Abstract:
A roof hatch safety railing for increasing a person&#39;s safety as he or she climbs onto a roof or platform of a building from a roof or access hatch is disclosed. The safety railing includes two poles where one pole is attached to the right side of a roof hatch and the other pole is attached to the left side of the hatch. A person may grab the poles as he or she climbs from the roof or access hatch ladder, through the hatch, and onto the roof or platform. The poles are also spaced away from the hatch, thereby allowing enough clearance for a lid of the hatch to close and cover the hatch. The railing may be modified to accommodate various types and sizes of roof or access hatches.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed toward a safety railing and more particularly, toward a railing which is attached to an access hatch such as a roof access hatch in order to allow a person to climb safely onto a roof or platform from a roof hatch ladder. 
     Falls are a major cause of injuries in the workplace. In particular, falls from roof or access hatch ladders often result in permanent injury or death. In light of these safety hazards, OSHA now requires roof hatch safety railings. However, railings for attachment to roof hatches are virtually non-existent. Railings in other settings are well known. There remains a need for safety railings for access hatches and particularly, for roof hatches. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,855 to Lyons discloses a safety extension that can be mounted to the inside of a passageway which has an opening. A ladder extends through the passageway and is mounted to a wall of the passageway. The safety extension includes a rod received in a sleeve. The sleeve may be attached to the ladder or to a wall of the passageway. The safety extension may be used in manholes or hatchways and is grasped by a person when entering or exiting the passageway. This safety extension must be engaged before each use in order to be functional. Furthermore, this safety extension does not meet the requirements for roof hatch safety railings set forth by OSHA. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,200 to Thompson discloses a sleeve attached to the rungs of a manhole ladder. The sleeve has a slidable rod therein which is extendable from the manhole. The rod acts as a vertical railing or guide for the worker on the ladder. This type of railing would not be suitable for use with a roof hatch ladder. Also, this type of railing does not conform with the current OSHA standards. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is designed to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art discussed above. It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety railing which increases a person&#39;s safety when he or she is climbing from a stationary ladder to a platform through an access hatch. 
     It is another object of the railing of the present invention to act as an extension of a ladder leading to a roof or access hatch. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a safety railing which is easily and permanently attached to an existing roof hatch. 
     In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a roof or access hatch safety railing for increasing a person&#39;s safety as he or she climbs onto the roof or other platform of a building from an access or roof hatch. The safety railing includes one or more poles where one pole is attached to the right side of a roof or access hatch and the other pole is attached to the left side of the roof hatch. A person may grab onto the poles as he or she climbs from the roof hatch ladder, through the hatch, and onto the roof or platform. The poles are also spaced away from the hatch, thereby allowing enough clearance for a lid of the hatch to close and cover the hatch. The railing may be modified to accommodate various types and sizes of roof or access hatches. 
    
    
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the railing of the present invention attached to a roof hatch; 
     FIG. 2 is partial cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG.  2   a  is a partial side view of the left-handed pole of the present invention with the roof hatch in a closed position; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the right-handed pole of the railing of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the left-handed pole of the railing of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the right-handed pole of a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the left-handed pole of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the various figures to designate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a roof hatch safety railing constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally as  10 . It must be understood that a roof hatch is being shown as the preferred embodiment. The invention is applicable to substantially any access hatch which allows a person to gain access to a roof, attic or other floor or substantially any horizontal support surface from below. 
     In the first embodiment of the present invention, the roof hatch safety railing essentially includes a right-handed pole  12  and a left-handed pole  14 . (While in the preferred embodiment two poles are described, it should be realized that one pole may also be used.) Right-handed pole  12  has a curved handle  16 , an elongated vertical section  18  extending from the handle  16 , and a bracket  20  attached to the lowermost end  22  of the vertical section  18 . Likewise, left-handed pole  14  has a curved handle  24 , an elongated vertical section  26  extending from the handle  24 , and a bracket  28  attached to the lowermost end  30  of the vertical section  26 . Brackets  20  and  28  are attached or mounted to vertical sections  18  and  26 , respectively, by any means known in the art, for example, by welding. Poles  12  and  14  may be formed from steel, fiberglass, or any material of comparable strength. 
     Right-handed bracket  20  is formed in a substantially L-shape with an elongated lateral leg  32  having a first end  34  and a second end  36  and an elongated, outwardly extending longitudinal leg  38  having a first end  40  and a second end  42  at a right angle to leg  32 . (See FIG. 3.) Left-handed bracket  28  is formed in a substantially backwards L-shape with an elongated lateral leg  44  having a first end  46  and a second end  48  and an elongated, outwardly extending longitudinal leg  50  with a first end  52  and a second end  54 . (See FIG. 4.) The junction  56  of lateral leg  32  and longitudinal leg  38  of right-handed bracket  20  and the junction  58  of lateral leg  44  and longitudinal leg  50  of left-handed bracket  28 , however, do not form perfect ninety degree corners, respectively. That is, second end  36  of lateral leg  32  and second end  42  of longitudinal leg  38  of right-handed bracket  20  are slightly bent outwardly so that a space  60  is created in order to accommodate any excess roofing material or bulging  62 , such as, caulking or metal stripping, which is usually found in the corners of roof hatches. (See FIG. 2.) Likewise, second end  48  of lateral leg  44  and second end  54  of longitudinal leg  50  of left-handed bracket  28  are slightly bent outwardly so that a space  64  is created. 
     Mounted near first end  34  of lateral leg  32  of right-handed bracket  20  are two extension flanges  66   a  and  66   b  which form a triangle with lateral leg  32  of right-handed bracket  20 . Similarly, mounted near first end  46  of lateral leg  44  of left-handed bracket  28  are two extension flanges  68   a  and  68   b  which form a triangle with lateral leg  44  of left-handed bracket  20 . Vertical section  18  of right-handed pole  12  is attached to the lateral leg  32  of right-handed bracket  20  at the junction  70  (or apex of the triangle) of extension flanges  66   a  and  66   b  and vertical section  26  of left-handed pole  14  is attached to lateral leg  44  of left-handed bracket  28  at the junction  72  of extension flanges  68   a  and  68   b.  (See, for example, FIG. 4.) Also, right-handed bracket  20  has holes  74   a - 74   h  and left-handed bracket  28  has holes  76   a - 76   h,  for example, through which bolts  78   a - 78   f  and bolts  80   a - 80   f  may be inserted, respectively, in order to secure the poles  12  and  14  to base member  82  of roof hatch  84 , as will be described in more detail below. As can be clearly seen in the Figures, base member  82  extends upwardly from the level of the roof or other horizontal support surface. 
     In the second embodiment of the present invention the roof hatch safety railing essentially includes a right-handed pole  112  and a left-handed pole  114 . Right-handed pole  112  has a curved handle  116 , an elongated vertical section  118  extending from the handle  116 , and a bracket  120  attached to the lowermost end  122  of the vertical section  118 . Likewise, left-handed pole  114  has a curved handle  124 , an elongated vertical section  126  extending from the handle  124 , and a bracket  128  attached to the lowermost end  130  of the vertical section  126 . As in the first embodiment, brackets  120  and  128  are attached or mounted to vertical sections  118  and  126 , respectively, by any means known in the art, for example, by welding. Poles  112  and  114  may be formed from steel or material of comparable strength. 
     Right-handed bracket  120  is formed in a substantially L-shape with an elongated lateral leg  132  having a first end  134  and a second end  136  and an elongated, outwardly extending longitudinal leg  138  having a first end  140  and a second end  142 , at a right angle to leg  132 . (See FIG. 5.) Left-handed bracket  128  is formed in a substantially backwards L-shape with an elongated lateral leg  144  having a first end  146  and a second end  148  and an elongated, outwardly extending longitudinal leg  150  having a first end  152  and a second end  154 . (See FIG. 6.) The junction  156  of the lateral leg  132  and longitudinal leg  138  of bracket  120  and the junction  158  lateral leg  144  and longitudinal leg  150  of bracket  128 , again, do not form perfect ninety degree corners, respectively, rather, the corners are curved. That is, second end  136  of lateral leg  132  and second end  142  of longitudinal leg  138  of bracket  120  are slightly curved outwardly so that a space  160  is created in order to accommodate any excess roofing material or bulging as in the first embodiment. Likewise, second end  148  of lateral leg  144  and second end  154  of longitudinal leg  150  of bracket  128  are slightly curved outwardly so that a space  164  is created. 
     In this embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, vertical section  118  of pole  112  is attached at the inside junction  166  of the lateral leg  132  and longitudinal leg  138  of bracket  120  and vertical section  126  of pole  114  is attached at the inside junction  168  of the lateral leg  144  and longitudinal leg  150  of bracket  128 . Bracket  120  has holes  174   a - 174   e  and bracket  128  has holes  176   a - 176   e,  for example, whereby bolts may be inserted therein in order to secure the poles  112  and  114  to the base member of a roof hatch. The purpose of placing vertical sections  118  and  126  of poles  112  and  114 , respectively, at the junctions  166  and  168 , respectively, is to accommodate smaller roof hatches and to meet OSHA requirements, as will be discussed in greater detail below. Furthermore, by placing the poles at the junctions, the lid of a roof hatch has enough clearance to close, thereby covering the hatch. 
     In order to describe the method of installing the safety railing of the present invention, the first embodiment will be used to illustrate. It should be noted, however, that the method of installation is the same for both embodiments. 
     Right-handed pole  12  is positioned on the right corner  86  of the base member  82  of the roof or access hatch  84  so that the longitudinal leg  38  of bracket  20  is positioned against the right side  88  of base member  82  of the roof hatch  84  and the lateral leg  32  of bracket  20  is positioned against the right front  90  of the base member  82  of roof hatch  84 . (See FIG. 1.) Bolts  78   a - 78   f  are inserted into holes  74   a - 74   f,  respectively, and are used to fasten the bracket  20  to the base member  82  of the roof hatch  84 . The left-handed pole  14  is positioned and fastened to the roof hatch base member  82  in the same manner, except that pole  14  is attached to the left corner  92  of the roof hatch  84 . That is, left-handed pole  14  is positioned on the left corner  92  of base member  82  of the roof or access hatch  84  so that the longitudinal leg  50  of the bracket  28  is positioned against the left side  94  of the base member  82  of the roof hatch  84  and the lateral leg  44  of the bracket  28  is positioned against the left front  96  of the base member  82  of roof hatch  84 . (See FIG. 1.) Bolts  80   a - 80   f  are inserted into holes  76   a - 76   f  and are used to fasten the bracket  28  to the base member  82  of the roof hatch  84 . 
     Vertical sections  18  and  26  of poles  12  and  14 , respectively, are positioned on their respective brackets  20  and  28  so that the lid  98  of the roof hatch  84  has enough clearance to close, as seen in FIG.  2   a.  That is, in both of the embodiments the longitudinal legs of the poles are positioned on their respective brackets, either by being mounted on the extension flanges, as seen in the first embodiment, or by being mounted at the inside junctions of the lateral leg and longitudinal leg of the bracket, as seen in the second embodiment, so that the lid of the hatch has enough clearance. 
     The safety railing of the present invention not only affords protection for people accessing a roof, it is constructed in such a manner so as to meet OSHA requirements. For example, each of the handles of the poles extend up to 42 inches from the roof surface. Also, the poles are spaced approximately between 24-30 inches apart. That is, for larger roof or access hatches, the poles may be spaced closer together, as in the first embodiment, than for smaller hatches, as in the second embodiment. However, the distance between the two poles should not be less than 24 inches. That is, the poles of the railing in the first embodiment may be adjusted along the brackets in order to accommodate the roof hatch and to comply with OSHA requirements. The poles of the railing of the second embodiment, however, are affixed in the corners of the brackets in order to accommodate a smaller roof hatch. 
     Also, the railing surface is finished and the ends of the handles are covered or otherwise sealed so that no sharp or projecting edges are present, thereby preventing injury or torn clothing. Furthermore, the railing is capable of withstanding a force of at least 200 pounds applied within two inches of the top in any direction. While it is not an OSHA requirement, the railing may also be coated or painted yellow to further increase safety. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.