Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02209805 2008-10-15
CONSTRUCTION SAFETY SYSTEM
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a railing and support device for use in the
construction of
residential and commercial buildings, and more particularly relates to a
railing and support
device to substantially protect a person from a fall during the construction
or repair of a
residential or commercial building.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Working safely in the construction industry has become increasingly important.
Increased
fatality rates and injuries from workers falling from a roof or the side of a
building during
construction or repair has resulted in both government and private sector
communities working
together to reduce the risk of injury or fatality during such construction.
For example, fall protection may be used to reduce the risk of injury or
fatality during
construction. Current fall protection systems in use in construction include,
for example, fall
arrest devices, safety harnesses, various harnesses, shocked absorbers,
scaffolding systems
erected from the ground, and railing systems, have shortcomings, for example,
scaffolding
systems erected from the ground restrict access to work below the scaffolding,
and are
labor-intensive to install, particularly on uneven terrain.
It is desirable to provide an easy and inexpensive to install device which may
be used during
construction to reduce or substantially eliminate the risk of injury or
fatality associated with
falling from a roof or wall during the construction of a residential or
commercial building.
It is desirable to provide devices the components of which may be used
interchangeably to reduce
the cost of ownership, maintenance and handling.
Page 1 of 13
CA 02209805 2008-10-15
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an easy and
inexpensive to install
device which may be used during construction to reduce or substantially
eliminate the risk of
injury or fatality associated with falling from a roof or wall during the
construction of a
residential or commercial building.
Another object of the present invention is to provide devices the components
of which may be
used interchangeably to reduce the cost of ownership, maintenance and
handling.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a railing
and support device
for temporarily mounting on a wall of a building to protect a person from a
fall, comprising, at
least two aluminum stanchion post assemblies; at least two upper support
assemblies; means for
temporarily and securely engaging each upper support assembly with an aluminum
stanchion
post assembly; means for temporarily and securely engaging the upper support
assemblies with a
top plate of the wall of the building; at least two lower support arms; means
for temporarily and
securely engaging the lower support arms with the aluminum stanchion post
assemblies means
for temporarily and securely engaging the lower support arms with the wall of
the building;
means for supporting the person in temporary and secure engagement with the at
least two upper
support assemblies; at least one safety rail; means for securely and
temporarily attaching at least
one safety rail to the at least two aluminum stanchion post assemblies.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
railing and support
device for temporarily mounting on a wall of a building to protect a person
from a fall,
comprising at least two aluminum stanchion post assemblies; at least two upper
support
assemblies; means for temporarily and securely engaging each upper support
assembly with an
aluminum stanchion post assembly; means for temporarily and securely engaging
the upper
support assemblies with a stud of the wall of the building; at least two lower
support arms; means
for temporarily and securely engaging the lower support arms with the aluminum
stanchion post
assemblies means for temporarily and securely engaging the lower support arms
with the wall of
the building; means for supporting the person in temporary and secure
engagement with the at
Page 2 of 13
CA 02209805 2008-10-15
least two upper support assemblies; at least one safety rail; means for
securely and temporarily
attaching at least one safety rail to the at least two aluminum stanchion post
assemblies.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
railing and support
device for temporarily mounting on a wall and the roof of a building to
protect a person from a
fall, comprising, at least two aluminum stanchion post assemblies, at least
two pivotable upper
arm assemblies, means for temporarily and securely engaging each pivotable
upper arm assembly
with an aluminum stanchion post assembly, means for temporarily and securely
engaging each
pivotable upper arm assembly with the roof of the building, at least two
pivotable lower arm
assemblies, means for temporarily and securely engaging each pivotable lower
arm assembly
with an aluminum stanchion post assembly, means for temporarily and securely
engaging each
pivotable lower arm assembly with the roof of the building, at least two lower
support arms,
means for temporarily and securely engaging the lower support arms with the
aluminum
stanchion post assemblies, means for temporarily and securely engaging the
lower support arms
with the wall of the building; at least one safety rail; means for securely
and temporarily
attaching at least one safety rail to the at least two aluminum stanchion post
assemblies.
An advantage of the present invention is that it provides an easy and
inexpensive to install device
which may be used during construction to reduce or substantially eliminate the
risk of injury or
fatality associated with falling from a roof or wall during the construction
of a residential or
commercial building.
A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides devices the
components of which
may be used interchangeably to reduce the cost of ownership, maintenance and
handling.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with
reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 A is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention installed
on a wall;
Page 3 of 13
CA 02209805 2008-10-15
Figure 1B is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention
illustrated in
Figure 1 A installed on a wall;
Figure 2 is a side view of the Stanchion Post Assembly of one embodiment of
the present
invention;
Figure 3A is a side view of a portion of an Upper Support Assembly of one
embodiment
of the present invention;
Figure 3B is a perspective view of a portion of an Upper Support Assembly of
one
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4A is a side view of an adjustable element portion of an Upper Support
Assembly
of one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4B is a perspective view of an adjustable element portion of an Upper
Support
Assembly of one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5A is a side view of a Lower Support Arm of one embodiment of the
present
invention;
Figure 5B is a perspective view of a Lower Support Arm of one embodiment of
the
present invention;
Figure 6A is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention
installed
on a wall;
Figure 6B is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the present
invention
illustrated in Figure 6A installed on a wall;
Figure 7A is a side view of a portion of an Upper Support Assembly of an
alternative
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7B is a perspective view of a U-bolt plate used to mount the
alternative
embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figure 6A;
Figure 7C is a top view of a U-bolt inserted into a U-bolt plate used to mount
the
alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figure 6A;
Figure 7D is a perspective view of a portion of an Upper Support Assembly
illustrated in
Figure 7A;
Figure 7E is a perspective view of a U-bolt inserted into a U-bolt plate as
illustrated in
Figure 7C;
Figure 8A is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention
installed
Page 4 of 13
CA 02209805 2008-10-15
on a wall;
Figure 8B is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention
illustrated in
Figure 8A;
Figure 9A is a perspective view of a Pivotable Upper Arm Assembly in an
embodiment
of the present invention;
Figure 9B is a perspective view of a Pivotable Lower Arm Assembly in an
embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in Figures
1 A and 1 B (the Top
Plate Wall Bracket Assembly), 6A and 6B (Gable End Bracket Assembly), and 8A
and 8B
(Fascia Railing Assembly), a variety of sub-assemblies may be assembled in
accordance with the
present invention to form devices as hereinafter described for mounting on the
wall of a
residential or commercial building to substantially protect a person from a
fall during the
construction or repair of a residential or commercial building.
The Top Plate Wall Bracket Assembly
With reference to Figures 1 A and 1B, which illustrate an embodiment of the
present invention in
the form of a Top Plate Wall Bracket Assembly mounted over the top plate 3 of
the wood framed
wall 5 of a building, the Top Plate Wall Bracket Assemblies comprise and are
assembled from a
Stanchion Post Assembly, an Upper Support Assembly, and a Lower Support Arm as
hereinafter
described.
The Stanchion Post Assembly 10 as illustrated in Figure 2 is preferably made
of aluminum tube
preferably having a square cross-section to which, as illustrated in Figures 1
A and 1 B, several
and preferably three rail supports 12 have been welded or otherwise securely
fastened, the rail
supports preferably made of aluminum tube preferably having a square cross-
section and each
preferably sized to securely receive a pair of 2 X 4 safety rails 13
preferably made of 2 X 4
wooden boards or such other boards or rails as would be understood by a person
skilled in the art.
Page 5 of 13
CA 02209805 2008-10-15
A preferably aluminum Upper Support Assembly as illustrated in Figures 3A, 3B,
4A and 4B (in
disassembled form) is securely fastened to the Stanchion Post Assembly as
illustrated in Figure
1 A, the Upper Support Assembly preferably made of lengths of aluminum angle
elements,
namely an aluminum horizontal support element 16, an aluminum vertical element
20, an
aluminum diagonal element 18, all of which are welded or otherwise fastened
together in a
manner known to a person skilled in the art, the horizontal support element 16
preferably having
welded or otherwise fastened to one thereof a short length of square tube 24
of interior dimension
to allow it to securely and slidingly engage with exterior of the square tube
portion of the
Stanchion Post Assembly, both of which preferably have holes 34 therethrough
to allow a bolt or
other pin (not shown) to be temporarily positioned therein to temporarily
secure the horizontal
support element 16 to the square tube portion of the Stanchion Post Assembly.
At the opposite
end of the horizontal support element 16, a vertical support element 20 is
welded or otherwise
fastened to the horizontal support element 16, the vertical support element 20
having a
horizontal extension element 21 welded or otherwise fastened thereto to which
horizontal
extension element 21 an adjustable element 22 may be attached, the horizontal
extension element
21 and adjustable element 22 illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B, having multiple
holes 25 therein
so that the horizontal extension element 21 and adjustable element 22 may be
joined to one
another by multiple pins or bolts (not shown), the multiple holes 25 allowing
the combined
horizontal extension element 21 and adjustable element 22 to be adjusted and
secured to fit
snugly over the top plate in a manner known to a person skilled in the art as
illustrated in Figures
lA and 1B.
A preferably aluminum Lower Support Arm as illustrated in Figures 1 A, 1 B, 5A
and 5B is
bolted, pinned or otherwise securely fastened at one end to the Stanchion Post
Assembly as
illustrated in Figure lA and 1B, the Lower Support Arm having multiple holes
27 one of which
is selected to bolt or pin the Lower Support Arm to the Stanchion Post
Assembly by way of a
corresponding hole therein, the multiple holes 27 allowing the Lower Support
Arm to be
adjustable in a manner known to a person skilled in the art. At the opposite
end of the Lower
Support Arm, a vertical Abutting Member 35 is welded or otherwise fastened to
and forming part
of the Lower Support Arm, the Abutting Member 35 being adapted to being
positioned to abut
Page 6 of 13
CA 02209805 2008-10-15
the wall of the building and having holes 37 therein so that the Lower Support
Arm can be bolted
or pinned to the vertical element 20 of the Upper Support Assembly, the
vertical element 20
having corresponding holes 37A therein to receive the above-referenced bolts
or pins 34A as
illustrated in Figures 1 A and 1 B. As illustrated in Figure 1 B, in the
preferred embodiment of the
present invention, holes 39 are provided in the Abutting Member 35 allowing
the Abutting
Member 35 to be nailed or otherwise securely engaged with the wall.
When two or more Top Plate Wall Bracket Assemblies are mounted on a wall as
illustrated in
Figure 1 B, support planks 31 (for example two or more 2 X 12 inch planks) may
be positioned
on and securely fastened to the horizontal support elements 16 of the Upper
Support Assemblies
of the mounted Top Plate Wall Bracket Assemblies to support the weight of one
or more
workers and their equipment (the horizontal support elements having holes 16A
therein to
receive nails or screws which pass through the holes 16A and into the support
planks to secure
them to the horizontal support elements), and safety rails 13 positioned
within the rail supports
12 and extending between the mounted Top Plate Wall Bracket Assemblies, the
safety rails
reducing the likelihood that a worker will fall from the device.
The Gable End Bracket Assembly
With reference to Figures 6A and 6B, which illustrate an embodiment of the
present invention in
the form of a Gable End Bracket Assembly mounted on a wood framed wa115 of a
building, the
Gable End Bracket Assemblies comprise a Stanchion Post Assembly, Upper Support
Assembly,
Lower Support Arm and U-bolt as hereinafter described.
In this embodiment of the present invention, the Stanchion Post Assembly as
illustrated in
Figures 6A and 6B is preferably identical to the Stanchion Post Assembly as
utilized in the Top
Plate Wall Bracket Assembly described herein and illustrated in Figure 2, and
similarly, the
Lower Support Arm as illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B is preferably identical
to the Lower
Support Arm utilized in the Top Plate Wall Bracket Assembly described herein
and illustrated in
Figures 5A and 5B.
Page 7 of 13
CA 02209805 2008-10-15
In this embodiment of the present invention, a preferably aluminum Upper
Support Assembly as
illustrated in Figures 7A and 7D is securely fastened to the Stanchion Post
Assembly as
illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B, the Upper Support Assembly preferably made
of lengths of
aluminum angle elements, namely an aluminum horizontal support element 16
(having holes
16A therein to secure the support planks as previously described), and an
aluminum vertical
element 20, an aluminum diagonal element 18, all welded or otherwise fastened
together in a
manner known to a person skilled in the art, the horizontal support element 16
preferably having
welded or otherwise fastened to one thereof a short length of square tube 24
of interior dimension
to allow it to securely and slidingly engage with exterior of the square tube
portion of the
Stanchion Post Assembly, both of which preferably have holes 34 therethrough
to allow a bolt or
other pin (not shown) to be temporarily positioned therein to temporarily
secure the horizontal
support element 16 to the square tube portion of the Stanchion Post Assembly.
At the opposite
end of the horizontal support element 16, a vertical support element 32 is
welded or otherwise
fastened to the horizontal support element 16.
As described previously, the Stanchion Post Assembly, the Upper Support
Assembly and the
Lower Support Arm are assembled to form the Gable End Bracket Assembly as
illustrated in
Figures 6A and 6B. Thereafter, a U-bolt as illustrated in Figures 7C and 7E is
positioned to
engage the Upper Support Assembly as illustrated in Figures 7A and 7D, and
extend past a
vertical wall stud 5 as illustrated in Figure 6A, a plate 30 as illustrated in
Figure 7B having holes
30A therein through which the ends of the U-bolt pass, whereupon the U-bolt
and plate is
secured to the vertical wall stud by pins 51 inserted into holes 49 in the
ends of the U-bolt as
illustrated in Figure 7E (or where the ends of the U-bolt are threaded, by
nuts (not shown), in the
conventional manner), the Gable End Bracket Assembly being thereby securely
and temporarily
positioned on the wall.
When two or more Gable End Bracket Assemblies are mounted on a wall as
illustrated in Figure
6B, support planks 31 (for example two or more 2 X 12 inch planks) may be
positioned on and
securely fastened (for example, nailed or screwed) to the horizontal support
elements 16 of the
Upper Support Assemblies of the mounted Gable End Bracket Assemblies to
support the weight
of one or more workers and their equipment, and safety rails 13 positioned
within the rail
Page 8 of 13
CA 02209805 2008-10-15
supports 12 and extending between the mounted Gable End Bracket Assemblies,
the safety rails
substantially reducing the likelihood that a worker will fall from the device.
The Fascia RailingLAssembly
With reference to Figures 8A and 8B, which illustrate an embodiment of the
present invention in
the form of a Fascia Railing Assembly mounted on a wood framed wall 5 of a
building, the
Fascia Railing Assemblies comprise a Stanchion Post Assembly, a Lower Support
Arm, a
Pivotable Upper Arm Assembly, a Pivotable Lower Arm Assembly and a brace
element as
hereinafter described.
In this embodiment of the present invention, the Stanchion Post Assembly as
illustrated in
Figures 8A and 8B is preferably identical to the Stanchion Post Assembly as
utilized in the Top
Plate Wall Bracket Assembly described herein and as illustrated in Figure 2,
and similarly, the
Lower Support Arm as illustrated in Figures 8A and 8B is preferably identical
to the Lower
Support Arm utilized in the Top Plate Wall Bracket Assembly described herein
and illustrated in
Figures 5A and 5B.
As illustrated in Figures 8A and 8B, an Pivotable Upper Arm Assembly is
provided as illustrated
in Figure 9A, being pivotally bolted 91, pinned or otherwise securely fastened
to the Stanchion
Post Assembly by way of corresponding holes 91A in one end of the Pivotable
Upper Arm
Assembly and in the Stanchion Post Assembly (or in one embodiment of the
present invention as
illustrated in Figure 8B, one of the multiple holes 91B therein, which holes
provide a range of
positions on the Stanchion Post Assembly to which to attach the Pivotable
Upper Arm Assembly
to accommodate roofs of various different pitches), the Pivotable Upper Arm
Assembly being
pivotable about the above-referenced bolt 91 or pin to accommodate roofs of
various different
pitches, and in one embodiment as illustrated in Figures 8A and 8B, the
Pivotable Upper Arm
Assembly may be telescopic, having two parts 37 and 38 which "telescope" in
relation to one
another and which parts may be temporarily secured by bolting or pinning the
two parts 37 and
38 by way of corresponding holes 37 in the two parts 37 and 38. On the distal
end of the
Pivotable Upper Arm Assembly, a hinged attachment plate 40 is providing as
illustrated in
Page 9 of 13
CA 02209805 2008-10-15
Figure 9A, the attachment plate 40 being hinged 46 to allow the angle of the
attachment plate 40
to be varied as needed to accommodate roofs of various different pitches, the
attachment plate 40
having holes 40A therethrough by way of which one may nail, screw or otherwise
secure the
attachment plate 40 to a roof 89 in a conventional manner.
As illustrated in Figures 8A, 8B and 9, a Pivotable Lower Arm Assembly is also
provided which
may be securely engaged with the Stanchion Post Assembly (in a manner similar
to that of the
manner of attachment of the Upper Support Assembly to the Stanchion Post
Assembly in the
context of the Top Plate Wall Bracket Assembly described above) as illustrated
in Figures 8A
and 8B which Lower Arm Assembly also having a hinged attachment plate 40
having holes 40A
therethrough by way of which one may nail, screw or otherwise secure the
attachment plate 40 to
a roof in a conventional manner.
As illustrated in Figures 8A and 8B, in this embodiment of the invention, a
brace element 44 may
be bolted or otherwise securely fastened between the Stanchion Post Assembly
and the Lower
Support Arm to provide additional structural support for the device.
When two or more Fascia Railing Assemblies are mounted on a wall, safety rails
13 positioned
within the rail supports 12 and extending between the mounted Fascia Railing
Assemblies, the
safety rails substantially reducing the likelihood that a worker will fall
from the device.
The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred
embodiments. However,
it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations
and modifications can
be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein.
Page 10 of 13
