GB2580389A

GB2580389A - Securing system

Info

Publication number: GB2580389A
Application number: GB1900281.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ford David
Original assignee: Astute Safety Solutions Ltd
Current assignee: Astute Safety Solutions Ltd
Priority date: 2019-01-09
Filing date: 2019-01-09
Publication date: 2020-07-22
Also published as: GB201900281D0; WO2020144457A1

Abstract

A securing system comprises a receiving member 12 for receiving one or more cylindrical members 16’, 16” and a securing member slideably movable relative to the receiving member so as to define a first position for securing one cylindrical member and at least a second position for securing two cylindrical members. The receiving member may comprise two vertically spaced apart arms 42, 44 to define an open region 46 for receiving one or more cylindrical members. The receiving member may comprise a sleeve locatable around a support post. Each arm may comprise first apertures defining a first position for securing one cylindrical member and second apertures defining a second position for receiving two cylindrical members. The securing member may comprise third and fourth apertures 66, 68 so as to enable the securing member to be fixed in position via either the first apertures or the second apertures. A safety barrier comprising at least one panel having a tubular member connected to a support by the securing system is also claimed.

Description

Title: Securing System

Field of the invention

This invention relates to a securing system for securing cylindrical members, such as elements of scaffolding, to a support.

Background to the invention

The construction industry often needs to temporarily secure elements such as rods, poles and other cylindrical members to structures, particularly when placing edge protection, such as safety barriers, into position. Positioning and securing the cylindrical members can be fiddly, particularly when securing takes place at height, so increasing installation time which is undesirable for safety considerations.

Summary of the invention

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a securing system for securing cylindrical members to a support, the securing system comprising a receiving member for receiving one or more cylindrical members and a securing member movable with respect to the receiving member, wherein the securing member is slideably movable relative to the receiving member so as to define a first position for securing one cylindrical member and at least a second position for securing two cylindrical members. The securing system is particularly of use for edge protection barriers where a number of panels are required to be connected together using cylindrical members such as rods, poles or tubes and connected to supports on a building structure. Such a securing system can be used to secure single cylindrical members and al so overlapping cylindrical members.

The receiving member may comprise two spaced apart arms to define an open region for receiving one or more cylindrical members. The arms may be disposed one above the other and preferably the open region may receive a maximum of two cylindrical 30 members.

The securing member preferably locates over both arms for slideable movement.

Preferably each arm comprises a first and a second aperture, the first apertures defining a first position for securing one cylindrical member and the second apertures defining a second position for receiving two cylindrical members.

The securing member preferably comprises third and fourth apertures, so as to enable the securing member to be fixed in position using fixing means, such as a gravity locking pin, otherwise known as a pigtail pin, or bolt, extending through the third and fourth apertures and either both of the first apertures or both of the second apertures. Typically the first apertures of each arm will be in opposing alignment with the io second apertures of each arm also in opposing alignment The receiving member may form part of a support post fixable to a building structure or may be movable relative to such a support post, and thus the receiving member may further comprise a sleeve locatable around and movable with respect to a fixed Is support post. The sleeve enables the receiving member to be moved up and down with respect to a support post. This allows an existing barrier system already secured using the securing system to have its position along the support post adjusted without the need for disassembly.

The sleeve may further comprise a plurality of spaced apart apertures such that fixing means, such as bolts, gravity locking pins or pigtail pins, can be used to secure the sleeve to a support post.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is also provided a safety barrier for use during building construction, the barrier comprising at least one panel integrally formed with at least one tubular section extending laterally across the panel, and so extending from opposite sidewalls of the panel, the tubular section receiving a removable cylindrical member which is connectable to a support using a securing system as discussed above The cylindrical member may be tubular in form The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the securing system used with a safety barrier; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a receiving member forming part of the securing system; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a securing member forming part of the securing system; Figure 4 shows a detailed perspective view of the securing system in use to secure a single cylindrical member; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the securing system in use to secure two cylindrical members; Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the securing system with fixing means io positioned through the securing member; and Figure 7 shows a view of a safety barrier using a securing system.

Description

In Figure 1, securing system 10 is used to secure elongate cylindrical members 16, 16', 16" such as rods, poles or tubular members to vertical support post 20. Tubes 16, 16' are located within panel 22, with tubes 16, 16' passing through hollow tubular sections 24 integrally formed in panel 22 Typically the panels and cylindrical members are made of plastics materials such as fibre reinforced plastics or composite materials and where tubular members are used, desirably the tubular members are formed with a cruciform cross-section.

Securing system 10 comprises receiving member 12 and securing member 14 is slideably locatable on receiving member 12. Both post 20 and receiving member 12 are provided with apertures through which bolts and/or gravity locking pins, otherwise known as pigtail pins, can be used to temporarily secure them to each other, and similarly receiving member 12 and securing member 14 are provided with apertures to allow them to be temporarily secured to each other.

Vertical post 20 is secured to a contact surface, typically the floor of a structure, using connector plate 26 and upright spaced apart plates 28 secured to connector plate 26 Connector plate 26 is typically connected to a surface using bolts. To secure post 20 in position, typically a bolt is positioned to extend through aperture 30 on plates 28 so as to pivotally secure post 20 to plates 28 and a gravity locking pin used in one of an arc 32 of apertures to define the angle of inclination of post 20, post 20 being positionable at a different angles relative to the vertical depending on which of the apertures within arc 32 is selected Receiving member 12 is shown in detail in Figure 2 and comprises a hollow substantially rectangular sleeve 40 attached to arms 42, 44, with arm 42 disposed directly above 44 so as to form an opening or receiving channel 46 into which tubular members can be positioned and supported. Two opposing faces 48 of sleeve 40 are io provided with a plurality of apertures 49, with apertures on each face 48 in opposing alignment so as to allow bolts or other securing means to be passed through these apertures and through apertures in post 20 so as to secure sleeve 40 to post 20. Arms 42, 44 are each provided with two laterally spaced apart apertures 50, 50', 52, 52', with apertures 50, 50' in opposing alignment, and similarly apertures 52, 52' also in opposing alignment to create two pairs of apertures. Typically receiving member 12 is made of plastics materials such as fibre reinforced plastics or composite materials but can be made of metal.

Securing member 14 is shown in Figure 3 and comprises two identical faces 60 joined together by rectangular elements 62 and central element 63. Face 60 is formed with a cutaway portion 64 being substantially semi-circular and a first aperture 66 and a second aperture 68. Faces 60 are connected together so that a first channel extends through first apertures 66 and a second channel through apertures 68, with these channels suitable for receiving gravity locking pins or other fixings such as bolts.

Securing member 14 can be formed as a solid piece with channels if required although this increases the amount of material used and the weight. Typically securing member 14 is made of plastics materials such as fibre reinforced plastics or composite materials but can be made of metal.

In Figure 4, securing member 14 is shown in a first position for securing a single tubular member 16, securing member 14 being slid over arms 42, 44 until apertures 66, 68 are in alignment with the first pair of arm apertures 50, 50'. Gravity locking pins or bolts (not shown) are then inserted through the aligned apertures to lock securing member 14 to receiver member 12.

A second position of securing member 14 is shown in Figure 5 where two tubular members 16', 16" are secured within opening 46. In this arrangement, securing member 14 is slid over arms 42, 44 until apertures 66, 68 are in alignment with the second pair of arm apertures 52, 52'. Figure 6 shows how gravity pins 70 can be used through the aligned apertures to lock securing member 14 in position relative to receiving member 12. If desired arms 42, 44 can be elongated further and provided to with additional pairs of apertures to so as to receive one, two, three or four cylindrical members.

A safety barrier 72 comprising a plurality of panels 22 is shown in Figure 7 with tubes 16, 16' extending through four adjoining panels and connected to posts 20 at either IS end of the run of panels by securing systems 10. Typically the safety barrier will be replicated for a plurality of consecutive support posts extending along an edge of a building floor or surface. Panels 22 do not need to be removed from support posts 20 to have their height adjusted, rather the position of the panels along the length of posts 20 can be altered by removing the fixings used between each receiving member 12 and post 20 and then moving sleeves 40 relative to the post, the tubes and panels being carried with this movement by virtue of securing system 10 securing the tubes in position. If desired, the arrangement shown in Figure 7 can be used at angles as defined by plates 28 and can be used in an inverted arrangement if necessary.

Claims

Claims 1. A securing system for securing cylindrical members to a support, the securing system comprising a receiving member for receiving one or more cylindrical members and a securing member movable with respect to the receiving member, wherein the securing member is slideably movable relative to the receiving member so as to define a first position for securing one cylindrical member and at least a second position for securing two cylindrical members.
2. A securing system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving member comprises it) two spaced apart arms to define an open region for receiving one or more cylindrical members.
3. A securing system according to claim 2, wherein the arms are disposed vertically one above the other.
4 A securing system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving member further comprises a sleeve locatable around and movable with respect to a support post
5. A securing system according to claim 4, wherein the sleeve further comprises a plurality of spaced apart apertures.
6. A securing system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the securing member locates over both arms for slideable movement.
7. A securing system according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein each arm comprises a first and a second aperture, the first apertures defining a first position for securing one cylindrical member and the second apertures defining a second position for receiving two cylindrical members
8. A securing system according to claim 7, wherein the securing member comprises third and fourth apertures so as to enable the securing member to be fixed in position to either both of the first apertures or both of the second apertures.
9. A safety barrier for use during building construction, the barrier comprising at least one panel integrally formed with at least one tubular section extending laterally across the panel, and so extending from opposite sidewalls of the panel, the tubular section receiving a removable tubular member connected to a support using a securing system in accordance with any of claims 1 to 7.
10. A safety barrier according to claim 9, wherein the cylindrical member is tubular.