Patent Publication Number: US-6209271-B1

Title: Safety screen with a guard assembly having three flanged mounting members

Description:
This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/110,237, filed Nov. 30, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a safety screen for skylights, roof openings, and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved mounting bracket system for securing the screening material in the proper position around the opening or skylight. 
     The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) general industry standards require that every skylight floor opening and hole shall be guarded by a standard skylight screen or a fixed standard railing on all exposed sides. The skylight screens must be capable of withstanding a load of at least 200 pounds applied perpendicularly at any one area of the screen. The construction of the grill work with openings must be not more than four inches long or of slat work with openings not more than two inches wide with length unrestricted. These limitations strictly limit the construction alternatives available. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 354,817 and 5,237,788 illustrate existing skylight screens which comply with OSHA&#39;s strict requirements. Working on roof openings normally occurs in hard to reach locations or in close confines. It is extremely difficult to assemble multiple piece assemblies in these locations. U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,788 is extremely complex in its construction and requires considerable expense to construct. It is particularly difficult to assemble. 
     U.S. Patent No. Des. 354,817 provides a good, safe construction but requires welding skills to permanently secure the grid work to the side brackets. Again, placement and use of welding equipment at the work site makes attachment difficult. 
     The present invention is less costly to manufacture and requires only a wrench and screw driver to safely mount the screen over a skylight. It should therefore be understood that the present invention is a considerable improvement in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a guard assembly for a framed opening in a structure such as a skylight or other roof-top access. The assembly uses two, spaced-apart, ti-flanged mounting brackets for securing a grid work spanning the opening. A first flange depends downwardly along the side of the opening frame; a second, horizontal, flange rests on top of the frame upon assembly; and, a third flange extends upwardly at an angle less than 90° to the horizontal. The intersection of the second and third flange forms a channel which accepts and retains the grid work. The grid work is compressively urged into opposing channels affixed along the opening frame and retaining screws extend through the third flange to further secure the grid work. 
     The assembly may be retained on the structural framing by use of extended attachment rods or may be affixed directly to the frame with standard fasteners. The assembly meets all OSHA requirements for skylights and may be accomplished with a minimum of equipment in a reduced workspace. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front, top, left side perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the present invention with a partial cut-away of the left upper flange. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the present invention with attachment rod. 
     FIG. 3A illustrates a cross sectional view of the present invention mounted directly to the skylight framing. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a section of the improved mounting bracket of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the present guard assembly  10 , having a grid work  12  of wire mesh or screen. A plurality of parallel, spaced-apart, transverse bars  14  are attached to a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart longitudinal bars  16  to form the grid. 
     Grid work  12  compressively is retained in and connects to mounting brackets  18  and  20  as will be described in detail below. Brackets  18  and  20  are further joined by attachment rods  22  and  24  (FIG. 2) on opposite ends of the brackets. By setting the underside  32 B (FIG. 3A) of horizontal flanges  30  on the skylight frame  32  and tightening nuts  34 , the guard assembly  10  is tightly affixed and retained on the frame  32  with rods  22  extending along the outer sides of frame  32 . The grid work  12  is compressively urged into channels  60  in brackets  18  and  20  and arcuatedly extends above the skylight  40  as required by OSHA standards. 
     FIG. 2 shows a top view of the guard assembly  10  mounted on frame  32  of skylight  40 . FIG. 3 illustrates a side elevation view of guard assembly  10  without the skylight. 
     FIG. 3A illustrates an alternative embodiment  10 A of the assembly. Rather than using attachment rods  22 , the mounting brackets  18  or  20  are directly attached to the frame  32 . Fasteners  36  pass through openings  50  (FIG. 4) in the downwardly depending flanges  38  of the bracket  20  and into frame  32 . 
     It may be further seen in FIG. 3A that the end longitudinal bar  14 A rests on the top side  30 A of horizontal flange  30 . A retaining screw or locking member  42  extends through an opening  62  (FIG. 4) in upwardly extending flange  44  above bar  14 A to further secure the grid work  12  in channel  60 . 
     Seals  70  may be placed between the underside  32 B of horizontal flange  30  and frame  32  and inside surface  38 B of downward depending flange  38  and frame  32 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the improved mounting brackets  18  and  20  of the present invention. A first downwardly depending flange or leg  38  is connected at a generally 90° or perpendicular angle to second horizontal flange  30 . A third upwardly extending flange  44  extends at an angle of less than 90° but greater than 20° to the second horizontal flange  30 . Openings  62  in the third flange  44  are adapted to retain locking members or retaining screws  42  to hold grid work  12  in the intersection or channel  60  formed between the second flange  30  and the third flange  44 . 
     Openings  50  in the first flange  38  are available to accept attachment rods  22  or fasteners  36  depending on the embodiment. The mounting brackets are made of extruded lightweight aluminum. 
     Again, it should be understood that the present invention may be utilized by attaching the mounting brackets directly to the framing material  32 . In this manner each of the brackets may be attached and sealed against the frame as shown in FIG.  3 A. Then the grid work  12  is urged into the channels  60  on each side. The flexibility of the grid work  12  allows for this compressive force to retain the grid work in the brackets. Additional security is provided by the use of locking fasteners  42 . 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. On the contrary, various modifications of the disclosed embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications, alternatives, and equivalents that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.