Safety rail assembly

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.

Description

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:—

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a safety rail assembly in accordance with the present invention in situ on a roof surface to surround a skylight;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an upper connector for the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mid height connector of the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a base unit of the assembly of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a retainer ring of the assembly of FIG. 1.

Claims

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

2. A safety rail assembly according to claim 1 wherein the support members and barrier members are substantially rigidly interconnected relative to one another, and are substantially rigidly connected to the base unit.

3. A safety rail assembly according to claim 1 wherein each base unit has a lower face which is substantially planar.

4. A safety rail assembly according to claim 1 wherein a lower face of a base unit is shaped to define at least one profiled region which acts in use as a hand hold for lifting and movement of the base unit.

5. A safety rail assembly according to claim 1 wherein a lower face of a base unit is relieved and/or textured to resist sliding movement.

6. A safety rail assembly according to claim 1 wherein a lower face of a base unit is defined by a layer of elastomeric material.

7. A safety rail assembly according to claim 1 wherein the recess defined by a side face of a base unit comprises a pair of recess faces which, as viewed in plan, in a plane parallel with that of a lower face of the base unit, lie substantially at right angles to one another.

8. A safety rail assembly according to claim 1 wherein the base unit comprises a pair of limb portions which extend from a common central body portion.

9. A safety rail assembly according to claim 1 wherein a base unit comprises a passage extending substantially perpendicular relative to a lower face of the base unit for receiving the end of a support member, said passage being closed at a lower face of the base unit to prevent the end of a support tube contacting a surface on which the base unit is supported.

10. A safety rail assembly according to claim 1 wherein a base unit comprises a cavity region in which a retainer may be located and held captive when secured to a portion of a support member extending through that cavity.

11. A safety rail assembly according to claim 10 wherein said cavity lies between two passage sections and each passage section is dimensioned to be a close fit with a support member.

12. A safety rail assembly according to claim 10 wherein said cavity lies between two passage sections and at least one of the two passage sections has a larger size than the size of a support member received therein whereby, in use, the support member is able to tilt slightly relative to the base unit.

13. A safety rail assembly according to claim 10 and comprising a retainer in the form of a retainer ring having a screw-threaded aperture to receive a locking device.

14. A safety rail assembly according to claim 13 wherein a boss portion is associated with the screw-threaded aperture and extends radially outwards of the retainer ring, the dimensions of the retainer ring and cavity being such that when the retainer is secured to a support member the boss is always visible through an access opening of the cavity and is unable to rotate to a position at which it ceases to be accessible for re-tightening or release.

15. A safety rail assembly according to claim 1 and a support surface having a protruding structure which protrudes from said surface, wherein the base units are positioned with the recess of each base unit accommodating part of the protruding structure thereby to restrain lateral movement of the safety rail assembly away from the protruding structure.

16. A safety rail assembly according to claim 15 wherein the recess of each base unit has a shape which corresponds substantially to the shape of a portion of the protruding structure.

17. A safety rail assembly according to claim 15 wherein the protruding structure comprises a plinth portion and a cover member which is supported by and overhangs the plinth portion, a height of the base unit being selected to be one of a height sufficient to engage with a periphery of the overhanging cover member and a height sufficiently small to extend under the overhanging cover member and engage with the plinth portion.

18. A base unit for a safety rail assembly, said base unit comprising a side face of a shape which defines a recess which, in use, may accommodate part of a structure protruding from a surface on which the base unit rests, said base unit comprising a passage which extends substantially perpendicular relative to a lower face of the base unit for receiving the lower end of a support member and said base unit further comprising a cavity region which is aligned with said passage and in which a retainer may be located and held captive when secured to a portion of a support member extending through that cavity.

19. A base unit according to claim 18 wherein the base unit comprises a pair of limb portions which extend from a central body portion and said passage and cavity are defined by said central body portion.

20. A base unit for a safety rail assembly, said base unit comprising a side face of a shape which defines a recess which, in use, may accommodate part of a structure protruding from a surface on which the base unit rests, said base unit comprising a passage which extends substantially perpendicular relative to a lower face of the base unit for receiving the lower end of a support member, the base unit comprising a pair of limb portions which extend from a central body portion, and said passage having associated therewith retention means whereby a support member may be secured relative to the base unit to resist removal therefrom.