AU656383B2 - Clamp and stanchion assembly - Google Patents

Description

WNW-

656383

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): AXCESS ROOFING PTY. LTD.

Invention Title: CLAMP AND STANCHION ASSEMBLY e oo e *a* o r o r e r r r o The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 CLAMP AND STANCHION ASSEMBLY

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IC :ct T C t c C tre This invention relates to a clamp for a stanchion assembly and to a stanchion assembly for carrying a safety barrier.

In order to provide a safer working environment for workmen who work on building sites above ground level it is required that a safety barrier surround elevated levels of a building site. Stanchion assemblies which can be connected to a building frame and which can support a safety barrier are known. However, conventional systems include clamps which have fixing screws which must be manipulated from below the clamp and this can make the clamp difficult to install.

i 3 The objection of the first aspect of the invention is to provide a clamp which is more easily connectable to a building frame.

The invention in a first aspect may be said to reside in a clamp for a stanchion assembly which is adapted to be connected to a building frame, said clamp comprising: an upper jaw; a lower jaw; interconnecting means for connecting said jaws together such that said upper jaw and said lower jaw are substantially parallel and define a mouth and a throat of substantially equal width; at least one clamping element on said upper jaw for movement relative to said upper jaw from a released 15 position to a clamping position so that a building frame inserted through said mouth and into said throat between the jaws can be clamped between the jaws by moving said at lleast one clamping element to the clamping position; and a socket means connected to said lower jaw so as to be suspended from said lower jaw for receiving an elongate connection member.

q Since the clamp of the present invention includes the clamping elements which are on the upper jaw the clamping elements can be manipulated from above which makes 25 it much easier to clamp onto a building frame.

Preferably, the lower jaw comprises a first leg of a substantially L-shaped plate, said interconnecting 4 means comprising a second leg of the L-shaped plate, and said upper jaw comprising a plate which is substantially parallel to said first leg and which is connected to said second leg.

Preferably, said socket means comprises a hollow tubular sleeve of substantially square cross-section.

Preferably, said hollow sleeve includes fixing means for securing the elongate connection member within the sleeve in an adjustable manner.

Preferably, said clamping elements and said K fixing means comprises 5crew threaded members.

lI 4 In a second aspect the invention relates to a stanchion assembly for supporting a safety barrier and in particular to a stanchion assembly for use with gable roof frames.

This aspect of the invention may be said to reside in a stanchion assembly comprising: a rod member having a first portion and a second portion extending at an angle with respect to the first portion; first clamp means, for engaging a frame member for arrangement on said second portion; second clamp means, for engaging the frame member, for arrangement on said second portion and spaced from said first clamp means; and 15 a post connector coupled to said first portion of the rod member for supporting a post for, in turn, supporting a safety barrier.

Since the second portion extends at an angle to the first portion and has the two opposed clamping member the stanchion assembly can be fixed to an inclined frame *member of a gable frame roof by rotating the stanchion assembly so that the two opposed clamp members clamp onto the frame member and said first portion will extend substantially horizontally to hold said post and barrier in t 25 an upright position with respect to said roof.

In one embodiment of the invention the first and s second clamp means are permanently fixed to said second portion of the rod and extend in opposed directions relative to one another so that said stanchion assembly can be rotated about an imaginary axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the frame member to engage the first and second clamp means on the frame member.

In another embodiment the first and second clamp means are movable upon said second portion so the first and second clamp means are adjustable relative to the second portion and extend in the same direction for engaging the frame member.

Preferably, the first and second clamp means

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1 include screw-threaded members for enabling the first and second clamp means to clampingly engage the frame member.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a clamp assembly according to a. preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the clamp assembly of figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the clamp assembly of figure 1; Figure 4 is a view showing the clamp assemblies connected to purlins of a building frame; Figure 5 is a view of an elongate connecting rod; Figure 6 is a view along the line VI-VI of figure Figure 7 is a detailed plan view of part of the connecting member of figure Figure 8 is a side view of the portion of the connecting member shown in figure 7; Figure 9 is a side view of a post according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 10 is a rear view of the post of figure 9; Figure 11 is a view of a post according to a second embodiment; Figure 12 is an end view of the post of figure 11; Figure 13 is a side view of an elongate connecting rod according to a second embodiment; Figure 14 is a front view of the rod of figure 13; Figure 15 shows an embodiment of a stanchion assembly according to a second aspect of the invention; Figure 16 is a view along the line XVI-XVI of figure Figure 17 is an end view of a clamp for use with a stanchion assembly according to a further embodiment of the invention; I 1 -6 Figure 18 is a side view of the clamp of figure 17; Figure 19 is a side view of part of a connecting rod for use with the stanchion of the further embodiment of the invention; and Figure 20 shows stanchions according to the further embodiment of the invention in use.

Figures 1 to 3 show a clamp 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention for use with a stanchion assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention.

The clamp 10 comprises a generally L-shaped elongate plate 12 having a leg 14 which forms a first jaw and an upright second leg 16. A second jaw 18 is welded to the leg 16 and 1extends substantially parallel to the jaw 14. The jaws 14 and 18 define a mouth 15 and a throat 17 therebetween which "are of the same width. The second jaw 18 has two j .screw-threaded nuts 20 connected thereto for receiving screw-threaded fastening shafts 22. Holes 21 are provided in jaw 18 and are aligned with nuts 20 to enable the shafts 22 to be screwed through nut 20 and hole 21 to project into S. throat 17.

Arranged beneath the L-shaped plate 12 is a sleeve 30 of hollow tubular construction and generally square in cross-section. The sleeve 30 has a nut 32 25 connected to its lower side and the nut 32 has a screw-threaded shaft 34. A hole 23 is provided in sleeve and is aligned with nut 32 so shaft 34 can project into the sleeve The shafts 22 and 34 are both provided with fixed nut members 36 and a handle 38 is connected to the nut members 36 to facilitate rotation of the shafts 22 in the nuts 20 and 32 respectively so that the shafts 22 and 34 can be moved from a release position into throat 17 or sleeve 30 to a clamping position which will be described in more detail hereinafter.

As best seen in figure 4 a pair of clamps 10 are I shown connected to purlins 50 and 50'. The purlins 50 and both include a web 52 and the clamps 10 are arranged on t 2 the purlins 50 and 50' by locating the web 52 in the mouth between the end of jaw 18 and the jaw 14 and locating it in the throat 17 inwardly of the mouth The clamps 10 may be secured to the purlins and 50' by rotating the handle 38 on screw-threaded shafts 22 to move shafts 22 into throat 17 so as to clamp the web 52 of the purlins 50 and 50' between the screw-threaded shafts 22 and the jaw 14. As is clear from figure 4 the screw-threaded shafts 22 may be operated from above so that the clamp is easy to locate on the purlins 50 and Furthermore, the provision of parallel jaws 18 and 14 and a mouth 15 which is of the same width as the throat 17 enables the clamp to be easily located on the webs 52 of .the purlins 50 and 15 An elongate connecting rod 60 is inserted through the sleeves 30 of the two clamps 10 and has a support post connector 62 at one end. The elongate connecting member and the connector 62 are more clearly shown in figures and 6.

As best shown in figures 5 and 6 the connecting member 60 comprises a tubular rod 64 of preferably square r cross-section which is dimensioned to easily slide within the square sleeves 30 of the clamps 10. The connector 62 includes a base plate 65 and a pair of elongate L.-shaped i 25 plates 66 which can be best seen in figure 7. A space 67 is provided between the plates 66. A bottom 68 is arranged tc between legs 70 of the L-shaped plates 66 and the base 64.

The plates 66 also have legs 72 which connected to the base As is best seen in figure 7, the legs 70 of the L-shaped plates 66 have nuts 78 which receive screw-threaded shafts 80. Holes 82 are provided in the leg members 70 and aligned with the nuts 78 so that the screw-threaded shafts 80 can be screw-threaded into the space between the legs 70 and the base 65. The screw-threaded shafts 80 both have a nut member 84 fixed thereto which has a handle 86 to facilitate rotation of the shafts 80 and movement of the shafts into the space between ~I 8 the legs 70 and base After the connecting rod 64 has been received in the sleeves 33 a post may be inserted into the connector 62. A post according to the first embodiment of the invention is shown in figures 9 and 10 and includes an upright member Sr and a substantially horizontal member '97 which is integral with the upright member 84. A connector plate 88 is arranged at the end of the horizontal member 97 and struts 91 may be provided to reinforce the plate and the post.

The upright member g5' has clamp rings 90 which are intended to receive rails (not shown) so that a safety barrier can be formed.

"99 In practice a plurality of pairs of clamps are connected to the purlins 50 and 50' and a rod 64 having a connector 62 at its end is inserted into each pair of .clamps 10 on the purlins 50 and 50'. Each connector 62 S. receives plate 88 in sliding fashion between base 65 and the leg members 70 of the L-shaped plates 66 withi the bottom edge 89 of the plates 88 resting on bottom 68.

Uprights 84 are accommodated between the plates 66 in space 67. After a post of the type shown in figures 9 and 10 has been inserted into each of the connectors 62 rails (not shown) may be arranged between aligned clamp rings 90 to 25 complete the safety barrier. Preferably, two rails extend between adjacent posts with one rail extending between *99* rings 92 of adjacent posts in both the top and bottom clamp rings 90. The posts which are adjacent to the first pair of adjacent posts then have further rails (not shown) extending between bottom rings 94 so that the rails need only be of such a length to extend between an adjacent pair of clamp members and the rails are staggered in the rings 92 and 94 to complete the safety barrier.

Figures 11 and 12 show a second embodiment of posts for use with the elongate connecting rods 60. and connector 62 and are generally the same as shown in figures 9 and 10 except that the plate 88,is secured directly onto the upright portion 84 of the posts.

'9 9- The posts shown in figures 9 and 10 which have the horizontal member 87 can be used if it is necessary to space the posts from guttering (not shown) or the like connected to the building. The posts shown in figures 11 and 12 can be used if there is no guttering or there is no need to provide additional space at the edge of the building.

Figures 13 and 14 show a second embodiment of the elongate connecting rods 60 which are intended for use with clamps 10 which are connected direct to grits on the wall of a building rather than purlins on the roof of a building. In this embodiment the connectors 62 are in the same plane as the longitudinal axis of the rods 64 instead of being at right angles to the rods 64 as in the 15 embodiment shown in figures 5 to 8. In this embodiment the clamps 10 are adapted to be arranged one above another on the grits (not shown) so that the sleeve 30 are vertically •oriented and the rod 64 is passed through the vertically oriented sleeves 30. The connectors 62 receive plates 88 of posts of the type shown in figures 9 or 11 in the same manner as previously described.

S. Figures 15 and 16 shown a stanchion assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention. The stanchion assemblies 100 generally comprise elongate rods I C 25 102 which have a first portion 104 and a second portion 106. The second position 106 is arranged at an angle to re the first portion 104 of between 20 and 30 degrees and preferably about 26 degrees. The:second portion 106 carries two clamp members 110 and 112 which generally extend transverse to the longitudinal axis of the second portion 106 and in opposite directions with respect to one another.

The clamp members 110 include screw-threaded shafts 114 similar to the screw-threaded members disclosed with reference to the clamp shown in figure 1.

The first portion 104 has a connector 162 which is substantially identical to the connector 62 described Sol with reference to figures 6 to 8.

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-7 10 In the preferred embodiment of the invention the portion 104 is arranged for telescoping movement and is a slide fit on horizontal end portion 113 which is arranged at an angle to and integral with the second portion 106. A screw-threaded shaft 115 is arranged to clamp the telescopically movable first portion 104 on the leg portion 113 to fix the connector 162 in a predetermined position relative to the second portion 106.

The stanchion assembly 100 is adapted to be connected to a wooden frame member of a gable frame roof by rotating the second portion 106 generally in the direction of arrow A in figure 15 about an axis B perpendicular to the frame member (not shown) so that the clamps 110 and 112 O are rotated onto the frame member to secure the stanchion 15 assembly 100 to the frame member. The screw members 114 may then be screwed inwardly to clamp the clamp members 110 and 112 onto the frame member. The first portion 114 will *".then extend substantially horizontally outwardly from the frame member and the connector 162 can receive a post of the type described with reference to figures 9 to 12 for supporting a safety rail.

Gable roof frames are generally arranged at an angle in the order of 24 to 28 degrees and the angle of 26 degrees of which the second portion 106 makes with the c 25 horizontal has been selected so that regardless of the angle of the frame member the first portion 104 will be substantially horizontal and support the posts in a I generally vertical position. Any slight variation from the horizontal by virtue of the angle of 26 degrees not matching exactly the angle of the roof frame will be negligible.

With reference to figures 17 to 20 which show a further embodiment of a stanchion assembly which includes two adjustable clamps 200, a connecting rod 202 and a plate connector 262.

As best seen in figures 17 and 18 the clamps 200 comprise a generally U-shaped body 220 which has a short leg 222, a longer leg 224 and a base 226. The longer leg i 11 224 carries a tubular sleeve 230 of square cross-section which is provided with a nut member 232 which receives a screw-threaded shaft 234. The shaft 234 has a nut member 236 fixed thereto and a handle 238 for facilitating rotation of the shaft 234. A hole 238 is provided in the sleeve 230 so that the shaft 234 can be screwed into the sleeve 230.

The longer leg 224 is also provided with two nut members 240 at a position opposed to shorter leg 222. The nuts 240 have screw-threaded shafts 242 which are provided with a fixed nut 244 having a handle 246. Holes 248 are provided in leg 224 and are aligned with respective nuts 240 so that the shafts 242 can pass through the holes 248 and into throat 217 defined between the shorter leg 222 and 15 the leg 224.

The stanchion assembly also includes an elongate connecting rod 202 which is shown in figure 19. The connecting rod 202 is generally identical to the connecting rod 102 of the stanchion assembly shown in figure 15 and has a horizontal portion 254 and an inclined portion 256.

"o The horizontal portion 254 and inclined portion 256 may be integral with one another or they may be telescoping as in the embodiment of figure 15. The inclined portion 256 extends at the same angle to the horizontal portion 254 as S 25 described with reference to the embodiment of figure The end of the horizontal portion 254 carries the connector 262 which is the same as the connector 162 of C€ (C j Ifigures 15 and 16 and the connector 62 of figures 5 to 7.

The connector 262 includes the screw-threaded shafts and nut identified by reference 270, base 265, bottom 268 and the L-shaped plates 266.

Figure 20 shows the stanchion assemblies fixed to wooden gable building frames 300. A pair of clamps are affixed to each of the frame members 300 by locating the throats 217 of the clamps 200 on frame member 300 so that the tops of the frames 300 abut base 226. The connecting rod 202 is then inserted through the aligned sleeves 230 to locate plate connector 262 at a desired position relative 12 to the edge of the building frame. The screw-threaded shafts 234 are then adjusted to lock the connecting member 202 in position. The screw-threaded members 242 may also be adjusted to cause the frame 300 to be clamped between leg 222 which forms one jaw and the shaft 242 which passes through leg 224 which forms the other jaw of clamp 200. A post of the type described with reference to any one of the earlier embodiments may then be located in the plate connectors 262 to support rails for forming a barrier around the building frame.

Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of example hereinabove.

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Claims (5)

1. A clamp for a stanchion assembly which is adapted to be connected to a building frame, said clamp comprising: an upper jaw; a lower jaw; interconnecting means for connecting said jaws together such that said upper jaw and said lower jaw are substantially parallel and define a mouth and a throat of substantially equal width; at least one clamping element on said upper jaw for movement relati've to said upper jaw from a released position to a clamping position so tlat a building frame inserted through said mouth and into said throat between the jaws can be clamped between the jaws by moving said at least one clamping element to the clamping position; and a socket means connected to said lower jaw so as to be suspended from said lower jaw for receiving an elongate connection member.

2. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the lower jaw comprises a first leg of a substantially L-shaped plate, said interconnecting means comprising a second leg of the L- shaped plate, and said upper jaw comprising a plate which ,is substantially parallel to oaid first leg and which is connected to said second leg.

3. The clamp of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said socket means comprises a hollow tubular sleeve of substantially square cross-section.

4. The clamp of claim 3 wherein, said hollow sleeve includes fixing means for securing the elongate connection member within the sleeve in an adjustable manner. *7" 14 The clamp of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said clamping elements and said fixing means comprises screw threaded members.

6. A clamp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Dated this 14th day of November 1994 AXCESS ROOFING By Its Patent Attorneys: GRIFFITH HACK CO Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia. sc a e o r r ir r r Ic te r o ito r 1 rrt r f rr I s fl 0 Y/YH stafaen/kee%/spedcii8688.92.AXCESS 14.11 ABSTRACT A clamp for a stanchion assembly is disclosed in which the clamp comprises an upper jaw a lower jaw (14) which are interconnected by a plate (16) which is integral with the jaw The jaws (14) and (18) are substantially parallel and define a mouth (15) and a throat A clamping bolt (22) is provided on the upper jaw (18) for clamping to a building frame when inserted through the mouth (15) into the throat A socket (30) is suspended from the lower jaw (14) for receiving a connection member. The stanchion assembly includes a rod member (102) which has a first portion (104) and a second 15 portion (106) which are arranged at an angle with respect to each other. Clamps (110) are arranged on the portion (106) and a connector (162) is coupled to the portion (104) for supporting a safety barrier. 0 4 0 4 f 4