Support for safety barrier

Abstract

A temporary safety barrier is used to protect workers from accidentally falling through a stairwell or other opening in a structure in the course of construction. The barrier is composed of a post having a stop and two or more connectors for attachment of hand rails to the post. A bracket is nailed or screwed to a stringer and a joist where the two are interconnected. The bracket together with the joist and stringer define a space for removable receipt of the post. When the post is within the space, the stop contacts the structure and prevents the post from falling out of the space.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a support for a safety barrier used in conjunction with a building structure and more particularly to a support made up of an upright post and a bracket. The bracket connects the post to a stringer and joist of the structure and a number of horizontal rails are attached to the post. This invention also relates to the combination of the support and horizontal rail.

[0002] The majority of accidents that occur on a site where buildings are being constructed result from falls. Houses under construction, for example, have many openings for such things as stairs and windows and usually the openings remain clear and unobstructed until the construction is substantially complete when the windows and stairs are installed. Frequently workmen on the site accidentally fall through such openings with resulting injury or even death.

[0003] The conventional practice is to construct temporary barriers to prevent accidental falls. The barriers usually consist of two or more horizontal pieces of timber which are nailed to the frames of the openings. In the course of construction, however, the barriers must be removed to allow material or equipment to be passed through the openings. Afterward, the barriers must be replaced but frequently they are not and the openings are then a hazard for workmen who are working on the site.

[0004] Temporary barriers are usually not replaced because of the trouble and inconvenience in doing so. The pieces of timber which make up the barrier may split when the barrier is removed and other pieces of timber may not be readily available to replace the split pieces. Alternatively the tool required to reattach the pieces of timber to the frame may not be readily available. Whatever the reason, all too often a barrier is not replaced even though injury or even death may result from the failure to do so.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] I have invented a support to which a temporary barrier can be attached and from which the barrier can be conveniently removed and re-attached should it be necessary to do so. The bracket is nailed to the frame and does not protrude into the opening. To remove the barrier, it need only be lifted and removed from the bracket. To replace it, it need only be reinserted into the bracket. The barrier is not damaged nor are any tools needed at this time.

[0006] Briefly the support of my invention is used in conjunction with a building structure made up of longitudinally extending stringers and laterally extending joists interconnected at joints. The support includes: a post having a stop and at least one connector for attachment of a horizontal rail to the post; and a bracket having a pair of outer plates disposed at right angles to each other and an inner plate. The outer plates has a plurality of apertures formed therein for receipt of fasteners for attaching the bracket to the structure adjacent to one of the joints such that the inner plate and a portion of the joist and stringer adjacent to the one joint define a space for receipt of the post and when so received, the stop contacts the structure and prevents the post from falling downward through the space.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The support of my invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the support of the invention;

[0009] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the support from the side opposite that illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the post and bracket of the invention in combination with a building structure;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a side view of the support, bracket and building structure;

[0012] FIG. 5 is an elevation of the support, bracket and building structure;

[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bracket;

[0014] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of two supports, one connected to the building structure and the other disconnected; and

[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a complete safety barrier composed of a pair of supports and horizontal rails.

[0016] Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the support of the invention, generally 10, is composed of a post 12 which is preferably rectangular in cross-section and is composed of metal such as steel or aluminum. The post must be of sufficient strength to support the horizontal rails of the safety barrier, as described below.

[0018] A right-angled stop 14 is connected to the post by suitable means such as by welding or bolting. On the side of the post opposite the stop, a number of right-angled connectors 16 are also attached to the post by welding or other suitable means. As illustrated, the connectors are spaced along the length of the post.

[0019] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 6, a bracket 18 is connected to a joist 20 and a stringer or joist header 22 of a building structure. The bracket has a cross-section in the shape of a “W” and is composed of a pair of outer plates 24, 26 which are oriented at right angles to each other. The outer plates are connected to a pair of inner plates 28, 30 which are also oriented at right angles to each other. The outer plates have a number of apertures for receipt of fasteners such as nails, screws or bolts for connecting the bracket to the joist and stringer.

[0020] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the stringer is longitudinally extending in the building structure and the joists, as is conventional, are laterally extending. The bracket is attached on the wall 22a of the stringer opposite that of a stairway 32 and is located adjacent to a joint 34 of the joist and stringer.

[0021] With reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 8, each connector is shaped in the form of an “L” and has a first limb 16a which extends outwardly from the post and a second limb 16b which extends upwardly from the first limb. The limbs contact the lower and side walls, respectively, of horizontal rails 38a,b and c.

[0022] The rails are disposed within each connector 16 of two posts 12a,b. The rails extend horizontally between the two posts and are secured to the connectors by means of fasteners such as nails or screws. The rails cooperate with the posts to provide a safety barrier adjacent to the stairway. The rails may be two-by-fours as illustrated, or wooden or steel rods of sufficient strength to prevent a person from accidentally breaking thorough them.

[0023] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 7, the lower end 39 of post 12c beneath stop 14 extends into a space 40 defined by the inner plates 28, 30 of the bracket and a portion of the joist and stringer adjacent to joint 34. An opening 42 is formed in the floor board 44 for receipt of the post. When the lower end of the post is within the space, the post will be upright as illustrated, Stop 14 contacts the floor board and prevents the post from falling downward through the space. The bracket and stop cooperate to prevent the post from wobbling or rocking when it is within the space.

[0024] Preferably, the bracket is attached in such a way that it does not protrude into an opening. The bracket will not then be an obstacle for material that is to be passed through the opening when the posts and rails are removed.

[0025] The barrier may be removed simply by removing the horizontal rails from the posts then raising the posts to separate them from the brackets.

[0026] It will be understood, of course, that modifications can be made in the embodiments of the support illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope and purview of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A support for a safety barrier for use in conjunction with a building structure made up of longitudinally extending stringers and laterally extending joists interconnected at joints, said support including: a post having a stop and at least one connector for attachment of a horizontal rail to said post; and a bracket having a pair of outer plates disposed at right angles to each other and an inner plate, said outer plates having a plurality of apertures formed therein for receipt of fasteners for attaching said bracket to said structure adjacent to one said joint such that said inner plate and a portion of said joist and stringer adjacent to said one joint define a space for receipt of said post and when so received, said stop contacting said structure and preventing said post from falling downward through said space.

2. A support as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bracket has a pair of inner plates at right angles to each other.

3. The support as claimed in claim 2 wherein said bracket is shaped in the form of a “W”.

4. The support as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connector is shaped in the form of an “L” having a first limb which extends outwardly from said post and a second limb which extends upwardly from said first limb, said first and second limbs adapted to contact a lower wall and a side wall, respectively, of said horizontal rail.

5. In combination, a horizontal hand rail and a support therefor, said combination being used in conjunction with a building structure made up of longitudinally extending stringers and laterally extending joists interconnected at joints, said support including: a post having a stop and at least one connector for attachment of said rail to said post; and a bracket having a pair of outer plates disposed at right angles to each other and an inner plate, said outer plates having a plurality of apertures formed therein for receipt of fasteners for attaching said bracket to said structure adjacent to one said joint such that said inner plate and a portion of said joint and stringer adjacent to said one joint define a space for receipt of said post and when so received said stop contacting said structure and preventing said post from falling downward through said space.

6. A support as claimed in claim 5 wherein said bracket has a pair of inner plates at right angles to each other.

7. The support as claimed in claim 6 wherein said bracket is shaped in the form of a “W”.

8. The support as claimed in claim 7 wherein said connector is shaped in the form of an “L” having a first limb which extends outwardly from said post and a second limb which extends upwardly from said first limb, said first and second limbs adapted to contact a lower wall and a side wall, respectively, of said horizontal rail.