AU722671B2 - A stanchion assembly for a timber frame building - Google Patents

Description

-1- Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventors: Address for Service: Invention Title: DGS Property Pty. Ltd.

Cornelis Johanes GRIEK DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

A stanchion assembly for a timber frame building e Details of Associated Provisional Application(s) No(s): P06473/97 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: Q:\OPER\PHH\6473-97.113 23/4/98 p:\OPER\PHH\DGSCAP. 105 23/4/98 -2- A STANCHION ASSEMBLY FOR A TIMBER FRAME BUILDING The present invention relates to timber frame structures such as buildings, and is particularly concerned with a stanchion assembly for a safety barrier for such a frame structure as well as with a method of securing a stanchion post to a frame member.

In order to provide adequate support, it is necessary that a stanchion assembly for a safety barrier can be securely mounted on a building. It is also necessary that the stanchion assembly can be readily removed from the building, for example, when the building construction has been substantially completed.

One proposal for a stanchion assembly for a safety barrier on a timber frame building construction is described in US Patent Specification No. 4,666,131. The proposal has an upright support post of the stanchion assembly extending from an adaptor bracket which is pivotally secured to a C-shaped clamp member that partly envelops a rafter of the building from below and is clamped to the rafter by two locking bolts.

Another proposal for a stanchion assembly for a timber frame building is described in our Australian Patent Specification AU-652609. This stanchion assembly comprises a support post capable of supporting a safety barrier and a support assembly for the support post, the support assembly comprising a bracket having a base and spaced legs projecting therefrom which is adapted to receive a timber frame member of the frame building between the base and the spaced legs, the spaced legs having free ends which releasably receive a closure member which closes the bracket and supports the support post.

Because the spacing of the legs of the bracket described in AU-652609 is fixed, a particular bracket is only suited to frame members up to a specific cross-section. While larger brackets may be made, they are not always practical to use, for example because they become too big and heavy to conveniently handle manually.

P: \OPER\PHH\63563-98. RES 1/6/00 -3- In order to alleviate this problem it has been proposed to split the bracket of AU-652609 into two brackets, each having a tubular sleeve on one of the spaced legs for receiving the closure member, the two brackets being locked over the frame member in use by the closure member.

Each bracket has a wall member, formed by part of the base of the bracket in AU-652609, which prevents the support assembly being pulled off the frame member when the two brackets are locked together by the closure member.

A disadvantage of the above proposal is that the two brackets cannot be used for laying sheet roofing material since the wall member of the upper bracket prevents that bracket being removed laterally between the frame member and the roofing material.

According to the present invention, there is provided a stanchion assembly for a timber frame structure, the assembly comprising a stanchion post for a safety barrier and a support assembly for the stanchion post, the support assembly comprising two brackets each having a first portion for engaging a respective one of the upper and lower opposed edges of a frame member and a second portion which releasably receives a connection member, at least the one bracket which engages the upper edge of the frame member being adapted to be secured to the frame member by at least one fastener, and wherein the connection member is adapted to connect the two brackets and the stanchion post is supported by the connection member.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a safety barrier assembly comprising at least two stanchion assemblies in accordance with the invention and restraint means extending between the stanchion posts of the or adjacent stanchion assemblies.

Still further according to the present invention there is provided a method of securing a stanchion post to a frame member of a timber frame structure which comprises providing two brackets each having a first portion for engaging a respective one of the upper and lower opposed edges of the frame member and a second portion for releasably receiving a connection member, engaging each first portion with a respective one of said upper and lower opposed edges, securing at least the one bracket which engages said upper edge to the frame P:\OPER\PHH\DGSCAP. 105 23/4/98 -4member by means of at least one fastener, connecting the second portions of the two brackets by means of the connection member and engaging the stanchion post with the connection member from beneath the frame member.

The stanchion assembly of the present invention is particularly, but not only, adapted for use with substantially rectangular cross-section rafters of a timber frame roof.

By the term "frame structure" or "frame building" as used herein is meant a structure, building or building construction having at least one timber frame member to which the stanchion assembly of the invention can be affixed. Thus, for example, only the roof construction of the building may be frame-like or substantially the whole building structure may comprise a frame construction.

The or each stanchion assembly will generally be connected to a frame member of a roof structure so that the stanchion post of the stanchion assembly projects upwardly from the support assembly, but occasionally it will be desirable to have the stanchion post projecting downwardly.

The connection member may be integrally formed with the stanchion post or may form part of adaptor means with which the stanchion post is connected in use. Advantageously the connection of the connection member with the brackets and/or of the stanchion post with the connection member is selectively adjustable.

Since the present invention is particularly advantageously used when the stanchion post, or adaptor means for it, extends from beneath the frame member of the building, so that the stanchion post need not interfere with the sheet roofing material, the stanchion post is preferably supported from a lower end portion of the connection member.

The manner in which the connection member is received by the second portion of each bracket may be one of many. Advantageously the connection member is slidably received, P:\OPER\PHH\DGSCAP.105 -23/4/98 for example by a sleeve or other opening, by one of the brackets and the second portion of the other bracket guides the connection member, for example by an open hook arrangement.

Most preferably, the second portion of the other bracket also comprises a sleeve or other opening to slidably receive the connection member. Desirably the connection member may be locked against such sliding movement. Such locking may be, for example, by means of a locking or clamping screw associated with the second portion of one or each bracket.

Alternatively, one or more locking pins or other projections may engage the connection member and/or bracket(s) to resist the sliding movement.

Preferably the connection member is non-rotatably received by the second portion of each bracket. In a preferred embodiment the connection member comprises a rod of non-circular cross-section, for example square.

In use with the brackets, the connection member may extend transversely across the frame member between the upper and lower opposed edges. Alternatively, the brackets may be such that the connection member extends in an inclined manner across the frame member.

Advantageously, the at least one fastener for securing the one bracket which engages the upper edge of the frame member is itself engageable with or through a face of the frame member which extends between the two opposed edges so that the fastener can be readily located and/or withdrawn with sheet roofing material secured over the frame member. The at least one fastener may comprise a stud which projects from the one bracket or a bolt which engages the one bracket and passes fully through the frame member with means engaging the stud or bolt on the other side of the frame member to prevent withdrawal of the fastener.

25 Such a stud or bolt may be screw threaded with the engaging means comprising a nut.

Alternatively, for example, the at least one fastener may comprise a screw which passes through the one bracket and engages the frame member from said face. The at least one fastener may extend from or through an opening in the second portion of the bracket, but preferably extends through or from a wall portion of the bracket which abuts the face of the frame member in use. The wall portion may define part of the second portion of the bracket.

P:\OPER\PHH\DGSCAP. 105 -23/4/98 -6- Preferably at least two fasteners are provided in the one bracket.

The one bracket may be provided with a short lip which is adapted to engage the opposite face of the frame member but which does not prevent the one bracket being located on or removed from the frame member with sheet roofing material over the frame member. Thus, the lip is shorter than the spacing between the frame member and the sheet roofing material. The spacing will usually be defined by the thickness of the battens to which the sheet roofing material is secured. The short lip helps to locate the bracket on the frame member before and after the at least one fastener has been engaged with the frame member.

The other bracket, which engages the lower edge of the frame member, will usually be identical to the one bracket but may instead include any of the features described above for the one bracket. Alternatively, the other bracket may not be secured to the frame member by at least one fastener. Instead, the other bracket may be held in place by the engagement of the two brackets with the connection member. Since the other bracket may be readily S"removable from the frame member from below, it may include a lip of any desired size which is adapted to engage the opposite face of the frame member.

One embodiment of a stanchion assembly in accordance with 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 view of the stanchion assembly secured to a rafter of a timber frame building; and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line B-B of Figure 1.

o 25 Referring to the drawings, a stanchion post 10 is shown projecting upwardly from a rafter 12 and supported from the rafter by means of an adaptor 14, connection means 16 and upper and lower brackets 18 and 20, respectively.

A gutter 22 is shown secured to a facia board 24 at the outer end of the rafter 12, and the stanchion post 10 is supported outwardly of the gutter 22 from beneath the rafter by means P:\OPER\PHHDGSCAP. 105 23/4/98 -7of the adaptor 14 and connection means 16.

The stanchion post 10 is only shown in part, but acts as part of a safety barrier with other similar stanchion posts secured to respective rafters of the timber frame building and barrier rails supported by the stanchion posts as described for example in AU-652609. The safety barrier is intended to provide security to roofing personnel, for example while a roof covering is secured to the rafters. Where the roof covering comprises sheets of roofing material, it is not practical for the stanchion post to project upwardly between the rafters, and it is for this reason that the stanchion post 10 is shown engaged with the connection means 16 beneath the rafters by way of the adaptor 14. The sheet roofing material will normally be secured with fasteners to battens (not shown) engaged with the upper edge 26 of the rafters 12, but little space is available between the rafters and roofing material. The brackets 18 and 20 are adapted to facilitate engagement of and/or removal of the support assembly for the stanchion post 10 with sheet roofing material secured over the rafter 12.

The brackets 18 and 20 are identical but inverted relative to each other in use. Each of the brackets comprises a metal base member 28 of substantially L-shaped cross-section with a first portion 30 and a wall portion 32 extending normal to the first portion. The first portion 30 of each of the brackets 18 and 20 is elongate and engages the upper edge 26 or lower edge 34, respectively, of the rafter 12, while each wall portion 32 overlies one side face 36 of the rafter 12. The wall portion 32 of each bracket has two spaced openings therethrough, through which screws 38 pass to threadedly engage the rafter 12 from the side face 36 to secure the brackets 18 and 20 on the rafter.

a 25 Each of the brackets 18 and 20 has a second portion in the form of a tubular sleeve 40 welded S. to the wall portion 32. As shown the axis of the sleeve 40 of each bracket is normal to the longitudinal axis of the first portion 30, but other angles may be selected as desired. In any event, the brackets 18 and 20 are secured to the rafter 12 by means of the fasteners 38 with the axes of the sleeves 40 aligned to receive an elongate connection member 42 of the connection means 16. The connection member 42 is of square cross-section and the sleeves P:\OPER\PHH\DGSCAP.105 23/4/98 -8are of a corresponding shape to receive the connection member in a sliding but nonrotatable manner. A clamping screw 44 is provided on each sleeve 40 to selectively prevent the sliding movement of the connection member in the sleeve.

The connection member 42 is welded at its lower end to a sleeve member 46 of the connection means 16 so that the axis of the sleeve member 46 extends at an acute angle to the connection member and, as shown, preferably so that the axis of the sleeve member 46 extends substantially horizontally when the connection member 42 extends transversely across the face 36 of the rafter 12. A buttress 48 welded between the connection member 42 and sleeve member 46 reinforces the weld.

The adaptor 14 comprises a sleeve member 50 for receiving an inclined lower end 52 of the stanchion post 10 with the stanchion post 10 extending substantially vertically. The bottom portion 52 of the stanchion post is of square cross-section and the sleeve member 50 of the adaptor is of corresponding cross-section to slidingly receive it without relative rotation. A clamping screw 54 is provided on the sleeve member 50 to resist the relative sliding ~*movement of the bottom portion 52. An extension member 56 of the adaptor 14 is welded •oto and extends from the lower end of the sleeve member 50 and is slidingly received in the sleeve member 46 of the connection means 16. Again, the extension member 56 and the sleeve member 46 are of square cross-section to prevent relative rotation, and a clamping S.screw 58 is provided on the sleeve member 46 to selectively resist the relative sliding movement.

A buttress 60 is provided between the sleeve member 50 and extension member 56 of the adaptor 14 to reinforce the weld between them.

a e* Once the sheet roofing material has been secured to the battens on the rafter 12, the stanchion assembly may be readily removed by releasing the connection member 42 from the sleeves and then undoing the fasteners 38 from the rafter.

P:\OPER\PHH\63563-98.RES- 1/6/00 -9- Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within its spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

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Claims (10)

1. A stanchion assembly for a timber frame structure, the assembly comprising a stanchion post for a safety barrier and a support assembly for the stanchion post, the support assembly comprising two brackets each having a first portion for engaging a respective one of the upper and lower opposed edges of a frame member and a second portion which releasably receives a connection member, at least the one bracket which engages the upper edge of the frame member being adapted to be secured to the frame member by at least one fastener, and wherein the connection member is adapted to connect the two brackets and the stanchion post is supported by the connection member.

2. A stanchion assembly according to claim 1 wherein the one bracket has an opening therethrough for receiving the at least one fastener.

3. A stanchion assembly according to claim 1 wherein the at least one fastener comprises a stud projecting from the one bracket.

4. A stanchion assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the one bracket has a wall portion which is adapted to abut a side face of the frame member extending oo': 20 between the upper and lower opposed edges and the at least one fastener projects from or is adapted to project from the wall portion.

A stanchion assembly according to claim 4 wherein the first portion of the one bracket :o:extends from the wall portion.

6. A stanchion assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the two brackets are identical.

7. A stanchion assembly for a timber frame structure and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. P:\OPER\PHH\63563-98.RES 1/6/00 -11-

8. A safety barrier assembly comprising at least two stanchion assemblies according to any one of the preceding claims secured to respective frame members of a timber frame structure and restraint means extending between the stanchion posts of the or adjacent stanchion assemblies.

9. A method of securing a stanchion post to a frame member of a timber frame structure which comprises providing two brackets each having a first portion for engaging a respective one of the upper and lower opposed edges of the frame member and a second portion for releasably receiving a connection member, engaging each first portion with a respective one of said upper and lower opposed edges, securing at least the one bracket which engages said upper edge to the frame member by means of at least one fastener, connecting the second portions of the two brackets by means of the connection member and engaging the stanchion post with the connection member from beneath the frame member.

10. A method of securing a stanchion post to a frame member of a timber frame structure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 9 .DATED this 1st day of June, 2000. DGS PROPERTY PTY. LTD. By its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE