Description of the Related Art

Safety apparatus for preventing entry through skylights are known. Skylights often extend from a substantially flat roof by defining a housing that supports a cover of transparent/translucent material. In known systems, it is necessary for the apparatus to be secured to this housing and possibly secured to the roof. A first problem arises in that the strength and stability of the housing is not known therefore this could provide an area of weakness and failure. Furthermore, dependence upon this unknown structure prohibits type approval and certification for health and safety purposes.

In addition, it is undesirable to penetrate roofing structures in order to provide a secure mounting. Such penetration may degrade the integrity of the roof structure. Furthermore, roof composition is likely to be unknown and may

result in the release of dangerous substances such as asbestos.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided safety apparatus of the aforesaid type, comprising a metal frame configured to surround said vertical housing; and netting connected to said frame and extending over said cover.

In an embodiment, the frame is constructed from substantially straight lengths of metal connected by angled connectors.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of fitting a safety apparatus of the aforesaid type, comprising the steps of: creating a netting that covers a transparent or translucent hood and a supporting housing; cutting to length a plurality of substantially straight metal frame sections; connecting said frame sections together using angled connectors while feeding said frame sections through end portions of said netting to form a frame; and placing said frame around said skylight so as to be in contact with said roof.

In an embodiment, the angled connectors are attached to the frame sections by the application of an Alan key.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of preventing the accidental entry of a person through a skylight of the aforesaid type, compromising the steps of; receiving said person within a netting that extends over a skylight cover; allowing a degree of skylight trauma thereby extending a portion of said netting through a skylight opening; and restraining said netting and thereby said person by a frame that holds the netting and extends around a housing of the skylight so as to be too large to enter the skylight opening.

In an embodiment, the frame comprises a plurality of frame sections secured together by elbow connectors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a skylight extending from a substantially flat roof;

Figure 2 shows safety apparatus to prevent entry through the skylight identified in Figure 1;

Figure 3 details netting included in the apparatus of Figure 2

Figure 4 shows the fitting of safety apparatus to a skylight;

Figure 5 details the connecting of frame sections;

Figure 6 details an angled connector;

Figure 7 details the securing of angled connectors;

Figure 8 details the adjustment of orientation;

Figure 9 shows an object being received within the netting; and

Figure 10 shows the apparatus after receiving a fallen object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1

A skylight 101 is shown in Figure 1 that extends from a substantially flat roof, such that the skylight 101 provides ambient light into the floors below.

The skylight 101 is defined by a housing 103 which in turn supports a cover 104 that may be transparent but is often translucent. In some situations, the cover may be made initially from a transparent material that becomes translucent over time due to ambient conditions.

A known problem with skylights of this type is that the cover or hood 104 is relatively brittle and, due to ageing, may become more brittle over a period of time. Thus, when operatives are present on the roof, great care must be taken so as not to apply force upon the cover 104. However, as is well recorded, accidents do happen and inadvertent stepping upon cover 104 may result in cover trauma and breakage resulting in a person falling through the skylight 101.

4

Figure 2

Safety apparatus to prevent entry through a skylight is shown in Figure 2. As previously described, the skylight extends from a substantially flat roof 102 by defining a housing 103 that supports the cover 104 of 5 transparent/translucent material. The safety apparatus includes a metal frame

201 configured to surround the vertical housing 103. Furthermore, a netting

202 is connected to the frame 201 and extends over cover 104.

Often, the frame will define a substantially rectangular shape and in the example shown in Figure 2, the frame 201 defines a substantially square 10 shape.

In an embodiment, the metal frame 201 is constructed from steel and in a further embodiment the steel may be tubular and may be coated. In an embodiment, the tubular steel is galvanised.

The tubular frame 201 is constructed from substantially straight lengths 15 of metal connected by angular connectors or elbow connectors 203. In an embodiment, the angular connectors define angles that are substantially right angles.

In an embodiment, the metal frame 201 has sufficient strength to support a typical load without buckling and without being attached to a roof.

20 Figure 3

Netting 202 is detailed in Figure 3. In an embodiment, the netting is configured to withstand a force in excess of 2 kilo-newton. In an example, the **t\ net may define, typically, a 1.2 metre square with netting increments of 100

•••; millimetre. However, substantially any size can be specified and nets of this

25 type are available from many suppliers.

** In an embodiment, the netting is polypropylene knotless netting. The netting may have a diameter of between 4 millimetre and 8 millimetre. An

„*•. example netting has a diameter of 6 millimetre, thereby being defined by a 6

<• •

millimetre polypropylene knotless netting with a 100 millimetre mesh. Thus, in 30 an embodiment, the netting may have a mesh spacing of between 80

millimetre and 140 millimetre.

In an embodiment, the netting also includes sacrificial portions 301. The sacrificial portions 301 are removable to facilitate periodic strength testing after the apparatus has been deployed.

In an embodiment, it is possible for the apparatus to be assembled on site so as to facilitate the fitting of the safety apparatus without the deployment of heavy equipment. As previously described, the netting 202 is created so has to cover the transparent or translucent hood or cover 104 and the supporting housing 103. In this way, the metal frame 201 may rest on the roof 102 until.

Figure 4

The method of fitting the safety apparatus to a skylight extending from a substantially flat roof to prevent entry there-through further comprises the step of cutting a length 401 of substantially straight metal frame sections. In an embodiment, the sections are cut from steel tube having a length of up to 6.5 metre. In an example, the tube 104 has an external diameter of 34 millimetre and an internal diameter of 25 millimetre. The tube may be specified as medium strength galvanised steel.

Figure 5

In an embodiment, the method of fitting the safety apparatus further comprises connecting the frame sections together using angled connectors while feeding the frame sections through end portions of the netting to form a frame. Thus, individual tubes, such as tube 401 shown in Figure 5, are threaded through alternate cords, such that, in the example, the tube 401 is placed under cord 501 and over adjacent cord 502.

Figure 6

In an embodiment, frame sections are held together by angled connectors, such as connector 601. Angled connector 601 includes a first bolt 602 for holding a first frame section and a second bolt 603 for securing a

second frame section. After frame sections have been inserted, bolt 602 and bolt 603 are tightened by the application of a hex key 604.

Figure 7

The completion of the apparatus is achieved by each of the angled (elbow) connectors being secured by the application of the hex key to the respective bolts, as illustrated in Figure 7.

Figure 8

Having secured all of the bolts, a total of eight in this example, the orientation of the resulting frame 201 may be adjusted. In particular, the frame is placed around the skylight so as to be in contact with the roof. In an exemplar deployment, the frame is placed in position in the alternative configuration, such that the bolts are on the under surface, in contact with the roof and therefore not visible.

Figure 9

After deployment the invention extends to a method of preventing the accidental entry of a person or object 901 through a skylight 902 extending from a substantially flat roof 903.

The falling person or object is received within a netting 904 that extends over a skylight cover 905. A degree of skylight trauma is allowed thereby extending a portion of the netting through a skylight opening. However, the netting is restrained and thereby the falling person or object is restrained by the frame that holds the netting and extends around the housing of the skylight so as to be too large to enter the skylight opening.

Figure 10

As illustrated in Figure 10, an object 1001 has fallen towards the skylight thereby causing trauma of the skylight cover. This may result in breakage and a small amount of the translucent material may fall through the

skylight opening. However, the object 1001 has been restrained by netting 1002 held firmly by frame 201. The netting is strong enough to hold the weight of the fallen object. Similarly, the metal frame is strong enough so as to resist any buckling. Under this condition, it is not possible, due to the size, for the frame to enter through the skylight opening. Accidental entry is thereby prevented thereby providing safe access to the roof area.

8

Claims

Claims What we claim is:

1. Safety apparatus to prevent entry through a skylight, wherein said skylight extends from a substantially flat roof by defining a housing that supports a cover of transparent/translucent material, said apparatus comprising:

a metal frame configured to surround said vertical housing; and netting connected to said frame and extending over said cover.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frame defines a substantially rectangular shape.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frame defines a substantially square shape.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said metal frame is constructed from steel.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said steel is tubular.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said steel is coated.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said steel is galvanised.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frame is constructed from substantially straight lengths of metal connected by angled connectors.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said angled connectors define angles that are substantially right angles.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said metal frame has sufficient strength to support a typical load without buckling and without being attached to a roof.

11. A method of fitting a safety apparatus to a skylight extending from a substantially flat roof to prevent entry there-through, comprising the steps of:

creating a netting that covers a transparent or translucent hood and a supporting housing;

cutting to length a plurality of substantially straight metal frame sections;

and connecting said frame sections together using angled connectors while feeding said frame sections through end portions of said netting to form a frame; and placing said frame around said skylight so as to be in contact with said roof.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said netting is polypropylene knotless netting.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said netting has a diameter of between 4mm and 8mm.

14. The method of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein said netting has a mesh spacing of between 80mm and 140mm.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said angled connectors are attached to said frame section by the application of an alien key.

16. A method of preventing the accidental entry of a person through a skylight extending from a substantially flat roof, comprising the steps of:

10

receiving said person within a netting that extends over a skylight cover; allowing a degree of skylight trauma thereby extending a portion of said netting through a skylight opening; and restraining said netting and thereby said person by a frame that holds 5 the netting and extends around a housing of the skylight so as to be too large to enter the skylight opening.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said netting is configured to withstand a force in excess of two kilo-newton.

10

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said frame comprises a plurality of frame sections secured together by elbow connectors.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said frame sections are tubular

15 steel.

20. The method of claim 16, including sacrificial portions of netting that a removable to facilitate periodic strength testing.