AU618115B2

AU618115B2 - Wall supported roof safety barrier

Info

Publication number: AU618115B2
Application number: AU39140/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Cornelis Johannes Griek; Anthony Kenneth Mitchinson
Original assignee: DGS Property Pty Ltd
Current assignee: DGS Property Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1988-07-29
Filing date: 1989-07-31
Publication date: 1991-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 2009-07-31
Also published as: AU3914089A

Description

m; -P1I- COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION 6 8 1 (Original) FOR OFFICE USE Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: 0 0 0 ooo *0 o 0 O 00 Na3me of Applicant: 0 CORNELIS JOHANNES GRIEK and ANTHONY KENNETH MITCHINSON Address of Applicant: 0o o 0 0 0 A'ctual Inventor(s) eli 6 Mervyn Road, Belgrave South, 3160, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia; and 27 Wandana Crescent, Mooroolbark, 3138, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia CORNELIS JOHANNES GRIEK ANTHONY KENNETH MITCHINSON DAVIES COLLISON, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

Address for Service: .CSomplete specification for the invention entitled: "WALL SUPPORTED ROOF SAFETY BARRIER" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us 1 A4 n M i f ii iini iiiiii 2 "WALL SUPPORTED ROOF SAFETY BARRIER" 0 0 The present invention relates to building S structures and is particularly concerned with a stanchion assembly for a building structure which may be capable of carrying a safety barrier or, for 0oO- example, a display sign.

a Many construction site accidents involve workers falling from the roof of a building structure i 4 during its construction, resulting in serious injury or death. In order to alleviate the risk of these accidents, there have been many proposals to erect a t i t. safety barrier around the perimeter of the roof to protect the worker from falling from the roof, or to provide a visual indication of the proximity of the edge of the roof.

Most, if not all, of these proposals have ri: proved sufficiently cumbersome or impractical that they have not been adopted for use.

According to the present invention there is provided a collapsible stanchion assembly comprising a support leg having means for engaging a building structure to hold the support leg in a substantially upright condition along a wall of the building structure adjacent the top of the wall, an outrigger arm pivoted relative to the support leg and movable between a collapsed condition in which it extends substantially parallel to the support leg and an j a-I o extended condition in which it projects ftom the *000 support leg, a brace securable between the support leg and the outrigger arm to retain the outrigger arm OOm ~in the extended condition, a stanchion post pivoted

P.O.

O relative to the outrigger arm and movable between a collapsed condition in which it extends substantially parallel to the outrigger arm and an extended condition in which it projects from the outrigger arm, and means to secure the stanchion post in said .extended condition.

e9 0 Further according to the present invention there is provided a method of erecting a collapsible stanchion assembly as described in'the immediately preceding paragraph which comprises the steps of: engaging the support leg with a building structure so that the support leg extends in a substantially upright condition along a wall of the building structure adjacent the top of the wall; unfolding the stanchion post from its collapsed condition to its extended condition so that its projects outwardly from the outrigger arm and the I i 0400 *a o.

0 49 009 00 0 044 4 0 4 4a 4 wall; securing the stanchion post in its extended condition; unfolding the outrigger arm from its collapsed condition to its extended condition so that it projects outwardly from the support leg and the stanchion post projects generally upwardly from the outrigger arm; and securing the brace between the support leg and the outrigger arm to retain the outrigger arm in its extended condition.

Because the stanchion assembly of the present invention is collapsible, -t may be readily stored and transported and may also be more readily erected on the building structure, possibly even from inside the building structure so that no external scaffolding or other personnel support is required for this purpose.

The support leg may be engaged with the building structure by any suitable engaging means.

For example, the support leg, or a component secured thereto, may have one or more recesses or openings therein to engage corresponding pegs or other projections on the wall. Alternatively, the engaging means may comprise some form of clamp which is capable of being secured to the top of the wall or to a purlin or other beam of the building structure adjacent the top of the wall so that the support leg is suspended along the wall. Most preferably, however, the engaging means comprises a bracket which conveniently extends from an upper end of the support leg and which is capable of being hooked onto the top e I- -c of the wall to suspend the support leg therefrom.

The stanchion assembly of the present invention is particularly, but not essentially adapted for use with timber frame buildings so that it can be readily passed from within the building structure between adjacent studs of the wall and, in the case of the bracket engaging means, hooked onto the top of the wall.

The outrigger arm is preferably pivotally connected to an upper portion of the support leg and may comprise a single elongate element. The till stanchion post may be pivoted relative to the outrigger arm at a fixed position which is such that with the outrigger arm in its extended condition any ,overhang of the roof beams or rafters from the wall 4 and/or any gutter or other fitting on the roof beam can be accommodated between the stanchion post in its extended condition and the wall. Since this overhang and/or the fittings on the roof tends to vary from a, building to building it is advantageous that the o.44l pivoting position of the stanchion post relative to 4 4,A the outrigger arm is adjustable along the outrigger o• arm. Conveniently the stanchion post is pivoted on a support bracket which is slidable along the outrigger arm and can be locked at the desired position there-along. The locking may be performed by any o suitable means, preferably a removable pin engaging one of an array of holes which extends along the outrigger arm.

The stanchion post may engage a stop, which may be adjustable, in its extended condition and the II i; e i u C securing means may lock the stanchion post against the stop. The securing means may take any appropriate form but preferably comprises a removable pin engageable to prevent the pivoting action of the stanchion post. In the aformentioned embodiment in which the stanchion post is pivoted on a bracket slidably displacable along the outrigger arm, the stop and securing means are also conveniently carried by the bracket.

The stanchion post conveniently carries means for locating a safety barrier, whether rigid or flexible as in netting, or other device such as a r( ~display sign thereon. Where the stanchion post is to carry a safety barrier, generally the safety barrier would extend between two or more collapsible S stanchion assemblies in accordance with the invention St.. and may be located on the respective stanchion posts after the stanchion posts have been unfolded into their extended conditions from the outrigger arms but before the outrigger arms have been unfolded from 4 4 their collapsed condition to their extended condition. This facilitates locating the safety barrier on the stanchion assemblies from within the building structure. A rigid safety barrier may alleviate lateral movement of the erected stanchion assembly, but particularly if the safety barrier is not rigid, means may be provided on the stanchion 4 I assembly to resist lateral movement of the stanchion assembly relative to the wall.

The brace may be entirely removable from the outrigger arm and support leg but conveniently it is pivoted relative to the outrigger arm and selectively 7 engageable at a desired location with the support leg. The engaging positions of the brace on the outrigger arm and support leg may be fixed so that the pivot angle of the outrigger arm relative to the support leg in its extended condition is always the same, but preferably the pivot angle is variable to accommodate different building constructions. In the aforementioned embodiment in which a bracket is slidably displacable along the outrigger arm, the brace is conveniently also engageable with or pivoted to the bracket. At its other end, the brace may be used as a handle or lever to displace the outrigger arm from its collapsed to its extended condition, or vice versa, and then be selectively engageable with a It.. fixed or adjustable bracket on the support leg.

Alternatively, the brace may be pivotally engaged with a bracket on the support leg which is slidable along the support leg and securable at a desired position by appropriate locking means such as a pin engageable with an array of holes along the support leg, in which case displacement of the outrigger arm into its extended condition is performed by moving the bracket along the support leg, and conveniently the bracket includes one or more handles to •facilitate this action.

One embodiment of a collapsible stanchion assembly in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the collapsible stanchion assembly erected on a wall; Figure 2 is an enlargement of a detail of Figure 1; YILILIC~i iii Figure 3 is an enlargement of a second detail of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an enlargement of a third detail of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an enlargement of a fourth detail of Figure 1; Figure 6 illustrates one embodiment of a safety barrier usable with the stanchion assembly; Figure 7 illustrates schematically a method of erecting the stanchion assembly; and Figure 8 is a schematic view similar to Figure 7 but illustrating the erection of a modified version of the stanchion assembly.

Figures 1 to 5 illustrate a coll: sible stanchion assembly 10 suspended from the top plate 12 of a timber frame wall 14. The wall 14 extends between a floor 16 and the roof rafters 18 (one only shown) of a building under construction. The stanchion assembly 10 would normally be suspended on the wall 14 adjacent the top thereof prior to the roof rafters 18 being affixed to the top plate 12 siice it is intended to support a device for alleviating the risk of personnel working on the roof falling from the roof.

The stanchion assembly 10 comprises a support leg 20 having a bracket 22 at its upper end which includes a hook shaped element 24 which is shaped to be closely received over the top plate 12 and to thereby suspend the support leg 20 from the top plate. In most circumstances, the support leg would be suspended in a substantially upright condition along a stud 26 of the wall 14 and at its lower end the support leg 20 has welded thereto an element 28 which projects inwardly of the support leg and has a passage 30 therethrough to receive a nail whereby the leg 20 can be additionally secured to the stud 26. If desired, the hook shaped element 24 may also have an aperture (not shown) therethrough to receive a nail for securing the bracket 22 to the top plate 12.

In some circumstances, such as when the stanchion assembly 10 must overlie a window in the wall 14, it will not be possible to support the stanchion assembly along a stud of the wall and for this purpose the support leg 20 has welded also at i its lower end a C-shaped section 32 which opens inwardly and is capable of receiving a length of timber 34 which is used to bridge the nearest two studs adjacent where the stanchion assembly is suspended. By these arrangements, the support leg is held in a generally upright condition on the wall.

An outrigger arm 36 is pivoted relative to the support leg 20 by means of a pivot pin 38 (see Figure 2) engaged with the bracket 22. The outrigger arm 36 is pivotable between a position in which it hangs from the bracket generally parallel to the support leg 20 and an extended position in which it irtt projects from the support leg such as is shown in Figure 1. A brace 40 is provided to maintain the outrigger arm in the desired extended position and, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4 the brace is pivotally connected at its lower end to a bracket 42 slidably displacable along the support leg 20 and at its upper end to a bracket 44 slidably displacable along the outrigger arm 36.

;i_ When the outrigger arm is in its collapsed condition substantially parallel to the support leg the bracket 42 is slidably displaced down the support leg and the brace 40 extends substantially parallel to both the support leg and the outrigger arm. The bracket 42 has a pair of hand grips 46 projecting from each side and when it is desired to move the outrigger arm 36 into its extended position the bracket 42 is manually displaced up the support leg 20 by means of the handles 46 until the outrigger arm 36 is at the desired angle relative to the ,r support leg. As shown in Figure 1, the desired angle 4would usually be such that the outrigger arm extends I as close as possible beneath the roof rafters 18.

t, When the outrigger arm is at the desired angle, a pin S 48 is inserted into the appropriate one of an array 4 t t I i of openings 50 extending through the support leg.

Also pivoted to the bracket 44 on the outrigger arm 36 is a stanchion post 52 and prior to I o the outrigger arm being moved its extended position, S'.the bracket 44 is slidably displaced along the outrigger arm as necessary so that in the erected condition of the stanchion assembly 10 the stanchion 4 post 52 is spaced as desired from the wall 14.

Generally, such spacing may be just sufficient to a allow for the overhang from the wall 14 of the roof S° rafters 18, the securement of a facia board 54 to the ends of the rafters 18 and the attachment of a gutter 56 to the facia board. When the bracket 44:is at the desired location along the outrigger arm 36, it may be secured in place by means of a removable pin 58 extending through the bracket and through an' appropriate one of a series of openings 60 through the outrigger arm.

-i i' i rras Ta~n~ The stanchion post 52 is pivotable between a position in which extends substantially parallel to the outrigger arm 36 and an extended condition in which it projects from the outrigger arm and which, in the extended position of the outrigger arm, is substantially upright as shown in Figure 1. The extended position of the stanchion post 52 is defined by a stop 62 on the bracket 44 which is in the form of an angle support welded or otherwise secured to the bracket. A removable pin 64 may be passed rrte through aligned openings in the spaced plates 66 (one only shown) of the bracket 44 to hold the stanchion o: post 52 in its extended condition.

44 4 As shown in Figure 4, the bracket 44 is sleeved between the spaced plates 66 to closely receive the outrigger arm 36.

The stanchion post 52 is adapted to support a safety barrier frame such as in shown in Figure 6.

The safety barrier frame 68 shown in Figure 6 is formed as two half frames 70 for convenience which are pivoted together by sleeves 72 overlapping adjacent longitudinal frame members 74 at each end of the frame 68. The half frames 70 are movable from a position in which they overlie each other to the extended position shown in which they extend parallel to and alongside each other. Each of the half frames has a mesh screen 76 welded thereto.

The stanchion post 52 has a first outwardly projecting hook 78 adjacent its ou.ermost end, a second outwardly projecting hook 80 partway 12 there-along, both of which are fixed relative to the post 52, and a pivotable hook 82 towards the inner end of the stanchion post. In use, the frame 68 is fitted to two adjacent stanchion assemblies suspended on the wall 14 when the outrigger arm 36 of each is in the collapsed condition substantially parallel to the respective support leg 20 and the stanchion post 52 of each is in its extended condition. The frame 68 is passed in its collapsed condition from within the building between the adjacent stanchion assemblies 10 and laid across the t two extended stanchion posts 52 with the hinged "rr longitudinal frame members 74 facing outwards. The uppermost half frame 70 is then unfolded so as to lie parallel on the stanchion posts 52 with the other half frame 70 and the complete frame 68 is manoeuvred so that the outermost longitudinal frame members 74 of the two half frames 70 respectively engage the hooks 78 and 80. A guide 84 is provided at the outermost end of each stanchion post 52 to facilitate the engagement of the outermost frame member 74 with the hook 78. The pivotable hook 82 is disposed such that the innermost longitudinal frame member 74 can lie on the stanchion posts 52 and is then pivoted downwardly so as to lock the innermost longitudinal frame member 74 in place and thereby prevent outwards displacement of the frame 68.

The collapsible frame 68 is used for convenience only and may be readily replaced by an entirely rigid frame, or, for example, individual barrier rails or collapsible netting or webbing.

Figure 7 illustrates schematically the celt c~ method by which stanchion assembly 10 may be erected. In Figure 7a the collapsed stanchion assembly, with the support leg 20, the outrigger arm 36, the brace 40 and the stanchion post 52 all extending substantially parallel is suspended from the top plate 12 of the wall 14 by means of the hooked element 24. For additional security, the lower end of the support leg 20 is nailed to the stud 26. In Figure 7b, the stanchion post 52 is then unfolded into its extended condition against the stop 62 and the securing pin 64 is positioned in the bracket 44. The bracket 44 is then slidably displaced along the outrigger arm 36 and locked in place by means of the pin 58 taking into account the pitch and overhang of the roof, including any guttering. During this displacement of the bracket 44, the bracket 42 is displaced along the support leg by means of its connection to the bracket 44 through the brace 40. The frame 68 is then secured to the stanchion post as shown in Figure 7c in the manner previously described. The stanchion assembly is then fully erected as in Figure 7d by a person standing on the floor 16 grasping the handles 46 on the bracket 42 and sliding the bracket 42 up the support leg 20 so as to cause the outrigger arm 36 to pivot upwards about the bracket 22 to the desired degree. The bracket 42 is then secured in position on the support leg by means of the locking pin 48.

The brace 40 then resists any downwards movement of the outrigger 36.

It will be appreciated that in the embodiment described with reference to Figures 1 to 7, the support leg 20 must be sufficiently long to 14 allow the bracket 42 to slide down it to its maximum extent when the stanchion assembly 10 is in its collapsed condition. There are various ways in which this requirement could be removed to advantageously reduce the length and thereby the weight of the support leg 20; for example the brace may be hinged part way along its length, the brace may be folded in the collapsed condition of the stanchion assembly such that the bracket 42 is adjacent the upper end of the support leg and the bracket 44 is adjacent the outer end of the outrigger arm, or the support post C could be arranged to fold downwardly parallel to the e I° outrigger arm with the bracket 44 adjacent the bracket 22 (by temporary removal of the stop 62), but all of these modifications have disadvantages from a, o the point of view of construction or safety.

0 In an alternative embodiment, the brace may be entirely removable from the stanchion assembly 10, or more preferable disengageable at one end.

Figure 8 is a view corresponding to Figure 7 but of a modified stanchion assembly in which the brace 40 is disengageable from the support leg bracket 42. For convenience, in describing Figure 8 the same reference numerals will be used as have been used in relation to Figures 1 to 7.

In Figure 8a, the brace 40 has been omitted for clarity but it is pivotally connected to the bracket 44 on the outrigger arm 36 and is folded upwards parallel to the outrigger arm. The bracket 42 on a shortened support leg 20 is free to slide up the support leg and is not connected at this'stage with the brace 40. In all other respects the D I i-i L embodiment described with reference to Figure 8 may be identical to the stanchion assembly 10 of Figures 1 to 7.

In Figure 8b, the bracket 44 on the outrigger arm 36 is slidingly displaced up the outrigger arm to the desired degree to allow for any overhang on the roof and is secured in place. The stanchion post 52 is pivoted from its collapsed condition to its extended condition and secured, and the freely pivotable brace 40 is pivoted downwards about the bracket 44 so that its extends through the wall 14 into the building structure. The bracket 42 on the support leg 20 is free to be moved on the support leg and is secured in the desired position to eventually hold the outrigger arm 36 at the selected angle by means of the brace. In Figure 8c the frame 68 is located on the stanchion post 52 and in Figure 8d the outrigger arm is pivoted into its extended po,' :on by a person in the building grasping the freely pivotable brace 40 and forcing it outwards.

It is then engaged with a co-operating part of the bracket 42 on the support leg to hold the outrigger arm and stanchion post in position.

The various'arms and legs of the stanchion 4 post assembly may be made of any suitable material, preferably metallic, for example tubular steel of square cross-section. In order to reduce the mess of the assembly it may be formed of aluminium components in which case the support leg 20, outrigger arm 36, brace 40 and stanchion post 52 may have a suitable profile to provide adequate strength.

It will be appreciated that many modifications and variations may be made to the described embodiments. In particular, it may not be necessary for the stanchion post to be adjustable along the outrigger arm so that the pivot axes for the stanchion post is fixed relative to the outrigger arm. Similarly, the support leg 20 may be supported from the wall in its substantially upright condition by any suitable means including pegs on the wall engaging corresponding recesses openings on or associated with the support leg.

1 i Ic

Claims

1. A collapsible stanchion assembly comprising a support leg having means for engaging a building structure to hold the support leg in a substantially upright condition along a wall of the building structure adjacent the top of the wall, an outrigger arm pivoted relative to the support leg and movable between a collapsed condition in which it extends substantially parallel to the support leg and an outwardly extended condition in which it projectsAfrom the support leg, a brace securable between the support rr*" leg and the outrigger arm to retain the outrigger arm g* 0 in the extended condition, a stanchion post pivoted t ao s relative to the outrigger arm and movable between a collapsed condition in which it extends substantially parallel to the outrigger arm and an extended condition in which it projects from the outrigger arm, and means to secure the stanchion post in said

4.o extended condition. 4 t a S2. A collapsible stanchion assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the engaging means comprises a bracket capable of being hooked onto the top of the wall. 3. A collapsible stanchion assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the outrigger arm is pivotally connected to an upper portion of the support leg. 4. A collapsible stanchion assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the pivotal connection of the stanchion post with the outrigger I~ arm is adjustable along the outrigger arm. A collapsible stanchion assembly according to Claim 4 wherein the stanchion post is pivotally connected with a bracket slidably mounted on the outrigger arm.

6. A collapsible stanchion assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the brace is pivotally connected with the outrigger arm.

7. A collapsible stanchion assembly according to Claims 5 and 6 wherein the brace is pivotally S connected with the bracket on the outrigger arm.

8. A collapsible stanchion assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the brace is selectively engageable with an adjustable bracket on the support leg.

9. A collapsible stanchion assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the brace is pivotally connected with an adjustable bracket on the support leg. A collapsible stanchion assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the stanchion post is engageable with a stop in its extended condition and the securing means holds the stanchion post against the stop.

11. A method of erecting a collapsible stanchion assembly according to Claim 1 which comprises the steps of: _1 19 engaging the support leg with a building structure so that the support leg extends in a substantially upright condition along a wall of the building structure adjacent the top of the wall; unfolding the stanchion post from its collapsed condition to its exAtended condition so that its projects outwardly from the outrigger arm and the wall; securing the stanchion post in its extended condition; unfolding the outrigger arm from its collapsed condition to its extended condition so that it projects outwardly from the support leg and the stanchion post projects generally upwardly from the outrigger arm; and securing the brace between the support leg and the outrigger arm to retain the outrigger arm in its extended condition. I 12. A method according to Claim 11 which Ir comprises locating a barrier device on the stanchion V post after step and before step

13. A method according to Claim 11 or Claim 12 wherein the brace is engaged with an adjustable bracket on the support leg and with the outrigger arm, and the bracket is displaced along the support leg to unfold the outrigger arm from its collapsed condition to its extended condition.

14. A collapsible stanchion assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. I; i i A method of erecting a collapsible stanchion assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. The 6teps or Eearture~ u any combination thercof. DATED this 31st day of July, 1989. CORNELIS JOHANNES GRIEK ANTHONY KENNETH MITCHINSON By their Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON 0 0

404. 0~ 0 0 0 0 0 Oh 00 00 4 q 0 0 0~ 00 0 0 I 1< ~ofV~ 01 '~SA~iT