Patent ID: 6688046
Filing Date: 2004-02-10
Classification: E02D,E04F,E04G

Abstract:
A safety rail assembly for an access hatch of a kind comprising a hatch frame which defines an opening, said safety rail assembly being adapted to extend around at least a part of a hatch frame thereby to safeguard personnel from inadvertent entry into the hatch opening, said safety rail assembly comprising the hatch frame guard members which in use extend at least in part substantially horizontally, elongate rigid interconnection members which in use extend substantially horizontally around the hatch frame, support members for supporting the guard members at a position elevated above the hatch frame, said support members each having associated therewith a foot portion for resting in a free-standing manner on a support surface surrounding the hatch frame, and said support members each having secured thereto a connector device for securing an end region of one interconnection member relative to an end region of another of the interconnection members, and each said interconnection member having a spacer member secured thereto, between the ends thereof, each said spacer member comprising a body portion by which the spacer member is secured to an interconnection member and a head portion for bearing firmly against an outwardly facing surface of the hatch frame.