GB2499798A

GB2499798A - Securement rail with catches

Info

Publication number: GB2499798A
Application number: GB1203429.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Dunne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-02-28
Filing date: 2012-02-28
Publication date: 2013-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 2032-02-28
Also published as: GB2499798B; GB201203429D0

Abstract

A securement rail for climbers or those working at altitude is disclosed. In particular, the securing safety rail comprises an elongate member with a plurality of displaceable catches for interface with a user clip and line. Preferably the catches are arranged in a linear fashion along the rail and are sprung so that they can be displaced as the clip passes them along the rail, but return to their original position once the clip has passed them. Preferably, the catches are associated with a cam. Optionally, the user may lock the catches via a lock mechanism to prevent movement in an undesired direction. Optionally, the rail has a cover and the clip is formed has a C cross section and clips over the cover.

Description

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A SECUREMENT RAIL AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEM OF MULTIPLE RAILS Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to securement rail and associated system of multiple rails, for users more particularly but not exclusively in elevated positions.

Background

Despite many increases in safety and security in many fields, due either to increased awareness or improving technology, climbing or working at altitude remains a typically dangerous activity.

Although lighter stronger materials are available and advances have been made in clothing and equipment, standard safety equipment remains little changed from early days.

When climbing or adventuring it can be part of the attraction for those who partake in such activities. For others it is undesirable, especially in training or practising scenarios.

In a work environment, such as window cleaning, painting or repair work at altitude it can be highly undesirable, and frequently robust, jennys, scaffolding or other structures are utilised to aid the worker or user.

This has cost consequences, and in any event does not address safety issues raised.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem, including the following:

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European patent application EP 2 247 342 (DE BOECK) discloses a fall prevention system, comprising: a securing means which runs at least between a first anchoring point and a second anchoring point for a base, a mobile securing point is arranged on the securing means, the mobile securing point being locked with respect to the securing means, the mobile securing point being connected to an object by means of a connecting means and the object is a person, a load, a safety harness, a safety belt or a safety vest, an additional external securing means arranged approximately at an anchoring point, the additional external securing means being connected fixedly to the base with one end and fixedly to a locking part with the other end, the locking part corresponds with a locking unit of the mobile securing point, and unlocking of the mobile securing point with respect to the securing means can only be achieved by attaching the locking part, wherein a locked connection exists between the mobile securing point and the locking part after the unlocking of the connection between the securing means and the mobile securing point.

European patent application EP 2 155 338 (MAES) discloses a fall arrest assembly having belay lines and anchor stations extending between objects which is adapted to slidably receive a shuttle coupled to a person traversing the belay lines, the assembly comprising a mounting plate defining a plurality of openings therethrough, characterized in that the assembly further comprises: a support extension fixed rigidly to said mounting plate, said support extension carrying a shuttle guide thereon, - said shuttle guide configured for slidable passage of a shuttle thereover and further configured to be coupled to the belay lines, a plurality of anchor elements having a section configured to extend through said plurality of openings in said mounting plate, - means of clamping the anchor elements around an object.

Chinese utility model CN 2 829 788 (ZHANG) discloses a fixed falling proof safety device which comprises a guiding piece and a unidirectional self-locking device which can be sheathed with the guiding piece in a slippery motion. The utility model is characterized in that the guiding piece is a rigid guide rail; the unidirectional self-locking device comprises a body and a connecting piece, wherein the body is provided with a sliding-groove and a self-locking piece and is sheathed with the rigid guide rail through the sliding groove, and the connecting piece is arranged on the tail end of the self-locking piece. Compared with the prior art, the utility model has the advantages that owing to the arrangement of the rigid guide rail, a matched

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unidirectional self-locking device and vertical or horizontal rails arranged on a building or a constructional work, an operational worker can climb upwards only through sheathing a safety device with the guide rail in climbing; the safety device can move with the operational worker up and down, when falls, the operational worker is locked by the safety device in a short distance to stop falling; the safety device has high safety, and the unidirectional self-locking device has the advantages of simple structure, small and compact appearance, light weight and convenient carryover.

Granted United States patent US 6 991 201 (DIGGLE) discloses a line support, comprising: a first support member having an elongate body; a second support member having an elongate body, the first and second support members secured to one another at a proximal end of the line support and positioned such that support is provided by a biasing force at a distal end of the line support wherein the first and second support members are resilient, and wherein the first and second support members are in close proximity to one another substantially along their lengths when the first and the second support members are unoccupied, wherein the second support member further comprises at least two alignment channels positioned at a distal end of the second support member and extending beyond the second support member; and a sliding retainer selectively positionable about the first and second support members and configured such that the biasing force is selectively adjustable.

Granted United States patent US 6 378 651 (ECKER et al) discloses a fall arrest system comprising: a horizontal lifeline; a connector slideably supported on the horizontal lifeline; and at least one intermediate support for the horizontal lifeline, each of the at least one intermediate supports comprising: an anchor body having a substantially u-shaped bracket; a pair of rotatable star wheels having a plurality of projections, the projections from one star wheel meshing with the projections from the other star wheel within the bracket to support the horizontal lifeline while permitting the connector to pass there-through; and each star wheel being mounted on the bracket at an angle to each other such that the projections of each star wheel, when supporting the horizontal lifeline, may in turn be supported by the bracket if the projections are deformed by a load being applied to the horizontal lifeline.

Granted European patent EP 1 148 913 (SCHMIDT) discloses a device for climbing flexible or rigid elongated support elements using grabs and blocking elements,

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characterized by the grabs having connective elements arranged to hold the climber so that when climbing, the shifting of weight acts on the grabs and a temporary adjusting member is arranged in the grabs so that when the weight is taken off the grabs they open and activate the temporary adjustment member and that after at the interval of time has passed for the temporary adjustment member the grabs close on the support element in a position selected by the climber.

In contrast the present invention provides a means of ensuring safety when working a height, ensuring falls are broken or prevented and simultaneously allowing apparent freedom in a non-intrusive manner.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a securement rail and associated system of multiple rails, said rail comprising an elongate member, with a plurality of displaceable catches for interface with a user clip and line.

The rail and system are used on a building, vertical or horizontal structure.

In preferred embodiments and according to a second aspect of the present invention the catches, are sprung rotatably hinged so that the catch may be displaced about a fix point.

According to a third aspect of present invention these fix points are arranged in a linear fashion, being arranged along the member, and correspondingly any structure to which the rail is attached, and are sprung so that the fix points work to provide a sequence of orthogonal catches to the member.

Therefore the catches will displace as the clip passes them, but return after passage. In some embodiments this may be immediate, whereas in others it is likely to be retarded.

In preferred embodiments the catches include a cam mounting, wherein the mounting ensures that each catch is displaced in cooperation with a follower, said follower preventing said displacement at an excessive speed, wherein the catch and

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follower are only capable of cooperative movement, and a displacement speed may be accordingly predefined.

In relation to any corners or multi plane or multi angled structures a plurality of rails may be arranged, in ideal embodiments in order that the user may pass from one rail to another without detaching their clip from the rail.

In this way in use in preferred embodiments a user may attach a clip to the member and the catch or catches will limit movement along the member.

Each catch that the clip contacts or interfaces with will accordingly have an effect on the clip, for example wherein the clip is prevented from movement by the catch, or in other embodiments and/or in addition is inhibited or slowed by passage past the catch.

This ensures that for example during an uncontrolled movement along the rail or member the clip and user are slowed or prevented from movement. This ensures that any falls are broken or slowed to safe limits.

In addition or the alternative in all preferred embodiments and according to a fourth aspect of the present invention the clip may pass from catch to catch and accordingly travel along the rail, in a continuous movement along a single plane without being deviated from said plane, and therefore without creating unnecessary movements for the user or his/her line.

In some embodiments the user may lock the catches, for example wherein the rail has a centrally or conveniently situated lock mechanism, by which the user is able to limit movement of at least some of the catches in a particular direction.

For example the user may set the mechanism so that when the user ascends the catches will be passed and in so doing will displace accordingly, and wherein the user may lock the mechanism behind him or her so that displacement in a reverse direction will be prevented or at a minimum limited.

In such embodiments the rail provides a release of such a lock mechanism, ideally wherein the release is readily or centrally located.

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In preferred embodiments however where a user moves at pace that corresponds to a speed by which the catches spring back, the rail will not impede the user's progresses; but where the user moves too fast for the springs to return the catches to original positions the catches will lock.

Ideally the rail, catches and any clip used with the system are formed in a robust metal with minimal potential break points.

Typically the rail includes a cover according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in order to furthermore improve the robustness of the catches, wherein movement away from the member is inhibited by the cover's securement to the member.

In such preferred embodiments the clip is formed as a C section, clipping over the cover and interfacing with the catches and/or member below the cover.

The C section is formed by two hook ends and a flat face, wherein the face sits proximate the cover, and the ends surround the cover and extend below it, consequently interfacing with the catches.

For example the clip may in part be in contact with the cover, and in part be in contact with the member; wherein more particularly one hook end is in contact with the cover, and the other is in contact with the member when in use.

The clip therefore runs along the cover and supplies support for a user's line. Typically therefore the clip includes an attachment point for a line, lanyard attachment point or carabineer.

The user is therefore clipped on to the rail by a harness and slides the clip slowly along the rail as they walk/climb.

If the user slips, falls or moves too fast along the rail the mechanism inside locks stopping the user from falling, the weight or pressure being released the spring loaded cams can reset and the rail becomes fully operational again.

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The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the rail in use, with its cover partially displaced;

Figure 2 shows a rear view of the embodiment;

Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the rail;

and

Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the rail.

Detailed Description of Figures

The components needed are the back-plate or member of the rail, the lid part or cover of the rail, cams, the rotational two pronged catch that locks against the cams as well as the member.

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Also required for using the rail will be an especially modified clip (not shown) for sliding along the rail which the user is attached to by harness.

The rail allows the user to climb or walk freely no longer needing to un-clip and detach and re-attach the clip making the system safer, saving time and allowing the user to keep hands free at all times.

The rail can be mounted on any surface floor, ceiling or wall and in any direction horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

The pictured and preferred embodiment stops the user from falling immediately in any direction.

In addition or the alternative with or in the pictured embodiment a user can carry a load either below or behind on a separate line and both can be saved from fall independently, alternatively two or more users can use the rail at the same time although crossing over and passing will mean they need to briefly detach from the rail.

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Claims

1. A securement rail and associated system of multiple rails, said rail comprising an elongate member, with a plurality of displaceable catches for interface with a user clip and line.

2. A rail according to claim 1 wherein each catch is sprung rotatably hinged about a fix point.

3. A rail according to claim 2 wherein fix points are arranged in a linear fashion, being arranged along the member, and correspondingly any structure to which the rail is attached.

4. A rail according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the catches are sprung so that the fix points without displacement provide a sequence of orthogonal catches to the member.

5. A rail according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein a user attaches a clip to the rail in use, being suspended by a line.

6. A rail according to claim 5 wherein the clip may pass from catch to catch and accordingly travel along the rail, in a continuous movement along a single plane.

7. A rail according to a preceding claim wherein the catches are on cams.

8. A rail according to a preceding claim wherein if the clip moves along the rail too fast the catches will lock.

9. A system including rails according to any preceding claim wherein the rails interface at a plurality of angles.