IES86206Y1 - Adjustable metal guard and grab railing for use around the perimeter of an exposed and unprotected attic stairs floor opening - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a domestic safety device. In particular the invention relates to a fully adjustable guard and grab railing which can be fitted around the perimeter of an exposed attic stairs floor opening, thus making entering and exiting of, and circulation within an attic space, safer and more secure. The advantage of this invention is that its adjustability features enable the product to be universally fitted to the appropriate floor openings required for all attic stairs units currently available.

Description

Adjustable Metal Guard and Grab Railing for Use Around the Perimeter of an Exposed and Unprotected Attic Stairs Floor Opening.

Field of the invention: The present invention is a safety device relating to exposed attic stairs floor openings. In particular the invention relates to a fuily adjustable guard and grab railing which can be fitted around the perimeter of an exposed attic stairs floor opening, thus making entering and exiting of and circulation within an attic space safer and more secure. The unique lateral and vertical adjustability features of this invention enable it to be universally fitted to the appropriate floor openings required for all attic stairs units currently available.

Background to the invention: To date the room accommodated within a domestic attic space (accessible by means of a retractable attic stairs or loft ladder) has been ignored from a safety perspective, as it is seen as a non-habitable / secondary zone within a dwelling.

Although this is the case, with the unprecedented increase in the number of new homes, a greater emphasis has been placed on utilising the extra available space within one’s home (and in particular that available in ones attic).

With the aforementioned increase in attic space usage have come the added dangers associated with the unreguiated, unprotected and exposed attic floor opening to accommodate the attic stairs. Difficulty in transitioning from the ladder to the attic floor due to the absence of a grab-railing or fixed upright to hold onto.

Precarious manoeuvring about the attic space due to the absence of an adequate guard-railing. Difficulty in exiting the attic space onto the ladder below.

More often the first step of the attic ladder is positioned significantly below the attic floor finish making the transition from the floor to the ladder all the more difficult without the presence of a fixed vertical upright.

There are products currently available on the market which deal with the above safety concerns, however, the availability of a stronger, more stable and most 886205 importantly universally adjustabie invention has not yet been pioneered. The wide range of attic stairs units now available require varying and differing floor opening dimensions. The present invention, whilst addressing all of the initial concerns highlighted also provides a fully adjustable alternative (both on the lateral and vertical planes).

Statement of Invention: According to the invention, there is provided an adjustable metal guard and grab rafting for use around the perimeter of an unprotected attic stairs floor opening comprising: four homogeneous metal legs compiete with dome top closer, top and mid metal rail guides and a metai fixing plate located at the bottom of each leg which can be secured to the side of an attic stairs box; four identical adjustable metal leg support brackets which are secured to the bottom of each of the aforementioned legs with; metal top and mid guard rails (comprising of four identical tubular rail protiies and two tubular sleeve connectors) heid in place by the rail guides located on the iegs and secured in place.

The advantages of the invention are that the fixing plate of the legs allows for iateral fixing, with the adjustable ieg support bracket aliowing for both adaptability of the legs to various floor / trimmer joist sizes whilst providing a vertical fixing point. In essence the dual-directional fixing of the metal legs ensures the rigidity of not only these legs but also of the unit as a whole once assembled. The top and mid rail guide located on each of the legs provide a restraint for the top and mid rails (once in place). Finally the sleeve connector feature allows for the adjustability of the top and mid rails to suit the width of the opening being treated whilst the rail uides allow for rail adjustability to facilitate differing fioor opening iengths. The predriiled openings provided in both the rail guides and sleeve connectors ailow for permanent rigid securing of the top and mid rails once in final position.

Brief Description of the Drawings: The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a 3D perspective view of the adjustable metal guard and grab railing according to the invention.

Fig. 2a-2c show front, rear and side elevation views of the leg component according to the invention; Fig. 3a—3c show front, rear and side elevation views of the adjustable leg support bracket according to the invention; Fig. 3d shows a typical cross section side elevation of the adjustable leg support bracket according to the invention; Fig. 4a-4b show a side view and a plan view of a typical top / mid rail section component according to the invention; Fig. 5a—5b show a front view and a side view of the sleeve connector component according to the invention; Detailed Description of the Drawings: Referring now to the drawings and initially Fig. 1 there is illustrated an adjustable dual-functioning metal guard and grab railing according to the present invention comprising four homogeneous legs / uprights 3 complete with dome top closer 1, metal top and mid rail guides 2 and a metal fixing plate 5 located at the bottom of each leg which can be secured to the side of an attic stairs box. Four identical adjustable leg support brackets 6 which are secured to the bottom of each of the aforementioned legs. Top and mid guard rails 10 (comprising of four identical tubular rail profiles and two sleeve connectors 13) held in place by the rail guides 2 located on the legs and secured in position.

Figures 2a-2c show front, rear and side elevation views of the actual ieg component according to the invention. it is comprised of a main body 3, finished on top with a dome top closer 1, top and mid rail guides 2 consisting of profiled mild strips permanently fixed to the main body and complete with predrilled openings to secure the guard rails 10 in place. There is pennanently located at the bottom of the main body a fixing plate 5 complete with predrilled openings for securing the leg taterally to the side of an attic stairs box. The bottom of the actual leg component rests on the top of the appropriate attic stairs box prior to securing of the fixing plate to the side. A predrilled hole 4 is located on the bottom front face of each ieg to facilitate fastening of the adjustable leg support brackets 6 once in final position. The adjustable leg support brackets move up and down via the slot 8 located on the rear.

Fig. 3a-3c show front, rear and side elevation views of the adjustable leg support bracket according to the invention. This component consists of a metal body, which is ctosed at the top. A fixing ptate 7 is permanently located at the bottom and comes complete with predriiled openings for securing the bracket vertically.

The rear of the bracket contains a continuous slot 8 from its top to its end to facilitate the freely moving restraint plate 9 inside. This plate has a predriiled opening to receive a fastener which when tightened secures the leg support bracket to the actual leg (via the predriiled hole 4 located on the bottom front face of each leg). Upon slackening the restraint plate can be freely move up and down the continuous slot (on the vertical plane). Once the fixing plate 7 is resting on the top of the attic floor I trimmer joist (or attic floor finish, whichever is applicable) the adjustable ieg support bracket is then fastened securely.

Fig. 3d shows a typical cross section side elevation of the adjustable leg support bracket according to the invention. It shows the restraint plate 9 which can freely move inside the bracket until it is finally secured.

Fig. 4a-4b show a side view and a plan view of a typical top I mid rail section component 10 according to the invention. The top and mid rail components are homogeneous with each comprising of two L-shaped tubular profiles finished on one end with a dome closer 11.

Using the tubular sleeves 13 shown in Fig. 5a-5b the rails are temporarily assembled. Two rail components 10 are positioned opposing with the exposed ends (those without dome closers) facing each other. The tubular sleeve gently slides over the exposed ends of the opposing raii components giving a temporary 3 sided rail assembly. This assembly is gently lifted in place with the ends (those with the dome closers) pushed through the top and mid rail guides 2 of each leg component. Once in place the tubular sleeves of the top and mid raiis are adjusted for a comfortable fit. The tubular sleeves are finally secured via the predrilled openings 12.

It wiil be appreciated that the said leg component together with the fixing plate and rail guides shown in Fig. 2a-2c can be made of metal, however in a preferred embodiment this may be made from mild steel. it wilt be appreciated that the adjustable leg support bracket together with the fixing plate and restraint plate shown in Fig. 3a-3d can be made of metal, however in a preferred embodiment this may be made from mild steel. it wili be appreciated that various profiles for the top of the leg support bracket can be incorporated; however in a preferred embodiment a tapered profile to that shown may be used. it wiil be appreciated that the top and mid rail sections shown in Fig. 4a-4b can be made of tubuiar metal, however in a preferred embodiment this may be made from aluminium. it will be appreciated that the sleeve connector component shown in Fig. 5a—5b can be of tubular metal, however in a preferred embodiment this may be made from aluminium.

In one embodiment the fastening and securing method may be achieved by screws, however nuts, bolts or other restraint methods may also be used.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (1)

1. Claims: An adjustable metal guard and grab railing for use around the perimeter of an unprotected attic stairs floor opening comprising: four metal legs complete with rail guides and together with a metal fixing plate located at the bottom of each leg which can be secured laterally to the side of an attic stairs box; four adjustable steel leg support brackets which are secured to the bottom of each ofthe aforementionediegs with; top and mid guard rails (comprising of four identical tubular raiiprofiles and two tubular sleeve connectors). The guard and grab railing of claim 1 comprising wherein the adjustable steel leg support brackets comprise of a continuous slot to the rear and a restraint“ plate, that when fastened secures the support bracket to the leg, ihis can be adjusted accordingly via the continuous slot. The guard and grab railing of any preceding claim wherein the legs comprise of profiled rail guides to enable the supporting and facilitate the fastening of the top and mid rail units. The guard and grab rail of any preceding claim wherein the sleeve connector component comprises a tubular profile which fits snugiy over the open end of the tubular rail profiles before being permanently fastened. A guard and grab railing as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying description and / or drawings.