AU727589B2 - Improved support - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

C

TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: RODNEY BIRD Rodney Bird ADDRESS FOR SERVICE

ALTERED

Vilui 3O, Auor-tap^_r os ADDRESS FOR SERVICG..o Ra i 2' ALTERED laoarne .o\ "IMPROVED SUPPORT" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 8/8/97JB8817.CS,1 "IMPROVED SUPPORT" This invention relates primarily to the fastening of a temporary parapet-like assembly at and/or to the edge of a roof or other elevated structure to prevent or help prevent accidental fall of a tiler or other roof worker.

A typical such assembly resembles a fence-like construction, including rails supported by posts of which base portions are fastened to rafters or other suitably located members of the building frame.

In the past these fastenings i.e. of the posts to the relevant fixed members of the building frame (such members being referred to generically hereinafter as "rafters") have often been complex, inconvenient to apply, and have in some cases left much to be desired as to safety.

An object of my invention is to provide for a fastening that is simple, 9 secure and versatile.

This and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent hereinafter.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided means for securing a first element to one of a pair of spaced second elements, said means including a strut of variable length at a first end of which is provided jaw means to partially surround said one of a pair of spaced second elements and to receive a portion of said first element in abutting relationship with said one of a pair of spaced second elements, said strut of variable length being extendible so that the second end of said strut can abut and bear against the other one of said pair of spaced second elements.

2- 8/8/97JB8817.CAP,2 The jaw means may be a U-shaped jaw comprising two parallel portions disposed at opposing ends of a base portion fixed to said first end of said strut the distance between the parallel portions being such as to accommodate snugly a portion of said one of a pair of spaced elements there also being provided in said parallel portions proximal to said base portion opposed apertures adapted to receive a portion of said first element.

Preferably, the apertures are adapted to receive a portion of said first element in a close fit.

The strut of variable length may comprise telescoping segments.

The strut may include cooperable screw-threaded means to permit length i adjustment of said strut.

According to the invention in one form I provide an extendible strut or the like characterized by a clamp adapted, claw-like, to partially surround a rafter and, between the rafter and a base portion of the clamp or claw, to grip a lower end portion of a post.

The clamp may be a sturdy rectangular strip of metal formed into a somewhat U- or C- shape when viewed side on, with two parallel end portions or jaws joined by a base portion, the extreme edges of the strip being parallel and in a plane parallel to that of the base. The height of the i.e. the distance between the jaws is such as to accommodate a rafter in close fit.

The end portions of the clamp define opposed apertures adapted to receive a lower end portion of a post. The rafter being received between outer ends of the arms, the assembly is secured or closed by forcing the clamp and post hard -3- 8/8/97JB8817.CAP3 against the inside of the rafter, so as firmly to grip the post between the rafter and the inside of the base of the clamp.

Preferably the apertures are so shaped and sized as to accommodate the post in a close fit.

As the portion of the post thus secured will usually be at right angles to the rafter, and as the rafter will itself usually be inclined to the horizontal, a typical post will generally be of "dog-leg" form so that an upper main part of the post can be vertical, even though the rafter to which it is fastened be not horizontal.

However, there may be variations of the invention in which the opposed apertures are offset to such an extent so that where the rafter is inclined to the horizontal S a post (which is not "dog-leg" in form) when secured in position will be vertical.

A rod, forming part of the strut, may be attached symmetrically to the clamp, to its base portion. A similar clamp may be provided at the other end of the strut. The respective clamps may be engageable with neighbouring rafters, the :15 strut spanning the space between the rafters and extending at right angles thereto.

The composite strut the inter-clamp connexion) is advantageously extendible, in order to accommodate different inter-rafter spans. For this purpose it may consist of telescoping tubular segments with holes adapted to register and receive a pin for holding the tubes in a desired relative position.

Advantageously the pin does not pass through the inner tube or element of the telescoping pair, thereby leaving it free to rotate relatively to the outer tube so that it can form part of a screw extension means described hereinafter. Rather -4- 8/8/97JB8817.CAP,4 does the pin simply constitute an abutment or stop for limiting the closing or inward travel of the inner telescoping element.

The means for altering the effective length of the rod may additionally or alternatively include or comprise co-operable screw-threaded means such as a turnbuckle or similar contrivance operating somewhat after the manner of a car lifting jack but horizontally. Advantageously both forms (telescoping ad screw means) of adjustment are provided, the former giving a "coarse" ("digital") adjustment according to the distance between the rafters, and the latter a fine "analogue" adjustment, chiefly for tightening purposes.

Advantageously the screw means include a thread on the rod associated .ooo.i with the main clamp engageable within an internally threaded outer end portion of an inner telescoping element of the strut, such that when the clamps are held against rotation, the effective length of their interconnecting means can be adjusted by turning the inner element about its axis.

The remote end of the composite rod, whether or not fitted with a clamp, S- bears against or otherwise co-operates with the rafter which is a neighbour to that to which it is desired to attach the post. Recalling that the main clamp must accommodate both the rafter and post, it will be evident that the effective length L of the rod will be approximately R-P where R is the distance or span between the nearer faces of the two rafters, and P is the thickness of the post to be sandwiched between the rafter and the inside of the base of the clamp.

In use, the strut is coarsely adjusted or set to the aforesaid distance L by removing the pin, sliding the telescoping elements to a suitable relative position 5- 818/97JB8817.CAP,5 and replacing the pin. With the first rafter and post suitably positioned within the clamp, and the strut extending into co-operation with the second rafter, the screw thread means are operated e.g. by turning the inner element about its axis to effectively extend the strut into firm abutment against the second rafter, and tending to push the clamp away from the second rafter into tight fastening engagement with the post and the first rafter, as aforesaid.

To enhance the security of the support, the second end of the strut may, as above stated, itself advantageously be fitted with a C clamp similar to the first, adapted to receive the second rafter. Because the second clamp is not usually required to accommodate a post or anything other than the second rafter, 0o .o4 its jaws can be shorter than those of the first and, of course, they do not require 2 to be apertured.

However if desired, a clamp of the first type described above can be fitted to both ends.

As can be envisaged, by using a plurality of examples of the invention, a S-series of posts can be secured to rafters along a building frame to enable a fencelike construction to be erected to provide a safety barrier.

In addition to the use referred to above the invention may also be used to secure beams to upright posts or poles so that the beams, when secured, extend horizontally or at an angle to the horizontal.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a practical embodiment of the invention, and in which:- 6 8/8/97JB8817.CAP,6 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a disassembled first end of the embodiment; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second end of the embodiment; and Figure 3 is a longitudinal view through the embodiment in use.

In the figures the numeral 10 designates generally the embodiment of the invention, the numeral 12 designates generally a first end thereof and the numeral 14 designates generally a second end thereof.

First end 12 comprises a jaw means formed by two parallel plates 16 and 18 joined by a base plate 20. The jaw means may be formed from a rectangular strip of metal. Opposed apertures 22 and 24 in plates 16 and 18, respectively, are for receiving a post 28. A threaded rod 26 extends from the face of base plate remote from plates 16 and 18.

Second end 14 comprise a jaw means formed by two parallel plates 30 and 32 joined by base plate 34. A square-cross-sectional tube 36 extends from the 15 face of base plate 34 remote from plates 30 and 32. Tube 36 is provided with a plurality of registering holes 38 through which pin 40 can pass. The end 42 of tube 36 can accommodate end 44 of hollow rod segment 46. To the other end 48 of hollow rod segment is secured a nut 50 to provide an internally-threaded portion capable of cooperably engaging threaded rod 26.

In use the assembled strut of variable length is coarsely adjusted or set to a length slightly less than the distance between adjacent rafters less the thickness of post by removing pin 40, sliding rod segment 46 within tube 36 until it reaches a suitable relative position and replacing pin 40, threaded rod 26 having been 7- 8/8/97JB8817.CAP,7 already screwed into nut 50 so that a portion of it lies within hollow rod segment 46. After positioning first rafter 52 within the jaw means of first end 12 and the post 28 through opposed apertures 22 and 24 and second rafter 54 within the jaw means of second end 14, the screw thread means are operated by rotating rod segment 46 about its longitudinal axis so as to increase the length of the strut and effectively extend the jaw means of second end 14 into firm abutment against second rafter 54. This results in the jaw means at first end 12 coming into tight securing engagement with post 28 and first rafter 52.

For the purposes of this specification terms such as "lower", "upper", "vertical", "horizontally" and the like, refer to the invention in use and are not necessarily limiting.

Various alterations, additions and modifications may be incorporated into the foregoing without departing from the ambit of the invention.

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Claims (8)

1. Means for securing a first element to one of a pair of spaced second elements, said means including a strut of variable length at a first end of which is provided jaw means to partially surround said one of a pair of spaced second elements and to receive a portion of said first element in abutting relationship with said one of a pair of spaced second elements, said strut of variable length being extendible so that the second end of said strut can abut and bear against the other one of said pair of spaced second elements.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said jaw means is a U-shaped jaw comprising two parallel portions disposed at opposing ends of a base portion .:oo.i :00 fixed to said first end of said strut the distance between the parallel portions being S" such as to accommodate snugly a portion of said one of a pair of spaced elements 0 there also being provided in said parallel portions proximal to said base portion opposed apertures adapted to receive a portion of said first element.

3. Means as claimed in claim 2 wherein said apertures are adapted to receive a portion of said first element in a close fit. l

4. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said strut of variable length comprises telescoping segments. Means as claimed in claim 4 wherein said telescoping segments are provided with holes adapted to register and receive a pin for holding the segments in a desired relative position.

9- 8/8/97JB8817.CAP,9 6. Means as claimed in claim 5 wherein said pin does not pass through an inner one or pair of said telescoping segments, thereby permitting relative rotation of said pair of said telescoping segments. 7. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said strut of variable length includes cooperable screw-threaded means to permit length adjustment of said strut. 8. Means as claimed in claim 7 wherein said screw-threaded means includes on an outer portion of a first segment of said strut a screw-thread engagable with an internally threaded end portion of a second segment of said strut such that when said jaw means is held against rotation the effective length of said strut can be adjusted by turning said second segment about its longitudinal axis. 9. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein is provided at said second end of said strut, a second jaw means to partially surround said other one of said pair of spaced second elements. 15 10. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said pair of spaced second elements comprise adjacent rafters or members of a building frame. *0 0

11. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said first element is a post or other longitudinal member.

12. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 substantially as hereinbefore disclosed. AU 4OIAU Claims Oct OO.doc/WC/iv

13. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 substantially as hereinbefore disclosed with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 3. Dated this 6 th day of October 2000 RODNEY BIRD By his Patent Attorneys PIPERS C C. C C. C C C C. *C C C C CC CC C C C C C C *WCC C C