EP0938915A2

EP0938915A2 - A climbing aid for concrete posts

Info

Publication number: EP0938915A2
Application number: EP98500113A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Antonio Camacho Lucas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-02-25
Filing date: 1998-05-08
Publication date: 1999-09-01
Also published as: EP0938915A3

Abstract

It consists of a foot stirrup (5) and a hand stirrup (13), the first of which is U-shaped and may be coupled to the shank of the worker's boot, and in whose side branches (6) there are windows (7) for passing a strap (8) for attaching the said stirrup. To the lower side of the middle branch of the stirrup (5) a bar (10) is welded, which projects sideways substantially and is designed to penetrate the orifices (3) of the post (1), during the ascent and descent of the same. The free end (11) of this bar (10) is rounded to facilitate penetration in the post's orifices and, near the stirrup (5), the bar has a washer (12) that acts as a check to limit penetration into the said orifices of the post. The hand stirrup (13) consists of a rod with two sections (14-14') separated by a projection (13), the section (14) constituting the worker's hand grip, and is complemented by a leather strap (17) for attaching it to the worker's wrist, while the section (14') constitutes the means of introducing the stirrup into the transverse orifices (3) of the post (1) to be climbed. This hand stirrup (13) allows handholds to be established throughout the length of the post (1), facilitating, together with the foot stirrups (5), the worker's ascent.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a climber that was specially conceived for ascending concrete posts, such as those used in electrical installations, to gain access to the corresponding installation.
The purpose of the proposed climber is to facilitate considerably the operation of post climbing.
The said climber consists of a stirrup for holding the user's foot and a hand stirrup for attaching to the user's wrist; and both stirrups complement each other so that the user may be held secure with the foot stirrup at each step taken upon the post, while establishing handholds with the hand stirrup throughout the length of the post in order to facilitate the ascent.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, the larger sides of the concrete posts used nowadays have large holes in approximately their lower 4 metres that may be used in a similar way to the rungs of a ladder, while in the rest of the post there are only transverse orifices of very small diameter, which are not directly usable in the ascent. In accordance with this structure of the posts, workers easily ascend the first section of the post, taking with them a rucksack containing a large number of iron tubes of the proper size for fitting into the orifices of the post's upper area, so that when the worker reaches the said area they must place the tubes in the orifices in such a way that they project sufficiently to define new rungs for ascending the post, which have to be removed when the operation upon the post is concluded, while descending the post.
This means a significant extra burden for the workers, as in addition to the material to be installed and the tools for this purpose, they must carry up the iron tubes that facilitate the ascent.
Moreover, both the operation of ascent and that of descent are slow and complicated.
The problem indicated hereinbefore is very greatly aggravated when weather conditions are adverse, such as when it rains or it is icy, since in such circumstances the concrete becomes very slippery.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The climber the invention proposes was conceived and structured in order to resolve in a fully satisfactory way the problem indicated hereinbefore, allowing easy and safe ascent and descent with a minimal burden for the worker.
To this end, and more specifically, the said climber is made up of a stirrup, fitted with means of fixing it to the corresponding boot of a worker, to which stirrup a steel bar is joined that emerges laterally and substantially from the stirrup and whose diameter is suitable for entering easily into the orifices of the post, while its length is also appropriate for ensuring the absolute impossibility of becoming uncoupled through slipping sideways.
Specifically, the said stirrup is equipped with a U-shaped steel plate, provided with large windows in its side branches for passing a strap by means of which the stirrup is attached to the boot, specifically, the middle branch of the "U" adjusting to the boot's instep and the strap embracing the instep and heel areas, by which means the attachment is made absolutely immovable.
The steel bar is welded to the lower side of the U-shaped plate, and together with the latter it determines a height such that the stirrup lodges perfectly in the arch defined by the shank of the boot, in such a way that when the foot is upon the ground it is supported upon its sole and heel, so that the climber allows one to walk normally upon the ground, as long as the feet are sufficiently separated in order to leave free the operating area of the projecting section of the steel bar.
In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the said steel bar is equipped with a washer, at a specific distance from the stirrup, which acts as a check to limit the penetration of the said bar in the orifices of the post, thus preventing the strap of the climber from rubbing against the post and, consequently, wearing of the strap.
This washer is attached to the steel bar eccentrically, in such a way that it does not project downward with respect to the bar, the purpose being that it will not be a hindrance when the worker is moving on the ground while wearing the climbers.
The said foot stirrup is complemented by a second hand stirrup made up of a rod which, at its rear end, includes a leather strap to attach it to the worker's wrist, while forward from that rear end there is a section of hand grip, followed by a washer or check, and then a section for introducing the stirrup into the corresponding orifice of the post.
Both the foot and the hand stirrup complement each other so that any worker may climb posts that have the said orifices, carrying out the climbing operation with total safety, ease and effectiveness whatever the weather conditions, as both the feet and the hands will find a secure grip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being given and in order to promote a better understanding of the invention's characteristics, in accordance with a preferred practical embodiment of the same, the said description is accompanied by a set of drawings which form an integral part of it and which, in a non-restrictive and illustrative way, represent the following:
Figure 1.- Shows a partial perspective view of a concrete post for which the climber is suitable that constitutes the object of the present invention.
Figure 2.- Shows a front elevation view of the foot climber for concrete posts that constitutes the object of the present invention, without its corresponding strap.
Figure 3.- Shows a plan view of the unit represented in the foregoing figure.
Figure 4.- Shows a profile of the part represented in figures 2 and 3.
Figure 5.- Shows a perspective view of the climber from figures 2 to 4, fitted now with its corresponding strap.
Figure 6.- Shows a schematic representation in side elevation of the said climber properly attached to the worker's boot.
Figure 7.- Shows a representation, according to a general perspective, of the hand stirrup that complements the foot stirrup represented in the foregoing figures.
Figure 8.- Shows, finally, a practical application of the use of the two stirrups, in which a worker can be seen climbing a concrete post.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In figure 1 and as stated hereinbefore, a classic concrete post, partially sectioned, is represented, upon which the climber proposed by the present invention may be used. This post has a body (1) with a rectangular section that narrows progressively in an upward direction, upon whose larger sides and in a lower section there are a large number of holes (2) shaped like steps, and between these there are transverse orifices (3) that pass through the post, which are complemented by others (3') on the smaller sides, which also pass through the post and are staggered in height, so that the normal distance between orifices (3) being usually 50 cm., the staggering between each orifice (3) and the adjacent orifice (3') is of the order of 25 cm.
Thus, in accordance with this structure of the concrete posts, the climber proposed by the invention is structured as a foot stirrup which, with its counterpart, may be attached to the boots (4) of a worker who has to climb the post. This stirrup is made up of a U-shaped steel plate whose middle branch (5) adjusts to the lower side of the boot (4) in the shank area, as shown in figure 6, while its side branches (6), slightly divergent to facilitate coupling to the boot, have large windows (7) through which a strap (8) passes, with its corresponding buckle (9), which is the means of attachment of the stirrup proper (5-6) to the boot.
This attachment is is carried out, as shown in figures 5 and 6, in such a way that the strap (8) adjusts firstly to the rear area of the boot and, after passing through the windows (7), closes upon itself at the instep area, obtaining in this way an absolute immovability of the stirrup with respect to the boot.
This U-shaped, steel plate may be 4 cm. wide and 3 mm thick, and to its lower side a steel bar (10) is fixed by welding, which is, for example, 25 cm. long and 16 mm. in diameter, and which emerges sideways and substantially from the stirrup (5) and terminates in a rounded tip (11) to facilitate its entry into the orifices (3-3') of the post (1) in such a way that approximately half of the steel bar (10) is situated under the stirrup (5), while the other half projects sideways forming the operative section of the same to be introduced into the said orifices (3-3'), giving absolute stability by virtue of such a depth of penetration.
It is necessary to point out that the steel bar (10), at a small distance from the corresponding side branch (6) of the stirrup (5) incorporates a washer (12), welded eccentrically, as may be seen especially in figures 2 and 4, designed as a check to limit the bar's penetration into the orifices (3-3'), thus preventing the strap (8) from rubbing against the wall of the post (1).
The said foot stirrup (5) is complemented by a hand stirrup (13), shown in figure 7, which is made up of an elongated rod in which there are two sections (14-14') delimited by an intermediate washer (15), in such a way that the section (14) terminates at its free end, considered as the rear, in a kind of ring (16) to which a leather strap (17) is connected which must be attached to the worker's wrist, while the section (14') defined from the washer (15) to the free or front end, is the part that must be introduced into the corresponding orifices (3) which the concrete post (1) has for this purpose. Logically, the section (14') is to have a slightly smaller diameter than the orifices (3), while the washer (15) joined to the hand stirrup (13) itself constitutes the check that limits the penetration of the section (14') in the orifices (3-3').
In accordance with the structure of the foot stirrups (5) and hand stirrups (13), the worker may easily climb up the entire length of the post (1), positioning his body correspondingly with one of the edges of the same, in such a way that one of his feet will use the orifices (3) of one of the post's larger sides, while with his other foot he will use the orifices (3') of one of the smaller sides, ascending at intervals of 25 cm. and, logically, aided by the classic safety strap or belt that keeps his waist in relation to the post at all times. The worker (18) represented in figure 8 who is climbing up the post (1) using the foot stirrups (5) will also be helped by the hand stirrup (13) attached to one of his hands; the other hand is free, and thus may grasp the traditional support belt used in these tasks, moving it upward as he ascends. That is, the worker (8) will alternately place each foot stirrup (5) in the orifices (3-3') of the post (1), and will in turn establish handholds using the stirrup (13) connected to one of the worker's hands by means of the strap (17), as we have just stated hereinbefore, making it equally secure in the upper orifices of the same post (1).
In this way a considerable lightening is achieved of the weight that the worker has to bear in his ascent to the top of the post and in the subsequent descent of the same, and greater freedom of movement is also achieved as well as greater safety, because the steel bar (10) of the foot stirrup (5) when it penetrates the orifices (3-3') and more specifically when the weight of the body is immediately thereafter borne by the same, produces a levering effect that brings about a rigid pinning to the post that makes it completely impossible for it to uncouple while the weight of the body remains borne upon the same. However, the bar may easily be uncoupled by a sideways or transverse movement of the foot, when the said body weight no longer rests upon the bar.

Claims

A climber for concrete posts, specifically for posts provided throughout their length with orifices that pass through them between opposing sides, characterized in that it is made up of a stirrup (5) equipped with means (8) of attachment to the corresponding worker's boot, which stirrup (5) is joined to a bar (10) that emerges sideways from the same and has a diameter suitable for easily penetrating the orifices (3-3') of the post and an appropriate length so that it couples in a stable way when the worker's body weight is borne by the said stirrup (5).
A climber for concrete posts, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the said stirrup (5) is made up of a U-shaped, steel plate, whose side branches (6) have large windows (7) for passing a strap (8) which is the means to attach the stirrup to the boot; the middle area of this strap (8) is adjustable to the rear area of the boot (4) and its ends, after passing through the windows (7), close upon the instep with the aid of a buckle (9).
A climber for concrete posts, as claimed in the foregoing claims, characterized in that the bar (10) is a steel bar, with a free end (11) that is rounded to facilitate its entry into the orifices (3-3'), and which is attached by welding to the lower side of the middle branch of the stirrup (5) so that, like the latter, it fits into the hollow defined by the shank of the worker's boot (4).
A climber for concrete posts, as claimed in foregoing claims, characterized in that a washer (12) is joined to the bar (10) close to the stirrup (11) which acts as a check to limit the penetration of the said bar (10) in the orifices (3-3') of the post, to prevent the stirrup's attachment strap (8) from rubbing against the post, the said washer (12) being joined eccentrically to the bar (10), so that it does not project below with respect to the latter.
A climber for concrete posts, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it also includes a hand stirrup (13) fitted with a strap (17) for attaching it to the worker's wrist; in the said hand stirrup (13) there are two sections of rod (14-14'), the first of which is a section of hand grip and the second a section of rod to be introduced into the corresponding transverse orifices (3-3') of the concrete post (1) to be climbed.
A climber for concrete posts, as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the sections (14-14') of the hand stirrup (13) are delimited by a projection or washer (15) forming a check to limit the penetration of the section (14') into the corresponding orifice (3-3') of the post (1).
A climber for concrete posts, as claimed in claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the strap (17) attaching the hand stirrup (13) to the worker's wrist is connected to a ring (16) that forms part of the rear end corresponding to the hand grip section (14) of the stirrup (13).