AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Standard Patent Applicant: KRUEGER TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT PTY LTD Invention Title: Safety Device The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: P77653 AU.1 PaLSetFding Appication 2009.5-1 1.doc (M) - 2 Safety Device This invention relates to a safety device for use with trailers primarily in the trucking industry. The safety 5 device can also be used with shipping containers. Open topped trailers and curtain sided trailers are used extensively in the trucking industry. The drivers of such truck and trailers and those working in warehouses or 10 depots frequently have to climb onto the trailer's floor to assist in the loading or unloading. The floor of a trailer is usually about 1400mm to 1800mm above the ground surface and most open topped trailers have no side supports so there is always a danger that a person working 15 on the trailer surface could fall off the sides or ends of the trailer. A laden trailer or trailer body such as a tanker can extend to 4.6m above the ground. In recent times there have been a number of serious accidents and deaths associated with personnel falling off trailers. 20 Similar problems have occurred with shipping containers. Governments are introducing legislation where anyone working above two metres must have some form of safety device to arrest a fall. 25 Safety devices in the form of harnesses are well known but it is important that the use of a harness as a safety device on trailers of the above kinds must be such as to not detract from the working efficiency of the person on the trailer. It is also important that any safety device 30 is easy to use, readily accessible and easily storable so it does not impede or detract from the working space of the trailer. It is these issues that have brought about the present 35 invention. N:\Melboume\Cases\Patent\77000-77999\P77653.AU 1\Specis\P77653.AU 1 Specification 2009-5-11 doc 11/05/09 -3 According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a safety device for a trailer comprising a frame arranged to be secured to one side of the trailer to be slidable along the trailer, the frame extending across and s above the trailer to support a harness attached to the frame via a line whereby when the harness is worn by a person located on the trailer the location of the line relative to the frame prevents the person from falling off the trailer. 10 Preferably the frame is secured to each side of the trailer. The frame may swivel about a vertical axis relative to the carriage. The frame may also be hinged about a horizontal axis. 15 Preferably the frame is attached to a carriage displaceable along a rail secured to one side of the trailer. 20 The frame may be secured to one side of the roof or floor of the trailer. Preferably the frame has a mass actuated brake locking the frame against movement along the trailer. 25 The frame may comprise a hoop extending across the trailer, the hoop being secured to both sides of the trailer. 30 Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a flat top trailer 35 illustrating a safety hoop attached across the trailer; N :Melboume\Cases\Patent\770O0-77999\P77653.AU 1\Specis\P77653.AU 1 Specification 2009-5-11 doc 11/05/09 -4 Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the safety hoop attached across the trailer in a travelling position; Figure 3 is an end elevations view of the safety hoop in a 5 sliding position; Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a flat top trailer with a safety device in accordance with a second embodiment; 10 Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the safety device in a travelling position; Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a carriage assembly 15 which forms part of the safety device; Figure 7 is an end elevational view of the carriage assembly; 20 Figure 8 is a plan view of the carriage assembly; Figure 9 is an exploded end elevational view of the assembly; 25 Figure 10 is a side elevational view of a flat top trailer with a safety device in accordance with a third embodiment; Figure 11 is an end elevational view of the device in a 30 travelling position; Figure 12 is an exploded end elevational view of the carriage of the third embodiment; 35 Figure 13 is an end elevational view of the carriage; Figure 14 is a side elevational view of the carriage; N \Melboume\Cases\Patent\77000-77999\P77653 AU 1\Specas\P77653.AU. 1 Specification 2009-5-11 .doc 11/05109 - 5 Figure 15 is a side elevational view of a trailer illustrating a safety device in accordance with a fourth embodiment; 5 Figure 116 is an end elevational view of the device shown in Figure 15; and Figure 17 is an end elevational view of the device shown 10 in Figure 15 in an extended position. Figure 1 illustrates a conventional articulated flat top trailer T having a front F and rear R with elongate side coamings S. The rear of the trailer is supported by a 15 wheel and axle assembly W and the front of the trailer has a kingpin K which allows the trailer to be attached to a prime mover (not shown). In the unladen view shown in Figure 1, the trailer T is disconnected from the truck and is supported by a pair of retractable legs L. The trailer 20 floor B is approximately 1400mm to 1800mm above the ground and it is commonplace for the truck driver or those working in depots or warehouses to climb onto the trailer to assist in the loading and unloading process. To facilitate the loading and unloading of the trailer, the 25 sides and often front and rear ends are left unimpeded so there is ready access for forklifts or similar vehicles to deposit a load on the trailer. The absence of side supports means that operators working on the trailer have to be careful that they do not fall off the sides or ends 30 and injure themselves. When loaded a trailer can assume a height of 4600mm which when climbed can constitute an even more dangerous environment for the operator. The safety device 10 shown in the first embodiment in 35 Figures 1 to 3 comprises a frame in the form of a steel hoop 11 of rectangular profile defining uprights 12 and 13 and a cross member 14. The uprights 12, 13 are each N:\Melboume\Cases\Patent\77000-77999\P77653 AU,1\Specis\P77653AU1 Specification 2009-5-11.doc 11/05/09 - 6 attached to a carriage 20 which is arranged to be a sliding fit in a track 30 that is secured to the underside of the coaming to run the full length of the trailer T. Both uprights 12, 13 of the hoop 11 shown in Figures 1 to 5 3 are located in tracks 30 on either side of the coaming and allow the safety device 10 to be displaceable along the full length of the trailer T. The cross member 14 has a sliding collar 15 located thereon which is connected through a swivel ring 16 to a safety line 17 which is in 10 turn coupled to a safety harness 40. The harness 40 is shown schematically and may adopt a variety of known harnesses that can either be secured to the waist or across the shoulders of the operator. 15 It is expected that the harness will be worn by all those climbing on the trailer. The harness can then be attached to the collar 15 via the lanyard/line 17 which is clipped onto the collar 15. 20 The sliding collar 15 has the capacity to slide along the cross member 14 but a pair of stops 18, 19 are provided on either side to limit this movement. These stops 18, 19 could be adjustable. The length of the safety line 17 and 25 the movement of the collar 15 is such that the operator is free to move to both sides of the trailer T but is prevented from falling off by the collar engaging one of the stops 18, 19 and pulling the line taut. 30 The location of the carriage 20 in the track 30 is such that the safety device 10 can easily slide along the length of the trailer so the operator is free to move along the full length of the trailer. The uprights 14, 13 are mounted on the carriage 20 so that they can be 35 displaced laterally of the trailer sides during sliding of the device along the trailer (Figure 3). When the trailer is travelling, the posts 12, 13 are positioned against the N :Melboume\Cases\Patent\77000-77999\P77653 AU.1\Specis\P77653 AU-1 Specification 2009-5-11.doc 11105/09 - 7 sides of the trailer as shown in Figure 2. The posts can be locked against longitudinal movement in both configurations shown in Figures 2 and 3. 5 The hoop 11 can be slid to either end of the trailer and locked in position for storage when not in use. This is important so the hoop does not impede the loading space of the trailer. 10 In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, the safety device 10 is in the form of a hoop which extends across the whole of the trailer. However, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the safety device 10 does not have to be in the form of a full hoop and could be an angled frame 50 15 mounted on either side of the trailer T in the form of an L-shaped member with corner reinforcing 52. The upper bar 53 of the frame 50 would extend across the mid-span of the trailer T and would support the harness 40 as in the first embodiment. The support of the device 10 on each side of 20 the trailer would be the same as in the first embodiment. The upright 55 has a hinge 56 towards its base which allows the frame 50 to fold downwardly to the dotted position shown in Figure 6 in which it is in the plane of 25 the side of the trailer so it does not impede the load of the trailer for storage. This feature also ensures that when the device is used on a high load or high trailer body the frame can be lowered to ensure the vehicle is operating below the legal height of 4.6m. Figure 6 also 30 illustrates an embodiment in which the upright 55 can pivot about the carriage, that is pivot about a vertical axis, to allow the upper bar 53 to swivel away from the floor space. In Figure 7, the frame 50 is illustrated with a telescopic adjustment mechanism 57 formed in the 35 upright 55 so the height of the frame can be adjustable depending on the height of the load of the trailer. N \Malboume\Cases\Patent\77000-77999\P77653 AU.1\SpecisiP77653.AU 1 Specfication 2009-5-11.doc 11/05109 - 8 The carriage 20 is shown in greater detail in Figures 8 to 11. An L-shaped mounting bracket 21 defines a triangular web 29 and base plate 26. The bracket 21 has a pair of spaced roller assemblies 22 located at each bottom corner. 5 Each roller assembly comprises an axle 23 and a pair of rollers 24, 25 which are adapted to run in a track 30 that is secured to the coaming of the trailer. It is understood that the track could be positioned on, at the side or below the trailer coaming. As shown in Figure 7, 10 the inturned base plate 26 located between upper and lower flanges 36, 37 that are held spaced apart by bolts 38, 39. The plate 26 is a sliding fit between the flanges 36, 37 on nylon runners 46, 47. The top of the flange 21 includes a mounting bracket 27 which is secured to the 15 upright 12 of the safety device 10. The rollers 24, 25 allow the carriage 20 to easily slide in the track 30 along the length of the trailer. Figure 9 illustrates a cross section through the axle 23 20 of each roller 24, 25 and shows the use of a bellville spring washer 31 that urges the carriage upwardly and free to move. However, when additional mass is applied to the safety device, such as a person's weight, the load causes the spring to compress and brake pads 32 which are bolted 25 to the carriage 20 engage on the inside of the track 30 to prevent the sliding motion of the carriage relative to the track. Alternatively, a manual brake may be installed to lock the frame to the rail. 30 The side elevational view of Figure 9 and the exploded view of Figure 11 shows how the bracket 21 is displaceable laterally of the trailer from the position shown in Figure 7 to an outer position in which a stop 35 at the end of the underside of the base plate 26 abuts the flanges 36, 35 37. N \Meltboume\Cases\Patent\77000-77999\P77653.AU.1\Specis\P77653AU 1 Specification 2009-5-11.doc 11/05/09 - 9 When in the sliding or outer position shown in Figure 3, the uprights move laterally away from the coaming of the trailer whilst still being supported within the tracks thus allowing free and unimpeded sliding movement without 5 the uprights touching the load on the trailer. The sliding movement is between 40mm and 80mm. As mentioned above, the web 29 can pivot about the base plate through a vertical axis. Figure 9 illustrates a 10 spring loaded locking pin 48 that can be released to allow the web 29 to pivot and then be locked by extending through a hole 49 and engaging the lower flange 36. Figures 10 to 14 illustrate minor modifications to the is second embodiment. As shown in Figure 10, the safety device 10 has the capacity to be vertically adjustable through a telescopic arrangement 57 on the upright of the frame 50. The harness 40 is secured via the lanyard 17 to a fixed collar 58 at the end of the horizontal arm 59 of 20 the frame 50. A brake handle 70 is attached via flexible cable 71 to be fed down the frame 50 to allow remote control of the brake which controls the sliding movement of the safety device 10 along the length of the trailer T. The brake is arranged so it is usually on and only 25 released by depression of the brake handle 70 which is carried by the operator when wearing the safety harness 40. The bracket/frame 50 has a vertical post 85 that is secured to a carriage 80. 30 Figures 12 to 14 show details of the carriage 80 and its association with the rail 30 which is secured to the underside of the coaming S. As in the second embodiment, the rail 30 supports a pair 35 of roller assemblies 22, each comprising an axle 23 and a pair of rollers 24, 25 that are adapted to run in the track 30 which is secured to the underside of the coaming N:\Melboume\Cases\Paten\77000-77999\P77653.AU1\Specis\P77653.AU.1 Specification 2009-5-11.doc 11105109 - 10 S of the trailer T. The spaced roller assemblies 22 are supported about an upstanding web 75 that is, in turn, secured to a mounting flange 76. The mounting flange 76 is bolted to a parallel flange 76a that has a downwardly 5 extending spigot 77 which is arranged to be a running fit within a boss 78 that forms part of a base plate 79 of the carriage 80. A collar 81 and locating bolt 82 secure the spigot 77 to the boss 78 whilst allowing the base plate 79 to be axially rotatable about the spigot 77. The 10 projecting flange 76a at one end of the spigot extends outwardly to support a brake assembly 90 which comprises a rectangular brake pad 91 that is urged by spring 92 against the exterior of the rail 30 to resist the sliding motion of the rollers 22 within the rail. The cable 71 is which is operable by the remote handle 70 pulls back the brake against the spring 92 to release contact against the rail 30. The frame 50 terminates in the base post 85 that is welded 20 to the lower plate 79 with a triangular web 86 welded therebetween. The web 86 carries a spring loaded catch in the form of an elongate pin 88 that can be pulled back against a coil spring 89. The pin has an end 87 that can locate within an aperture 94 in a small bracket 95 that is 25 secured to the brake assembly 90. Location of the pin 88 in the bracket 95 prevents rotation of the plate 79 and post 85 relative to the spigot 77. As shown in Figure 10, by releasing the pin 88 from the 30 bracket 95, the post 85 and lower plate 79, can be rotated to stow behind the front wall F of the trailer T. Since the whole device 10 can slide along the length of the trailer, it is understood that it can be stored behind either the front F or rear R wall of the trailer. 35 In a fourth embodiment shown in Figures 12 to 14, the safety device 10 is in the form of a more robust cage 60. N:\Melboume\Cases\Patent\77000-77999\P77653.AU.1\Specis\P77653.AU.1 Specification 2009-5-11 doc 11/05/09 - 11 The cage effectively comprises two spaced hoops 61, 62 joined by cross members 63, 64. The safety harness 40, cord 17, collar 15 and swivel ring 16 are the same as in the previous embodiments and are located centrally of the s cross member of either of the hoops. The corner of each hoop can be reinforced by a brace 66. This embodiment also includes a foldable step ladder 100 which is secured centrally to the base of the cage 60 and can be folded down to provide ready access to the trailer floor B. The 10 step ladder 100 would move with the safety device whereby ensuring whenever a person climbs onto the trailer this climbing action takes place adjacent the safety device increasing the likelihood of the user then attaching the safety harness. The ladder could also be attached to the 15 single frame device of the earlier embodiments. The safety device can be used on flat open trailers or curtain sided trailers or containers for road or shipping haulage. By adjusting the height of the device, it could 20 be used when the operator is on the trailer floor or when clambering over loads. It is even envisaged that the device could be used on the top of vehicles such as tankers or tipping trailers. 25 The frame can be slid past the ends of the trailer, swivelled to a neutral position and stored outside (from the rear) of the load space. This is particularly important when a container is being loaded or unloaded from the trailer. The frame can also be locked in either 30 position. The track could also be positioned along the roof of a curtain sided trailer. 35 In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary N:\Melboume\Cases\Patent\770O0-77999\P77653 AU 1\Specis\P77653 AU-1 Specification 2009-5-11 doc 11/05/09 - 12 implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further 5 features in various embodiments of the invention. N :\elboume\Cases\Patent\77000-77999\P77653.AU.1\Specis\P77653.AU 1 Specification 2009-5-11.doc 11/05109