FIELD
This invention relates generally to the field of protective barriers that can be employed to limit or restrict the movement of wheeled machinery or vehicles.
BACKGROUND
It is often important to limit the movement of wheeled equipment or vehicles such as fork lifts, scissor lifts, motorized or electrified pallet lifts, motorized or electrified wheelbarrows, etc., on a construction site or in a manufacturing or warehousing facility. Currently, where it is desired to prevent or restrict the movement of such machinery or vehicles in a particular area or in a particular direction, concrete or steel curbs or barriers are typically installed. To a significant degree, such curbs or barriers rely on their mass to stop or limit movement of the wheeled machinery and are generally not conducive to temporary use and movement from site to site.
One particular application where a restriction on the movement of wheeled machinery or equipment is critical is in the case of high-rise building construction. In the construction of multi-floor buildings it is common for various trades to utilize scissor lifts and other wheeled equipment. Should such equipment accidentally roll or be driven over an unprotected edge of the floor in a multi-floor structure, catastrophic results could ensue. While in many jurisdictions edge protection is required on elevated floors under construction, such edge protection is commonly in the form of fencing or railings that are designed to help prevent people and relatively small objects from falling off a floor under construction. These fences and railings often lack the ability to restrain the movement of a piece of equipment or machinery, such as a scissor lift, that can be under power and that is of considerable weight.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, in an embodiment of the invention there is provided a bracket for a wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or machinery, the bracket comprising a base releasably securable to a floor or a surface over which the wheeled equipment or machinery is operated, and a barrier retainer to releasably secure a longitudinal barrier rail to the base and to thereby limit movement of the longitudinal barrier rail, across the floor or the surface when the base is releasably secured to the floor or surface and when the longitudinal barrier rail is contacted by a wheel of the wheeled equipment or machinery.
There is also provided a wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or machinery, the wheel stop barrier comprising two or more such brackets and one or more longitudinal barrier rails releasably securable to two adjacent brackets through engagement with the barrier retainers of the respective brackets
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which show exemplary embodiments of the present invention in which:
FIG. 1 is an upper side perspective view of two adjacent floors under construction demonstrating the application of an embodiment of a wheel stop bracket and system for wheeled machinery in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, used in association with an edge protection fence.
FIG. 2 is an upper side perspective view of the wheel stop bracket and system for wheeled machinery of FIG. 1 without the use of the edge protection fence.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of FIG. 1 demonstrating use in association with a scissor lift.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 3, wherein the scissor lift has engaged the wheel stop bracket and system.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the wheel stop bracket and system shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is an upper side perspective view of the wheel stop bracket of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the wheel stop bracket of FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 is a bottom side perspective view of the wheel stop bracket of FIG. 6.
FIG. 10 is a side view of the wheel stop bracket of FIG. 6 in a compressed configuration.
FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the wheel stop bracket of FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 11 showing an alternate manner of mounting the wheel stop bracket to a floor or surface.
FIG. 13 is an upper side perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the wheel stop bracket.
FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the wheel stop bracket of FIG. 13.
FIG. 15 is an upper side perspective view of the wheel stop bracket of FIG. 13 shown in use with a longitudinal barrier rail, a support post, and an edge protection fence panel.
DESCRIPTION
The present invention may be embodied in a number of different forms. The specification and drawings that follow describe and disclose some of the specific forms of the invention.
With reference to the attached drawings there is shown an embodiment of a bracket 1 for a wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or machinery constructed in accordance with the invention. The drawings show one particular application and embodiment of bracket 1 and the wheel stop barrier system. It will be appreciated that other applications and embodiments are also possible and are contemplated.
In the enclosed drawings bracket 1 is shown in use in association with the construction of a multi-floor building. FIG. 1 shows a first floor 2 and a second floor 3 of a building under construction, wherein the outer edges of floors 2 and 3 (i.e. next to the outside of the building) are noted generally by reference numeral 4. The particular application of bracket 1 that is shown is for use to help prevent wheeled equipment or machinery from falling from floor 2 over outer edge 4. In this embodiment, brackets 1 are shown used in association with longitudinal barrier rails 5, support posts 6, and edge protection fencing panels 7.
FIG. 2 shows an embodiment wherein three brackets have been placed adjacent to the outer edge 4 a floor structure, and with longitudinal barrier rails 5 extending therebetween, in isolation and without support post or fencing panels.
FIGS. 3 and 4 depict how brackets 1 and a wheel stop barrier in accordance with an embodiment of the invention can be used to help prevent wheeled equipment or machinery (in this instance a scissor lift 8) from accidentally falling from the edge of a floor under construction in a multi-story building.
FIGS. 5 through 12 show, in detail, the structure, function and operation of bracket 1 as depicted in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. There, bracket 1 is comprised generally of an elongate base 9 with a longitudinal axis that, in the particular application that is depicted, is generally perpendicular to outer edge 4 of floor 2. Base 9 may be comprised of a first base portion 10 that is slidably engaged with a second base portion 11. A barrier retainer 12 may be mounted on first base portion 10 and releasably secures one or more longitudinal barrier rails 5 to bracket 1. As more particularly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, barrier retainer 5 may be in the form of a sleeve 13 that is oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of base 9 and through which one or more barrier rails may be slid. In this configuration, it will be appreciated that when bracket 1 is oriented generally perpendicular to outer edge 4 of floor 2, the longitudinal barrier rails will be oriented generally parallel to edge 4 when received through sleeve 13. It will further be appreciated that barrier rails 5 can be constructed from a wide variety of different materials, including wood and metal. Where the rails are metal, they could be made to be telescopic in nature. Where the rails are wooden, the ends of successive rails could overlap when passing through sleeve 13, or the ends of the rails could overlap at a position between two adjacent brackets and be secured together with a clamp 14.
With particular reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, in an embodiment, bracket 1 includes a spring 15 that tends to bias first base portion 10 away from second base portion 11, in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base. Spring 15 may be a coil spring that is at least partially received about an elongate first guide member 16 having a first end 17 fixed to one of first and second base portions 10 and 11. First guide member 16 may have a second free end 18 that is positioned within a receiver 19 mounted on the other of the first and second base portions, 10 and 11. The second end 18 is free to slide longitudinally within receiver 19. In the embodiment shown, first end 17 of first guide member 16 is secured to first base portion 10, and in particular to sleeve 13, while receiver 19 is secured to second base portion 11. One end of spring 15 will therefore bear against the outer surface of sleeve 13, with the other end of spring 15 housed within receiver 19 and bearing against an internal stop 20 (see FIG. 7). It will therefore be appreciated that bracket 1 will have a rest configuration, where spring 15 is in an uncompressed state, and will have a compressed configuration where the spring is compressed and the distance between first and second base portions 10 and 11, along the longitudinal axis of bracket 1, has been reduced.
In an embodiment of the invention, bracket 1 further includes a mount to releasably secure it to floor 2. In the particular embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the mount is a pin 21 that extends from the bottom surface of bracket 1 and that is receivable within a generally correspondingly shaped hole that is drilled or otherwise formed within floor 2. Also, in FIGS. 6 and 7, mount or pin 21 is positioned beneath a post retainer 22, which in this instance is comprised of a wall structure extending generally vertically upward from second base portion 11 and into which the lower end of a support post can be received. Other forms and structures of post retainer 22 are possible. In addition, other positions for pin 21 and/or other structures for mounting bracket 1 to a floor or surface are also contemplated, including bolts, expanding anchors, etc.
With reference again to FIGS. 1 and 5, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that inserting the lower end or foot of a support or tension post 6 into post retainer 22, and then placing the post in tension between first and second floors 2 and 3, will effectively maintain the lower surface of bracket 1 in contact with floor 2 and will retain mount or pin 21 within the hole or opening in floor 2 into which it has been received. In such a manner, a horizontally oriented load applied to bracket 1 will be borne by mount or pin 21 to maintain the bracket in position upon the floor. As mentioned, in other embodiments, bracket 1 may be secured to floor 1 through the use of other or additional forms of fasteners, bolts, wedges, expanding anchors, etc. received through one or both of first and second base portions 10 and 11. For example, FIG. 12 depicts an embodiment where an expanding stud fastener 27 has been inserted through a hole in first base portion 10 and into a hole or opening within floor 2 as a means to maintain the bracket in position.
With reference again to FIGS. 6 and 7, bracket 1 may further comprise a second guide member 23 having a first end 24 fixed to one of the first and second base portions, 10 and 11. Second guide member 23 has a second end 25 that is slidably received within a second receiver 26 positioned on the other of the first and second base portions 10 and 11. In one embodiment, the second guide member and the second receiver are vertically offset from first guide member 16 and first receiver 19. In the embodiment shown, first end 24 of second guide member 23 is secured to sleeve 13 on first base portion 10, and second receiver 26 is secured to second base portion 11. It will be appreciated that the opposite is also possible. Second guide member 23 and second receiver 26 may be constructed so that second end 25 of second guide member 23 extends beyond and outwardly through second receiver 26. Second end 25, at the point that it extends beyond second receiver 26, may then be fitted with a pin, cotter key, bolt or other structure 28 to prevent it from sliding backwardly through the receiver. In this manner there is presented a means to prevent first base portion 10 from becoming separated from second base portion 11, while still allowing relative sliding movement of the respective base portions. It will further be appreciated that not only will the second guide member and second receiver serve as a means to retain the first and second base portions together in a single unit, but that the interaction of the second guide member within the second receiver will also help to assist in accommodating any rotational torque that may be applied between the first and second base portions.
From an understanding of the above-described structure it will be appreciated that there is presented a bracket for a wheel stop barrier that will limit movement of a longitudinal barrier rail, across the surface of a floor or other surface upon which wheeled equipment or machinery is being operated, when the barrier rail is contacted by a wheel of the wheeled equipment or machinery. The invention also provides a wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or machinery where the barrier comprises two or more brackets 1 and one or more longitudinal barrier rails 5 releasably securable to two adjacent brackets through engagement with barrier retainers 12 on the respective brackets. In one embodiment, when such brackets and such barrier rails are in use, horizontal force, applied to a longitudinal barrier rail (or to a bracket itself) in a direction generally toward edge 4 will be transmitted from the barrier rails, through the barrier retainers of the respective brackets, to first base portion 10, where at least part of the force will be accommodated through compression of spring 15. Once the spring has “bottomed out” any residual horizontal load will be transmitted from first base portion 10 to second base portion 11 and then through mount or pin 21 to floor 2. With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, in the case of scissor lift 8 coming into contact with longitudinal barrier rails 5, the depicted drawings show both a deflection of the rails and a compression of spring 15. Any additional horizontal load not accommodated by the deflection of the barrier rails and the compression of the spring will be applied to floor 2 through mount or pin 21 (not specifically shown in FIGS. 3 and 4).
FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 show an alternate embodiment of bracket 1 that does not utilize a spring 15, and where the bracket is a rigid structure. In this embodiment the first and second base portions 10 and 11 are rigidly secured to one another such that a load applied to a longitudinal rail (or to bracket 1 itself) in a direction from first base portion 10 toward second base portion 11, is transmitted directly to pin 21 without being transmitted through a compression spring as in the case of the previously described embodiment. It will be appreciated that other than the compression of a spring, the bracket shown in FIGS. 13 through 15 will essentially function the same as that shown in the previous figures, while being lighter in weight, less mechanically complex, and less expensive to manufacture. It will further be appreciated that additional alternate embodiments of bracket 1 are contemplated, including those where the first and second base portions comprise a unitary bottom plate extending along the entire base of the bracket.
It will thus be understood that a combination of brackets 1 and longitudinal barrier rails 5 presents a means to help prevent wheeled equipment or machinery from contacting fencing panels 7 and/or support post 6 (in which case the equipment or machinery could damage the fencing panels or post) and from potentially falling off the edge of floor 2. Preferably, longitudinal rails 5 are designed with a sufficient vertical height to discourage the wheels of the equipment or machinery that may come into contact with them from “jumping” or riding over the rails. In one embodiment the novel bracket includes a compression spring that accommodates part of the load applied by wheeled equipment coming into contact with longitudinal rails 5 or with a bracket itself. In another embodiment the bracket is a rigid structure with no compression spring.
It is to be understood that what has been described are the preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth above, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
Patent Application
20220170219
