Patent Publication Number: US-2004041141-A1

Title: Temporary safety guard rail system

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE  
       [0001] Applicant(s) hereby incorporate herein by reference, any and all U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents and printed matter cited or referred to in this application.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] This invention relates generally to fences and guard rails and more particularly to a system for temporary erection as a safety guard rail around an elevated construction site.  
       [0004] 2. Description of Related Art  
       [0005] Blackburn, U.S. Pat. No. 1,950,965 describes a combination post and base plate mounted upon the post, two rails arcuate in cross section arranged in longitudinal alignment with their overlapped and nested ends positioned upon said base plate with their concave sides turned towards the plate, the underlying end of one rail being grooved transversely upon its convex y side and the overlying end of the other rail having a boss upon its concave side seated within the said groove of the first named rail, and means for locking the overlapped and nested rail ends to the base plate.  
       [0006] Brown, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,348,954 describes a scaffolding adapted to be detachably secured to a structure having vertically extending structural members, comprising a pair of laterally projecting arms adapted to be clamped to said structural members, each of said arms comprising an elongated member and a securing plate secured to one end thereof, means for holding a guard at the opposite end thereof, each of said securing plates having a vertically extending jaw adapted to be locked to a vertical structural member.  
       [0007] Kettlekemp, Sr. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,131 describes an adjustable guard rail stanchion member for use on pitched or flat roofs with clamping means to engage a rafter of a roof or elevated floor. Adjustable means are provided to assure a vertical position of a portion of the stanchion member yet allowing another portion to be angled to the pitch of the rafter. In addition the stanchion member is spaced outwardly of the roof or floor so as to not interfere with roofing operations.  
       [0008] Palmer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,941 describes a guard structure for installation at the edge of a building roof eave to assist in shingling employs a plurality of spaced roof cleats nailed to the roof, each having a hinge at its lower end with a hinge axis parallel to the eave. Each hinge connects the cleat to a respective vertical support member at a junction portion immediately adjacent to the eave. The portion of the support member below the eave or roof line engages the building structure, e.g. the rafter tail or fascia board, usually through a pressure plate, and may carry a screw-threaded adjustment member for adjusting the vertical attitude of the support member. The other portion of the support member has a lower outward upward inclined part carrying a toe board retainer member for an inclined toe board, and an upper vertical part carrying at least two vertically spaced back rail support members, as is usually required by safety regulations. The toe board and the back rails form a safety structure for the roofer. Metal safety straps may be provided extending longitudinally beneath the toe boards to prevent catastrophic breakage if they sag excessively. The upper vertical part may also be provided with a retainer for a vertical horizontally extending catch board; when such a catch board is provided it cooperates with the toe board to form a catch space to prevent debris falling from the structure to the ground and also provides an improved safety structure.  
       [0009] Lewis, U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,559 describes a fall arrestor device for use in connection with a building having a roof under construction. The device includes a bracket for attaching to a top plate of a vertical wall, adjacent the edge of the roof. Extending downwardly from the bracket is a leg which hangs substantially parallel to the wall. Extending upwardly from the leg is a support arm having a receptacle on a free end thereof for receipt of the upright portion of a guard rail. A bracket member extends between the leg and the support arm, and the connection of the bracket member to the support arm, and the support arm to the leg, are variable such that the receptacle presents the guard rail vertically with respect to a variety of different pitched roofs and roofs of a variety of different width overhang portions.  
       [0010] Hemauer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,227 describes a stanchion, a row of which are to be mounted at spaced intervals along the facia board and rafters of the frame of a building under construction. Stanchions support guardrails which are nailed through slots in rail holders on the stanchions, to provide a fall protection system for workers on the roof under construction. The bracket part of each stanchion is attached to the facia board and also to a rafter of the building frame, thus spreading the force caused by a falling person or large object between both facia and rafters, providing maximum strength. The vertical post and the rails stand out from the edge of the roof, and therefore in no way interfere with the complete roofing process, including sheathing, gutter apron or de-edging, tar papering, and all shingling. Siding operation can also be done while the stanchions are in place.  
       [0011] Purvis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,074 describes an improved temporary guard rail system for use by residential and commercial builders on construction sites in those areas of building structures where an accidental fall may result in serious bodily injury. In particular, the temporary guard rail system of the present invention includes a plurality of upright stanchions having mounting brackets integrally formed or attached thereto that are connected by a plurality of vertically spaced, generally horizontal side rails extending end to end. The vertically spaced side rails are adapted for 360 degree rotational movement in both horizontal and vertical planes. In addition, the tubular guard rails are fabricated in a plurality of sections that may be slideably engaged, one inside another, to provide a telescoping adjustment of length. The temporary guard rail system may be adapted and secured to various features of a building such as balconies, elevated platforms, stair cases, and the perimeter of a floor prior to the external walls or permanent protective railings being erected to prevent accidental injury. Further, the temporary guard rail system is designed and manufactured to conform to OSHA requirements for temporary guard rails. This system also provides a versatile safety device which is easy to install, easy to dismantle, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.  
       [0012] Purvis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,685 describes an improved temporary guard rail system for use by residential and commercial builders on construction sites in those areas of building structures where an accidental fall may result in serious bodily injury. In particular, the temporary guard rail system of the present invention includes a plurality of upright stanchions having mounting brackets integrally formed or attached thereto that are connected by a plurality of vertically spaced, generally horizontal side rails extending end to end. The vertically spaced side rails are adapted for 360 degree rotational movement in both horizontal and vertical planes. In addition, the tubular guard rails are fabricated in a plurality of sections that may be slideably engaged, one inside another, to provide a telescoping adjustment of length. The temporary guard rail system may be adapted and secured to various features of a building such as balconies, elevated platforms, stair cases, and the perimeter of a floor prior to the external walls or permanent protective railings being erected to prevent accidental injury. Further, the temporary guard rail system is designed and manufactured to conform to OSHA requirements for temporary guard rails. This system also provides a versatile safety device which is easy to install, easy to dismantle, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.  
       [0013] McMillian et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,944 describes a portable adjustable rail barricade for working on a roof generally comprising a plurality of removably supported rail members pivotally attached to a base member adapted for releasable engagement upon the surface of a roof. The pivotal nature of the rail member attachment allows the rail barricade to be substantially vertically oriented upon various roofs with widely ranging roof pitches. Additionally, a toe rail is provided at a distance away from the pivotal attachment of the rail members for preventing objects from falling from the roof. Because the toe rail is at a distance away from the pivotal attachment of the rail members, there is formed an extended base for the adjustable rail barricade, serving to increase the barricade&#39;s efficacy toward providing a secure barrier against falls.  
       [0014] Franks, U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,829 describes an apparatus used in supporting safety rails and a system in which a safety rail post support and security device is used in pairs or greater multiples to hold pieces of a safety rail at the edge of an elevated surface and is speedily attached to or detached from the three commonly found roof edge structures, that is, roofs that are flat right up to the edge, roofs that have a very low ledge or flashing around the perimeter, and roofs that have a parapet along the edge. Previous systems rely on cantilever weights positioned well in from the edge of the roof, interfering with the work to be done there. The post support and security device has a junction piece comprising four intersecting extruded stabilizer bars perpendicular to each other in one plane and a fifth bar protruding from that plane at ninety degrees. An upright post fits into one of the bars after the junction piece is bolted to a roof or to a wall abutting the edge of a roof, or is clamped to a parapet. The upright post has two brackets, each adapted to hold one or two 10 foot 2 by 4 inch lumber rails. The adaptable safety rail system of the present invention for flat roofs and parapets exceeds typical safety barrier standards for workers on such roofs.  
       [0015] Palmer, U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,150 describes a guard rail scaffold assembly comprising a plurality of assembly members carrying horizontally extending guard rails. Each assembly member comprises an elongated base member attachable by a releasable connector to a fastener pad fastened to an above-ground structure surface. The connector allows pivoting movement of the base member for adjustment of the base member to be parallel to the surface. The base member also carries surface engaging members on opposite sides of the connector which engage the structure surface to maintain the base member parallel to the structure surface. A first post member extends from the base member and, when the scaffold is mounted on the guarded surface, this constitutes a guard rail support member or has a guard rail support member mounted thereon. When the scaffold is mounted on a wall surface a second post member is releasibly mounted on the first post member and receives the guard rail support member instead of the first post member. The assembly can thus be fastened either to a horizontal or a vertical surface, or both, although each assembly member is fastened either to a horizontal or to a vertical surface, but not both. Forces applied to the guard rails are converted by the guard rail support members to force moments at one or other of the surface engaging members urging the base member to rotate about these areas, so that tension forces applied to the fastener pads are maximized and peeling forces are minimized.  
       [0016] Murray, U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,281 describes a safety rail system for installation about the perimeter of a rooftop work site comprising a plurality of stanchion-supporting bases for attachment to existing building structure, a plurality of stanchions removably held by the bases and having cable-receiving links thereon, and a pair of wire rope cable safety rails supplied by a pair of winches fixed to at least one of the stanchions. The bases include a pair of plate members connected by a hinge for adjustable attachment to a vertical wall surface of the building and another structural surface forming an edge with the vertical wall surface. A vertically extending sleeve is fixed to the plate member which attaches to the vertical wall surface of the building for slidably receiving a bottom portion of a stanchion, and a transversely extending locking pin is used to retain the bottom portion of the stanchion within the sleeve. The safety rail cables are unwound from their respective winches and connected to the stanchions using the cable receiving links, then tensioned using the winches.  
       [0017] Sweeley, U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,668 describes a system to protect workmen from falling from a roof. It is especially useful for flat roofs. The main components of the roof safety bracket system are brackets and safety line. Each bracket has a cross-member having a first and second end. The cross-member at its first end extends forward from the first upright near the top of the first upright. Each bracket has a second upright attached to the second end of the cross-member. There is a roof attachment unit including a roof plate and an upright attachment plate. The roof plate extends forward from the first upright and the upright attachment plate extends downward along the first upright from the roof plate. Each bracket includes a receiver box extending from the bottom of the first upright and a horizontal stabilizer. The horizontal stabilizer includes an adjustment bar and face plate, where the adjustment bar adjustably fits into the receiver box. A series of such brackets are set on a roof with safety line between the brackets to aid in the prevention of someone falling off a roof.  
       [0018] McCarthy, U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,623 describes multiple upright adjacent posts spaced apart that are each pivotably mounted on a first base plate affixed along an edge of a precipice. The posts have bores through opposed sides and L-shaped brackets mounted on at least one side surface. A triangular brace has a second base plate spaced inwardly from the post. Two arms converging inwardly distal from the second base plate connect ends of the second base plate to the post. The arms pivot with respect to the second base plate. Ropes are threaded through the bores or 2.times.4&#39;s are mounted on the L-brackets or mesh is hung on the L-brackets to create a barrier between the spaced apart posts.  
       [0019] Lakemont Pines Pty. Ltd., WO 99/28574 describes a safety system for use with buildings which enables a safety rail to be located about the periphery of the building during construction. The safety system includes a stanchion which has a sleeve which is slidably engaged on a beam or post. The beam or post engages with a building frame. In one embodiment, clamp plates and flange plates cooperate to sandwich the frame to secure the tube. In other embodiments, and abutment plate engages beneath the frame member and the beam is secured to the frame member by a bolt.  
       [0020] The prior art teaches the use of fittings, posts and beams for the construction of a guard rail, but fails to teach the present set of fittings and the manner in which the fittings are used with upright posts and beams to prepare a peripheral guard rail that is easily disassembled and reassembled for reuse. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021] The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.  
       [0022] A safety guard rail apparatus includes a base fitting removably engaged with a lower portion of an upright post. A midrail fitting is removably engaged with a medial portion of the upright post and further removably engaged with a horizontal midrail. A toprail fitting is removably engaged with an upper portion of the upright post and further removably engaged with a horizontal toprail. The base, midrail and toprail fittings are engaged with the upright post, the midrail and toprail using common fasteners such as nails or screws. A corner fitting is adapted for receiving an end portion of each of two of the horizontal midrails or toprails. In this manner, a temporary guard rail may be constructed around elevated construction sites for worker safety.  
       [0023] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method of use of such apparatus that provides advantages not taught by the prior art.  
       [0024] Another objective is to provide such an invention capable of being assembled in a variety of configurations to suit the needs of any construction site.  
       [0025] A further objective is to provide such an invention capable of providing a guard rail system peripheral to a working site while enabling clearance for the tilting-up of walls within the site.  
       [0026] A still further objective is to provide such an invention capable of simple and inexpensive attachment and detachment as well as improved safety.  
       [0027] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0028] The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:  
     [0029] FIGS.  1 - 4  are perspective views of the preferred embodiment of the invention showing the four fittings used in a system for constructed a guard rail;  
     [0030]FIG. 5 is a perspective view thereof showing the fittings as used on a construction site to form a barrier guard; and  
     [0031]FIG. 3 is a perspective view thereof of an alternate fitting to that shown in FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0032] The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention in at least one of its preferred embodiments, which is further defined in detail in the following description.  
     [0033] The present invention is a safety guard rail apparatus providing, in combination, a plurality of fittings joined, preferably by nailing, with structural members as an assembly; and attached to the side of a building under construction. The combination includes a means for base fitting  10  (base fitting) preferably including a first channel  12  attached to both a planar mounting plate  14  and a spaced apart planar tacking flange  16 , the mounting plate  14  and the tacking flange  16  laying in a common plane and presenting sufficient apertures  5  for placement of fasteners such as double headed nails (not shown) for joining the base fitting  10  to a vertical wooden surface  2  comprising a wall of a structure under construction (FIG.  5 ). See FIG. 1. The base fitting  10  is adapted by its shape and size for receiving, in close fitting engagement, a lower portion  42  of a means for upright support  40  (upright post), preferably a two-by-four construction stud placed in a vertical attitude as shown in FIG. 5. In the preferred embodiment, the base fitting  10  includes a second channel  12 ′ mounted in parallel with the first channel  12 , in piggy-back fashion, the base fitting  10  thereby adapted for receiving the lower portion  42  of the upright post  40  in a position adjacent to the mounting plate  14  within the first channel  12 , and further adapted for receiving the lower portion  42  in a position spaced apart from the mounting plate  14  within the second channel  12 ′. The latter configuration is beneficial when the invention is used, as shown in FIG. 5, around an elevated construction site wherein walls are assembled and then tipped-up at the periphery of the site, in which case the guard rail is positioned away from the construction surface leaving space for the tipped-up new wall. See FIG. 6 wherein the several parts are preferably joined by welding.  
     [0034] The apparatus further provides a means for midrail fitting  20  (midrail fitting) preferably adapted for receiving a medial portion  44  of the upright post  40 , and further adapted for receiving a means for medial horizontal support  50  (lower rail), preferably also a two-by-four stud placed in a horizontal attitude. To accomplish this, the midrail fitting  20  provides a horizontally oriented tube  22  joined medially with a vertically oriented tube  24  in side-by-side abutment. See FIG. 2 wherein the tubes are preferably joined by welding.  
     [0035] The apparatus further provides a means for toprail fitting  30  (toprail fitting) preferably adapted for receiving an upper portion  46  of the upright post  40 , and further adapted for receiving a means for upper horizontal support  60  (upper rail), preferably also a two-by-four stud placed in a horizontal attitude above and spaced apart from stud  50 . To accomplish this, the toprail fitting  30  provides a horizontally oriented tube  32  joined medially with a vertically oriented tube  34  as a T-shaped assembly. See FIG. 3 wherein the tubes are preferably joined by welding.  
     [0036] Such a fence, as previously mentioned, is preferably built to fully surround a construction area for the safety of personnel. To accomplish this, the straight sections of such a guard rail structure must be joined at corners of the construction site. This is facilitated by a means for corner fitting  70  (corner fitting) adapted for receiving an end portion  55 , or  65  of each of two of the horizontal midrails  50  or toprails  60  respectively. The corner fitting  70  provides a pair of horizontally oriented tubes  72 ,  72 ′ joined terminally at a right angle as shown in FIG. 4 wherein the tubes are preferably joined by welding.  
     [0037] Preferably, the fittings  10 ,  20 ,  30  and  70  are joined with the post  40  and rails  50  and  60  using double headed nails  6 , as stated above, through apertures  5  (nail holes). In this manner, straight fence or guard rail sections are constructed and joined at their corners as shown in FIG. 5. Since the double headed nails  6  are easily removed, the entire guard rail structure may be disassembled when necessary and reused again thereafter.  
     [0038] While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.