TEMPORARY BUILDING EDGE SAFETY SCREEN SUPPORT
A support for a safety net proximate an edge of a floor of a building under construction; the support comprising a support post extending between an upper bracket and a lower bracket. According to another broad form of the present invention there is provided a method of installing a safety net proximate an exposed edge of a building under construction; the method includes the steps of: —driving securing bolts into an underside of an adjacent higher floor and into a safety net supporting floor, —securing an upper bracket and a lower bracket respectively to the securing bolts of the higher floor and of the safety net supporting floor, —securing an upper end of a safety net support post to the upper bracket and a lower end of the safety net support post to the lower bracket.
The present invention relates to safety devices and, more particularly, although not exclusively, to safety devices for buildings under construction.
BACKGROUNDAll Building sites require safe working areas at or near exposed areas where there is any chance of a person and/or material falling and/or dropping from an elevated level. A physical edge protection system is one way of decreasing any such likelihood of this type of event taking place. Current systems do provide edge protection; however, they have their limitations. These limitations include
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- 1. Prohibits other external works being undertaken outside of the edge protection system.
- 2. Are heavy and cumbersome to manhandle increasing likelihood of manual handling injuries.
- 3. Personal edge protection system is complete however materials protections are not due to design issues in the system.
- 4. Materials edge protection is complete however personal edge protection is decreased due to design issues in the system.
- 5. Inflexibility of current systems to cater for the increasingly various and unusually shaped building architecture.
Many known systems provide for so-called catch nets which extend beyond the edge of a building such as for example are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,382A, US2006009096A1 and US20060214150A1. Vertically disposed safety nets are also known as for example disclosed in CN205369964U in which a safety screen is supported by structures retained between floors by friction.
It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.
NOTESThe term “comprising” (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of “having” or “including”, and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of”.
The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONAccording to one broad form of the invention, there is provided a support for a safety net proximate an edge of a floor of a building under construction; the support comprising a support post extending between an upper bracket and a lower bracket.
Preferably, the upper bracket and the lower bracket are secured respectively to an underside of an adjacent floor above a supporting floor on which the safety net is to be installed and to the supporting floor.
Preferably, the respective upper and lower brackets are secured by bolts driven into concrete of the floor above and the supporting floor.
Preferably, the support post comprises an upper section and a lower section; the upper and lower sections sized so as to allow the upper section to slide telescopically into the lower section.
Preferably, the upper section and the lower section comprise lengths of right-angled hollow section (RHS).
Preferably, the upper bracket is in the form of a section of angle iron (or other suitable metal); a horizontal flange of the bracket provided with a pair of apertures for receiving securing bolts.
Preferably, a vertical flange of the upper bracket is provided with an opening; the opening shaped so that a bolt passing through an upper end of the upper section of the support post may be inserted through a slot part of the opening to then nest in a hook portion of the opening.
Preferably, the bolt passing through the upper end of the upper section of the support post is permanently installed by securing nut; a space between an outer one of the securing nut and a head of the bolt approximately equal to thickness of the vertical flange of the upper bracket allowing for a sliding fit of the bolt into the hook portion.
Preferably, the lower bracket comprises a section of angle iron with a horizontal flange provided with apertures for bolting the lower bracket to the supporting floor; a vertical flange of the lower bracket provided with a pair of apertures to allow a lower end of the telescoping support post to be secured to the lower bracket.
Preferably, the upper end of the lower section is provided with a collar; the collar provided with at least one threaded aperture to receive at least one locking bolt which adapted to be driven through the at least one threaded aperture and a coincident aperture through the RHS of the lower section.
Preferably, the locking bolt is urged against the RHS of the upper section thereby locking the upper and lower sections of the post together to suit separation between the floor above and the supporting floor.
Preferably, the locking bolt is provided with a handle so that the upper and lower sections of the support post may be secured without a need for tools.
Preferably, safety net attachment elements are provided at intervals along the lower section and upper section of the support post.
Preferably, the safety net attachment elements are in the form of carabiners welded to the RHS sections of the support post allowing for rapid attachment and removal of the safety net.
According to another broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of installing a safety net proximate an exposed edge of a building under construction; the method including the steps of:
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- driving securing bolts into an underside of an adjacent higher floor and into a safety net supporting floor,
- securing an upper bracket and a lower bracket respectively to the securing bolts of the higher floor and of the safety net supporting floor,
- securing an upper end of a safety net support post to the upper bracket and a lower end of the safety net support post to the lower bracket.
Preferably, the safety net support post comprises an upper section and a lower section; the upper and lower sections sized to allow the upper section to slide telescopically into the lower section.
Preferably, a bolt passing through an upper end of the upper section of the safety net support post engages with a hook portion of an opening in a flange of the upper bracket.
Preferably, a lower end of the lower section of the safety net support post is secured to a flange of the lower bracket by bolts passing through apertures in the flange and through the lower end of the lower section.
Preferably, the upper and lower sections of the safety net support post are locked into a desired extension by a locking bolt passing through a collar at an upper end of the lower section; the bolt urged against a lower end of the upper section of the safety net support post.
Preferably, the upper and lower sections of the safety net support post are provided with safety net attachment elements.
Preferably, the method further includes the steps of:
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- erecting at least two safety net support posts extending between the underside of the higher floor and the supporting floor,
- attaching a length of safety net to the safety net attachment elements.
According to another broad form of the invention, there is provided a support system for a safety net extending vertically between a safety net supporting floor and an adjacent higher floor of a building under construction; the support system including at least two safety net support posts; each of the at least two support posts extending between upper and lower brackets.
Preferably, the upper and lower brackets are respectively secured to an underside of the higher floor and to the supporting floor.
Preferably, the upper and lower brackets are respectively secured to upper and lower ends of the safety net support posts.
In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a safety system erectable at an edge of a floor of a building under construction comprising a combination of a modular guard rail system and a safety screen system; the guard rail system including vertical posts secured to the floor with horizontal safety rails attached by brackets to the vertical posts; the safety screen system including extendable vertical posts secured to the floor and angled vertical post braces.
Preferably, the modular guard rail system comprises of vertical posts, horizontal safety rails and brackets.
Preferably, the vertical posts, the horizontal rails and the brackets are formed of RHS.
In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a guard rail system erectable at an edge of a floor of a building under construction; the guard rail system comprising of vertical posts and horizontal safety rails; the rails secured to the vertical posts by rail clamping brackets.
Preferably, each vertical post is secured to the floor by an angle bracket; a lower end of the vertical post bolted to a vertical flange of the angle bracket.
Preferably, the horizontal safety rails comprise a bottom rail, a mid rail and a top rail.
Preferably, the bottom rail is provided with an integral rubber flap; the flap extending between the bottom rail and the floor in use.
Preferably, the rail clamping brackets comprise a first bottom rail clamping bracket and a second mid rail and top rail clamping bracket.
Preferably, each rail clamping bracket is adapted to secure a single rail or two overlapping rails side by side.
Preferably, each rail clamping bracket is formed of one or more sections of rectangular hollow section (RHS).
Preferably, the RHS section of the first bottom rail clamping bracket is of a depth to allow passage of one or two bottom rails and a tensioning bolt passing through the bracket and a hole provided in the vertical post.
Preferably, the second mid rail and top rail clamping bracket is in two sections; a lower jaw and an upper jaw.
Preferably, the lower jaw of the second clamping bracket is provided with a tensioning bolt access aperture and at either side with single and double rail adjustment slots.
Preferably, the upper jaw of the second clamping bracket is provided with a recess adapted to nest one or two horizontal safety rails between the upper surfaces of the lower jaw and the recess.
Preferably, the upper jaw is further provided with an extension at one end of the upper jaw; the extension provided with a rail clamp tensioning bolt aperture.
In a further broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of erecting a guard rail system at an edge of a floor of a building under construction; the method including the steps of:
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- Bolting angle brackets at lower ends of vertical posts to the floor;
- Securing first bottom rail clamping brackets to each vertical post by rail clamp tensioning bolts passing through the brackets and through the vertical posts;
- Passing bottom horizontal rails through the brackets and tensioning the rail clamp tensioning bolts;
- positioning lower jaws of second mid and top rail clamping brackets at a mid rail and at top rail positions by passing rail clamp tensioning bolts through the lower jaws and the vertical posts;
- Laying one or two mid and top rails on each of the lower jaws;
- Sliding upper jaws of the second mid and top rail clamping brackets over the vertical posts;
- Nesting the one of two mid and top rails between the lower jaws and recesses in the upper jaws;
- Tensioning the rail clamping bracket clamping bolt
In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a system securing horizontal safety rails of a guard rail system to vertical posts in a safety barrier erectable adjacent an edge of a floor of a building under construction; the system including the steps of:
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- Fabricating horizontal rail clamping brackets from lengths of rectangular hollow section (RHS)
- Providing the clamping brackets with clamp tensioning bolts in which the clamp tensioning bolts pass through the brackets and the vertical posts.
Preferably, a first horizontal rail clamping bracket is adapted for support of one or two bottom horizontal safety rails; the one or two horizontal safety rails passing through the first horizontal rail clamping bracket.
Preferably, a second horizontal rail clamping bracket is adapted for support of a mid and a top horizontal safety rail; the second rail clamping bracket formed in two sections; a lower jaw and an upper jaw.
In still another broad form of the invention, there is provided a materials containment screen erectable adjacent an edge of a floor of a building under construction; the containment screen comprising vertical posts and netting; the vertical posts secured to the floor by angle brackets; the posts secured in a vertical position by post braces.
Preferably, the vertical posts are in two sections; a lower post and an extendable upper post; the extendable upper post in sliding engagement with the lower post; the extendable upper post maintained in a desired extended position by a tensioning bolt system.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
The present invention provides supports for a vertical safety net proximate the outer edges of floors of a multistory building under construction; the supports providing for a safety net extending between the adjacent floors of the building and along the length requiring protection.
Supports 10 for supporting a safety net, one of which is shown in
With reference to
Turning now to
As can be seen in
The upper end of the lower section 12A is provided with a collar 50 with at least one threaded aperture 52 to receive a locking bolt 54 which may be driven through the threaded aperture 52 and a coincident aperture through the RHS of the lower section 12A, to urge against the RHS of the upper section 12B. By this means the upper and lower sections of the posts are locked together to suit the distance between the adjacent floors 18 and 20. Preferably, the locking bolt 54 is provided with a handle 56 so that the two sections of the support post may be secured without the need for tools.
Provided at intervals along the lower section 12A and upper section 12B of the telescoping support post 12, are safety net attachment elements 58. Preferably these may be in the form of carabiners welded to the RHS sections of the support post allowing for rapid attachment and removal of the safety net.
In this embodiment of the invention, at least two or a required number of support posts 10 are installed between the adjacent floors of a building under construction by firstly installing the upper and lower brackets by bolts driven into the concrete of the floors. The bolt 30 at the upper end of the upper section 12B of each telescoping support post 12 is then nested in the hook portion of its upper bracket and the lower section 12A of the support post allowed to slide to the lower bracket where it is secured to the bracket. The two sections 12A and 12B are then locked together by the tightening of the bolt 54. The safety net (not shown) can then be secured to the carabiners 58.
Second Preferred EmbodimentIn a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper and lower brackets may be permanently affixed to the respective upper end of the upper section 12B and the lower end of the lower section 12A of the telescoping support post 12. The upper bracket is secured to the underside of the floor above by means of previously installed securing bolts. Similarly, the lower bracket is secured to bolts driven into the floor. In this arrangement the upper and lower sections of the support post are loosely assembled and the post positioned vertically between the upper and lower brackets and the telescoping sections locked together.
Third Preferred EmbodimentIn this further preferred embodiment, support posts are prepared to a length appropriate to the separation between adjacent floors. In this arrangement the support post RHS is of one length somewhat less than the separation between floors.
As in the embodiments described above, the support post is secured between upper and lower brackets, but in this embodiment the hook portion of the opening in the upper bracket is in the form of a slot with parallel sides. The upper end of the support post is again provided with a permanently installed bolt which is slidingly located in the slot. The lower end of the support post is then secured to the lower bracket.
Fourth Preferred EmbodimentIn this embodiment, the safety screen 200 is combined with an independent modular guard rail system 100 as shown in
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- 1. 1.1 metre high safety balustrade.
- 2. Primarily designed and engineered for the prevention of human falling from heights safety
- 3. Clamp systems on the posts, which secure the horizontal safety rails to the posts.
- 4. Rails can be adjusted to suit various span lengths.
- 5. Rails can be curved so that they can follow any edge radius profile
- 6. Bottom Rail has an integrated rubber strip to help prevent materials from falling over the perimeter edge/void.
- 7. A metal mesh screen with solid strip above floor level to assist debris and other items from penetrating the fence and falling over the perimeter edge/void.
With reference to
Because of the integral rubber flap 124 of the bottom rails 114, the first bottom rail clamping bracket 120 is of a different configuration to the second clamping rail clamping bracket 122. As seen in
Turning now to
The upper jaw 130, again formed preferably of a section of RHS, is provided with a recess 138 with rail locking pressure points 140 allowing for one or two side by side mid or top rails, and with single and double rail adjustment slots 142. One end of the upper jaw 130 is provided with an extension 144 and in that extension a rail clamp tensioning bolt aperture 146.
In use it lower jaws of the second mid and top clamping brackets are first slid over the vertical post at the mid and top rail positions and secured to the post by a bolts 148 passing through the post and the appropriate adjustment slots 134 depending on whether a single or pair of rails are to be supported as best seen in
One or two overlapping rails are then laid onto the lower jaw 128 and the upper jaw 130 slid onto the post to nest the rail or rails between the upper surfaces of the lower jaw and the recess 138 of the upper jaw. The rail clamp tensioning bolt 150 is then tightened to securely clamp the rail or rails to the side of the post. The upper jaw 130 is further secured to the post by a bolt 152 passing through the single and double rail adjustment slots 142 and a transverse hole in the post as best seen in
As shown in
Turning now to
The vertical posts 210 of the material containment system 200 comprise an assembly of securing brackets and an angled post brace 216. With reference firstly to
As shown in
The vertical posts 210 of the materials containment system 200 as shown in
Again, with reference to
The safety screen and guard rail support elements of the invention provide a rapid means for installing either a safety screen or a guard rail system or a combination of guard rails and a vertical safety screen proximate an exposed edge of a building. The telescoping arrangement of at least the first and second embodiments provide for adjustability where there may be changes in the separation between the adjacent floors as well as making the elements adjustable for use in different buildings.
Claims
1-45. (canceled)
46. A support for a safety net proximate an edge of a floor of a building under construction, the support comprising:
- a support post extending between an upper bracket and a lower bracket.
47. The support of claim 46, wherein the upper bracket and the lower bracket are secured respectively to an underside of an adjacent floor above a supporting floor on which the safety net is to be installed and to the supporting floor.
48. The support of claim 46, wherein the respective upper and lower brackets are secured by bolts driven into concrete of the floor above and the supporting floor.
49. The support of claim 46, wherein the support post comprises an upper section and a lower section, wherein the upper and lower sections are sized to allow the upper section to slide telescopically into the lower section.
50. The support of claim 49, wherein the upper section and the lower section comprise lengths of right-angled hollow section (RHS).
51. The support of claim 49, wherein the upper bracket is in the form of a section of angle iron, and wherein a horizontal flange of the bracket is provided with a pair of apertures for receiving securing bolts.
52. The support of claim 49, wherein a vertical flange of the upper bracket is provided with an opening, wherein the opening is shaped so that a bolt passing through an upper end of the upper section of the support post is insertable through a slot part of the opening to then nest in a hook portion of the opening.
53. The support of claim 52, wherein the bolt passing through the upper end of the upper section of the support post is permanently installed by securing nut, and wherein a space is formed between an outer one of the securing nut and a head of the bolt approximately equal to thickness of the vertical flange of the upper bracket allowing for a sliding fit of the bolt into the hook portion.
54. The support of claim 46, wherein the lower bracket comprises a section of angle iron with a horizontal flange provided with apertures for bolting the lower bracket to the supporting floor, wherein a vertical flange of the lower bracket is provided with a pair of apertures to allow a lower end of the telescoping support post to be secured to the lower bracket.
55. The support of claim 52, wherein the upper end of the lower section is provided with a collar, wherein the collar is provided with at least one threaded aperture to receive at least one locking bolt which adapted to be driven through the at least one threaded aperture and a coincident aperture through a right-angled hollow section (RHS) of the lower section.
56. The support of claim 55, wherein the locking bolt is urged against the RHS of the upper section thereby locking the upper and lower sections of the post together to suit separation between the floor above and the supporting floor.
57. The support of claim 55, wherein the locking bolt is provided with a handle so that the upper and lower sections of the support post are secured without a need for tools.
58. The support of claim 49, wherein safety net attachment elements are provided at intervals along the lower section and upper section of the support post.
59. The support of claim 58, wherein the safety net attachment elements are in the form of carabiners welded to the RHS sections of the support post allowing for rapid attachment and removal of the safety net.
60. A method of installing a safety net proximate an exposed edge of a building under construction, the method including steps of:
- driving securing bolts into an underside of an adjacent higher floor and into a safety net supporting floor;
- securing an upper bracket and a lower bracket respectively to the securing bolts of the higher floor and of the safety net supporting floor; and
- securing an upper end of a safety net support post to the upper bracket and a lower end of the safety net support post to the lower bracket.
61. The method of claim 60, wherein the safety net support post comprises an upper section and a lower section, wherein the upper and lower sections are sized to allow the upper section to slide telescopically into the lower section.
62. The method of claim 61, wherein a bolt passing through an upper end of the upper section of the safety net support post engages with a hook portion of an opening in a flange of the upper bracket.
63. The method of claim 61, wherein a lower end of the lower section of the safety net support post is secured to a flange of the lower bracket by bolts passing through apertures in the flange and through the lower end of the lower section.
64. The method of claim 61, wherein the upper and lower sections of the safety net support post are locked into a desired extension by a locking bolt passing through a collar at an upper end of the lower section, wherein the bolt is urged against a lower end of the upper section of the safety net support post.
65. The method of claim 61, wherein the upper and lower sections of the safety net support post are provided with safety net attachment elements.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 4, 2022
Publication Date: Mar 21, 2024
Inventors: Domenico VULLO (Ingleburn NSW), Graham ROMER (Ingleburn NSW), John LAM (Ingleburn NSW)
Application Number: 18/275,928