US20220170219A1 - Wheel stop bracket and system for wheeled machinery - Google Patents
Wheel stop bracket and system for wheeled machinery Download PDFInfo
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- US20220170219A1 US20220170219A1 US17/536,226 US202117536226A US2022170219A1 US 20220170219 A1 US20220170219 A1 US 20220170219A1 US 202117536226 A US202117536226 A US 202117536226A US 2022170219 A1 US2022170219 A1 US 2022170219A1
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- Prior art keywords
- barrier
- base
- bracket
- floor
- base portion
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Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
- E01F13/00—Arrangements for obstructing or restricting traffic, e.g. gates, barricades ; Preventing passage of vehicles of selected category or dimensions
- E01F13/02—Arrangements for obstructing or restricting traffic, e.g. gates, barricades ; Preventing passage of vehicles of selected category or dimensions free-standing; portable, e.g. for guarding open manholes ; Portable signs or signals specially adapted for fitting to portable barriers
- E01F13/024—Removable barriers with permanently installed base members, e.g. to provide occasional passage
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04G—SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS
- E04G21/00—Preparing, conveying, or working-up building materials or building elements in situ; Other devices or measures for constructional work
- E04G21/32—Safety or protective measures for persons during the construction of buildings
- E04G21/3204—Safety or protective measures for persons during the construction of buildings against falling down
- E04G21/3223—Means supported by building floors or flat roofs, e.g. safety railings
- E04G21/3233—Means supported by building floors or flat roofs, e.g. safety railings without permanent provision in the floor or roof
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
- E01F13/00—Arrangements for obstructing or restricting traffic, e.g. gates, barricades ; Preventing passage of vehicles of selected category or dimensions
- E01F13/02—Arrangements for obstructing or restricting traffic, e.g. gates, barricades ; Preventing passage of vehicles of selected category or dimensions free-standing; portable, e.g. for guarding open manholes ; Portable signs or signals specially adapted for fitting to portable barriers
- E01F13/028—Flexible barrier members, e.g. cords; Means for rendering same conspicuous; Adapted supports, e.g. with storage reel
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
- E01F13/00—Arrangements for obstructing or restricting traffic, e.g. gates, barricades ; Preventing passage of vehicles of selected category or dimensions
- E01F13/04—Arrangements for obstructing or restricting traffic, e.g. gates, barricades ; Preventing passage of vehicles of selected category or dimensions movable to allow or prevent passage
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
- E01F13/00—Arrangements for obstructing or restricting traffic, e.g. gates, barricades ; Preventing passage of vehicles of selected category or dimensions
- E01F13/12—Arrangements for obstructing or restricting traffic, e.g. gates, barricades ; Preventing passage of vehicles of selected category or dimensions for forcibly arresting or disabling vehicles, e.g. spiked mats
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to the field of protective barriers that can be employed to limit or restrict the movement of wheeled machinery or vehicles.
- a bracket for a wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or machinery comprising a base releasably securable to a floor or a surface over which the wheeled equipment or machinery is operated, and a barrier retainer to releasably secure a longitudinal barrier rail to the base and to thereby limit movement of the longitudinal barrier rail, across the floor or the surface when the base is releasably secured to the floor or surface and when the longitudinal barrier rail is contacted by a wheel of the wheeled equipment or machinery.
- a wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or machinery, the wheel stop barrier comprising two or more such brackets and one or more longitudinal barrier rails releasably securable to two adjacent brackets through engagement with the barrier retainers of the respective brackets
- FIG. 1 is an upper side perspective view of two adjacent floors under construction demonstrating the application of an embodiment of a wheel stop bracket and system for wheeled machinery in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, used in association with an edge protection fence.
- FIG. 2 is an upper side perspective view of the wheel stop bracket and system for wheeled machinery of FIG. 1 without the use of the edge protection fence.
- FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of FIG. 1 demonstrating use in association with a scissor lift.
- FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 3 , wherein the scissor lift has engaged the wheel stop bracket and system.
- FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the wheel stop bracket and system shown in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 6 is an upper side perspective view of the wheel stop bracket of FIG. 5 .
- FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7 - 7 of FIG. 6 .
- FIG. 8 is a plan view of the wheel stop bracket of FIG. 6 .
- FIG. 9 is a bottom side perspective view of the wheel stop bracket of FIG. 6 .
- FIG. 10 is a side view of the wheel stop bracket of FIG. 6 in a compressed configuration.
- FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the wheel stop bracket of FIG. 10 .
- FIG. 12 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 11 showing an alternate manner of mounting the wheel stop bracket to a floor or surface.
- FIG. 13 is an upper side perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the wheel stop bracket.
- FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the wheel stop bracket of FIG. 13 .
- FIG. 15 is an upper side perspective view of the wheel stop bracket of FIG. 13 shown in use with a longitudinal barrier rail, a support post, and an edge protection fence panel.
- bracket 1 for a wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or machinery constructed in accordance with the invention.
- the drawings show one particular application and embodiment of bracket 1 and the wheel stop barrier system. It will be appreciated that other applications and embodiments are also possible and are contemplated.
- bracket 1 is shown in use in association with the construction of a multi-floor building.
- FIG. 1 shows a first floor 2 and a second floor 3 of a building under construction, wherein the outer edges of floors 2 and 3 (i.e. next to the outside of the building) are noted generally by reference numeral 4 .
- the particular application of bracket 1 that is shown is for use to help prevent wheeled equipment or machinery from falling from floor 2 over outer edge 4 .
- brackets 1 are shown used in association with longitudinal barrier rails 5 , support posts 6 , and edge protection fencing panels 7 .
- FIG. 2 shows an embodiment wherein three brackets have been placed adjacent to the outer edge 4 a floor structure, and with longitudinal barrier rails 5 extending therebetween, in isolation and without support post or fencing panels.
- FIGS. 3 and 4 depict how brackets 1 and a wheel stop barrier in accordance with an embodiment of the invention can be used to help prevent wheeled equipment or machinery (in this instance a scissor lift 8 ) from accidentally falling from the edge of a floor under construction in a multi-story building.
- wheeled equipment or machinery in this instance a scissor lift 8
- FIGS. 5 through 12 show, in detail, the structure, function and operation of bracket 1 as depicted in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 .
- bracket 1 is comprised generally of an elongate base 9 with a longitudinal axis that, in the particular application that is depicted, is generally perpendicular to outer edge 4 of floor 2 .
- Base 9 may be comprised of a first base portion 10 that is slidably engaged with a second base portion 11 .
- a barrier retainer 12 may be mounted on first base portion 10 and releasably secures one or more longitudinal barrier rails 5 to bracket 1 . As more particularly shown in FIGS.
- barrier retainer 5 may be in the form of a sleeve 13 that is oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of base 9 and through which one or more barrier rails may be slid.
- bracket 1 when bracket 1 is oriented generally perpendicular to outer edge 4 of floor 2 , the longitudinal barrier rails will be oriented generally parallel to edge 4 when received through sleeve 13 .
- barrier rails 5 can be constructed from a wide variety of different materials, including wood and metal. Where the rails are metal, they could be made to be telescopic in nature. Where the rails are wooden, the ends of successive rails could overlap when passing through sleeve 13 , or the ends of the rails could overlap at a position between two adjacent brackets and be secured together with a clamp 14 .
- bracket 1 includes a spring 15 that tends to bias first base portion 10 away from second base portion 11 , in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base.
- Spring 15 may be a coil spring that is at least partially received about an elongate first guide member 16 having a first end 17 fixed to one of first and second base portions 10 and 11 .
- First guide member 16 may have a second free end 18 that is positioned within a receiver 19 mounted on the other of the first and second base portions, 10 and 11 . The second end 18 is free to slide longitudinally within receiver 19 .
- first end 17 of first guide member 16 is secured to first base portion 10 , and in particular to sleeve 13 , while receiver 19 is secured to second base portion 11 .
- One end of spring 15 will therefore bear against the outer surface of sleeve 13 , with the other end of spring 15 housed within receiver 19 and bearing against an internal stop 20 (see FIG. 7 ).
- bracket 1 will have a rest configuration, where spring 15 is in an uncompressed state, and will have a compressed configuration where the spring is compressed and the distance between first and second base portions 10 and 11 , along the longitudinal axis of bracket 1 , has been reduced.
- bracket 1 further includes a mount to releasably secure it to floor 2 .
- the mount is a pin 21 that extends from the bottom surface of bracket 1 and that is receivable within a generally correspondingly shaped hole that is drilled or otherwise formed within floor 2 .
- mount or pin 21 is positioned beneath a post retainer 22 , which in this instance is comprised of a wall structure extending generally vertically upward from second base portion 11 and into which the lower end of a support post can be received.
- post retainer 22 Other forms and structures of post retainer 22 are possible.
- other positions for pin 21 and/or other structures for mounting bracket 1 to a floor or surface are also contemplated, including bolts, expanding anchors, etc.
- bracket 1 may be secured to floor 1 through the use of other or additional forms of fasteners, bolts, wedges, expanding anchors, etc. received through one or both of first and second base portions 10 and 11 .
- FIG. 12 depicts an embodiment where an expanding stud fastener 27 has been inserted through a hole in first base portion 10 and into a hole or opening within floor 2 as a means to maintain the bracket in position.
- bracket 1 may further comprise a second guide member 23 having a first end 24 fixed to one of the first and second base portions, 10 and 11 .
- Second guide member 23 has a second end 25 that is slidably received within a second receiver 26 positioned on the other of the first and second base portions 10 and 11 .
- the second guide member and the second receiver are vertically offset from first guide member 16 and first receiver 19 .
- first end 24 of second guide member 23 is secured to sleeve 13 on first base portion 10
- second receiver 26 is secured to second base portion 11 . It will be appreciated that the opposite is also possible.
- Second guide member 23 and second receiver 26 may be constructed so that second end 25 of second guide member 23 extends beyond and outwardly through second receiver 26 . Second end 25 , at the point that it extends beyond second receiver 26 , may then be fitted with a pin, cotter key, bolt or other structure 28 to prevent it from sliding backwardly through the receiver. In this manner there is presented a means to prevent first base portion 10 from becoming separated from second base portion 11 , while still allowing relative sliding movement of the respective base portions.
- the second guide member and second receiver serve as a means to retain the first and second base portions together in a single unit, but that the interaction of the second guide member within the second receiver will also help to assist in accommodating any rotational torque that may be applied between the first and second base portions.
- bracket for a wheel stop barrier that will limit movement of a longitudinal barrier rail, across the surface of a floor or other surface upon which wheeled equipment or machinery is being operated, when the barrier rail is contacted by a wheel of the wheeled equipment or machinery.
- the invention also provides a wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or machinery where the barrier comprises two or more brackets 1 and one or more longitudinal barrier rails 5 releasably securable to two adjacent brackets through engagement with barrier retainers 12 on the respective brackets.
- any residual horizontal load will be transmitted from first base portion 10 to second base portion 11 and then through mount or pin 21 to floor 2 .
- FIGS. 3 and 4 in the case of scissor lift 8 coming into contact with longitudinal barrier rails 5 , the depicted drawings show both a deflection of the rails and a compression of spring 15 . Any additional horizontal load not accommodated by the deflection of the barrier rails and the compression of the spring will be applied to floor 2 through mount or pin 21 (not specifically shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 ).
- FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 show an alternate embodiment of bracket 1 that does not utilize a spring 15 , and where the bracket is a rigid structure.
- the first and second base portions 10 and 11 are rigidly secured to one another such that a load applied to a longitudinal rail (or to bracket 1 itself) in a direction from first base portion 10 toward second base portion 11 , is transmitted directly to pin 21 without being transmitted through a compression spring as in the case of the previously described embodiment.
- the bracket shown in FIGS. 13 through 15 will essentially function the same as that shown in the previous figures, while being lighter in weight, less mechanically complex, and less expensive to manufacture.
- additional alternate embodiments of bracket 1 are contemplated, including those where the first and second base portions comprise a unitary bottom plate extending along the entire base of the bracket.
- brackets 1 and longitudinal barrier rails 5 presents a means to help prevent wheeled equipment or machinery from contacting fencing panels 7 and/or support post 6 (in which case the equipment or machinery could damage the fencing panels or post) and from potentially falling off the edge of floor 2 .
- longitudinal rails 5 are designed with a sufficient vertical height to discourage the wheels of the equipment or machinery that may come into contact with them from “jumping” or riding over the rails.
- the novel bracket includes a compression spring that accommodates part of the load applied by wheeled equipment coming into contact with longitudinal rails 5 or with a bracket itself.
- the bracket is a rigid structure with no compression spring.
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Abstract
A bracket for a wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or machinery. The bracket comprises a base releasably securable to a floor or a surface over which the wheeled equipment or machinery is operated, and a barrier retainer to releasably secure a longitudinal barrier rail to the base. The bracket limits movement of the longitudinal barrier rail, across the floor or the surface when the base is releasably secured to the floor or surface and when the longitudinal barrier rail is contacted by a wheel of the wheeled equipment or machinery. Also disclosed is a wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or machinery, where the wheel stop barrier comprises two or more brackets and one or more longitudinal barrier rails.
Description
- This invention relates generally to the field of protective barriers that can be employed to limit or restrict the movement of wheeled machinery or vehicles.
- It is often important to limit the movement of wheeled equipment or vehicles such as fork lifts, scissor lifts, motorized or electrified pallet lifts, motorized or electrified wheelbarrows, etc., on a construction site or in a manufacturing or warehousing facility. Currently, where it is desired to prevent or restrict the movement of such machinery or vehicles in a particular area or in a particular direction, concrete or steel curbs or barriers are typically installed. To a significant degree, such curbs or barriers rely on their mass to stop or limit movement of the wheeled machinery and are generally not conducive to temporary use and movement from site to site.
- One particular application where a restriction on the movement of wheeled machinery or equipment is critical is in the case of high-rise building construction. In the construction of multi-floor buildings it is common for various trades to utilize scissor lifts and other wheeled equipment. Should such equipment accidentally roll or be driven over an unprotected edge of the floor in a multi-floor structure, catastrophic results could ensue. While in many jurisdictions edge protection is required on elevated floors under construction, such edge protection is commonly in the form of fencing or railings that are designed to help prevent people and relatively small objects from falling off a floor under construction. These fences and railings often lack the ability to restrain the movement of a piece of equipment or machinery, such as a scissor lift, that can be under power and that is of considerable weight.
- Accordingly, in an embodiment of the invention there is provided a bracket for a wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or machinery, the bracket comprising a base releasably securable to a floor or a surface over which the wheeled equipment or machinery is operated, and a barrier retainer to releasably secure a longitudinal barrier rail to the base and to thereby limit movement of the longitudinal barrier rail, across the floor or the surface when the base is releasably secured to the floor or surface and when the longitudinal barrier rail is contacted by a wheel of the wheeled equipment or machinery.
- There is also provided a wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or machinery, the wheel stop barrier comprising two or more such brackets and one or more longitudinal barrier rails releasably securable to two adjacent brackets through engagement with the barrier retainers of the respective brackets
- For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which show exemplary embodiments of the present invention in which:
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FIG. 1 is an upper side perspective view of two adjacent floors under construction demonstrating the application of an embodiment of a wheel stop bracket and system for wheeled machinery in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, used in association with an edge protection fence. -
FIG. 2 is an upper side perspective view of the wheel stop bracket and system for wheeled machinery ofFIG. 1 without the use of the edge protection fence. -
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view ofFIG. 1 demonstrating use in association with a scissor lift. -
FIG. 4 is a plan view ofFIG. 3 , wherein the scissor lift has engaged the wheel stop bracket and system. -
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the wheel stop bracket and system shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 6 is an upper side perspective view of the wheel stop bracket ofFIG. 5 . -
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 ofFIG. 6 . -
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the wheel stop bracket ofFIG. 6 . -
FIG. 9 is a bottom side perspective view of the wheel stop bracket ofFIG. 6 . -
FIG. 10 is a side view of the wheel stop bracket ofFIG. 6 in a compressed configuration. -
FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the wheel stop bracket ofFIG. 10 . -
FIG. 12 is a sectional view similar toFIG. 11 showing an alternate manner of mounting the wheel stop bracket to a floor or surface. -
FIG. 13 is an upper side perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the wheel stop bracket. -
FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the wheel stop bracket ofFIG. 13 . -
FIG. 15 is an upper side perspective view of the wheel stop bracket ofFIG. 13 shown in use with a longitudinal barrier rail, a support post, and an edge protection fence panel. - The present invention may be embodied in a number of different forms. The specification and drawings that follow describe and disclose some of the specific forms of the invention.
- With reference to the attached drawings there is shown an embodiment of a
bracket 1 for a wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or machinery constructed in accordance with the invention. The drawings show one particular application and embodiment ofbracket 1 and the wheel stop barrier system. It will be appreciated that other applications and embodiments are also possible and are contemplated. - In the enclosed
drawings bracket 1 is shown in use in association with the construction of a multi-floor building.FIG. 1 shows a first floor 2 and a second floor 3 of a building under construction, wherein the outer edges of floors 2 and 3 (i.e. next to the outside of the building) are noted generally byreference numeral 4. The particular application ofbracket 1 that is shown is for use to help prevent wheeled equipment or machinery from falling from floor 2 overouter edge 4. In this embodiment,brackets 1 are shown used in association with longitudinal barrier rails 5,support posts 6, and edge protection fencing panels 7. -
FIG. 2 shows an embodiment wherein three brackets have been placed adjacent to the outer edge 4 a floor structure, and with longitudinal barrier rails 5 extending therebetween, in isolation and without support post or fencing panels. -
FIGS. 3 and 4 depict howbrackets 1 and a wheel stop barrier in accordance with an embodiment of the invention can be used to help prevent wheeled equipment or machinery (in this instance a scissor lift 8) from accidentally falling from the edge of a floor under construction in a multi-story building. -
FIGS. 5 through 12 show, in detail, the structure, function and operation ofbracket 1 as depicted in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 through 4 . There,bracket 1 is comprised generally of an elongate base 9 with a longitudinal axis that, in the particular application that is depicted, is generally perpendicular toouter edge 4 of floor 2. Base 9 may be comprised of afirst base portion 10 that is slidably engaged with a second base portion 11. Abarrier retainer 12 may be mounted onfirst base portion 10 and releasably secures one or more longitudinal barrier rails 5 tobracket 1. As more particularly shown inFIGS. 6 and 7 , barrier retainer 5 may be in the form of asleeve 13 that is oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of base 9 and through which one or more barrier rails may be slid. In this configuration, it will be appreciated that whenbracket 1 is oriented generally perpendicular toouter edge 4 of floor 2, the longitudinal barrier rails will be oriented generally parallel toedge 4 when received throughsleeve 13. It will further be appreciated that barrier rails 5 can be constructed from a wide variety of different materials, including wood and metal. Where the rails are metal, they could be made to be telescopic in nature. Where the rails are wooden, the ends of successive rails could overlap when passing throughsleeve 13, or the ends of the rails could overlap at a position between two adjacent brackets and be secured together with aclamp 14. - With particular reference to
FIGS. 6 and 7 , in an embodiment,bracket 1 includes aspring 15 that tends to biasfirst base portion 10 away from second base portion 11, in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base.Spring 15 may be a coil spring that is at least partially received about an elongatefirst guide member 16 having afirst end 17 fixed to one of first andsecond base portions 10 and 11.First guide member 16 may have a secondfree end 18 that is positioned within a receiver 19 mounted on the other of the first and second base portions, 10 and 11. Thesecond end 18 is free to slide longitudinally within receiver 19. In the embodiment shown,first end 17 offirst guide member 16 is secured tofirst base portion 10, and in particular to sleeve 13, while receiver 19 is secured to second base portion 11. One end ofspring 15 will therefore bear against the outer surface ofsleeve 13, with the other end ofspring 15 housed within receiver 19 and bearing against an internal stop 20 (seeFIG. 7 ). It will therefore be appreciated thatbracket 1 will have a rest configuration, wherespring 15 is in an uncompressed state, and will have a compressed configuration where the spring is compressed and the distance between first andsecond base portions 10 and 11, along the longitudinal axis ofbracket 1, has been reduced. - In an embodiment of the invention,
bracket 1 further includes a mount to releasably secure it to floor 2. In the particular embodiment shown inFIGS. 6 and 7 , the mount is a pin 21 that extends from the bottom surface ofbracket 1 and that is receivable within a generally correspondingly shaped hole that is drilled or otherwise formed within floor 2. Also, inFIGS. 6 and 7 , mount or pin 21 is positioned beneath apost retainer 22, which in this instance is comprised of a wall structure extending generally vertically upward from second base portion 11 and into which the lower end of a support post can be received. Other forms and structures ofpost retainer 22 are possible. In addition, other positions for pin 21 and/or other structures for mountingbracket 1 to a floor or surface are also contemplated, including bolts, expanding anchors, etc. - With reference again to
FIGS. 1 and 5 , one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that inserting the lower end or foot of a support ortension post 6 intopost retainer 22, and then placing the post in tension between first and second floors 2 and 3, will effectively maintain the lower surface ofbracket 1 in contact with floor 2 and will retain mount or pin 21 within the hole or opening in floor 2 into which it has been received. In such a manner, a horizontally oriented load applied tobracket 1 will be borne by mount or pin 21 to maintain the bracket in position upon the floor. As mentioned, in other embodiments,bracket 1 may be secured tofloor 1 through the use of other or additional forms of fasteners, bolts, wedges, expanding anchors, etc. received through one or both of first andsecond base portions 10 and 11. For example,FIG. 12 depicts an embodiment where an expandingstud fastener 27 has been inserted through a hole infirst base portion 10 and into a hole or opening within floor 2 as a means to maintain the bracket in position. - With reference again to
FIGS. 6 and 7 ,bracket 1 may further comprise asecond guide member 23 having a first end 24 fixed to one of the first and second base portions, 10 and 11.Second guide member 23 has a second end 25 that is slidably received within asecond receiver 26 positioned on the other of the first andsecond base portions 10 and 11. In one embodiment, the second guide member and the second receiver are vertically offset fromfirst guide member 16 and first receiver 19. In the embodiment shown, first end 24 ofsecond guide member 23 is secured tosleeve 13 onfirst base portion 10, andsecond receiver 26 is secured to second base portion 11. It will be appreciated that the opposite is also possible.Second guide member 23 andsecond receiver 26 may be constructed so that second end 25 ofsecond guide member 23 extends beyond and outwardly throughsecond receiver 26. Second end 25, at the point that it extends beyondsecond receiver 26, may then be fitted with a pin, cotter key, bolt orother structure 28 to prevent it from sliding backwardly through the receiver. In this manner there is presented a means to preventfirst base portion 10 from becoming separated from second base portion 11, while still allowing relative sliding movement of the respective base portions. It will further be appreciated that not only will the second guide member and second receiver serve as a means to retain the first and second base portions together in a single unit, but that the interaction of the second guide member within the second receiver will also help to assist in accommodating any rotational torque that may be applied between the first and second base portions. - From an understanding of the above-described structure it will be appreciated that there is presented a bracket for a wheel stop barrier that will limit movement of a longitudinal barrier rail, across the surface of a floor or other surface upon which wheeled equipment or machinery is being operated, when the barrier rail is contacted by a wheel of the wheeled equipment or machinery. The invention also provides a wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or machinery where the barrier comprises two or
more brackets 1 and one or more longitudinal barrier rails 5 releasably securable to two adjacent brackets through engagement withbarrier retainers 12 on the respective brackets. In one embodiment, when such brackets and such barrier rails are in use, horizontal force, applied to a longitudinal barrier rail (or to a bracket itself) in a direction generally towardedge 4 will be transmitted from the barrier rails, through the barrier retainers of the respective brackets, tofirst base portion 10, where at least part of the force will be accommodated through compression ofspring 15. Once the spring has “bottomed out” any residual horizontal load will be transmitted fromfirst base portion 10 to second base portion 11 and then through mount or pin 21 to floor 2. With particular reference toFIGS. 3 and 4 , in the case of scissor lift 8 coming into contact with longitudinal barrier rails 5, the depicted drawings show both a deflection of the rails and a compression ofspring 15. Any additional horizontal load not accommodated by the deflection of the barrier rails and the compression of the spring will be applied to floor 2 through mount or pin 21 (not specifically shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 ). -
FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 show an alternate embodiment ofbracket 1 that does not utilize aspring 15, and where the bracket is a rigid structure. In this embodiment the first andsecond base portions 10 and 11 are rigidly secured to one another such that a load applied to a longitudinal rail (or tobracket 1 itself) in a direction fromfirst base portion 10 toward second base portion 11, is transmitted directly to pin 21 without being transmitted through a compression spring as in the case of the previously described embodiment. It will be appreciated that other than the compression of a spring, the bracket shown inFIGS. 13 through 15 will essentially function the same as that shown in the previous figures, while being lighter in weight, less mechanically complex, and less expensive to manufacture. It will further be appreciated that additional alternate embodiments ofbracket 1 are contemplated, including those where the first and second base portions comprise a unitary bottom plate extending along the entire base of the bracket. - It will thus be understood that a combination of
brackets 1 and longitudinal barrier rails 5 presents a means to help prevent wheeled equipment or machinery from contacting fencing panels 7 and/or support post 6 (in which case the equipment or machinery could damage the fencing panels or post) and from potentially falling off the edge of floor 2. Preferably, longitudinal rails 5 are designed with a sufficient vertical height to discourage the wheels of the equipment or machinery that may come into contact with them from “jumping” or riding over the rails. In one embodiment the novel bracket includes a compression spring that accommodates part of the load applied by wheeled equipment coming into contact with longitudinal rails 5 or with a bracket itself. In another embodiment the bracket is a rigid structure with no compression spring. - It is to be understood that what has been described are the preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth above, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
Claims (18)
1. A bracket for a wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or machinery, the bracket comprising:
a base releasably securable to a floor or a surface over which the wheeled equipment or machinery is operated, and
a barrier retainer to releasably secure a longitudinal barrier rail to the base and to thereby limit movement of the longitudinal barrier rail, across the floor or the surface when the base is releasably secured to the floor or surface and when the longitudinal barrier rail is contacted by a wheel of the wheeled equipment or machinery.
2. The bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base is elongate and the barrier retainer is mounted thereon such that a longitudinal barrier rail is releasably secured to the base in a generally perpendicular orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the base, the base including a post retainer to retain a bottom end of a barrier post in contact with the base when the barrier post is extended between the floor and a ceiling structure of an immediately adjacent upper floor structure.
3. The bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base is elongate and the barrier retainer is mounted thereon such that a longitudinal barrier rail is releasably secured to the base in a generally perpendicular orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the base, the base including a mount to releasably secure the base to the floor or structure.
4. The bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base is elongate with a longitudinal axis, the base comprised of a first base portion slidably engaged with a second base portion, the barrier retainer mounted on the first base portion.
5. The bracket as claimed in claim 4 including a spring biasing the first base portion away from the second base portion.
6. The bracket as claimed in claim 5 wherein the second base portion includes one or more mounts to releasably secure one or both of the first and second base portions to the floor or surface over which the wheeled equipment or machinery is operated.
7. The bracket as claimed in claim 6 wherein the spring is a coil spring that is at least partially received about an elongate first guide member having a first end fixed to one of the first and second base portions and a second free end positioned within a first receiver on the other of the first and second base portions, the bracket having a rest configuration wherein the spring is in an uncompressed state, the bracket having a compressed configuration wherein the spring is in a compressed state and the distance between the first and second base portions along the longitudinal axis has been reduced.
8. The bracket as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first end of the first guide member is fixed to the first base portion and the first receiver is positioned on the second base portion.
9. The bracket as claimed in claim 8 comprising a second guide member having a first end fixed to one of the first and second base portions, the second guide member having a second end slidably received within a second receiver positioned on the other of the first and second base portions.
10. A wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or machinery, the wheel stop barrier comprising two or more brackets as claimed in claim 1 and one or more longitudinal barrier rails releasably securable to two adjacent brackets through engagement with the barrier retainers of the respective brackets.
11. The wheel stop barrier as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the brackets include a mount to secure their bases to a floor or a surface over which the wheeled equipment or machinery is operated.
12. The wheel stop barrier as claimed in claim 11 wherein the base of each bracket is comprised of a first base portion slidably engaged with a second base portion.
13. The wheel stop barrier as claimed in claim 12 wherein the barrier retainer of each bracket is secured to the first base portion, each bracket including a spring biasing the first base portion away from the second base portion.
14. The wheel stop barrier as claimed in claim 13 wherein the mount of each bracket is positioned on the second base portion such that horizontal force applied to a longitudinal barrier rail in a direction toward the second base portion of a bracket, where the longitudinal barrier rail is releasably secured by a barrier retainer on the bracket, is at least partially accommodated through compression of the spring.
15. The wheel stop barrier as claimed in claim 14 wherein the second base portion of each bracket includes a post retainer to retain the bottom end of a barrier post in contact with the second base portion when the barrier post is extended between the floor and a ceiling structure of an immediately adjacent upper floor structure.
16. The wheel stop barrier as claimed in claim 15 wherein the mount is a pin receivable within a hole in the floor or surface, the retention of the bottom of a barrier post in the post retainer aiding in maintaining the pin within the hole in the floor or surface.
17. The wheel stop barrier as claimed in claim 14 wherein the spring is a coil spring that is at least partially received about an elongate first guide member having a first end fixed to one of the first and second base portions and a second free end positioned within a first receiver on the other of the first and second base portions.
18. The wheel stop barrier as claimed in claim 17 comprising a second guide member having a first end fixed to one of the first and second base portions, the second guide member having a second end slidably received within a second receiver positioned on the other of the first and second base portions.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US17/536,226 US20220170219A1 (en) | 2020-12-02 | 2021-11-29 | Wheel stop bracket and system for wheeled machinery |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US202063120248P | 2020-12-02 | 2020-12-02 | |
US17/536,226 US20220170219A1 (en) | 2020-12-02 | 2021-11-29 | Wheel stop bracket and system for wheeled machinery |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20220170219A1 true US20220170219A1 (en) | 2022-06-02 |
Family
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US17/536,226 Pending US20220170219A1 (en) | 2020-12-02 | 2021-11-29 | Wheel stop bracket and system for wheeled machinery |
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US (1) | US20220170219A1 (en) |
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2021
- 2021-11-29 US US17/536,226 patent/US20220170219A1/en active Pending
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