The present invention relates to a device for securing multiple guardrail sections that form a guardrail about a selected floor or deck surface to a pour stop removably secured to the selected surface. The pour stop receives a deformable material (typically concrete) that ultimately cures or solidifies. The pour stop, upon which the device is removably secured, is typically “L” configured angle iron having dimensions of 4″×4″×¼″. However, the configuration, dimensions or materials of construction can vary as long as the pour stop is capable of supporting a relatively heavy device and heavy guardrail section removably secured to the device with both the device and guardrail section being disposed in a substantially vertical orientation. The pour stop is typically secured to a floor structure via bolts inserted through apertures in a horizontal portion of the floor stop. The horizontal portion of the floor stop is separated from poured concrete via a vertical portion of the floor stop that engages and contains flowing concrete within a predetermined perimeter of a floor. The floor stop ultimately forms an edge of cured concrete by preventing differential buckling of the concrete as the flowing concrete engages the vertical portion of the floor stop. All devices used to secure multiple sections of the guardrail are removed before the concrete engages the pour stop.
There is a myriad of known devices used for securing and/or supporting a guardrail about the perimeter of a floor structure or surface to prevent falls from occurring when persons are working near floor or wall openings. Further, pour stops are well known for their use for creating a stopping point to prevent poured concrete from spilling over the ends of a metal deck or floor surface. Pour stops are disposed about a selected floor perimeter before concrete is disposed upon a metal deck or floor surface.
What has not been achieved is the detachable securing of a guardrail to a pour stop instead of using fastening equipment that damage the deck or floor surface when attaching the guardrail to the surface. The guardrail would not damage the deck or floor surface if the guardrail was detachably secured to the pour stop via a device that was detachably secured to the pour stop. A guardrail detachably secured to a pour stop could be removed from the pour stop in a relatively short period of time after a curtain wall or similar element is constructed to close an opening in a floor or wall, thereby preventing persons and/or objects from falling. After removing all guardrail sections and securing devices from the pour stop, concrete or similar deformable material is poured upon the deck or floor surface and maintained within a perimeter defined by the pour stop.
A need exits for a device that detachably secures to a pour stop, whereupon, multiple devices removably receive multiple guardrail sections that form a guardrail about a predetermined surface perimeter of a deck or floor in a relatively short time period.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome many of the disadvantages associated with prior art devices for securing a guardrail to a defined surface area. Another object of the present invention is to secure a guardrail to a pour stop that maintains a deformable material upon a predetermined surface. A principal object of the present invention is to provide a device that removably receives a section of a guardrail and that removably receives a topo portion of a pour stop. A feature of the device is a “U” configured base member having a bottom wall integrally joined to a top wall of an angle member. Another feature of the device is a side wall of a side portion of the angle member separated from an inner wall of a second side portion of the base member, thereby forming a gap. An advantage of the device is that the gap removably receives a top portion of the pour stop as the device is disposed upon the pour stop.
It is another object of the present invention is to provide a device that removably secures to a pour stop. A feature of the device is a bolt member that slidably inserts through an aperture in a first side portion of the base member, then rotationally inserts through a threaded aperture in the side portion of the angle member. An advantage of the device is that the aperture in the first side portion of the base member and the threaded aperture in the second side portion of the base member cooperate to maintain the bolt member axially aligned with the threaded aperture as the bolt member is forcibly rotated into the threaded aperture, thereby preventing bolt member threads from cross-threading with the inner threads in the side portion of the angle member. Another advantage of the device is that the bolt member removably secures the base member and the angle member to the top portion of the pour stop until the bolt member is rotationally removed from the threaded aperture in the side portion of the angle member, thereby enabling the device to be manually removed from the pour stop.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device that secures the position of the bolt member relative to the angle member and the pour stop. A feature of the device is a locking nut rotationally disposed upon a threaded shank portion of the bolt member at a predetermined distance from an end wall of the bolt member that promotes engagement between the end wall of the bolt member and inner wall of the top portion of the pour stop. An advantage of the device is that after the continued rotational insertion of the bolt member into the threaded aperture in the side portion of the angle member ultimately urges the inner wall of the second side portion of the base member into forcible engagement with an outer wall of the top portion of the pour stop. The locking nut is then rotationally urged into forcible engagement with an inner wall of the side portion of the angle member, thereby securing the device upon the pour stop.
Yet object of the present invention is to provide a device that removably and slidably receives a tube portion of a guardrail section. A feature of the device is a stanchion member perpendicularly and integrally secured to a top wall of the base member. Another feature of the device is that the stanchion member is configured and dimensioned to slidably and snugly receive a tube portion of a guardrail section. Yet another feature of the device is a threaded rod that removably secures the tube portion of the guardrail section to the stanchion member of the device via the threaded rod being slidably inserted through an aperture in a central top portion of the tube portion of the guardrail section; then rotationally urging the threaded rod into a threaded aperture in a funnel configured cover of the stanchion member a distance that secures and stabilizes the guard section upon the stanchion member. An advantage of the device is that the guardrail section is removably secured to the stanchion member, thereby allowing either both the guardrail and device to be removed from the pour stop simultaneously, or allowing the guardrail to be removed first from the device followed by the removal of the device from the pour stop.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device that removably and slidably receives tube portions of adjacent tube portions of two separate adjacent guardrail sections. A feature of the device is two stanchion members perpendicularly and integrally secured to a top wall of a base member dimensioned and configured to receive the two stanchion members. Another feature of the device is two bolt members that removably secure respective portions of the base member and side portion of the angle member upon the pour stop. An advantage of the device is that two adjacently disposed tube portions of separate sections of a guardrail can be quickly disposed upon the adjacently disposed stanchion members of the one device, whereby a constant distance separating all adjacently disposed tube portions of adjacent separate guardrail sections is maintained, thereby forming a guardrail having guardrail sections separated a constant distance.
The foregoing invention and its advantages may be readily appreciated from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to
The side portion 26 of the angle member 24 includes a longitudinal dimension that disposes a bottom end wall 27 of the side portion 26 in planar alignment with respective end walls 29 and 31 of the first and second side portions 16 and 40 of the base member 12, thereby providing a guide for top portion 44 of the pour stop 46 to insert between the second side portion 40 of the base member 12 and the side portion 26 of the angle member 24 when the device 10 is disposed upon the pour stop 46. The threaded aperture 28 in the side portion 26 of the angle member 24 is disposed at a midportion of the side portion 26 of the angle member 24.
The device 10 further includes a bolt member 50 for securing the position of the device 10 upon the pour stop 46. The bolt member 50 slidably inserts through the aperture 14 in the first side portion 16 of the base member 12, the bolt member 50 then rotationally inserts through the threaded aperture 28 in the in the side portion 26 of the angle member 24. The aperture 14 in the first side portion and the threaded aperture 28 in the side portion 26 cooperate to maintain the bolt member 50 substantially axially aligned with the threaded aperture 28 as the bolt member 50 is forcibly rotated into the threaded aperture 28, thereby preventing the bolt member 50 threads from cross-threading with the inner threads of the aperture 28 in the side portion 26.
To secure the position of the bolt member 50 relative to the angle member 24 and the pour stop 46, a locking nut 52 is rotationally disposed upon a threaded shank portion 54 of the bolt member 50 at a predetermined distance from an end wall 56 of the bolt member 50 that promotes engagement between the end wall 56 of the bolt member 50 and inner wall 58 of the top portion 44 of the pour stop 46. The shank portion 54 of the bolt member 50, the aperture 14 in the first side portion 16 of the base member 12, and the threaded aperture 28 in the side portion 26 of the angle member 24 are axially aligned. The shank portion 54 further includes an axial length that disposes a head portion 55 of the bolt member 50 from an outer wall 90 of the first side portion 16 of the base member 12 a distance greater than the distance separating the outer wall 90 of the first side portion 16 of the base member 12 and the inner wall 38 of the second side portion 40 of the base member 12, thereby enabling the gap 42 to receive pour stops 46 having varying top portions 44 with varying dimensions between inner and outer walls 58 and 60 of the top portions 44 of different pour stops 46. The axial length of the shank portion 54 prevents the head portion 55 from obstructing the axial insertion of the bolt member 50 to a position that urges the inner wall 38 of the second side portion 40 of the base member 12 into forcible engagement with the outer wall 36 of the side outer wall 60 of the top portion 44 of the pour stop 46. Further, the axial length positions the head portion 55 outside the base member 12 thereby providing access for a tool to forcibly rotate the bolt member 50.
When the device 10 is disposed upon the pour stop 46 with the gap 42 receiving the top portion 44 of the pour stop 46, the bolt member 50 is rotationally inserted into the threaded aperture 28 in the side portion 26 of the angle member 24 until the end wall 56 of the bolt member 50 engages an inner wall 58 of the pour stop 46; whereupon, the continued rotational insertion of the bolt member 50 into the threaded aperture 28 in the side portion 26 of the angle member 24 ultimately urges the inner wall 38 of the second side portion 40 of the base member 12 into forcible engagement with an outer wall 60 of the top portion 44 of the pour stop 46. The locking nut 52 is then rotationally urged into forcible engagement with an inner wall 62 of the side portion 26 of the angle member 24 thereby securing the device 10 upon the pour stop 46. A washer (not depicted) can be slidably disposed upon the shank portion 54 and positioned between the inner wall 62 of the side portion 26 of the angle member 24 and the locking nut 52 to prevent the inner wall 62 from deforming when the locking nut 52 forcibly engages the inner wall 62.
Another alternative to using the bolt member 50 to urge the inner wall 38 of the second side portion 40 of the base member 12 into forcible engagement with an outer wall 60 of the top portion 44 of the pour stop 46 to secure the device 10 upon the pour stop 46, is to use a bolt member 50 having a relatively short axial dimension for the shank portion 54 for rotationally inserting the bolt member 50 through only the threaded aperture 28 in the side portion 26 of the angle member 24, thereby avoiding insertion through the aperture 14 in the first side wall 16 of the base member 12. Upon disposing the device 10 upon the pour stop 46 (or an angle iron configured substantially the same as the depicted pour stop) via the gap 42 receiving the top portion 44 of the pour stop 46; the bolt member 50 having a short axial dimension is rotationally inserted into the threaded aperture 28 in the side portion 26 of pour stop 46 or angle member until an end wall 56 of the bolt member 50 engages an inner wall 58 of the pour stop 46. The continued rotational insertion of the bolt member 50 into the threaded aperture 28 in the side portion 26 of the angle member 24 ultimately urges the inner wall 38 of the second side portion 40 of the base member 12 into forcible engagement with an outer wall 60 of the top portion 44 of the pour stop 46 or angle iron. However, the short axial dimension bolt member 50 positions the head portion 55 under the base member 12 causing difficulty for a user to rotate the head portion 55 and the locking nut 52 to maintain the device 10 upon the pour stop 46.
Yet another alternative to using the bolt member 50 to urge the inner wall 38 of the second side portion 40 of the base member 12 into forcible engagement with an outer wall 60 of the top portion 44 of the pour stop 46 to secure the device 10 upon the pour stop 46, is to forcibly insert at least one shim (not depicted but well known to those of ordinary skill in the art) into the gap 42 after disposing the base and angle members 12 and 24 upon the pour stop 46. The forcible insertion of the at least one shim into the gap 42 between an inner wall 58 of the top portion 44 of the pour stop 46 and an outer wall 36 of a side portion 26 of the angle member 24, cooperatively urges the inner wall 38 of the second side portion 40 of the base member 12 into forcible engagement with an outer wall 60 of the top portion 44 of the pour stop 46. The at least one shim cooperates with the side portion 26 of the angle member 24 and the inner wall 38 of the second side portion 40 of the base member 12 to secure the device 10 upon the top portion 44 of the pour stop 46.
The stanchion member 18 is a steel pipe having an inner diameter and longitudinal dimensions that promote a stable guardrail section 70 (the entire guardrail ultimately constructed upon the pour stop 46 is not depicted) when a tube portion 69 of the section 70 is slidably and snugly disposed upon the stanchion member 18. The stanchion member 18 further includes a top portion having a funnel configured cover 66 with a threaded aperture 68 disposed in a central portion of the cover 66. After the device 10 is secured to the pour stop 46, upper and lower outer wall portions 80 of the stanchion member 18 slidably and snugly receive a cooperating inner wall of the tube portion 69 of the guardrail section 70. The outer wall portions 80 are separated a distance determined by the axial dimension of a midportion 82 of the stanchion member 18, thereby reducing the friction and resistance when disposing the tube portion 69 upon the stanchion member 18 and providing a sufficient engagement surface between the stanchion member 18 and tube portion 69 that maintains the guardrail section 70 in a substantially vertical position when the device 10 is secured to the pour stop 46. An inner cavity 83 of the tube portion 69, inner cavity 85 defined by inner walls 89 of the stanchion member 18, aperture 87 in the top portion of the base member 12 and an aperture 81 in the top portion 30 of the angle member 24 cooperate to allow water to drain from the device 10 when secured to the pour stop 46 and supporting the guardrail section 70.
The tube portion 69 is secured upon the stanchion member 18 via a threaded securing rod 72 (well known to those of ordinary skill in the art for securing a guardrail section 70 to a stanchion member 18) slidably inserted through an aperture (not depicted) in a central top portion 78 of the tube portion 69 of the guardrail section 70 a predetermined distance. The securing rod 72 is then rotationally urged into the threaded aperture 68 of the cover 66 via a handle portion 74 integrally having a bottom portion 76 joined to the securing rod 72, the bottom portion 76 promoting manually gripping of the handle portion 74 to rotationally urge the securing rod 72 into the threaded aperture 68 in the central portion of the funnel configured cover 66 of the stanchion member 18. The securing rod 72 is rotationally inserted into the stanchion member 18 until the bottom portion 76 of the handle portion 74 engages the top portion 78 of the tube portion 69 of the guardrail section 70, thereby rigidly and detachably securing the guardrail section 70 to the stanchion member 18, resulting in the guardrail section 70 being rigidly and detachably secured to the pour stop 46.
Although the preferred device 10 includes one stanchion member 18, a modified device 10a that includes two stanchion members 18 (see
The base member 12a for the modified device 10 a includes a “U” configuration (when taking a side elevation view of the device 10a) having apertures 14 in a first side portion 16a; a stanchion member 18 integrally secured, via a weld 64 or similar securing means, to a top wall 20a of a top portion 22a of the base member 12a; and an angle member 24a having a side portion 26a with threaded apertures 28 and having a top portion 30a with a top wall 32a integrally joined, via welding or similar means, to a bottom wall 34a of the top portion 22a of the base member 12a, whereby an outer wall 36a of the side portion 26a of the angle member 24a is disposed substantially parallel to and separated from an inner wall 38a of a second side portion 40a of the base member 12a, thereby forming a gap 42a for receiving a top portion 44 of a pour stop 46 secured to a surface 48 that receives a deformable material that ultimately solidifies.
The side portion 26a of the angle member 24a includes a longitudinal dimension that disposes a bottom end wall 27a of the side portion 26a in planar alignment with respective end walls 29a and 31a of the first and second side portions 16a and 40a of the base member 12a, thereby providing a guide for top portion 44 of the pour stop 46 to insert between the second side portion 40a of the base member 12a and the side portion 26a of the angle member 24a when the modified device 10a is disposed upon the pour stop 46. The threaded apertures 28 in the side portion 26a of the angle member 24a are disposed at a midportion of the side portion 26a of the angle member 24a.
The modified device 10a further includes bolt members 50 that slidably inserts through the apertures 14 in the first side portion 16a of the base member 12a, then rotationally inserts through the threaded apertures 28 in the side portion 26a of the angle member 24a. The apertures 14 in the first side portion 16a and the threaded apertures 28 in the side portion 26a of the angle member 24a cooperate to maintain the bolt members 50 axially aligned with the threaded apertures 28 as the bolt members 50 are forcibly rotated into the threaded apertures 28, thereby preventing the bolt member 50 threads from cross-threading with the inner threads in the side portion 26a.
To secure the position of the bolt members 50 relative to the angle member 24a and the pour stop 46, locking nuts 52 are rotationally disposed upon threaded shank portions 54 of the bolt members 50 at a predetermined distance from an end wall 56 of the bolt members 50 that promotes engagement between the end walls 56 of the bolt members 50 and inner wall 58 of the top portion 44 of the pour stop 46. The shank portions 54 of the bolt members 50, the apertures 14 in the first side portion 16a of the base member 12a, and the threaded apertures 28 in the side portion 26a of the angle member 24a are axially aligned. The shank portion 54 further includes an axial length that disposes a head portion 55 of the bolt member 50 from an outer wall 90a of the first side portion 16a of the base member 12a a distance greater than the distance separating the outer wall 90a of the first side portion 16a of the base member 12a and the inner wall 38a of the second side portion 40a of the base member 12a, thereby enabling the gap 42a to receive pour stops 46 having varying top portions 44 with varying dimensions between inner and outer walls 58 and 60 of the top portions 44 of different pour stops 46.
When the modified device 10a is disposed upon the pour stop 46 with the gap 42a receiving the top portion 44 of the pour stop 46, the bolt members 50 are rotationally inserted into the threaded apertures 28 in the side portion 26a of the angle member 24a until the end walls 56 of the bolt members 50 engages an inner wall 58 of the pour stop 46; whereupon, the continued rotational insertion of the bolt members 50 into the threaded apertures 28 in the side portion 26a of the angle member 24a ultimately urge the inner wall 38a of the second side portion 40a of the base member 12a into forcible engagement with an outer wall 60 of the top portion 44 of the pour stop 46. The locking nuts 52 are then rotationally urged into forcible engagement with an inner wall 62a of the side portion 26a of the angle member 24a thereby securing the modified device 10a upon the pour stop 46. A washer (not depicted) can be slidably disposed upon the shank portions 54 and positioned between the inner wall 62a of the side portion 26a of the angle member 24a and the locking nuts 52 to prevent the inner wall 62a from deforming when the locking nuts 52 forcibly engage the inner wall 62a.
This is a Continuation-In-Part Utility application based on Design application Ser. No. 29/800,162 filed on Jul. 19, 2021.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 29800162 | Jul 2021 | US |
Child | 17522162 | US |