Abstract:
The present invention provides an improved A-frame stand which allows the fabrication of a barricade while using less stands. The A-frame generally provides a first and second leg to provide stable support for the A-frame, as well as at least one interconnecting means to increase the rigidity. The interconnecting means must be comprised of first and second contact points to receive barricade beams, and there must be an existing gap in between the opposing legs, wide enough so that a barricade beam can be placed therein while allowing some pivotal movement to create the barricade.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    The present application for patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/968,299 entitled “A-Frame Stand” filed Mar. 20, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to the field of barricades, and more specifically to an improved A-frame stand used to create barricades. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    Barricades, and more specifically an A-frame stand for use with barricades, are well-known in the art and have been around for years. Various types of barricades and their accompanying frame types have been devised in order to create sturdy and long-lasting barricades. 
         [0006]    Many inventions have been devised in order to perfect the construction and stability of barricades. Patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,401 (Kelly), U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,548 (Ross), and U.S. Pat. No. 8,591,137 (Thompson) are examples that illustrate various types of these aforementioned barricades. 
         [0007]    Specifically, Kelly&#39;s device discloses a type of barricade, not being an A-frame, with a support head at each upper extremity of the barricade. The support heads have two slotted portions therein, in order to support multiple types of beams, including the standard 2×4 beam. There are also two support posts protruding downward from the support heads which are fitted within base pan units having cone structures in order to provide support from the entire barricade assembly. Unfortunately, Kelly&#39;s device is impractical as it is cumbersome and comprised of many parts. Since the purpose of Kelly&#39;s device is to allow for a plethora of interchangeable parts, it is prone to breakage or losing the various parts. Further, and more importantly, the shape of the slotted portions does not allow for many barricades to be utilized to create a closed-off environment. 
         [0008]    Meanwhile, Ross&#39;s device discloses a barrier that is adapted to be easily mounted and de-mounted from conical pylons that already exist in the workplace. Indeed, pylon-engaging members are utilized which can be fitted into the upper portion of the pylon, and connect to adjacent barrier members to connect many cones. Firstly, this system is inconvenient due to its height, which is limited by the height of the pylons themselves. Second, appropriate barrier members need to be purchased in order to combine many of them side by side; it does not use existing 2×4s that are omnipresent in the workplace. Finally, the device overall is very precarious and can easily be pushed aside when applying forward motion, as the pylons themselves are designed in plastic and thus not particularly stable. 
         [0009]    Thompson uses an improved A-frame barricade which allows for the assembly of multiple barricades to close off a particular section. A lower end of the barricade is comprised of a lower cross leg which has central portion to fit in a lower beam. The lower beam can be locked in between each cross central portion of the cross leg, which in turns loosely secures one barricade to another. One of the shortcomings of this device is that, like Ross, it utilizes many parts which can be lost or misplaced during operation. Further, it is cumbersome to adjoin or dismantle many of the barricades due to the complexity of the linking system. 
         [0010]    Other devices such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,089,682 (Parker) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,444 (Giannelli) are similar in nature and have the same drawbacks as described above. 
         [0011]    As such, an improved A-frame stand is needed which is both sturdy and simple in nature, in order to overcome the aforementioned shortcomings of the inventions listed above. Specifically, an improved A-frame stand which can provide a barrier at a normal height requiring less stands than commonly used in the industry. Such an improved A-frame stand will be described below. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0012]    The present invention provides an A-frame for use in barricades comprising first and second opposing legs to provide stable support for the A-frame; one or more interconnecting means connecting the first and second opposing legs for providing increased rigidity to the A-frame, further comprised of first and second contact points to receive barricade beams; and, a gap between the first and second opposing legs having a width larger than the width of the barricade beams to allow for the movement of the barricade beams. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a barricade using improved A-frame stands according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a front view of an A-frame stand according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2   a  is a front view of an A-frame stand according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an A-frame stand with barricade beams prior to placement on the A-frame stand according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an A-frame stand with barricade beams positioned on the A-frame stand according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a front view of an A-frame stand with both barricade beams positioned perpendicular to an A-frame stand according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an extended barricade incorporating the use of A-frame stands according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a top of the extended barricade as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a reinforcement member positioned on an A-frame stand according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred and other embodiments of the invention are shown. No embodiment described below limits any claimed invention and any claimed invention may cover processes or apparatuses that are not described below. The claimed inventions are not limited to apparatuses or processes having all the features of any one apparatus or process described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses described below. It is possible that an apparatus or process described below is not an embodiment of any claimed invention. The applicants, inventors or owners reserve all rights that they may have in any invention claimed in this document, for example the right to claim such an invention in a continuing application and do not intend to abandon, disclaim or dedicate to the public any such invention by its disclosure in this document. 
         [0023]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a barricade  10  is shown with two improved A-frame stands according to one embodiment of the present invention. The barricade has two improved A-frame stands  20  with a barricade beam  30 . The A-frame stands  20  are interconnected by barricade beam  30  and form a barricade. The barricade shown in  FIG. 1  is the minimum number of A-frame stands  20  required to create a basic barricade using the A-frame stands of the present invention. 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIG. 2  and according to one embodiment of the present invention, an improved A-frame stand  20  is shown. A first and second leg  40  and  50  are shown providing opposing legs for the A-frame stand  20 . In one embodiment of the present invention, opposing legs  40  and  50  are made of wood and have identical shapes. A worker skilled in the relevant art would be familiar with the use of other materials for the fabrication of opposing legs  40  and  50  such as steel, aluminum, or composite materials for example. The contact points  42  and  52  of opposing legs  40  and  50  have to be at the same level otherwise an uneven barricade would be created which would be unsafe and not level. 
         [0025]    With further reference to  FIG. 2  and according to one embodiment of the present invention, the improved A-frame stand  20  has a first contact point  60  for receiving a barricade beam (not shown). A second contact point  70  for receiving a barricade beam is also present on the improved A-frame stand  20 . The first and second contact points  60  and  70  are positioned between opposing legs  40  and  50  and are in alignment and are positioned one on top of another such that second contact point  70  is above first contact point  60 . A worker skilled in the relevant art would be familiar that the first and second contact points  60  and  70  could be off-set rather than in alignment as shown in  FIG. 2  and still allow for the creation of a barricade. With further reference to  FIG. 2  and according to one embodiment of the present invention, the improved A-frame stand  20  has interconnecting means  80  and  90  interconnecting first and second legs  40  and  50 . Interconnecting means  80  and  90  are steel studded plates commonly used in the trust industry. A worker skilled in the relevant art would be familiar with other means to interconnect opposing legs  40  and  50  such as screws, nails, glue or finger joints for example. Spacers  82  and  92  are also present between opposing legs  40  and  50  allowing for a gap  100  to be created between opposing legs  40  and  50 . Gap  100  will be further described below in respect of the first and second contact points  60  and  70 . The presence of the interconnecting means  80  and  90  also provide increased rigidity to the A-frame stand  20  which does not require any further support to be positioned between first and second legs  40  and  50 . In another embodiment, spacers  92  and  82  could be removed and the use of interconnecting means  80  and  90  would provide first and second contact points  60  and  70  respectively. For example, interconnecting means  80  and  90  under such an embodiment could consist of steel plates allowing for the creation of gap  100  and first contact point  60  on interconnecting means  80  and second contact point  70  on interconnecting means  90 . In yet another embodiment, the interconnecting means  80 ,  90  consisting of steel plates could be present on both sides of A-frame stand  20  for a total of four interconnecting means. In another embodiment, interconnecting means  92  could also be present on both sides of A-Frame stand  20  for a total of two interconnecting means  92 . A single interconnecting means  92  could be used to create a functional A-frame stand  20  of the present invention. The use of two interconnecting means such as interconnecting means  80  and  90  could also be used to create a functional A-frame stand  20  of the present invention. 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIG. 2   a  and according to a second embodiment of the present invention, spacers (not shown) could be removed and the use of a single interconnecting means  91  could still provide first and second contact points  60 ,  70  for the positioning of a barricade beam (not shown). Said single interconnecting means  91  could consist of a solid steel member with an aperture  94  allowing to interconnect opposing leg  40  and  50  and creating gap  100  and first and second contact points  60  and  70 . 
         [0027]    With reference to  FIG. 3  and according to one embodiment of the present invention, the A-frame stand  20  is shown with barricade beams  32  and  34  prior to placement on A-frame stand  20 . Barricade beam  32  will be positioned on first contact point  60  through a forward movement as shown by arrow  110 . The first contact point as shown in  FIG. 3  is in the form of an aperture  64  allowing for barricade beam  32  to travel through A-frame  20 . Barricade beam  34  can be positioned on second contact point  70  through a displacement of barricade beam  34  as shown by arrow  120 . The second contact point  70  has a u-shape allowing for the positioning of barricade beam  34  by either insertion or displacement of barricade beam  34  on top of the A-frame stand  20 . The second contact point  70  could also be composed of an aperture rather than a u-shape form as shown in  FIG. 3  which would not allow the removal of barricade beam  34  from the top of A-frame stand  20 . Under such an embodiment, barricade beam would need to be inserted into second contact point in a similar fashion as barricade beam  32  is positioned on contact point  60 . In another embodiment, barricade beams  32  and  34  could have locking apertures at the end of each barricade beam such that a pin could be inserted into these locking apertures which would restrict the movement of the barricade beams through the apertures of first and second contact point  60  and  70 . 
         [0028]    With reference to  FIG. 4  and according to one embodiment of the present invention, barricade beams  32  and  34  are positioned onto A-frame stand  20 . The barricade beam  32  is positioned onto first contact point  60  and barricade beam  34  is positioned onto second contact point  70 . Gap  100  of first and second contact points  60  and  70  allows for movement of barricade beams  32  and  34  once positioned onto A-frame stand  20 . With further reference to  FIG. 4  and according to one embodiment of the present invention, barricade beam  34  is not positioned perpendicular to A-frame stand  20  as barricade beam  32 . The gap  100  has a gap width which is larger than the width of barricade beam  32  and  34 . The greater width of gap  100  allows for the movement of barricade beams  34  as shown in  FIG. 4  since if gap  100  was equal to the width of a barricade beam, movement of barricade beam  34  would be limited if not limited to a the placement of barricade beam at a 90 degree angle with A-frame stand  20 . The placement and movement of barricade beams  32  and  34  will be further described below. In another embodiment, opposing legs  40  and  50  could have a connecting member at the top end of opposing legs  40  and  50  (not shown) creating a secondary aperture enclosing gap  100  and second contact point  70 . 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIG. 5  and according to one embodiment of the present invention, barricade beams  32  and  34  are both positioned perpendicular to A-frame stand  20 . The flexibility of use of A-frame stand  20  is achieved through gap  100  which is comprised of movement width  102  and barricade beam width  104  of barricade beam  34 . The presence of movement width  102  allows for the movement of barricade beam  34  other than being perpendicular to A-frame stand  20 . The establishment of movement width  102  is based on the width of the barricade beam being used to create the barricade. For example and with further reference to  FIG. 5 , barricade beam  34  is comprised of a standard 2×4 lumber which has a width of 1.5 inches. Based on this width of barricade beam  34 , movement width  102  would be 0.75 inches providing a total width of 2.25 inches for gap  100 . In another example, if barricade beam  34  has a width of 3 inches then gap  100  will have a width of 3.75 inches since movement width  102  will add an additional 0.75 inches to gap  100  based on the use of a barricade beam having a width of 3 inches. Movement width  102  can vary from a range of 0.5 inches to 3 inches and still be within the scope of this invention. 
         [0030]    With reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7  and according to one embodiment of the present invention, an extended barricade  150  is shown using a number of barricade beams  32 ,  34  and  36  and A-frame stands  20 . The use of A-frame  20  allows the creation of a barricade using less stands as would be used in common barricades which would require at least two stands for each barricade beam  30 . With further reference to  FIG. 5 , a total of 4 A-frame stands are required to support barricade beams  32 ,  34  and  36  whereas current practices would require a minimum of six stands to support barricade beams  32 ,  34  and  36 . Each barricade beams  32 ,  34  and  36  in current barricades require a stand for each end. The second contact points  70  of A-frame stands  22  and  24  allow for the placement of barricade beam  34 . Barricade beams  32  and  36  are supported at one end through first contact point  60  of A-frame stands  20  and  26  with opposing end of barricade beams  32  and  36  supported by first contact points  60  of A-frame  24  and  22 . 
         [0031]    With further reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7  and according to one embodiment of the present invention, the gap (not shown) on A-frame stands  20 ,  22 ,  24  and  26  allow for barricade beams  32 ,  34  and  36  to be displaced in a manner that creates a 90 degree turn between barricades  32  and  36  through the presence of barricade beam  34 . The presence of beam  34  provides greater coverage for a barricade while allowing a 90 degree turn (as shown through dotted lines extending from barricade beam  32  and  36 ) in barricade  150  without the need for additional stands as currently used in the industry. The gap present in A-frame stands  22  and  24  also allow for the movement of A-frame stands  22  and  24  in a non-perpendicular position in relation to barricade beams  36  and  32 . For example and in contrast, A-frame stands  20  and  26  are positioned perpendicular to barricade beams  32  and  36 . The ability to move the position of A-frame stands  24  and  22  in relation to the barricade beams through the gap provides a greater flexibility in building a non-linear barricade with minimum stands as commonly used in the industry. 
         [0032]    With reference to  FIG. 8  and according to one embodiment of the present invention A-frame  20  has a reinforcement member  200  providing additional support to opposing legs  40  and  50  and barricade beam  30 . A worker skilled in the relevant art would be familiar with the use of one or more reinforcement members  200  within A-frame  20 . 
         [0033]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the A-frame would simply consist of the top portion of the A-frame stand described in the attached figures wherein opposing legs could be inserted into the top portion of the A-frame stand. For example, first and second legs could be inserted into a steel bracket only having first and second contact points. By eliminating first and second legs as described and providing means to insert first and second legs after shipment, this would provide a cheaper product for shipment. 
         [0034]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the top portion of the A-frame allowing for the insertion of first and second legs could also hinge on itself. 
         [0035]    Although the invention has been described above by reference to certain embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Modifications and variations of the embodiments described above will occur to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. Moreover, with respect to the above description, it is to be repulsed that the optimum dimensional relationships for the component members of the present invention may include variations in size, material, shape, form, funding and manner of operation.