GB2534925A

GB2534925A - Column guard

Info

Publication number: GB2534925A
Application number: GB1502001.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stratford Timothy; S Mccue David; Ustach Thomas; Harris Russell
Original assignee: Mccue Int Inc
Current assignee: Mccue Int Inc
Priority date: 2015-02-06
Filing date: 2015-02-06
Publication date: 2016-08-10
Also published as: GB201502001D0

Abstract

A column guard 10 comprises four guard components 12; each guard component 12 comprises an elongate body 14 including a cavity 16 in one side and a male member 18 extending away from the other side. The male member 18 interlocks with the cavity 16 of a different guard component 12. There may be a strap 20 and ratchet 22 for locating around the guard components 12. The body 14 may be L-shaped. The depth of the cavity 16 may be the same size as the male member 18. The cavity 16 may have an opening that is at least half the length of the elongate length of the body 14. There may be one or more elongate spacers (26 fig. 8) for use between a guard component 12 and a column 100. The column guard 10 may be adjusted to fit different sizes of column 100. The column guard 10 is suitable for use on shelving systems in a warehouse. The guard components 12 may be made from a single moulding of toughened plastic and the spacers (26 fig. 8) may be made from packing material.

Description

DESCRIPTION

COLUMN GUARD

This invention relates to a column guard.

In many industrial units such as warehouses and the like, large open spaces are filled with goods and shelving systems storing goods. Fork-lift trucks and pallets jacks are used to move goods around the warehouse, io particularly when goods are received for storage and then removed for onward distribution. The constant movement of heavy equipment presents dangers for people working in the environment and for fixtures within the warehouse, such as vertical columns and pillars. It is desirable to provide protection for such fixtures from collisions and many different types of guards and barriers are is used in such industrial units in order to protect fixtures. However, a significant problem with collision protection elements such as guards is that they tend to be sized for a specific fixture and do not have much flexibility in their deployment in relation to fitting to different sized fixtures.

It is therefore an object of the invention to improve upon the known art.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a column guard comprising four guard components, each guard component comprising an elongate body portion including a cavity in one side thereof and a male member extending away from one other side thereof and for mating with the cavity of a different guard component.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of protecting a column, the method comprising locating four guard components around the column, each guard component comprising an elongate body portion including a cavity in one side thereof and a male member extending away from one other side thereof and arranged to mate with the cavity of a different guard component.

Owing to the invention, it is possible to provide a column guard that is constructed from four guard components that can be easily adjusted to fit to different sizes of column. In a preferred embodiment, a single universal design of guard component is provided that will allow the use of four such guard components that can be used to surround a column and protect that column from collision damage. The design of the guard component is such that the same kit of four guard components can be used to protect different sized columns, providing a column guard that has much flexibility in its use. The column guard can be fitted to square and rectangular horizontal cross-section io vertical columns.

Preferably, the column guard further comprises a strap and ratchet arrangement for locating around the four guard components. The provision of one or more straps and ratchet arrangements allows the column guard to be fixed into position, without the need for any specialist equipment or technical is fitting process. Once the four column guards have been manually pushed into position around a column, then the fitting process can be completed by the preferable use of one or more strap and ratchet arrangement for locating around the four guard components and holding the whole column guard tightly in position.

Advantageously, the elongate body portion of each guard component is substantially L-shaped. The L-shaped body provides an effective way of covering the corner of a vertical column. Each guard component can be considered as protecting one corner of the column to which the column guard is fixed. The L-shaped body portion is formed from two elongate portions that are joined in such a way that they are at 90 degrees to each other, with one of the elongate portions having the cavity located therein and the other elongate portion mounting the male member.

Ideally, the depth of the cavity in the elongate body portion of each guard component is substantially the same size as the male member extending away from the elongate body portion of each guard component. Each guard component can be constructed so that the size and shape of the male member that extends away from the body portion of the guard component matches the size and shape of the cavity present in the body portion of the guard component. This ensures a smooth and snug fit when the male member of one guard component is mated with the cavity of a second guard component. This facilitates the use of the column guard on different sized columns, as two adjacent guard components will slide fit together ensuring a stable connection even when the male member is not fully engaged within the cavity of an adjacent guard component.

Preferably, the cavity in the elongate body portion of each guard component has an opening that is at least half the length of the elongate length of the body portion. The continuous cavity in the body portion of the guard component can be quite large to facilitate that connection between two adjacent guard components. Ideally the length of the cavity will be at least half the length of the body portion as this provides an opening to the cavity that is large enough to ensure that the corresponding male member is sufficient large not to be a point of weakness in the column guard. The larger the interlocking components are the more robust will be the connection between two adjacent guard components.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a column and a column guard, Figure 2 is a further perspective view of the column and the column guard, Figure 3 is a cross-section through the column and column guard of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a different column and the column guard, Figure 5 is a cross-section through the column and column guard of Figure 4, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a guard component, and Figures 7 and 8 are perspective view of a yet different column and the column guard.

Figure 1 shows a column guard 10 for protecting a column 100. The column guard 10 comprises four guard components 12, each guard component 12 comprising an elongate body portion 14 which includes a cavity 16 in one side thereof and a male member 18 extending away from one other side thereof and for mating with the cavity 16 of a different guard component 12. The column guard 10 further comprises a strap 20 and ratchet 22 arrangement for locating around the four guard components 12. The elongate body portion 14 of each guard component 12 is substantially L-shaped. The column guard 10 shown in Figure 1 is not yet fixed into position, but is being placed around the column 100 ready to be locked into position.

The depth of the cavity 16 in the elongate body portion 14 of each guard component 12 is substantially the same size as the male member 18 extending away from the elongate body portion 14 of each guard component 12. The cavity 16 in the elongate body portion 14 of each guard component 12 has an opening that is at least half the length of the elongate length of the body portion 14. The column guard 10 is so designed that the four individual guard components 12 fit together in such a way that the male member 18 of a guard component 12 smoothly slides into the cavity 16 of an adjacent guard component 12. All four guard components 12 have cavities 16 receiving a male member 18.

Figure 2 shows the same column 100 of Figure 1, with the column guard 10 fixed into position. The four guard components 12 that make up the column guard 10 are arranged to fit snugly around the column 100 and the strap 20 and ratchet 22 arrangements have been tightened around the guard components 12. Each of the male members 18 of each guard component 12 are located within the cavity 16 of an adjacent guard component 12, creating a ring of interlocking guard components 12. Each guard component 12 is formed from a single moulding of toughened plastics material and is designed to protect the column 100 from accidental impact. The guard components 12 can also be hollow with an internal space containing air that acts as a cushion in any impact. The guard components 12 support their own weight on the floor of the building housing the column 100.

The column 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2 has a square cross-section and has a width of 200mm. As can be seen in Figure 2, the male members 18 of the guard components 12 are no longer visible in the configuration of column guard 10 since once the guard components 12 are pushed together to form the column guard 10, then the male members 18 are located entirely within a cavity of an adjacent guard component 12. The two strap 20 and ratchet 22 arrangements have been tightened around the guard components 12 to form a tight fitting arrangement of the guard components 12, which are able to robustly protect the column 100 against any accidental impact, whether by an individual or equipment such as goods being moved.

Figure 3 shows a horizontal cross-section through the column 100 and column guard 10 of Figure 2. The column 100 is centrally located, with the four is guard components 12 surrounding the column 100 and held in position by the strap 20 and ratchet 22 arrangement, only one of the two arrangements being visible. This Figure shows the interlocking between the four guard components 12, with the male member 18 of each guard component 12 fitting neatly into the cavity 16 of an adjacent guard component 12. The L-shaped body portion 14 of each guard component 12 can be clearly seen in this Figure. Each body portion 14 has a cavity 16 formed therein and a corresponding male member 18 extending outwards from a different side.

The fitting of the column guard 10 to the column 100 can be carried out by an unskilled operator, as the guard components 12 can be pushed together by hand around the column 100 and the two strap 20 and ratchet 22 arrangements can also be easily fitted and tightened by hand. The column guard 10 can also be removed by reversing this process and individual guard components 12 can be easily replaced, without the need to use specialist equipment nor to replace the entire guard 10. Should a collision damage one of the guard components 12, then the column guard 10 can be disassembled and the damaged guard component 12 be replaced. This can all be carried out without tools by an unskilled operator.

Figure 4 shows the column guard 10 fixed to a different column 102. This column 102 is a vertical column with a square horizontal cross-section similar to that shown in the previous Figures, but is larger than the column 100 of Figures 1 to 3. In Figure 4, the column 102 has a width of 300mm, which is 50% larger than the 200mm column 100 of Figures 1 to 3. The column 102 of Figure 4, as previously, will be present in a warehouse for example, and needs to be protected against accidental collisions, which are very common in such warehouses owing to the almost constant movement of goods into and out of the warehouse. Damage to such a column 102 is to be avoided if possible, to io avoid the small likelihood of structural damage occurring.

The column guard 10 which is used to surround the column 102 is identical to the column guard 10 shown in Figures 1 to 3, in terms of the components that make up the column guard 10. The column guard 10 comprises the four guard components 12 and the two strap 20 and ratchet 22 arrangements that are used to tighten the guard components 12 into position.

The increased size of the column 102, when compared to the column 100 means that the guard components 12 are more spaced apart than when used on the smaller column 100. Each male member 18 still engages into the cavity 16 of a neighbouring guard component 12, but does not fill the cavity 16 in its entirety, as would happen when fitted to the smaller column 100.

Figure 5 shows a horizontal cross-section through the column 102 and column guard 10 of Figure 4. As before, the column 102 is centrally located within the column guard 10. The four guard components 12 surround the column 102 and are held in position by the strap 20 and ratchet 22 arrangement, only one of the two arrangements being visible. Figure 5 shows the interlocking between the four guard components 12, with the male member 18 of each guard component 12 fitting into the cavity 16 of an adjacent guard component 12. Since the column 102 has a width of 300mm, the guard components 12 are more spaced apart than compared to their location on the smaller 200mm column 100 of Figures 1 to 3.

The L-shaped body portion 14 of each guard component 12 can be seen in the Figure. Each body portion 14 has a cavity 16 which is formed in the body portion 14 and has a corresponding male member 18 extending outwards from a different side. When fitted to a larger 300mm column 102, the column guard 10 is configured such that the male members 18 only extend a small distance into an adjacent cavity 16. The column 102 is still protected by the column guard 10 and the fixing with the strap 20 and ratchet 22 arrangements ensures that the column guard will provide sufficient collision protection, while being robustly fitted to the column 102. As before, an unskilled operator can fit the column guard 10 to the column 102.

Figure 6 shows a single guard component 12, which is formed from a io toughened plastics material as a single moulding. In the preferred embodiment of the column guard 10, four identical guard components 12 are used, as this simplifies the manufacturing process, which only requires one component to be manufactured, with four of the guard components 12 forming a kit with the two strap 20 and ratchet 22 arrangements that can be used to create a column is guard 10. As can be seen in Figure 6, the body portion 14 of the guard component 12 is provided with a large cavity 16 on one side thereof, while a corresponding male member 18 extends from a different side of the body portion 14 of the guard component 12.

The L-shaped body portion 14 is provided with two horizontal grooves 24 on the external surface thereof. These grooves 24 are designed to locate the straps 20 when the column guard 10 is assembled. Each groove 24 is provided towards one end of the guard component 12, with one groove 24 at a lower position and one groove 24 at an upper position, once the guard component 12 is located around a vertical column 100. Once four of the guard components 12 are used to surround a column 100, then the two strap 20 and ratchet 22 arrangements can be used to complete the installation of the column guard 10 around the column 100. All of this can be completed by hand by an unskilled operator who does not require any specific tools or training to complete the column guard.

Figures 7 and 8 show the column guard 10 being used on a smaller column 104, which is rectangular in horizontal cross-section with a side width of 150mm. In order to fit snugly onto this small size of vertical column 104, four additional elongate spacer components 26 are also used in addition to the four guard components 12 and the two strap 20 and ratchet 22 arrangements in the column guard 10. The spacer components 26 directly contact the column 104, effectively widening the column 104, and the four guard components 12 are pushed into place in contact with the spacer components 26, as can be seen in Figure 8. The smaller column 104 is adequately protected by the guard component 10, with the additional spacer components 26 providing a larger area for the guard components 12 to engage. The spacer components 26 are preferably constructed of foam packing material.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A column guard (10) comprising four guard components (12), each guard component (12) comprising an elongate body portion (14) including a cavity (16) in one side thereof and a male member (18) extending away from one other side thereof and for mating with the cavity (16) of a different guard component (12).
2. A column guard according to claim 1, and further comprising a to strap (20) and ratchet (22) arrangement for locating around the four guard components (12).
3. A column guard according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elongate body portion (14) of each guard component (12) is substantially L-shaped.
4. A column guard according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the depth of the cavity (16) in the elongate body portion (14) of each guard component (12) is substantially the same size as the male member (18) extending away from the elongate body portion (14) of each guard component (12).
5. A column guard according to any preceding claim, wherein the cavity (16) in the elongate body portion (14) of each guard component (12) has an opening that is at least half the length of the elongate length of the body portion (14).
6. A column guard according to any preceding claim, and further comprising one or more elongate spacer components (26), each for use between a guard component (12) and a column (104).
7. A method of protecting a column (100, 102, 104), the method comprising locating four guard components (12) around the column (100, 102, 104), each guard component (12) comprising an elongate body portion (14) including a cavity (16) in one side thereof and a male member (18) extending away from one other side thereof and arranged to mate with the cavity (16) of a different guard component (12).
8. A method according to claim 7, and further comprising locating a strap (20) and ratchet (22) arrangement around the four guard components (12).
9. A method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the elongate body portion (14) of each guard component (12) is substantially L-shaped.
10. A method according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the depth of the cavity (16) in the elongate body portion (14) of each guard component (12) is substantially the same size as the male member (18) extending away from the elongate body portion (14) of each guard component (12).
11. A method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the cavity (16) in the elongate body portion (14) of each guard component (12) has an opening that is at least half the length of the elongate length of the body portion (14).
12. A method according to any one of claims 7 to 11 and further comprising fitting one or more elongate spacer components (26) between a guard component (12) and the column (104).