ITMI20111800A1 - SUPPORT DEVICE FOR LIFE LINES - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

â € œSUPPORT DEVICE FOR LIFE LINESâ €

The present invention relates to a lifeline support device, the lifeline comprising this device, a method for manufacturing such a device and a method for installing this device.

There are known lifelines intended to be mounted on fixed structures typically located at a certain height from the ground, such as roofs of buildings, walls or beams, as a fall protection system for operators operating at this height from the ground. These lifelines avoid, in case of loss of balance by the operator and a downward slide, the impact of the operator with underlying structures or with the ground, or at least limit its violence.

Lifelines are known comprising two support devices fixed above building roofs and comprising a flat metal plate stably fixed to the roof and a portion for fixing a cable for connecting the lifeline, preferably made of steel, which is fixed between support devices. An operator can hook onto the cable using a fall protection device (such as a harness, safety cable, carabiner or similar safety equipment), being able to move along the cable between the support devices. In this way the operator can work safely on the building structure.

The Applicant has found that the current lifeline support devices are not free from drawbacks and can be improved under various aspects.

In particular, the Applicant has found that the current plate support devices for lifelines cannot be easily mounted on the ridge of the roofs, ie in correspondence with the separation line between the pitches of the roof. In fact, typically these supports are equipped with a flat plate that does not fit the ridge of the roof. Furthermore, even if it is desired to adapt this plate to the ridge of the roof by shaping it (e.g. bending it) appropriately, this operation provides an unsatisfactory result. It should also be kept in mind that the slope of the pitches can vary (typically from a few degrees up to 60 degrees).

The Applicant has also found that the bulk of the current plate support devices creates some drawbacks in the transport and / or storage operations.

In this situation, the underlying purpose of the present invention, in its various aspects and / or embodiments, is to provide a support device for lifelines, a support system and a lifeline comprising this device, a manufacturing method of the support device and a method for installing the support device that may be able to overcome one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks.

This purpose, and any others, which will become clearer in the course of the following description, is substantially achieved by a support device for lifelines, a support system and a lifeline comprising this device, a method for manufacturing this device and a method for installing the device, having the technical characteristics contained in one or more of the appended claims, as well as according to the following aspects and / or exemplary embodiments, variously combined with each other and with the aforementioned claims.

In one aspect the invention relates to a lifeline support device comprising:

- a support element comprising a main body having a (substantially) plate-like conformation and a portion for mechanical coupling with a cable of said lifeline;

- a first and second fin having a (substantially) plate-like conformation and mechanically coupled to the main body from respective opposite parts of the latter, the first and second fin being intended to be rigidly fixed to a building structure.

In one aspect, the main body of the support element comprises a support wall and a first and a second side walls facing each other and extending from two opposite ends of the support wall, each side wall having at least one through slot.

In one aspect, each fin has at least one projecting tongue at a respective end, which is inserted in the aforementioned slot of a respective side wall in order to achieve the aforementioned mechanical coupling between the main body and the respective fin, where the fin can rotating with respect to the support element about an axis of rotation arranged along the prevailing direction of development of the slot. In one aspect, each side wall has a plurality of through slots having the prevailing development directions aligned with each other, where each tab has at said respective end a corresponding (i.e. having the same number) plurality of tabs, which are inserted in the aforementioned plurality of slots in the respective side wall in order to achieve the aforementioned mechanical coupling between the main body and the respective flap, where the flap can rotate with respect to the support element around an axis of rotation arranged along the prevailing direction of development of the slots.

In one aspect the main body has a longitudinal development direction (typically prevalent, typically parallel to the cable of the lifeline when installed), a transversal development direction, orthogonal to the longitudinal one, and a vertical development direction, orthogonal to both directions longitudinal and transverse.

In one aspect the main body (and its parts) has an outer face and an inner face opposite each other, the side walls facing each other with the respective inner face. Advantageously, the internal face is designed to face the top of the ridge of the roof. By first and second side walls facing each other it is meant that the first and second walls are parallel (preferably) or (the respective planes) form an angle between them (indirectly), taken on the side of the internal face, less than 180 °, preferably less than or equal to 90 °, more preferably less than or equal to 45 °.

In one aspect, the first and second side walls extend from the two ends of the support wall opposite to the transverse direction, preferably they extend along the longitudinal direction and at least along the vertical direction.

In one aspect the support wall and / or the first and / or the second side wall are (substantially) flat. Preferably the lying plane of the supporting wall comprises the longitudinal and transverse directions. Preferably the lying plane of the first and / or second side wall comprises the longitudinal and vertical directions.

In one aspect, a respective first longitudinal fold defines each side wall from the supporting wall.

In one aspect, the angle (meaning the smaller angle between the two complementary angles that are formed) formed by the first and / or second side wall with the supporting wall is located on the internal face.

In one aspect the angle formed by the first and / or second side wall with the supporting wall is less than or equal to 135 °, preferably less than or equal to 115 °, for example 90 °.

In one aspect the angle formed by the first and / or second side wall with the supporting wall is greater than or equal to 45 °, preferably greater than or equal to 65 °.

Advantageously, the main body (e.g. its internal face) defines a semi-closed space delimited by the side walls and by the supporting wall in which the top of the roof ridge is housed, when the element is installed.

In one aspect, a vertical end portion of each side wall arranged on the side (vertically) opposite the support wall is bent towards the opposite side wall along a second fold line preferably longitudinally arranged. Preferably the end portion is substantially planar and forms an angle with the remaining part of the respective side wall less than or equal to 90 °, preferably strictly less than 90 °, for example less than or equal to 75 °. Advantageously, this portion confers structural rigidity to the main body along the longitudinal direction and / or constitutes a support of the main body on the underlying cover.

In one aspect the through slot / s has / have a prevalent longitudinal direction of development (so that the fins can rotate around a longitudinal rotation axis). Preferably the slit (s) is / are positioned approximately median of the vertical development of the lateral wall. In one aspect the longitudinal length of the main body (e.g. of its walls) and / or of the fins (e.g. of their walls) is greater than or equal to 25cm, preferably (for support devices with the anchor body) greater than or equal to 50cm and / or less than or equal to 100cm, preferably less than or equal to 80cm.

In one aspect the height of the main body (e.g. of its side walls) is greater than or equal to 3cm, preferably greater than or equal to 5cm and / or less than or equal to 12cm, preferably less than or equal to 10cm.

In one aspect the transverse width of the main body (e.g. of the supporting wall) is greater than or equal to 10cm, preferably greater than or equal to 20cm and / or less than or equal to 50cm, preferably less than or equal to 40cm.

In one aspect the transverse width of the folded portion of the side walls is greater than or equal to 1cm, preferably greater than or equal to 2cm and / or less than or equal to 5cm, preferably less than or equal to 4cm.

In one aspect, each fin comprises an upper face and a lower face opposite each other, the lower face being designed to face the building structure.

In one aspect, each fin comprises a fastening wall, preferably (substantially) flat, intended to be rigidly fixed to the building structure, a first secondary wall, preferably (substantially) flat, adjacent to the fastening wall and delimited therefrom by a third fold preferably longitudinal and a second secondary wall, preferably (substantially) flat, adjacent to the first secondary wall and delimited therefrom by a fourth fold with preferably longitudinal development.

In one aspect, the tab (s) protrude from a transverse end edge (with longitudinal development) of the respective fin, preferably from the transversal end edge (with longitudinal development) of the respective second secondary wall.

In one aspect, the tab (s) comprises (or are delimited by) a respective fifth fold with a preferably longitudinal development. Preferably each tab comprises a first (substantially) flat portion (e.g. coplanar with the second secondary wall) interposed between the fifth fold and the transverse end edge of the respective tab, preferably having the same dimension, along the aforementioned longitudinal direction, of the remaining part of the tab. Preferably each tab comprises a second (substantially) flat portion interposed between the fifth fold and the free end edge of the tab.

In one aspect the parts of the transverse end edge of each fin left free by the tongue (s) are abutting against the outer face of the main body (e.g. against the outer face of the respective side wall).

In one aspect, the (minor) angle formed by the fastening wall and the first secondary wall and the (minor) angle formed by the first and second secondary walls are located on opposite faces of the respective fin, and are preferably equal (in this case way the fixing wall and the second secondary wall are parallel to each other).

In one aspect, the minor angle formed by each tab at the fifth fold is on the same (lower) face of the respective tab on which the angle formed by the first and second secondary walls is located.

In one aspect the (minor) angle formed by the first secondary wall with the fastening wall is located on the upper face of the fin and is less than or equal to 150 °, preferably less than or equal to 125 °, and / or greater than or equal to 60 °, preferably greater than or equal to 90 °, more preferably strictly greater than 90 ° (for example 99 °).

In one aspect the (minor) angle formed by the second secondary wall with the first secondary wall is located on the lower face of the fin and is less than or equal to 150 °, preferably less than or equal to 125 ° and / or greater of or equal to 60 °, preferably greater than (or equal to) 90 ° (e.g. 99 °).

In one aspect the (minor) angle formed by each tab at the fifth fold is on the underside of the flap and is less than or equal to 120 °, preferably less than or equal to 90 °, and / or greater of or equal to 45 °, preferably greater than or equal to 65 °. Preferably this angle is strictly less than 90 °, in order to make the free end of the tabs abut against the internal face of the support element for typical values of slope of the pitches. Preferably this angle is approximately complementary (e.g. the sum is equal to 180 ° +/- 10 °) to the angle formed between the first and second secondary walls (thus the first secondary wall and the (second portion of the ) tab are parallel to each other).

In one aspect, the width (i.e. the dimension orthogonal to the longitudinal one) of the first secondary wall is approximately equal (i.e. within / -10%, preferably within 0% / + 5%) to the distance of the crack (s) from the second fold line, being preferably greater than or equal to 1cm, preferably greater than or equal to 2cm and / or less than or equal to 10cm, preferably less than or equal to 6cm.

In one aspect the width of the second secondary wall is greater than or equal to 1cm, preferably greater than or equal to 2cm and / or less than or equal to 10cm, preferably less than or equal to 6cm.

In one aspect the length of each tab along the longitudinal direction is greater than or equal to 0.5cm, preferably greater than or equal to 1cm and / or less than or equal to 5cm, preferably less than or equal to 4cm.

In one aspect, the overall width of each tab (i.e. the total length of its prevailing development, locally orthogonal to the longitudinal direction) is greater than or equal to 1cm, preferably greater than or equal to 2cm and / or less than or equal to 5cm , preferably less than or equal to 4cm.

In one aspect the distance between the fifth fold and the fourth fold (e.g. the width of the second secondary wall or the sum of that width with the width of the first portion of the tab, if present) is greater (slightly prefixed, i.e. less than 20% more) than, or equal to, the distance of the slot (s) from the second fold line. Advantageously, it is thus possible to completely insert the (folded) tabs into the slots and then rotate the tabs to the desired angle.

In one aspect, an end portion of each fastening wall arranged on the opposite side to the first secondary wall is folded in a direction opposite to the folding direction of the first secondary wall along a sixth fold line preferably arranged longitudinally (or parallel to the proximal edge of the fixing wall). Preferably the end portion is substantially planar and forms an angle with the remaining part of the respective fixing wall equal to about 90 ° +/- 20 °, for example 90 °. Advantageously, this portion confers structural rigidity to the fixing body along the longitudinal direction and / or constitutes a support of the fixing body on the underlying cover.

In one aspect, said portion for mechanical coupling with a cable comprises an anchoring body for the cable, preferably having a substantially plate-like conformation, equipped with an end rigidly constrained to the main body and a free end opposite to said end constrained by the cable anchor.

In one aspect, the anchoring body has a series of bending lines interposed between said free and constrained ends, each pair of adjacent bending lines delimiting a respective sub-portion of the anchoring body so as to define a series of sub-portions each lying on a plane oblique with respect to the storage plane of the adjacent sub-portions; where the anchoring body is structured to deform at least in correspondence with said bending lines by effect of a traction force applied to said free end in such a way that the free end modifies its position with respect to the constrained end.

In one aspect, the main body forms a single substantially plate-like body with the anchoring body. In one aspect, the supporting wall of the main body comprises two portions, arranged at two edges adjacent to and on opposite sides of the anchoring body and having a longitudinal development, the two portions being folded along a seventh fold line having development preferably longitudinal and forming an angle with the remaining part of the support wall on the internal face part and preferably greater than 90 °, more preferably greater than or equal to 75 °. Advantageously, these folded portions can act as a slide surface for the anchoring body in case of tearing on the cable, thus avoiding the locking of the anchoring body against the support wall (e.g. against one of its two edges adjacent to the anchoring body). .

In one aspect, the support device comprises coupling members structured to allow the anchoring of a cable for connecting a lifeline to the device itself.

In one aspect the free end of the anchor body includes a through hole.

In one aspect, said coupling members comprise a pin inserted in said through hole and a ball joint associated with said pin and intended to be fixed to one end of the connection cable.

In one aspect, said portion for mechanical coupling with a cable comprises a cable containing member for limiting the deviation of the cable in the transverse direction, for example comprising two pairs of opposed and offset hooks. Advantageously, in this way the support device can act as an intermediate device of a lifeline. In one aspect each fin (preferably the fixing wall) has a plurality of through holes, preferably arranged along one or more rows orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and parallel to each other.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a support system comprising the support device according to the present invention and fixing members for rigidly fixing the device to the building structure.

In one aspect, said fastening members comprise a plurality of screws (e.g. self-drilling and / or self-tapping) structured to fit each into a respective hole of said fins and directly into a respective hole in the building structure (for example a hole in the cover sheet or in the reinforced concrete of the building structure, e.g. of the roof) to rigidly fix the fins directly in contact with the building structure.

In one aspect, said fastening members comprise a plurality of clamps suitable for tightly tightening and fixing to the ribs of a double-seamed sheet metal cover and a plurality of bolts structured to fit each into a respective hole of said fins and a respective clamp hole to rigidly fix the fins to the clamps and therefore to the cover.

In one aspect, the fastening members comprise at least a pair of mounting bars for each fin and a plurality of screws (e.g. self-drilling and / or self-tapping) structured to fit (or inserted) each into a respective hole in the fins and into a respective hole of the bars to firmly and rigidly fix the fins (and therefore the device) to the bars.

In one aspect each bar, with a preferably plate-like conformation, is counter-shaped to a portion of the building structure (for example to a rib portion of a roof in corrugated sheet, e.g. with three or five ribs per panel) and is intended to be rigidly fixed to the aforementioned portion of the building structure (for example by means of a plurality of self-tapping and / or self-drilling screws which engage a plurality of holes passing through the bar and the building structure), so as to be interposed between the fin and the building structure and thus indirectly fix the device to the building structure. Preferably the holes passing through the mounting bars are such as to create a mechanical grip on the bars by the respective fixing screws to the building structure. Preferably the holes passing through the fins are such as to avoid a mechanical grip on the fins by the respective screws. In one aspect the support element and / or the main body and / or each fin and / or each mounting bar is in one piece.

In one aspect the respective thickness of the support member and / or main body and / or each fin and / or mounting bar is (constant e) greater than or equal to 1 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 2 mm, and / or less than or equal to 10mm, preferably less than or equal to 6mm.

In one aspect, said support element and / or said fins and / or said mounting bar are made of metallic material, for example steel, preferably galvanized or stainless steel, or aluminum, preferably oxidized. In one aspect the invention relates to a lifeline comprising at least one support device and / or a support system in accordance with the present invention. In one aspect, the lifeline comprises two support devices and / or two support systems according to the present invention, fixed to a building structure in mutually spaced positions, and a connection cable fixed to connect said two support devices.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a building structure equipped with the aforementioned lifeline in which the support device is fixed to the roof or to a roof covering, for example a roof made of flat, corrugated, corrugated or seamed sheet metal, in detail on the ridge of the roof.

In one aspect the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a support device in accordance with the present invention comprising:

- arrange three suitably shaped flat sheets, preferably with a rectangular plan;

- bending said three plates along said bending lines in order to obtain respectively the main body and the two fins. In this way it is possible to obtain the device object of the present invention in a simple and economical way. This method is highly repeatable and advantageously lends itself to being automated.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a method of installing a support device according to the present invention on the ridge of a roof, preferably having a ribbed sheet covering, comprising:

- mechanically couple the main body and the two fins by inserting the tongue (s) into the slot (s); - place the device on the ridge so that the two fins are on opposite sides of the ridge top and lying (directly or indirectly) on the respective pitches of the roof;

- firmly and rigidly fix the fins to the roof pitches. Preferably, the fixing takes place by interposing the mounting bars or clamps. According to the Applicant, the device of the present invention lends itself well to an installation on the ridge of gable roofs (but also on flat roofs), in particular in the case of ribbed sheet metal roofing (corrugated sheet, seamed sheet, corrugated sheet, etc. .), thanks to the rotating mechanical coupling between the support element and the fins which allows the device to be adapted to the various slope angles of the ridges, while ensuring, once the fins are rigidly fixed to the building structure, robustness necessary for the entire support device.

The Applicant has also noted that the mechanical coupling to tabs and slots of the present invention helps to cushion the tear on the cable (e.g. in the event of the operator falling), probably thanks to the deformation of the tabs and / or of the main body and / or of the fins.

The Applicant further observes that, although the fins have a degree of rotational freedom with respect to the support element, when the fins are rigidly fixed to the building structure the device of the present invention becomes a rigid body.

Furthermore, since the device consists of a main body and two plate-like fins, it is possible to limit its height with respect to the building structure on which it is fixed, limiting the arm of the traction force on the device. The plate-like conformation of the fins can guarantee a stable, safe and easy fixing on building structures (for example a roof) already equipped with cover, e.g. with rib.

The Applicant observes that the support devices according to the present invention, thanks to the possibility of detaching the tabs from the support element and folding them against it, take up little space in transport and / or storage.

Furthermore, the device composed of plate-like bodies can be obtained in a simple and economical way, for example by cutting (e.g. laser) in a plate and bending.

Further features and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of some exemplary, but not exclusive, embodiments of a lifeline support device, a support system and a lifeline in accordance with the present invention. This description will be set out below with reference to the accompanying drawings (schematic and not to scale), provided for indicative purposes only and, therefore, not limitative, in which:

- figure 1 is a perspective view of a lifeline installed on a roof of a building structure and comprising three lifeline support systems and devices in accordance with the present invention;

- figure 2 is a perspective view of a detail of the lifeline of fig. 1 showing a support system in accordance with the present invention;

- figures 3a and 3b are two exploded views from different perspectives of the support device of fig. 2.

- figure 4 is a perspective view not to scale of a further support device of fig. 1;

- figure 5 is a perspective view not to scale of a detail of a further example of a lifeline showing a further support system in accordance with the present invention;

- figure 6 is a perspective view not to scale of a further detail of the further example of lifeline, which shows a still further support system in accordance with the present invention;

figure 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a support element according to the present invention;

Figure 8 is a side view of an embodiment of a fin according to the present invention.

With reference to the attached figures, a support device for lifelines according to the present invention is globally indicated with the reference number 1, a support system for lifelines according to the present invention is globally indicated with the reference number 50 and a lifeline according to the present invention is globally indicated with the reference number 100. In general, the same reference number is used for the same elements, possibly in their construction variants.

The lifeline 100 comprises at least two support systems 50 (e.g. the end or head ones in Figure 1), fixed in mutually spaced positions to a fixed building structure 80, each comprising a respective support device 1, and a connection cable 101 fixed to (at the two coupling portions of the) two support devices. The lifeline preferably also comprises an intermediate support system 50, comprising a support device 1 (having a coupling portion) adapted (adapted) to contain the lateral deviations of the cable.

Optionally, in order to improve the absorption capacity, the lifeline can also comprise at least one cushioning device 102, for example of the known type comprising a spring, interposed, in series, between the connection cable and an end support device. . Optionally, the lifeline can comprise a tensioning device 103 (e.g. of the known type), suitable for varying the tension of the cable (this last function can be performed - also or only - by the damping device 102).

The building structure is exemplary a roof covering of a shed, for example in metal sheet, typically comprising a plurality of ribs 82 in relief parallel to each other. The cover can be an example of a corrugated cover, as shown by way of example in figures 1 and 2, or a double seam cover, as shown by example in figures 5 and 6. It can be observed that the support systems and devices exemplarily shown in figures 1 to 4 are particularly suitable for corrugated roofing, while those shown in figures 5 and 6 are suitable for double seam roofing.

The roof is exemplary of the gable type, with a ridge 81 separating the flaps, and the support devices are typically fixed at the ridge of the roof, above the ridge itself.

The support device 1 comprises a support element 2 comprising a main body 3 having a substantially plate-like conformation and a portion 4 for mechanical coupling with the cable 101 of the lifeline.

The support device 1 comprises a first and second fin 5 having a substantially plate-like conformation and mechanically coupled to the main body 3 by respective opposite parts of the latter, the first and second fin being (intended to be) rigidly fixed to the building structure.

The main body 3 of the support element preferably comprises a support wall 6 and a first and a second side wall 7 mutually facing and extending from two opposite ends of the support wall, each side wall has a plurality (or even only one) of through slots 8 having the prevailing development directions aligned with each other (e.g. along the axis 10). Preferably each fin 5 has at a respective end a plurality (or even one only) of projecting tongues 9 (e.g. in a number equal to or less than the number of slots), which are inserted in a respective slot 8 of a respective side wall 7 in order to provide the mechanical coupling between the main body and the respective fin, the fin 5 can thus rotate with respect to the support element 2 around a rotation axis 10 arranged along the prevailing direction of development of the slots.

Typically (see e.g. fig 3b) the support device 1 (and its elements) has a longitudinal development direction 10 (typically prevalent, typically parallel to the cable of the lifeline when installed and / or to the aforementioned rotation axis), a direction of transversal development 11, orthogonal to the longitudinal one, and a vertical development direction 12, orthogonal to both the longitudinal and transverse directions.

Preferably the main body 3 (and the walls 6 and 7) has an external face 13 and an internal face 14 opposite each other, the side walls facing each other with the respective internal face, for example being parallel to each other. The present invention also contemplates the case in which the side walls are not parallel, and the case in which the main body has a roof or similar conformation, i.e. without a horizontal wall and where two plate-like walls (e.g. flat) are contiguous and they form an angle directly between them destined to be positioned above the top of the ridge.

When the device is installed, the internal face faces the top 83 of the ridge of the roof and the main body (or its internal face) defines a semi-closed space 16 delimited by the side walls and the supporting wall in which the top 83 of the ridge of the roof.

Preferably the first and second side walls 7 extend from the two ends of the supporting wall opposite to the transverse direction 11, preferably they extend along the longitudinal direction 10 and at least along the vertical direction 12.

Preferably the supporting wall 6 and / or the first and / or the second side wall 7 are (substantially) flat. Preferably the lying plane of the supporting wall comprises the longitudinal and transverse directions. Preferably the lying plane of the first and / or second side wall comprises the longitudinal and vertical directions.

Preferably, a respective first longitudinal fold 15 defines each side wall from the supporting wall.

Preferably, the smaller angle (between the two complementary angles that are formed) formed by the first and second side walls with the supporting wall is located on the internal face 14 and is exemplary equal to 90 °.

Preferably a vertical end portion 17 of each side wall arranged on the side (vertically) opposite the support wall is bent towards the opposite side wall along a second fold line 18 preferably longitudinally arranged. Preferably the end portion 17 is substantially flat and forms an angle with the remaining part of the respective side wall, for example equal to 60 °. Advantageously, this portion confers structural rigidity to the main body along the longitudinal direction and / or constitutes a support of the main body on the underlying cover.

For example, the longitudinal length of the main body (e.g. of its walls) is equal to 65 cm (e.g. for all head devices) or 29 cm (for intermediate devices), the height of the main body (e.g. of its side walls ) Is equal to 73mm, the transversal width of the main body (e.g. of the supporting wall) is equal to 23cm and the transversal width of any folded portion of the side walls is equal to 20mm.

Typically, each fin 5 comprises an upper face 20 and a lower face 21 opposite each other, the lower face being, in operation, facing the building structure.

Preferably, each fin 5 comprises a substantially flat fixing wall 22 rigidly fixed to the building structure, a first secondary wall 23, substantially flat, adjacent to the fixing wall and delimited therefrom by a third fold 24 with preferably longitudinal development and a second secondary wall 25, substantially flat, adjacent to the first secondary wall and delimited therefrom by a fourth fold 26 preferably longitudinal.

Preferably, the tongues protrude from a transverse end edge 27 (with longitudinal development) of the respective second secondary wall 25.

Preferably, the tabs comprise a respective fifth fold 28 with a preferably longitudinal development. Preferably each tab comprises a first (substantially) flat portion 9a (e.g. coplanar with the second secondary wall) interposed between the fifth fold and the transverse end edge 27 of the respective fin, preferably having the same length, along the aforementioned longitudinal direction, as the remaining part of the tongue. Preferably each tab comprises a second (substantially) flat portion 9b interposed between the fifth fold 28 and the free end edge 39 of the tab.

Alternatively (not shown) the tabs are delimited from the second secondary wall by the respective preferably longitudinal fold.

Preferably the angle (the smaller of the two) formed by the first secondary wall and by the fastening wall in correspondence with the third fold 24 is located on the upper face 20 of the fin and is exemplary equal to 99 °.

Preferably the (minor) angle formed by the second secondary wall with the first secondary wall in correspondence with the fourth fold 26 is located on the lower face 21 of the fin and is exemplary equal to 99 °.

Preferably, the (minor) angle formed by each tab in correspondence with the fifth fold 28 is located on the lower face 21 of the flap and is by way of example equal to 81 °.

Preferably, the parts of the transverse end edge 27 of each fin left free by the tabs are abutting against the outer face 13 of the respective side wall.

For example, the longitudinal length of the fins (and its walls) is equal to 65cm (e.g. for all head devices and intermediate devices for double-seamed sheets) or 29cm (e.g. for intermediate devices for corrugated sheets) and the width of the fixing wall can vary from 12 cm to 25 cm approximately.

For example, the width of the first secondary wall 23 is approximately equal to 31 mm, approximately equal to the distance of the lower part of the slots from the second bending line 18 (equal to 30 mm), or from the lower edge of the first and second wall side, if without the folded portion 17.

For example, the width of the second secondary wall 25 is equal to 27mm, and the width of the first portion 9a of each tab is equal to 3.5mm.

Advantageously, the sum of the two widths (equal to the distance between the fourth and fifth folds) is slightly greater than the aforementioned distance of the slots from the second fold line 18. For example, the width of the second portion 9b of each tab is equal to 17mm.

In an embodiment, such as the one illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 for double seam covers, an end portion 29 of each fixing wall 22 arranged on the opposite side to the first secondary wall 23 is bent towards an opposite direction to the folding direction of the first secondary wall 23 along a sixth folding line 30 preferably arranged longitudinally (parallel to the proximal edge 31 of the fixing wall). Preferably the end portion 29 is substantially planar and forms a (minor) angle with the remaining part of the respective fixing wall from the part of the lower face 21, e.g. equal to about 90 °. Preferably, the folded portion 29 has a shorter longitudinal development than the longitudinal extension of the fastening wall, remaining set back from the remaining part of the fastening wall from both its ends (in this way space is created for the underlying rib 82 or clamp 53).

In an embodiment, such as for example those shown in Figures 2, 3a, 3b, 5 and 7, the portion for mechanical coupling 4 with a cable 101 comprises an anchoring body 35 for the cable preferably having a substantially plate-like conformation and equipped with an end 36 integrally bound to the main body and a free end 37 opposite to said bound end for anchoring the cable. It can be observed that the embodiment of the support element 2 shown in figures 2, 3a and 3b is entirely identical to the embodiment example shown in figure 5.

Preferably the plan surface of the main body 3 is greater (by double, preferably by three times) than the plan surface of the anchoring body 35. Preferably the anchoring body has a series of bending lines interposed between the free and constrained end. , each pair of adjacent fold lines delimiting a respective sub-portion of the anchoring body so as to define a series of sub-portions each lying on an oblique plane with respect to the lying plane of the adjacent sub-portions; where the anchoring body is structured to deform at least in correspondence with the bending lines due to a tensile force applied to the free end 37 in such a way that the free end changes its position with respect to the constrained end.

Preferably, the aforementioned deformation of the anchoring body remains elastic at least up to a value of the tensile force less than or equal to 2.5 kN and becomes plastic at a value of said tensile force less than 10 kN, preferably less than or equal at 5 kN.

Preferably, the anchoring body is structured to deform, due to the tensile force greater than 2 kN, by means of a plastic distension of the sub-portions which tends to bring the anchoring body into a flat configuration, this distension causing an elongation of the anchoring body , and a removal, in the direction of application of the traction force, of the free end from the constrained end.

Preferably the series of fold lines comprises a number of fold lines greater than or equal to four, for example thirteen.

Preferably the series of sub-portions defines a series of minor angles (between the two angles formed) between each pair of adjacent sub-portions, preferably equal to each other (e.g. equal to 90 °). Preferably each of said minor angles is located on a face of the anchoring body opposite to the face on which the adjacent minor angles are located. Preferably the anchoring body is folded in such a way that the even sub-portions lie on respective parallel planes and the odd sub-portions lie on respective parallel planes. However, the present invention encompasses every embodiment of the anchoring body in which each sub-portion is oriented according to any angle with respect to the previous sub-portion. Preferably the anchoring body 35 has a constant thickness, preferably equal to that of the main body 3.

Preferably, the anchoring body 35 has a longitudinal development direction extending from said end constrained to said free end and orthogonally intersecting the series of bending lines.

Preferably, the main body 3 surrounds the anchoring body 35 on three sides and the anchoring body is arranged in a median position of the transverse dimension of the main body, so as to avoid or reduce torsion moments on the main body.

Preferably the main body 3 has a concave polygonal (e.g. rectangular) shape and has a recessed concavity, and the constrained end 36 of the anchoring body is contained in said concavity. Preferably, the anchoring body has a convex polygonal shape (eg rectangular).

Preferably (for example thanks to a suitable choice of the bending angles) the anchoring body 35 extends, at least for a longitudinal portion comprising the free end, preferably entirely (with the exception of the constrained end), in the upper half-space of the wall of support 6.

In an embodiment, such as the one shown by way of example in Figure 7, the support wall 6 of the main body 3 comprises two portions 60, in correspondence with two end edges 61 of the support wall on opposite sides of the anchoring body 35, to it adjacent, and having longitudinal development, the two portions 60 being folded along a seventh folding line 62 having a preferably longitudinal development and forming a (minor) angle with the remaining part of the supporting wall on the internal face and, for example, equal to 45 ° .

Preferably the support device 1 comprises coupling members 38 to allow the anchoring of the cable 101 to the device itself. Preferably, the free end 37 of the anchoring body comprises a through hole and the coupling members comprise a pin inserted in the through hole and a ball joint associated with the pin and fixed to one end of the connection cable.

In a further embodiment particularly suitable for an intermediate support device of a lifeline (cable deflection limiter), such as for example those shown in Figures 4 and 6, the portion for mechanical coupling 4 with a cable comprises a member containment 40 of the cable to limit the deviation of the cable in the transverse direction, for example comprising two pairs of opposed and staggered hooks 41. Preferably, the supporting wall 6 has a full rectangular or square shape. It can be observed that the embodiment of support element 2 shown in figure 4 is entirely identical to the embodiment example shown in figure 6.

Preferably each fin (e.g. the fixing wall 22) has a plurality of through holes 42, preferably arranged along several rows orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and parallel to each other.

The support system 50 preferably comprises fixing members 51 for rigidly fixing the device to the building structure.

In an embodiment not shown, the fastening members comprise a plurality of screws (e.g. self-drilling and / or self-tapping) structured to fit each into a respective hole 42 of the fins to rigidly fix the fins directly in contact with the building structure, for example with the reinforced concrete of a roof.

In a further embodiment, such as those shown for example in Figures 5 and 6, the fastening members 51 comprise a plurality of clamps 53 suitable for tightly tightening and fixing to the ribs 82 of the double-seamed sheet metal cover and a plurality of of bolts 52 structured to fit each into a respective hole 42 of the fins and a respective hole of the clamps to rigidly fix the fins to the clamps and therefore to the cover.

In a further embodiment, such as those shown for example in Figures 1 and 2, the fastening members 51 comprise two or three mounting bars 55 for each fin and a plurality of screws 52 (e.g. self-drilling and / or self-tapping) structured to insert (or inserted) each in a respective hole 42 of the fins and in a respective hole of the bars to firmly and rigidly fix the fins (and therefore the device) to the bars.

Preferably the bar 55 comprises a first and a second wall mutually facing each other so that a portion of the building structure (for example a rib portion 82 of a roof in corrugated sheet, e.g. with three or five ribs per panel), when the the mounting bar is fixed to it, is interposed between the first and second walls, and a third wall interposed between the first and second walls.

Preferably the first and / or second wall and / or the third wall of the bar are (substantially) flat. Preferably, the mounting bar has a prevalent development orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and has a constant section. Preferably the mounting bar is a plate with a rectangular base having two folding lines orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and delimiting the first wall and the third wall, and the second wall and the third wall respectively.

Preferably each of the first and second walls comprises a plurality of through holes, preferably aligned along the prevailing development of the bar. Preferably the holes of the first wall are offset with respect to the holes of the second wall. Preferably a plurality of self-tapping and / or self-drilling screws 56 engage the plurality of holes passing through the bar and the underlying rib, so that the bar is interposed between the tab and the rib and thus indirectly fixes the device 1 to the building structure .

For example, the respective thickness of the support element 2, of the main body 3, of each fin 5 and of each bar 55 is equal to 3mm.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Support device (1) for lifelines (100) comprising: - a support element (2) comprising a main body (3) having a substantially plate-like conformation and a portion (4) for mechanical coupling with a cable (101) of said lifeline; - a first and second fin (5) having a substantially plate-like conformation and mechanically coupled to the main body from respective opposite parts of the latter, the first and second fin being designed to be rigidly fixed to a building structure, where the main body ( 3) of the support element comprises a support wall (6) and a first and a second side wall (7) mutually facing and extending from two opposite ends of the support wall, each side wall having at least one through slot (8) and where each fin has at a respective end at least one projecting tongue (9), which is inserted in the aforementioned slot of a respective side wall in order to achieve the aforementioned mechanical coupling between the main body and the respective fin, where the the fin can rotate with respect to the support element around a rotation axis (10) arranged along the direction of development prevailing of the crack. 2. Device according to claim 2, where each side wall has a plurality of through slots (8) having the prevailing development directions aligned with each other, where each fin has at said respective end a corresponding plurality of tabs (9), which are inserted in the aforementioned plurality of slots of the respective side wall in order to achieve the aforementioned mechanical coupling between the main body and the respective fin, where the fin can rotate with respect to the support element around a rotation axis (10) arranged along the prevailing direction of development of the cracks. 3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, where the main body has a longitudinal development direction parallel to the hollow of the lifeline when installed, a transversal development direction, orthogonal to the longitudinal one, and a vertical development direction, orthogonal to both the longitudinal and transverse directions, and where the support wall and / or the first and / or the second side wall are substantially flat, the lying plane of the support wall including the longitudinal and transverse directions, the lying plane of the first and / or second lateral wall including the longitudinal and vertical directions. 4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, where the angle formed by the first and / or second side wall with the supporting wall is located on an internal face, and is less than or equal to 135 °, preferably less than or equal to 115 °, and greater than or equal to 45 °, preferably greater than or equal to 65 °. 5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, where the height of the first and second side walls is greater than or equal to 3cm, preferably greater than or equal to 5cm, and less than or equal to 12cm, preferably less than or equal to to 10cm. 6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, where each fin comprises a fixing wall (22), preferably substantially flat, intended to be rigidly fixed to the building structure, a first secondary wall (23), preferably substantially flat, adjacent to the wall fastening and delimited therefrom by a third fold (24) and a second secondary wall (25), preferably substantially flat, adjacent to the first secondary wall and delimited therefrom by a fourth fold (26). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, where the tab (s) (9) protrude from a longitudinally extending transverse end edge (27) of the respective fin, preferably from the transverse end edge of the respective second secondary wall . 8. Device according to any one of claims 6 and 7, where the angle formed by the fixing wall and the first secondary wall is located on an upper face of the fin and is less than or equal to 150 ° and greater than or equal at 60 °, where the angle formed by the second secondary wall with the first secondary wall is on a lower face of the fin and is less than or equal to 150 ° and greater than or equal to 60 °, and where the / the tabs comprise, or are delimited by, a respective fifth fold (28) with a preferably longitudinal development and the angle formed by each tab in correspondence with the fifth fold is located on a lower face of the fin and is less than 120 ° and greater than or equal to 45 °. 9. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, where a vertical end portion (17) of each side wall (7) arranged on the side vertically opposite to the supporting wall is bent towards the side wall (7) opposite along a second fold line (18), where the width of the first secondary wall is equal, within -10%, to the distance of the slot (s) from the second fold line, and where the distance between the fifth fold and the fourth fold is greater than, or equal to, the distance of the slot (s) from the second fold line. Method of installing a support device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims on the ridge (81) of a roof, preferably having a ribbed sheet covering, comprising: - mechanically couple the main body (3) and the two tabs (5) by inserting the tab (s) (9) in the respective slot (s) (8); - place the device on the ridge (81) so that the two fins are on opposite sides of the ridge top (83) and lying on the respective pitches of the roof; - firmly and rigidly fix the fins to the roof pitches.