APPARATUS FOR FORMING TEMPORARY GUARDRAILS ON STAIRS

APPAREIL POUR FORMER DES GARDE-CORPS TEMPORAIRES SUR DES ESCALIERS

English Abstract

An apparatus for use in erecting a temporary guardrail on a stair, having a stair stringer. The apparatus has an elongated stanchion. A first jaw assembly is operatively attached to the stanchion for engaging one side of the stringer, proximal the bottom edge thereof, and includes a first compression assembly to operatively urge the stanchion against the stringer. A second axially spaced, jaw assembly is operatively attached to the stanchion for engaging the one side of the stringer proximal a top edge thereof, and includes a second compression assembly to urge the stanchion against the stringer, and a bracket attached to the stanchion, and being adapted to receive a temporary guardrail member.

French Abstract

L'invention porte sur un appareil destiné à dresser un garde-corps temporaire sur un escalier ayant un limon d'escalier. L'appareil comprend un poteau allongé. Un premier ensemble mâchoire est attaché de manière fonctionnelle au poteau pour une mise en prise avec un côté du limon, à proximité du bord inférieur de celui-ci, et comprend un premier élément de compression pour pousser de manière fonctionnelle le poteau contre le limon. Un second ensemble mâchoire, axialement espacé, est attaché de manière fonctionnelle au poteau pour une mise en prise avec le côté du limon, à proximité d'un bord supérieur de celui-ci, et comprend un second élément de compression pour pousser le poteau contre le limon, et un support fixé au poteau et adapté à recevoir un élément garde-corps temporaire.

Claims

What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for use in erecting a temporary guardrail on a stair having
a
stair stringer having a first and a second side comprising:
an elongated stanchion having a front side and a back side, said
stanchion having a plurality of axially spaced bores in said front side and a
plurality of axially spaced bores in said back side, said bores in said front
and
back sides forming registered pairs of bores;
a first jaw assembly operatively attached to said stanchion, said first jaw
assembly including a first head portion having a first flange portion adapted
to
engage the first side of said stair stringer proximal a bottom edge thereof;
and a
first leg portion attached to said first flange portion and connected to a
first
compression assembly operative to apply a compressive force to the back side
of
said stanchion to urge said stanchion against the second side of said
stringer;
a second, axially spaced jaw assembly, operatively attached to said
stanchion, said second jaw including a. second head portion having a second
flange portion, adapted to engage said first side of said stringer distal said
bottom
edge; and a second leg portion attached to said second flange portion and
connected to a second compression assembly operative to apply a compressive
force to the back side of said stanchion to urge said stanchion against the
second side of said stringer; and at least one bracket operatively attached to
said
stringer and axially spaced from said second jaw, said bracket being adapted
to
receive a temporary rail member.
2. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said first head portion is L-shaped,
and
said first compression assembly includes a first shank portion extending from
said first leg portion and a first tightener operatively connected to said
first shank
portion to urge said first shank portion in a direction away from said first
flange
portion to thereby compressively urge spid first flange portion into
engagement
with the first side of said stringer.
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3. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said second head portion is L-shaped,
and said second compression assembly includes a second shank portion
extending from said second leg portion and a second tightener operatively
connected to said second shank portion to urge said second shank portion in a
direction away from said second flange portion to thereby compressively urge
said second flange portion into engagement with the first side of said
stringer.
4. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said second jaw assembly is
longitudinally adjustable along said stanchion.
5. The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein said first shank portion spans said
front
and back sides of said stanchion.
6. The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said second shank portion spans said
front and back sides of said stanchion.
7. The apparatus of Claim 5, wherein there are registering bores in said
front
and back sides of said stanchion and said first shank portion extends through
said registering bores.
8. The apparatus of Claim 6, wherein there are registering bores in said
front
and back sides of said stanchion and said second shank portion extends through

said registering bores.
9. The apparatus of Claim 8, wherein there are plurality of said
registering
bores.
10. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein there are at least two of said
brackets
axially spaced from said second jaw assembly.
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11. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein there is a fastener securing said at
least one rail member to said stanchion.
12. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said at least one rail member
comprises a 2 X 4.
13. The apparatus of Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein said tightener comprises a

nut.
14. The apparatus of Claim 9, wherein there is a spacer overlying said
plurality of said bores on said second side of said stanchion, said spacer
being
disposed between said second tightener and said second side of said stanchion.
15. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said first jaw assembly, said second
jaw assembly, and said at least one bracket, are rotatable relative to said
stanchion.
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Description

CA 02798629 2012-11-06
WO 2011/140421 PCT/US2011/035479
APPARATUS FOR FORMING TEMPORARY
GUARDRAILS ON STAIRS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to temporary guardrails and, more
particularly, to an apparatus for erecting a temporary guardrail on a stair.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Typically, stairs, particularly of the type in apartment buildings and the
like,
comprise three major components: stringers, treads and risers, although in
certain stair constructions; e.g., pan stairs, there are no risers, open space
is
being formed between the treads. The stringers can be made of a steel channel
beam, wood, etc., the dimensions of which can vary depending upon the load to
be carried. As is well known, the treads are the generally horizontal portions
of
the stair, while the risers are the vertical portions connecting the treads.
Because of safety concerns during construction or remodeling, it is
generally necessary, before a permanent handrail or guardrail is installed, to

erect a temporary guardrail or handrail, and thereby minimize the chance of
injuries from a construction worker falling off the stair.
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CA 02798629 2016-09-26
=
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention is to provide an assembly for erecting a
temporary guardrail on a stair.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for
erecting a temporary guardrail on a stair, which can be quickly 5 assembled
and
disassembled, as needed.
In one aspect, the present invention comprises a stanchion or other
elongate member, first and second, spaced jaws connected to the stanchion,
which are adapted to rigidly connect the stanchion to the stringer in such a
10
manner that the stringer is substantially perpendicular to the pitch of the
stair.
The apparatus of the present invention can further comprise, at least one
bracket which can receive a temporary handrail; e.g., a 2 x 4 or the like.
In a further aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus for use in
erecting a temporary guardrail on a stair having a stair stringer having a
first
and a second side and includes an elongated stanchion having a front side and
a back side. The stanchion has a plurality of axially spaced bores in the
front
side and a plurality of axially spaced bores in the back side, the bores in
the
front and back sides forming registered pairs of bores. Further included is a
first
jaw assembly operatively attached to the stanchion, the first jaw assembly
including a first head portion having a first flange portion adapted to engage
the
first side of the stair stringer proximal a bottom edge thereof. Further
included is
a first leg portion attached to the first flange portion and connected to a
first
compression assembly operative to apply a compressive force to the back side
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CA 02798629 2016-03-04
. ,
of the stanchion to urge the stanchion against the second side of the stringer

and a second, axially spaced jaw assembly, operatively attached to the
stanchion, the second jaw including a second head portion having a second
flange portion, adapted to engage the first side of the stringer distal the
bottom
edge. A second leg portion is attached to the second flange portion and
connected to a second compression assembly operative to apply a compressive
force to the back side of the stanchion to urge the stanchion against the
second
side of the stringer. At least one bracket is operatively attached to the
stringer
and axially spaced from the second jaw, the bracket being adapted to receive a
temporary rail member.
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CA 02798629 2012-11-06
WO 2011/140421 PCT/US2011/035479
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the front side of one embodiment of the
apparatus of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an elevational, side view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the back side of the apparatus of Figs. 1
and 2.
Fig. 4 is an isometric, environmental view of a temporary guardrail
attached to a stair stringer, using one embodiment of the apparatus of the
present invention.
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 4.
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring first to Figs. 1-3, the apparatus of the present invention, shown
generally as 10, comprises a metal tubular member or stanchion 12, having a
front side 14, a first side 16, a second, opposite side (not shown), and a
back
side 18 (Fig. 3). Located generally near the lower end of the stanchion 12 is
a
first jaw assembly shown generally as 20, a second jaw assembly shown
generally as 22 being spaced longitudinally from first jaw assembly 20 in a
direction toward the upper end of stanchion 12.
With reference to Fig. 5, the details of construction of jaw assemblies 20
and 22 are shown. Bottom jaw assembly 20 comprises an L-shaped head
portion having a flange portion 24 and a leg portion 26 attached thereto, a
threaded shank 28 extending from leg portion 26 and through registering bores
31 and 30 in the front and back sides 14 and 18, respectively. A wing nut 32
is
threadedly received on the portion of shank portion 28 extending out of bore
30,
a washer 34 being positioned between wing nut 32 and back surface 18. In
effect, threaded shank 28 and wing nut 32 comprise a compression assembly for
a purpose described hereafter. Second jaw assembly 22 also comprises an L-
shaped head portion having a flange portion 36, a leg portion 38, a threaded
shank portion 40 extending from leg portion 38 through registering bores 42
and
43 in stanchion 12. A wing nut 44 is threadedly received on the portion of
threaded shank 40 extending through back side 18 of stanchion 18. As can be
seen, stanchion 12 has a plurality of registering bores 42 and 43, through
which
threaded shank 40 can extend to allow jaw assembly 22 to be adjustable
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longitudinally along stanchion 12. To provide strength, a channel shaped
spacer
60, effectively a washer, can be used, the spacer 60 overlying the plurality
of
bores on the back side 18 of stanchion 12.
As can be seen, Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 5-5
of Fig. 4 and accordingly, shows a portion of a stair assembly. The stair
assembly comprises treads 46 and risers 48, which are attached in a suitable
fashion to stringers 50, 52 which support the stair. For purposes of the
following
description, the detailed construction of only one of the stringers of the
apparatus
of the present invention will be described. Further, although a stair with two
stringers is shown, it will be apparent that many stairs are constructed
against a
wall so that only one stringer would have a guardrail. Furthermore, although
the
stairs shown have risers, as noted above, in the case of pan stairs there are
no
risers. As can be seen in Fig. 4, the stringers 50, 52 act as side supports
for the
stair and are generally at the desired pitch of the stairs. Stringer 50
comprises a
channel shaped metal beam, having a main beam portion 52 and spaced,
laterally extending flanges 54 and 56. As can be seen in Fig. 5, flanges 54
and
56 space beam portion 52 from stanchion 12. It will be appreciated that the
stringer 50 need not be channel-shaped but could be a square tubular member,
a wooden beam, etc., but in any event, would have a surface 58 spaced from
stanchion 12.
As can be seen in Fig. 5, stringer 50 is received between first and second
jaw assemblies 20 and 22, such that flange portion 24 abuts the side 58 of
stringer beam portion 54 adjacent flange portion 56.
Further, when so
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CA 02798629 2012-11-06
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positioned, it can be seen that by tightening wing nuts 32 and 44, flanges 24
and
36, respectively, will urge stanchion 18 toward stringer 50, stanchion 12
being
compressed against the outer edges of flanges 54 and 56 of stringer 50,
thereby
rigidly securing stanchion 12 to stringer 50.
With reference to Figs. 1-4, it can be seen that the apparatus of the
present invention is provided with first and second brackets or tubular
members
70 and 72, which are affixed to stanchion 12 by means of bolts 74 and 76,
respectively, which extend through registering bores 80, 82 in the front side
14
and back side 18 of stanchion 12. Although brackets 70 and 72 are shown as
tubular, they could be L-shaped in construction or for that matter, any other
form,
the only proviso being that they be adapted to support a temporary guardrail;
e.g., a 2 X 4. As shown, 2 X4 temporary rails 84 and 86 are received in
brackets
70 and 72, respectively, the rails being secured to the brackets 70 and 72 by
fasteners 90 and 92; e.g., a screw, nail or the like, extending through holes
78,
79 of brackets 70, 72, respectively. Threaded wing nuts 75 and 77 are received
on bolts 74 and 76, respectively, to secure brackets 70 and 72, respectively,
to
stanchion 12. It will be appreciated from the above description that jaws 20,
22
and brackets 70 and 72 are rotatable with respect to stanchion 12, such that
they
can be disposed at any desired angle, if necessary, to accommodate and
provide rails which are at any desired angle. However, typically the
guardrails
are at an angle the same as the angle of the pitch line of the stair, as shown
in
Fig. 4.
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CA 02798629 2016-03-04
As is the case with jaw assembly 22, it can been seen that brackets 70 and
72 can be longitudinally adjusted along stanchion 12 by virtue of a plurality
of
registering bores, such as 80 and 82.
The above description is intended in an illustrative rather than a restrictive
sense, and variations to the specific configurations described may be apparent
to skilled persons in adapting the present invention to other specific
applications. Such variations are intended to form part of the present
invention
insofar as they are within the scope of the claims below.
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Representative Drawing