Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MODULAR SAFETY RAILING SYSTEM:
This invention is in the field of safety equipment, and in particular safety
railing systems
for use at construction sites.
BACKGROUND:
Safety for workers is an ongoing concern among a number of industries and for
the
government agencies whose responsibility it is to enact and enforce
regulations designed
IO to improve workplace conditions. Each year a significant number of workers
are injured
or killed by a fall,
Given that there are often numerous openings in buildings under construction
that either
would not be present, or would be protected with a finished railing in a
completed
building, it is not surprising that falling injuries are so prevalent in the
construction
industry.
It is clearly an important consideration that workplaces are provided with
adequate safety
devices in order to reduce the risk of falls. The need for safety devices is
even more
critical when workers are placed at high levels, or when working on uneven or
sloping
surfaces such as a roof. Because of the inherent risk of falling during
construction, it is
especially important to foresee the various risk factors and provide safety
measure to
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reduce or prevent the chance of injury. The magnitude of this safety problem
has drawn
the attention of regulatory bodies such that in many jurisdictions" some form
of barrier is
now required around elevated work areas.
A variety of prior art apparatus and methods have therefore been developed in
order to
reduce the risk of falling for construction workers. One approach has been to
provide a
harness and safety line arrangement that can be attached to an anchor secured
to the roof
or some other type of support. One problem with harnesses is that they can
potentially
limit the mobility of an individual worker. In addition, where two or more
people are
working together, the potential to get safety lines tangled creates a
potential nuisance as
well as a hazard. Further, harnesses do not prevent falls but only serve to
limit the
distance a person falls. As a result it is frequently seen that a worker will
still suffer
injuries when falling while wearing a harness and tether system. Therefore,
while a
harness and safety line may limit injuries to some extent, they do not prevent
a fall from
occurring.
A solution directed to preventing falls has been to construct temporary
railings from
wooden members such as 2 x 4's. While a railing can be constructed in this
way, they are
not particularly sturdy and a person falling against such a railing can
frequently collapse
the rail and suffer a fall regardless. In addition, to construct a railing
from wooden
members requires that pieces be cut to shape and then assembled, adding to the
time and
expense of building the railing. Therefore the cost in terms of labor time
needed to build
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a wooden railing can be significant. Finally, at the end of a job, because the
railing
members have been specifically cut to fit a work area, they are usually
unsuitable for
reuse and are thus discarded, again adding to construction costs.
US Patent No. 4,979,725 to Hutchings II et al. teaches a triangular safety
railing support
comprising a base leg for attachment to a roof, a diagonal base and a
telescopic adjustable
two-part stanchion having upper and lower stanchion members. The lower
stanchion
member and the diagonal brace are pivotally connected to the base leg at
opposite ends
and a remaining end of the diagonal brace is pivotally connected to the upper
stanchion
member.
US Patent No. 3,901,481 to Probst illustrates a number of stanchions mounted
on a roof
and joined by barricade pipes and requires a permanent type of support mounted
to the
roof. US Patent No. 3,880,405 to Brueske shows diagonal bracing extending
directly
between the stanchion and the roof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a reusable modular railing
system that
overcomes problems in the prior art. The system is readily adaptable for use
in the
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construction industry, in particular for use at the edge of roof areas. The
railing system is
portable, easy to assemble and disassemble, and provides improved safety over
prior art
railings or prior art methods of limiting injuries due to falling.
5 The invention provides, in one embodiment, a modular safety railing system
comprising
right, left and center post brackets adapted for attachment to a building
structure. Right,
left and center posts are adapted at bottom ends thereof to engage the
corresponding
right, left and center post brackets such that the right, left and center
posts are oriented
substantially vertically. An upper rail mount is located at an upper portion
of each post
and a lower rail mount is located at a lower portion of each post. Right and
left upper
rails are both releasably attachable at inner portions thereof to the upper
rail mount of the
center post and are releasably attachable at outer portions thereof to upper
rail mounts of
the corresponding right and left posts, and right and left lower rails are
both releasably
attachable at inner portions thereof to the Iower rail mount of the center
post and are
releasably attachable at outer portions thereof to lower rail mounts of the
corresponding
right and left posts. A center upper brace is attached at an upper end thereof
to an upper
portion of the center post and adapted at a lower end thereof for releasable
attachment to
the building structure. The center upper brace is adjustable such that the
center upper
brace can be attached to the building structure at an angle to the center post
that is
sufficient to support the center post in the substantially vertical
orientation.
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The invention provides, in a second embodiment, a modular safety rafting
system
comprising right, left and center post brackets adapted for attachment to a
building
structure. Right, left and center posts are adapted at bottom ends thereof to
engage the
corresponding right, left and center post brackets such that the right, left
and center posts
are oriented substantially vertically. Right, left and center posts are
engaged in the
corresponding right, left and center post brackets such that the right, left
and center posts
are oriented substantially vertically. Right and left upper horizontal rails
are releasably
attached at inner portions thereof to an upper rail mount located at an upper
portion of the
center post, and releasably attached at outer portions thereof to an upper
rail mount
located at an upper portion of each of the corresponding right and left posts.
Right and
left lower horizontal rails are releasably attached at inner portions thereof
to a lower rail
mount located at a lower portion of the center post, and releasably attached
at outer
portions thereof to a lower rail mount located at a lower portion of each of
the
corresponding right and left posts. A center upper brace is attached at an
upper end
thereof to an upper portion of the center post and is adapted at a lower end
thereof for
releasable attachment to the building structure, and the center upper brace is
adjustable
such that the center upper brace can be attached to a variety of building
structures at an
angle to the center post that is sufficient to support the center post in the
substantially
vertical orientation.
Each of the structural components of the railing system are connected using
temporary
fastening methods such as screws or bolts, such that the rail can be easily
erected at a
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desired site, and then broken down into component pieces when no longer
needed. All of
the components of the railing system are reusable avoiding the waste of
material
associated with the use of prior art handmade wooden railings.
The roof mounted post bracket is provided in a number of configurations,
adapted to fit
various style roofing systems. In each case the post bracket mounts at the
edge of the
roof and engages the top surface of the roof with a lower rail brace, along
with a mount
either underneath the overhang of the roof or extending downwards along the
wall under
a roof in cases where the roof edge is flush with the building wall. The lower
brace
provides increased stability for the post bracket at its base.
Each post has a number railing mounts to which horizontal rails can be
releasably
attached and secured with an eye bolt or the like. Conveniently the rail
mounts accept
two over-lapping rails, such that individual rails do not have to precisely
match the
distance between vertical posts, but can overlap with an adjacent rail. In
addition by
lashing overlapping rails together, the railing can be further stabilized. The
number of
brackets on each vertical post will determine the number of horizontal rails
that can be
placed in the railing. It is anticipated that three levels of rails could
provide sufficient
security for workers who are working in either a prone, crouched or standing
position.
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The invention provides an advantage in that all of the components are
reusable. Thus,
after the initial cost of buying the components, the user would realize a cost
advantage by
being able to use the railing modules over and over.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred
embodiments
are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best
understood in
conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the
several
diagrams are labeled with Iike numbers, and where:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a modular railing system of the present
invention;
Fig. 2 is a front view of a section of the installed railing system showing
the over-
lapping relationship between adjacent railings;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a roof mounted post bracket adapted for use on
a
flat roof or edge of flooring or stairway area;
Fig. 4 is a side view of a roof mounted post bracket adapted for use on a
parapet
style roof edge; and
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Fig. 5 is a side view of a roof mounted post bracket adapted for use on a
sloped
roof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS:
The invention provides a modular safety railing system comprising roof mounted
post
brackets, vertically oriented posts that insert into the post brackets and a
series of lower
and upper braces to further secure the bottom and top of the railing module to
the roof.
Each of the structural components of the railing system are affixed to the
roof or each
other using temporary fasteners such as screws or bolts. As such, the system
can be
easily erected at a desired site, and then broken down into component pieces
to move to a
new location. All of the components of the railing system of the invention are
reusable,
providing the advantage of a cost-effective apparatus for enhancing worker
safety.
A safety railing is formed by placing railing modules along the edge of a roof
or other
area where a temporary safety railing is desired, and then placing
horizontally oriented
rails through the railing brackets of adjacent posts. 1'he length of the
railing is dictated
by the number of modules used. Using a modular railing provides the advantage
of
adaptability such that a railing can be easily and quickly assembled to
protect virtually
any size and shape area, yet using a common set of simple elements.
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Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a modular safety railing system 1 comprising post
brackets 2
attached to the edge 20 of a building structure, illustrated as a sloped
rooftop I8, by
fasteners such as screws 19. Posts 4 are adapted at bottom ends thereof to
engage the
corresponding post brackets 2 such that the posts 2 are oriented substantially
vertically as
5 illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment the post brackets comprise a
socket configured
such that the lower end of a post 4 slides into the socket.
Upper and lower rail mounts, illustrated as rail brackets 14, are located on
each post 2.
Upper and lower rails 6 are releasably attachable at inner portions thereof to
the upper
10 and lower rail mounts of the center post 4C and are releasably attachable
at outer portions
thereof to corresponding upper and lower rail mounts of the corresponding
right and left
posts 4R, 4L. The illustrated rail brackets 14 define a rail aperture 13
configured to
accommodate two horizontal rails 6 such that the rails 6 can slide
longitudinally in the
rail aperture 13. In the illustrated embodiment the rail aperture 13 is
defined by the rail
bracket 14, however it is also contemplated that the rail aperture could be
defined by the
post itself.
A rail lock, illustrated as a pinch screw 16 is operative to exert a force
between the rail
bracket 14 and horizontal rail 6 to lock the horizontal rails 6 in the rail
aperture 13. In
the illustrated embodiment the rail aperture 13 is configured to accommodate
two
horizontal rails 6 oriented such that one horizontal rail 6 is on top of the
other horizontal
rail 6, however it could also be configured to accommodate two horizontal
rails 6
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oriented such that one horizontal rail 6 is beside the other horizontal rail
6. A tie 15,
such as a-clamp or a zip-tie or the like, can be provided to releasably tie
the two
horizontal rails 6 together beside the posts 4.
An upper brace 10 is attached at an upper end thereof to an upper portion of
each post 4
and is adapted at a lower end thereof for releasable attachment to the rooftop
18. The
upper brace 10 is adjustable such that the upper brace 10 can be attached to
the rooftop
18 at an angle to the post 4 that is sufficient to support the post 4 in the
illustrated
substantially vertical orientation.
The illustrated upper brace 10 comprises telescoping brace members 10A, lOB
and a lock
operative to lock the telescoping brace members 10A, lOB together such that a
length of
the upper brace 10 is adjustable. Pin 11 through one of a plurality of holes 9
serves as the
lock in the illustrated embodiment. Although it is contemplated that the upper
telescoping
member 10A could be fixed to the upper portion of the post 4, added
versatility as to
location of the brace 10, and compactness for transport, can be provided by
pivotally
attaching the upper telescoping member to the upper portion of the post 4
about pivot pin
22.
Fastener apertures 21 are provided at the lower end of the upper brace 10 such
that a
fastener such as a screw, nail, or the like can be passed through the aperture
into the
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rooftop 18. The illustrated embodiment provides a fastening plate 12 pivotally
attached
to the lower end of the upper brace 12, and the fastening plate 12 defines the
fastener
apertures 21. Pivotal attachment allows the plate 12 to be placed flat against
the sloping
rooftop 18.
To construct a railing using the railing system of the present invention, post
brackets 2
are installed along the edge of the rooftop 18, or the edge of any other
elevated area,
where a railing is desired. The system can be used to barricade small openings
such as an
open elevator shaft, or an entire roof or floor perimeter can be effectively
railed using the
same components.
A variety of post bracket 2 shapes may be provided in order to accommodate
mounting at
different types of roofs or other locations. Thus the invention provides a
post bracket 2
adapted for use on flat, sloped or parapet type roofs, as well as at the edge
of floor areas,
or in open doorways, window openings or shafts. Attachment of the post bracket
2 is be
accomplished using screws or nails, or other suitable type fasteners, the
choice of fastener
depending on the nature of the material to which the railing module is being
attached.
The post brackeE 2 or post 4 can be further secured to the rooftop 18 by way
of a lower
brace 8. The lower brace 8 may be an integral part of the post bracket 2, or
may be a
separate component that is attached to the post 4 or bracket 2 during
installation. Where
the lower brace 8 is a separate component it would be comprise a tube portion
that would
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slide over the outside of the post 4 or post bracket 2 and be held in place by
a locking
screw or the like. The brace portion would extend from the post bracket 2 over
the
surface of the rooftop 18 where it could be secured in place by a suitable
fastener.
The lower bracx 8 may form a fixed angle relative to the post bracket for use
on a roof
area with a known slope, or may comprise an articulating portion to allow the
lower brace
8 to match the slope of the rooftop 18, regardless of what that slope might
be. Using an
articulating lower brace 8 thus provides an advantage in a standard type of
lower brace
could effectively secure the post bracket 2, regardless of the pitch of the
roof. The
invention also provides that various shapes of post bracket 2 may used,
depending on the
configuration of the edge of the roof or area where the railing is to be
installed. Thus the
invention is intended to encompass the use of a post bracket 2 that would
function
equally well on flat, sloped or parapet roofs, along unfinished stairways, or
at the edge of
a flooring area that looks out onto a lower level.
Posts 4 are inserted into post brackets 2_ The posts 4 can be further secured
into the post
bracket 2 with a fastener such as a pinch screw or a pin. In addition the
posts 4 are also
secured to the roof 18 by the upper brace 10, which further serves to maintain
the vertical
post 4 positioned in the post bracket 2.
The upper brace 10 is connected to the vertical post 4 and to the rooftop 18
via screws
through fastening apertures 21 in fastening plate 12. The upper brace 10,
rooftop 18 and
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post bracket 2 and vertical post 4 thus define a triangular shape that
provides significant
structural strength.
Conveniently, the upper brace 10 is pivotally attached to the post 4 and
comprises
telescoping members 10A, 10B, such that it can be extended to the length
required, and
moved up and down to connect the vertical post 4 to the fastening plate 12
with the brace
at an angle sufficient to maintain the post 4 vertical when contacted by a
worker.
Allowing for variability in the placement of the fastening plate 12 permits
the user to
avoid objects or structures on the roof or floor area that would interfere
with placement of
10 the fastening plate. For example, being able to vary the position of the
fastening plate 12,
would allow the user to avoid permanent fixtures commonly found on a rooftop
18 such
as plumbing vents or electrical and other conduits.
The telescoping upper brace 10 also makes installation of the railing simpler
and faster.
Once in place, the length of the telescoping upper brace 10 can be fixed by
placing a pin,
bolt, or the like 11 through corresponding holes 9 in the telescoping sections
of the upper
brace 10.
Once posts 4 are installed in the desired locations, a railing is formed by
placing a
horizontal rail 6 in the rail brackets 14 of adjacent vertical posts 4.
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The rail aperture 13 of the railing bracket 14 is made deep enough to
accommodate two
over-lapping rails to allow for differing distances between vertical posts 4.
The ends of
overlapping rails can be lashed together with a rail tie or clamp 15 to
further stabilize the
railing. The illustrated railing bracket 14 allows for the vertical posts 4 to
be placed
5 virtually any distance apart, up to the length of a rail 6. This provides
yet another
advantage in that distances that are not even multiples of the length of a
rail 6 can be
completely spanned by a safety railing. Thus a single length of rail 6 could
be used in
virtually all locations. The rails 6 are secured by pinch screws 16.
10 The illustrated posts 4 provide only upper and lower rail brackets 14,
however any
number of brackets 14 could be provided if further intermediate or lower rails
6 are
required.
As illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the post bracket 2 of the invention may be
provided in
15 number of alternative embodiments, such that the invention can be adapted
to a variety of
roof styles or areas where a railing might be desired. Fig. 3 shows a post
bracket 2
designed for use on a flat roof or similar flat surface such as where an area
of flooring or
an unfinished stairway is to be railed off. The post bracket 2 comprises a
flat base plate
portion 30 that can be anchored to the roof or floor using fasteners such as
bolts, screws
or nails placed through mounting holes 32. The vertical post 4 is placed in
the opening
34 of the post bracket 2. If desired, the vertical post 4 can be further
secured with a bolt
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or pinch screw inserted in an opening 36 in the side of the post bracket 2 and
the railing
assembled as described above.
Fig. 4 illustrates a post bracket 2 designed for use with a parapet style of
roof. A parapet
is a raised wall-like structure defining the perimeter of a roof and is common
in.iadusiri ;l
roofing and adobe style architecture. Here the post bracket Z is placed over a
parapet 40.
Spaced apart outer side portion 42 and inner side portion 44 provided such
that the post
bracket 2 effectively straddles the parapet 40. Mounting holes 32 are provided
in the
outer side portion 42 and inner side portion 44. The post bracket 2 is secured
in place by
use of a pinch screw 46 extending through the mounting hole 32 tightened
against the
surface the parapet 40. Other means of attachment, such as nails and the like,
can also
inserted into the side of the parapet 40 through the mounting hole 32 to
secure the post
bracket 2 to the parapet 40. Once the post bracket 2 is in place, a vertical
post is then
placed into the opening 34 at the top of the post bracket and the railing
assembled as
described above.
Fig. 5 illustrates a post bracket 2 design adapted for use on a sloped roof,
tike those
illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Typically in a sloped roof the edge of the
rooftop 18 further
comprises a fascia 50 which eventually provides a point of attachment between
the roof
rafters, the soffit and the wall studs and header onto which the roof is
typically placed. In
the case of a post bracket 2 used on a sloped roof, the post bracket 2 further
comprises a
clamping portion 52 and a main body portion 54 which provide a clamp structure
of
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substantially the width of the fascia 50. To install the post bracket as
illustrated in Fig 5,
the post bracket 2 is put in place such that the fascia is located in the
space formed
between the clamping portion 52 and main body portion 54. A screw 46 is
tightened to
produce sufficient force that the post bracket 2 is held firmly in place.
Alternatively,
instead of a screw other forms of attachment such as nails and the like may be
used.
Once installed, a vertical post 4 is placed in the opening 34 of the post
bracket 2 and the
railing assembled as described above.
In constructing a safety railing, adjacent posts 4 are placed in a spaced
apart fashion, the
spacing determined by the length of the rails to be used, as well as by
considerations
related to the desired load bearing capacity of the finished railing. Where a
stronger
railing is required, the posts 4 could be more closely spaced. it will obvious
to those
skilled in the art whether closer spacing, heavier components, or a
combination of the two
methods, is most suitable to provide a railing of the desired load bearing
capacity.
The use of a modular railing system has the added advantage in providing a
generic
railing system that is adaptable to all types of roof areas or other locations
where a railing
is desired. The length of the railing can be easily varied by the number of
modules that
are used. Thus, a simple set of railing components could be purchased by a
builder and
used and reused at a number of different locations. The ability to reuse
components is a
significant advantage over at least one type of railing system, that being the
constntction
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of railings using wood members such as 2 x 4's, which are typically discarded
at the end
of a job.
The present invention may also be fashioned out of materials such as aluminum,
thus
providing a lightweight, yet strong safety railing system providing a further
advantage
over custom built wooden railings. Thus, by providing a modular system for
constructing
a safety railing the present invention is well adapted for use in fashioning
railings around
areas of virtually any size or shape, and overcomes limitation in prior
methods and
apparatus intended to prevent or limit injuries due to falls.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the
invention.
Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those
skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction
and operation
shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or
modifications in
structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within
the scope of
the claimed invention.
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