Apparatus for Securing Fall Arrest Equipment

Abstract

An apparatus and method that allows a user to secure a fall arrest system to equipment in locations not originally intended to be used for fall safety equipment. By utilizing non-conventional anchor points to secure the fall arrest system, a user can provide adequate and compliant fall arrest protection on equipment without violating the environmental or structural integrity of the equipment.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for securing fall safety equipment. More specifically, the invention is directed to an apparatus and method for securing fall safety equipment to locations not originally intended to be used with fall safety equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is currently a requirement that persons working above ground level, performing repairs, installing equipment, or performing maintenance, be outfitted with adequate protection against the possibility of accidental falls to the ground below. Because even a fall from a short distance can cause serious bodily injury or death, the ability to provide adequate fall protection is imperative. This is even true, when the height of the surface above the ground is as little as six feet, and some local and federal regulations require fall protection of some kind for all work above a height of as little as three feet above ground level. For example, Occupational Safety & Health Administration regulation 29 C.F.R. § 1926.502 dictates the minimum requirements for such fall protection equipment.

Fall protection is necessary when a worker is working atop structures such as buildings and towers. Furthermore, because of the height above ground level, fall protection may also be necessary when working on large-scale utility electric circuit breakers. A common configuration for fall protection comprises a safety harness for each worker that is releasable attached by a tether line and carabineer or shackle to an overhead fall arrest system anchored to a secure point on a structure above the worker to prevent a fall to the ground below. If a worker wearing a safety harness attached to a fall arrest system, does fall, the overhead fall arrest system will detect the free falling worker and will in turn prevent the tether line from feeding freely, thereby stopping the workers fall before he can contact the surface below.

It is often difficult however to find attachment points for portable overhead fall arrest systems that are suitable to accommodate the forces exerted by a falling worker. This is especially true on structures that were designed and built without fall protection in mind. In order to redress this concern, portable fall arrest systems may be employed to install an overhead anchor point for a fall arrest system. Various portable extendable fall arrest anchor posts are commercially available. Such posts are commonly referred to as “Maypoles,” “Uni-hoist,” or the like.

A Maypole provides the required overhead fixation point and allows workers to utilize fall arrest and fall protection systems in areas where it was not originally envisioned. Such fall arrest systems typically require permanent and invasive mounting points for the Maypole type device. Also, these mounting points may damage the environmental and structural integrity of a structure or building.

Accordingly, there is therefore a need for an apparatus and method that easily provides a fixation point that can readily be attached to a structure, such as an electrical circuit breaker or other common utility equipment when required without causing any environmental or structural concerns that typically exist utilizing permanent anchor points. It is also desirable that the apparatus be easily removable from the structure without causing damage to the integrity of such a structure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a principle object of the invention therefore to provide for an easily securable and easily removable apparatus to temporarily secure a fall arrest system to an angle iron structure used to support for example, a utility electrical circuit breaker, that will not damage the integrity of the structure. The invention advantageously utilizes structural elements of a support structure itself to provide anchor points for the fall arrest system that were not originally intended or used to secure fall arrest equipment.

It accordance with one aspect of the invention, a fall arrest anchor post is secured utilizing an enclosure and a structural framing member, e.g., a circuit breaker support, as an anchor point. The enclosure attaches to a common structural framing members as an anchor point for the fall arrest system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings, while the scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 installed utilizing a utility circuit breaker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views as used in the description herein, the meaning of “a “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes both “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meanings of “and” and “or” include both the conjunctive and disjunctive and may be used interchangeably unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Typical electrical circuit breakers or other utility equipment is commonly mounted on free standing frames formed from angle iron. When it becomes necessary for a worker to perform repairs or installations on top of such electrical equipment, an above the head fall arrest system must be employed. Existing fall arrest anchor posts may provide an adequate anchor point for a fall arrest system, however, typically there is no conventional method or apparatus available to anchor a fall arrest anchor post such as a Maypole to the angle iron frame.

An exemplary embodiment of the anchoring system of the present invention will now be described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of anchoring system 1. FIG. 2 depicts anchoring system 1, attached to angle iron 110 of utility circuit breaker 120 and supporting fall arrest anchor post 60. As shown, enclosure 10 is a box-like enclosure of sufficient dimension to receive and secure a typical fall arrest protection post 60. As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, enclosure 10 may also be comprised of other shapes including round or oval to accommodate different shaped fall arrest protection posts. Attached to one open side of enclosure 10 via hinges 30, is enclosure door 20. Also attached to enclosure door 20 are door tabs 40. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that particular structures chosen for a post receiver is not critical for practicing the invention. Auitable alternatives include for example, replacing hinges 30 with locking pins, and utilizing an enclosure door 20 that may be fully removable from enclosure 10. Door tabs 40 allow enclosure door 20 to be locked or secured in place to enclosure 10 once the fall arrest protection post 60 is placed within enclosure 10. Door tabs 40 may include for example locking screws 45, wing nuts, dogs, locking pins, or other locking mechanisms so long as they have the strength to ensure that enclosure door 20 does not open during normal operation of the present invention.

Extension arms 70 are mounted to anchoring system 1 to allow enclosure 10 to be offset mounted when in operation, thereby avoiding any potential interference between supporting angle iron 110 and the enclosure 10. Extension arms 70 are typically, square or rectangular cross sectional metal channels affixed to enclosure 20 by welding or other acceptable means, however other configurations are possible.

Orthogonally attached to extension arm 70 are support clamps 50. Support clamps 50 provide for mounting of anchoring system 1 to a piece of equipment's support frame. In the exemplary embodiment, the support clamps 50 are mounted to a support strut 80 and separated at a distance sufficient to provide adequate mounting. Support clamps 50 may be for example simple screw down type clamps that maintain position by friction. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, that support clamps 50 may be any suitable clamping devices such as spring clamps, pressure clamps, chain links and locking pins, or other holding fixtures, without departing from the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 2, operation and installation of the exemplary embodiment of anchoring system 1 will now be described. Support clamps 50 are placed in contact with angle iron 110. Support clamp screws 55 are tightened into place applying pressure on angle iron 110 and fixing anchoring system 1 in place. Enclosure door 20 opens on hinges 30 and fall arrest protection post 60 is inserted into enclosure 10. Enclosure door 20 is closed and locked in place utilizing door tabs 40 and locking screws 45. Advantageously, fall arrest system 1 is attached to fall arrest support post 60 providing protection to workers working above ground level. Fall arrest anchor post 60 it then extended to provide adequate overhead fall protection. As described, the above installation or the exemplary embodiment provides for overhead fall protection in an areas not typically designed to accommodate such fall arrest protection equipment.

From the embodiment of the invention described above, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment. Various changes and modifications thereof could be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for releasably securing a fall arrest anchor post comprising:

an enclosure for receiving a fall arrest anchor post and a mounting unit, said mounting unit comprising securing clamps for releasabley securing the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the enclosure further comprises a fall arrest anchor post support and a door.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is offset from the mounting unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mounting unit is releasably securably capable of mounting a commercially deployed utility equipment.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 where the commercially deployed utility equipment is selected from the group consisting of transformers, circuit breakers, rectifiers, relay stations, regulators, disconnect switches, capacitor banks, neutral resistors, and reactors.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the enclosure is rectangular.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the enclosure is circular.