Beam anchor

A beam anchor safety device for use by workers wearing a lanyard for attachment to the device for preventing falls from elevated locations. The safety device includes an elongate round bar and a pair of L-shaped members affixed to the bar adjacent opposite ends thereof for releasably and slideably connecting the device to a flanged beam. Preferably both of the L-shaped members are moveable along the bar. A lanyard attachment portion is carried by the bar between the L-shaped members and circular washers surround said bar on either side of the lanyard attachment means for rolling engagement with the beam for assisting the sliding of the device along the beam. The elongated bar has a plurality of spaced apart grooves formed in the outer surface thereof and the L-shaped members include means for creating an interference fit with a selected one of the grooves to thereby secure the L-shaped member at a desired position on said bar. In one embodiment, the L-shaped member includes an aperture therein that is adapted to be aligned with a selected one of the grooves and a pin passes through the aperture and lies within the groove to prevent movement of the L-shaped member. In a second embodiment, the L-shaped members include a rotatable element capable of being rotated by a knob between an operative position wherein a portion of the element lies within a groove to create the interference fit and an inoperative position wherein the L-shaped members can be moved along the bar. A spring normally biases the rotatable element into its operative locking position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a safety apparatus and more particularly toward a safety apparatus in the form of a beam anchor such as commonly used as a safety device for steel workers and others working on elevated structures. The invention includes a load attachment traversing device that engages an I-beam for movement therealong and which includes a lanyard or the like that can be attached to a harness worn by a workman.

Construction of steel frame structures, such as industrial plants and office buildings, often involves the necessity for steelworkers and other construction personal to work at considerable heights above the ground in order to fasten individual beams and other components together. In such high rise construction, these activities may take place in environments that are subject to wind and weather. In addition, workers may simply stumble or lose their footing are also subject to the mistakes of others on the project site and to the typical construction site hazards of miscommunication or equipment failure that may cause them to fall. As a result, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) of the United States, and similar agencies in other jurisdictions, have promulgated rules and regulations which require various safety devices to be used by workers who are exposed to the potential of a fall from an elevated structure.

In spite of the numerous devices which have so far been offered to the marketplace, a continuing need exists for a simple, inexpensive device which can be used by steelworkers and similar workmen to provide secure fall protection. The need for such devices is especially seen in conjunction with work where significant freedom of movement is needed to accomplish particular tasks, or where improved productivity can result from additional freedom of movement. As should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, a device which can provide both additional freedom of movement and assure fall protection would be of great benefit in increasing the productivity on a construction project. To accomplish its desired results, however, such a device must also be easy to use by the workman for whom it is designed to protect.

The safety devices proposed in these prior art patents are of two basic types. First, some devices are fixed at a point of attachment with respect to the steel beam members, such as described in the Whitmer patents. The fixed devices of Whitmer provide a method for securing a safety line to a perimeter cable, but inherently limit the steelworker's speed and mobility due to the necessity of stopping to clip on and off of a fixed line. Second, other types of devices are moveable with respect to the beams to which they are attached, such as shown in the Smith, Cordero, Jr., Roby et al., Cuny and Flora et al. patents.

In Smith, a rigid, elongated, back support bar is utilized. The device highly restricts the workman's ability to move around. Therefore, Smith's device is not believed to be conducive to high productivity. However, the device does provide an adjustable plate and locking pin so that the device can be utilized on beams of various sizes.

In both the Roby et al and Cuny, a rolling clamp device is provided for mounting on a steel track or beam, respectively. These devices are relatively large and it would be difficult to require workmen to carry such a device around a jobsite. Also, both the Roby and Cuny devices utilize an articulating clamp structure which must be properly adjusted and locked in place in order to secure the device. As a result of the articulating structure, both of these devices suffer from the inability to be adjusted for beams of various widths.

Cordero, Jr. proposes a device which is capable of width adjustment for attachment to beams of various sizes. However, his device has many parts and is relatively clumsy to manipulate between beams during the course of a day's work.

Another common deficiency of the above prior art devices is that they are relatively cumbersome to pick up and relocate to new steel beams. The combination of the complexity of operation, the relatively heavy weight, and the orientation requirements of the various prior art devices presents the risk that they will not be used properly or will not be used at all. The device disclosed in Flora et al. attempted to solve some of these problems but still has its limitations. More particularly, the device does not easily slide along the beam as the workman moves. Furthermore, difficulties can be encountered in adjusting the width of the device to fit different size beams.

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 device in the form of a beam anchor that is easy to operate.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a beam anchor that more easily slides along the length of the beam in order to follow a workman.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beam anchor that can easily be moved from one beam to another.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a beam anchor that will not malfunction.

In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a beam anchor safety device for use by workers wearing a lanyard for attachment to the device for preventing falls from elevated locations. The safety device includes an elongate round bar and first and second L-shaped members affixed to the bar adjacent opposite ends thereof for releasably and slideably connecting the device to a flanged beam. Preferably both of the L-shaped members are moveable along a length of the elongated bar. A lanyard attachment portion is carried by the bar between the L-shaped members and circular washers surround said bar on either side of the lanyard attachment means for rolling engagement with the beam for assisting the sliding of the device along the beam. The elongated bar has a plurality of spaced apart grooves formed in the outer surface thereof and the L-shaped members include means for creating an interference fit with a selected one of the grooves to thereby secure the L-shaped member at a desired position on said bar. In one embodiment, the L-shaped member includes an aperture therein that is adapted to be aligned with a selected one of the grooves and a pin passes through the aperture and lies within the groove to prevent movement of the L-shaped member. In a second embodiment, the L-shaped members include a rotatable element capable of being rotated by a knob between an operative position wherein a portion of the element lies within a groove to create the interference fit and an inoperative position wherein the L-shaped members can be moved along the bar. A spring normally biases the rotatable element into its operative locking position.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

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 inFIGS. 1 and 2a beam anchor constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally as10. The beam anchor10is shown mounted on the horizontal flange12of a beam14of a building under construction and, as is well known in the art, is intended to protect a workman16from injury due to a fall. The workman16is wearing a harness18that includes a lanyard20connected to the beam anchor10through the use of a carabineer22. As the workman16moves, the beam anchor10follows him by sliding along the flange12. All of the foregoing is generally known in the art and has been practiced utilizing prior known devices.

The improved beam anchor10of the present invention includes a solid elongated bar24which is preferably of circular cross section. Formed in the upper surface of the bar24are a plurality of semi-circular grooves such as shown at26. The grooves may be an inch or so apart from each other and there are preferably sufficient grooves to extend substantially the entire length of the bar24.

Also formed on the outer surface of the elongated bar24is an axially extending groove28. Groove28preferably extends substantially the entire length of the bar24. Removable stop members30and32are located at the extreme ends of the elongated bar24.

First and second L-shaped members34and36are slideably affixed to the elongated bar24so that the position of each of the L-shaped members can be adjusted along at least a substantial portion of the length of the bar24. In this way, the beam anchor safety device10can be connected to the flange12of a beam14to be slideably connected thereto for use in a manner well known in the art.

FIGS. 1 and 2show two similar but different embodiments of the left and right L-shaped members34and36. This is, however, for illustration purposes only. It should be understood that the first and second L-shaped members34and36may both be constructed identically and may both resemble the first L-shaped member34or may both resemble the second L-shaped member36. Furthermore, while, in the preferred embodiment, both of the first and second L-shaped members34and36are movable along the length of the bar24, it is possible to practice many of the salient features of the present invention with one of the first or second L-shaped members34and36being fixed rather than movable as is the case with prior art beam anchors.

Located between the first and second L-shaped members34and36is a lanyard attachment portion38. The lanyard attachment portion38includes a cylindrically-shaped tubular base40that fits around the bar24so as to be slideable and rotatable relative thereto. A web42extends outwardly from the base40. A ring44is secured to the web38to which the lanyard20of the workman16can be attached.

Located on either side of the base40of the lanyard attachment portion38is a pair of circular washers46and48. The washers46and48have center openings that are slightly greater than the circumference of the bar24so that the washers are freely rotatable and longitudinally slideable relative to the bar24. As shown best inFIG. 2, the outer diameters of the washers46and48are such that they function to support the entire beam anchor10on the upper surface of the flange12. Thus, the washers46and48are in enrolling engagement with the flange12of the beam14and assist the beam anchor10in sliding more easily along the beam14as the workman moves.

The details of the construction and operation of the left L-shaped member34are best illustrated inFIGS. 2–7. The L-shaped member34includes a base in the form of a rectangularly shaped block50having a substantially circular opening52passing through the center thereof. The circular opening52is slightly greater than the circumference of the bar24so that the block50can slide along the length of the block. In order to prevent rotation of the block50relative to the bar24, the block includes an inwardly extending key54that loosely fits within the groove28of the bar24.

Passing through the upper portion of the block50is an aperture56. The length of aperture56is essentially at right angles to the length of the bar24. A rotatable pin58having a manually operable knob60extends through the aperture56and is held in place by ball detents62that prevent the pin from being removed.

The center portion of the pin58along a length thereof is cut out as shown best inFIG. 7so that only a semi-circular portion64remains. As illustrated inFIGS. 3–6, when the knob60is rotated so that the semi-circular portion64is in its inoperative position at the top as shown inFIGS. 3 and 5, it is above the upper surface of the bar24so that the block50and the entire L-shaped member34can easily be slid along the length of the bar24into its desired position. When the L-shaped member34is in its desired position, the knob60is then rotated to its operative position so that the semi-circular portion64of the pin58moves into one of the grooves26to form an interference fit therewith to prevent movement of the L-shaped member34.

A coil spring66having one end65connected to the knob60and the other end67connected to the block50biases the pin58into the position shown inFIGS. 4 and 6wherein the semi-circular portion64fits within one of the grooves26. Thus, in actual practice, once the L-shaped member34is moved close to its desired position, the workman can release the knob60and move the block50slightly in either direction until the pin58overlies one of the grooves26. At that point, the pin58will automatically rotate so as to place the semi-circular portion64into the desired groove26. The extent of rotational movement of the knob60and, therefore, the pin58is limited by the projection61extending inwardwardly from the inner surface of the knob60that rides in the arcuate groove63formed in the block50. SeeFIGS. 3a,3band7.

The second L-shaped member36is similar to the L-shaped member34in that it also includes a substantially rectangularly shaped block150having an opening152therein which allows the block to slide along the length of the bar24. The block150also includes a projection154that is keyed to the elongated slot28of the bar24to prevent rotation relative thereto.

Block150of the second L-shaped member36also includes an aperture156extending therethrough. The aperture156much like the aperture56in the first embodiment intersects the opening152so that, when one of the grooves26is in alignment with the aperture156, a circular opening is formed as shown best inFIG. 10. In that position, a locking pin158can pass through the aperture156and through one of the grooves56in the bar24to form an interference fit therein so as to prevent movement of the right L-shaped member36.

The quick release pin158is of conventional construction having a head or handle portion160and ball detents162to retain the pin in place. When it is desired to move the second L-shaped member36, the pin158is removed, the L-shaped member36is slid into its desired position and the pin158is replaced. As shown inFIG. 2, a retaining wire164may be provided to prevent loss of the pin158when it is removed.

It is thus to be appreciated that the novel safety device provided by the present invention, and the way in which it is installed and used, is a significant improvement in the state of the art of safety devices for high rise construction activities. The novel safety device is relatively simple, and it substantially improves the efficiency, productivity and safety of workers that utilize the same. It will be readily apparent to the reader that the safety device may be easily adapted to other embodiments incorporating the concepts taught herein. Thus, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the embodiments presented herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes and devices which are described within the meaning and range of equivalents of the claims set forth herein are therefore intended to be embraced therein.