Abstract: A counter-balance weight for a modular safety rail includes a solid body of a compact shape which defines a substantially planar major surface which, in use, is intended to rest on a support surface The body defines a substantially linear through-bore for receiving an end of a spacer member. The through-bore extends continuously through the body in a direction substantially parallel with the substantially planar major surface of the body. The through-bore extends between a pair of end faces which, at least in part, are non-parallel end faces and the body further defines a screw-threaded aperture which extends through the body to intersect and communicate with the through-bore. The body may have a substantially triangular shape in transverse cross-section.

Abstract: A safety rail assembly for surrounding a structure protruding from a support surface comprises at least three base units for positioning in a free-standing manner on the support surface, support members each extending substantially vertically from a respective base unit, and barrier members each extending between and supported by a respective pair of successive support members, each base unit comprising a side face which faces inwards of the assembly towards another of the base units or a position between two or more other base units of the assembly, and each side face being of a shape which defines a recess which accommodates part of the protruding structure thereby to restrain lateral movement of the safety rail assembly away from the protruding structure.

Abstract: A safety rail assembly for surrounding a structure protruding from a support surface comprises at least three base units for positioning in a free-standing manner on the support surface, support members each extending substantially vertically from a respective base unit, and barrier members each extending between and supported by a respective pair of successive support members, each base unit comprising a side face which faces inwards of the assembly towards another of the base units or a position between two or more other base units of the assembly, and each side face being of a shape which defines a recess which accommodates part of the protruding structure thereby to restrain lateral movement of the safety rail assembly away from the protruding structure.

Abstract: A counter-balance weight for a modular safety rail comprises substantially only a solid body of a compact shape wherein the volume of the material of the body is at least 20% of the volume of the smallest cuboid which is able to contain the body, the body defining a through-bore for receiving an end of a spacer member and the body further defining a screw-threaded aperture which extends through the body to communicate with said through-bore. The body may have a substantially triangular shape in transverse cross-section.

Abstract: A support foot for a modular safety rail system comprises a base plate having upper and lower surfaces and an outer periphery, a plurality of sockets positioned inwards of the periphery and extending from the upper surface for location of a vertical post, a plurality of webs provided at the upper surface and each extending from a socket towards the periphery, each web extending from the base plate to an upper edge surface of the web, the lower surface of the base plate having at least one recess whereby when one support foot is stacked on top of another at least one of a distal end of a socket and an upper edge of a web engages the recess to prevent lateral movement of the feet, and the upper edge surface of each web being able to support the lower surface of a superimposed support foot to resist toppling.

Abstract: A connector for a modular safety rail comprises a unitary combination of a body portion and two socket formations. The body portion comprises first and second flange formations which each define a substantially planar support surface, the support surfaces lying substantially perpendicular relative to one another in an ‘L’ shape configuration as viewed along the line of intersection of the support surfaces. The support surfaces facing outwardly, and opposite inwardly facing surfaces of the flange formations each have integral therewith a respective one of the socket formations. Each socket formation has an outer end for receiving a tube or rod and an inner end region which is integral with the inner end region of the other socket formation of the pair, the longitudinal axis of each socket formation extending substantially perpendicular to the line of intersection of the support surfaces.

Abstract: A connector device for forming a structural inter-connection between two members, such as an inclined hand rail and a vertical support post, and which permits variation of the angle of inter-connection includes a body portion having a bore defining a housing to receive one of two members to be inter-connected and a stem portion of substantially cylindrical form having a major axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the major axis of the bore defined by the body portion, the stem portion being adapted to be received, in use, in a housing defined by a bore of a second of the two members to be inter-connected by the connector device, and the stem portion comprising in the outer surface thereof an annular groove having the major axis thereof coincident with the major axis of the stem portion and the annular groove being provided axially inwards from the distal end of the stem portion.

Abstract: A connector assembly for a handrail installation comprises two connector components one of which locates within the bore of an end of a tubular member of the handrail installation and the other of which connects to a second member of the handrail installation, each connector component comprising a head portion and a location portion and the head portions of the two handrail connector components being provided with apertures to receive a retention means for holding the two connector components in interconnected relationship, said apertures and the retention means each having a major axis thereof extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said bore of the end of a tubular member of the handrail installation whereby, during construction of a handrail installation, the retention means may act as a pivot to allow the two connector components to pivot one relative to the other about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal direction, a first of said connector components p

Abstract: A counter-balance weight for a modular safety rail comprises substantially only a solid body of a compact shape wherein the volume of the material of said body is at least 20% of the volume of the smallest cuboid which is able to contain said body, said body defining a through-bore for receiving an end of a spacer member and said body further defining a screw-threaded aperture which extends through the body to communicate with said through-bore. The body may have a substantially triangular shape in transverse cross-section.

Abstract: A structural interconnection device for attachment of an elongate member to a rigid frame includes at least one flange portion adapted for attachment to the rigid frame and a receiving portion. The receiving portion includes a locking mechanism for selectively releasably securing thereto an end portion of an elongate member. The flange portion has a location surface for bearing against the rigid frame. The location surface lies, in use, in a plane which is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of an end portion of an elongate member secured to the receiving portion. The plane of the location surface lies, in use, in a plane displaced from the longitudinal axis of the end portion of the elongate member.

Abstract: A connector device for forming a structural inter-connection between two members, such as an inclined hand rail and a vertical support post, and which permits variation of the angle of inter-connection comprises a body portion having a bore defining a housing to receive one of two members to be inter-connected and a stem portion of substantially cylindrical form having a major axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the major axis of said bore defined by the body portion, said stem portion being adapted to be received, in use, in a housing defined by a bore of a second of the two members to be inter-connected by the connector device, and said stem portion comprising in the outer surface thereof an annular groove having the major axis thereof coincident with the major axis of the stem portion and said annular groove being provided axially inwards from the distal end of the stem portion.

Abstract: A connector device (20,60) for securing an additional rigid member (13,13'), such as a rod or tube, to a rigid member (12,12') of an existing assembly of rigid members comprises a body (21) having a first region (22) for securing relative to an end of a first rigid member (13,13') and a second region (23) adapted to cooperate with another add-on type connector device (20,60) to embrace a part of a second rigid member (12,12') and form a structural interconnection between the rigid members, the first region (22) of the body (20) having a major axis (28) which is substantially aligned relative to the length direction of at least an end portion of the first rigid member and the second region (23) having an end zone which at least in part lies substantially obliquely relative to the major axis and provides a recess (24) which locates part of the second rigid member (12,12').

Abstract: A handrail assembly comprises a substantially continuous length of handrail having therein a longitudinally extending groove and a connector device (12,72) which enables a support post to be secured in a selected orientation relative to the length of the handrail. The connector device comprises a first member (72) which is an insert slidable lengthwise of the handrail in the longitudinally extending groove in the handrail (70), a second member (12) adjustably associated with the first member by a retention assembly (48), the first member having formed in an external surface thereof a recess (30') of part spherical shape, the second member (12) comprising an elongate body having a hollow head portion (40) and a tubular tail portion (43), these portions being aligned with one another along the longitudinal axis of the body. The head portion (40) of the second member comprises a part-spherical outer surface (41) which conforms with the shape of the recess (30') in the first member.

Abstract: A tube connector (10) to enable a straight tube or even a curved tube of tight radius of curvature to be connected to a structural member has a flat cutter disc (11) shaped to fit in the end of an internally splined tube (20). The outer edge of the cutter disc has a series of teeth (12) which cut into and locate with the splines when the cutter disc is rotated in the tube. The cutter disc may have a floating central insert (25) screw threaded to allow connection to another structural member without a need for precise alignment.

Abstract: A pipe connector for connection to a pipe having a plain end comprises a body having a profile matching that of the pipe, and a pair of jaws extending outwardly for insertion within the end of the pipe. The jaws are formed with oppositely directed clamping surfaces for engaging the inner wall surface of the pipe end. One of the jaws is fixed and integral with the body. The other jaw is pivotally mounted on the fixed jaw and is extended inwardly of the body where it is threadedly engaged by a screw which connects the pivoted jaw with the body so that by rotating the screw in the appropriate direction the pivoted jaw pivots away from or towards the fixed jaw to clamp or unclamp the jaws from the pipe. The screw thus provides a positive clamping force which greatly assists the dismantling of the connector from a pipe end when desired. The screw also retains the pivoted jaw in place and there are no loose parts to become lost.