The present application claims priority to United Kingdom Patent Application serial number G131712467.8, filed on Aug. 2, 2017 entitled “Temporary safety guardrail for construction sites”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety at least by reference.
The present invention relates generally to guardrails but more particularly to a temporary safety guardrail for construction sites.
Safety regulations on construction sites can be very strict in many jurisdictions and generally require that a form of temporary safety guardrail be installed around the perimeter of a building that is under construction. Usually, those guardrails are quickly assembled by the workers who will use planks of woods, sometimes from scrap. Often, those guardrail sections are reused from site to site and are fixed up as needed so that they remain relatively secure. There are some types of metal guardrails that are specifically designed for construction sites, but the problem usually has to do with how to secure them to the existing structure. Consequently, there is a need for a temporary safety guardrail for construction sites that can easily secure to existing structures and provide any necessary perimeter configuration.
In one embodiment of the present invention a temporary safety guardrail for construction sites comprising a plurality of anchoring members, each anchoring member having a post connecting bracket configured to receive a removable post, the posts are defined as starter or intermediate posts wherein starter can be first or last, and a base plate having a plurality of plate holes configured to receive mechanical fasteners, wherein the post connecting bracket includes a horizontal opening and a vertical opening enabling each anchoring member to be installed and secured to a surface in either a horizontal or vertical position via the plurality of plate holes; a rectangular fixed bracket positioned on a top portion of the removable post, the rectangular fixed bracket having a pair of attachment holes on each end of each face of the rectangular fixed bracket; a rectangular handrail having a pair of vertically aligned attachment holes on each end of each horizontal face of the rectangular handrail, wherein the rectangular handrail is configured to attach to one end of the rectangular fixed bracket via a first pin passed through the pair of vertically aligned attachment holes and the corresponding attachment holes on the rectangular fixed bracket, and the other end of the rectangular handrail is configured to attach to an additional rectangular fixed bracket on an adjacent removable post such that a series of handrails is provided; and, a net having an upper band, a lower band, and a plurality of threads, wherein the net is configured to be attached to the removable post and the rectangular handrail.
In one embodiment, the rectangular handrail is a fixed length handrail. In one embodiment, the rectangular handrail is a telescoping handrail. In one embodiment, an orientable bracket configured to attach to the rectangular fixed bracket is provided, wherein the rectangular handrail is configured to attach to the orientable bracket, the orientable bracket configured to pivot along a vertical or a horizontal plane. In another embodiment, a first and second orientable bracket are connected in series such that the first orientable bracket pivots horizontally and second orientable bracket pivots vertically such that orientation occurs in two axes. In one embodiment, the optional orientable bracket comprises a body section and a pair of fins, wherein the body section is rectangular having four sides, and at least one hole provided on each of the four sides and each fin of the pair of fins, the holes configured for attachment to the rectangular fixed bracket and the rectangular handrail via a second pin. In one embodiment, a marker stub positioned on a lower portion of the removable post. In another embodiment, a kickplate bracket is configured to attach to the marker stub and receive a kickplate. In one embodiment, the fixed length handrail is approximately 84 inches in length. In one embodiment, the telescoping handrail extends up to 68 inches in length. In yet another embodiment, at least one alignment hook having notches is provided, wherein the at least one alignment hook is configured to secure the threads of the net in the notches. In one embodiment, the rectangular handrail includes hooks configured to attach to the upper band of the net, the hooks configured to create tension in a horizontal direction of the net. In one embodiment, the hooks are positioned on alternating sides of the rectangular handrail. In another embodiment, at least one band clamp positioned on the removable post, the at least one band clamp configured to secure the lower band of the net and to adjust vertical tension in the net by selective positioning into adjustment holes.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out their invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein to specifically provide a temporary safety guardrail for construction sites. The word “a” is defined to mean “at least one.”
Referring now to
Referring now to
In one embodiment, anchoring member 14 includes base plate 24 having a plurality of plate holes 26 configured for receiving mechanical fasteners 27 (best seen in
Best seen in
Referring now to
In one embodiment, a pin 46 is passed through the holes when attaching the orientable bracket to the fixed bracket. Depending on the desired plane (horizontal or vertical), specific holes are used on the fixed bracket. The fixed bracket is rectangular having a pair of holes on the ends of each face of the fixed bracket, allowing for numerous attachment arrangements. For example, if a horizontal plane orientation is desired, the orientable bracket would be aligned such that the holes provided on each fin are vertically aligned, and the pin would pass though the vertically aligned holes on the pair of fins and the corresponding vertically aligned holes on the fixed bracket (best illustrated in
There are two types of handrails provided. Referring now to
Although the invention has been described in considerable detail in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as exemplary preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention. Stated otherwise, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Therefore, while exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternate embodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
It should further be noted that throughout the entire disclosure, the labels such as left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise, counter clockwise, up, down, or other similar terms such as upper, lower, aft, fore, vertical, horizontal, oblique, proximal, distal, parallel, perpendicular, transverse, longitudinal, etc. have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction or orientation. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions/orientations between various portions of an object.
In addition, reference to “first,” “second,” “third,” and etc. members throughout the disclosure (and in particular, claims) are not used to show a serial or numerical limitation but instead are used to distinguish or identify the various members of the group.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1712467.8 | Aug 2017 | GB | national |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190040640 A1 | Feb 2019 | US |