(19)
(11) EP 1 215 354 A2

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
19.06.2002 Bulletin 2002/25

(21) Application number: 01129258.8

(22) Date of filing: 12.12.2001
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7E04G 21/32, E04G 3/12
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 14.12.2000 IT BO000725

(71) Applicant: Stefanelli, Franco
40131 Bologna (IT)

(72) Inventor:
  • Stefanelli, Franco
    40131 Bologna (IT)

(74) Representative: Dall'Olio, Giancarlo 
c/o INVENTION s.a.s., Via delle Armi, 1
40137 Bologna
40137 Bologna (IT)

   


(54) Protection device for people working on roofs of buildings or the like, and for supporting workers during works on the cornices of the roofs


(57) A protection device for people working on roofs of buildings and the like, and for supporting operators during works on the cornices of the roofs includes a first module (1) formed by: a tubular arm (52); adjusting means (51) fastened to one end (E) of the tubular arm (52) and articulated to an upright (5) in adjustable position. The protection device includes a second module (2), coupled with the tubular arm (52) and made integral with a structure element (4) of the roof (C) to be provided with a protection.




Description


[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field concerning structures required by the regulations in force in the matter of works on the roofs of buildings or the like.

[0002] It is known that building firms performing works on the covers or roofs of the buildings, usually situated at considerable heights above the ground, must comply with severe safety regulations designed to avoid accidents to the workers.

[0003] For this purpose, metallic scaffolds, equipped with parapets protecting the workers from falling down, are leaned against the building in the works area.

[0004] The construction of the scaffolds is not only very expensive, but also difficult and sometimes even impossible due to the building structure.

[0005] Otherwise, the traditional scaffolds can be substituted by anti-fall parapets, formed by a modular structure fastened to a support framework, which is clamped to the cornice by clamps.

[0006] The necessity to find fastening points for the clamps to fix the support framework makes the above mentioned anti-fall parapets problematic to use and little reliable.

[0007] According to another solution, as described in the Italian Patent No. 1.299.975 owned by the Applicant, the protection device includes a protection structure fastened to a group of support elements made integral with a structure element of the roof to be provided with a protection.

[0008] The protection structure includes a series of uprights and at least one pair of parallel strips joined together by joining means.

[0009] The support means include a plate, to whose extremity a hinging element is fastened, so as to protrude from the beam in mounting position.

[0010] However, the so obtained device cannot be used as the support for the operators during works on the roofs cornices; therefore, auxiliary means are needed to support the operator, e.g. metallic scaffolds or cranes equipped with suitable means for supporting the operators.

[0011] In this situation, the costs of scaffolds or the use of cranes are very high, which increases the costs of the works on the roofs.

[0012] The object of the present invention is to propose a device, which allows to perform works on the roofs of buildings and the like in absolute safety, avoiding the use of scaffolds and the like.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to propose a versatile protection device, which can be easily adapted to different kinds of buildings roofs or covers.

[0014] A further object of the present invention is to propose a protection device, which can be used as a support for operators during works on the buildings cornices.

[0015] A still further object of the present invention is to propose a device obtained by structurally simple means, whose mounting is easy and rapid.

[0016] The above mentioned objects are obtained in accordance with the contents of the claims.

[0017] The characteristic features of the present invention will be pointed out in the following description of a preferred, but not unique embodiment, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:
  • Figure 1 is a lateral view of a first module of the proposed device;
  • Figure 2 is the same view as Figure 1 of the first module to be combined with a second working module of the protection device;
  • Figure 3 is a lateral view of the proposed protection device;
  • Figure 4 is a prospective view of the device of Figure 3.


[0018] With reference to the enclosed drawings, the reference letter D indicates the protection device for works on buildings roofs, and for support of workers during works on the buildings cornices.

[0019] The device D includes a first module 1, shown in Figure 1, and a second module (Figure 2), which is combined with the first module, as shown in Figures 3, 4.

[0020] The first module 1 includes: a tubular arm 52, e.g. tubular as shown in Figure 1; adjusting means 51 fastened to one extremity E of the tubular arm 52 and hinged in an adjustable position to an upright 5.

[0021] The adjusting means 51 include a pair of wings 50, fastened symmetrically to the upright 5.

[0022] Each of the wings 50 features a hole 50a, which engages with a hinging pin 55 of the upright 5 and a plurality of holes 50b, arranged along a circle arc, with the center on the axis of the pin 55.

[0023] The holes 50b engage with a pin 53.

[0024] The angular position of the tubular arm 52 with respect to the upright 5 changes in relation to the hole 50b engaged by the pin 53.

[0025] Pairs of crossbars, not shown, are mutually joined to the upright 5 by joining means, to support a protection net, as described in the Italian Patent 1.299.975.

[0026] The second module 2 includes a tubular crossbar 6 featuring a hole 6a, which engages with a pin 61 (see Figure 4), to fix the tubular crossbar 6 to the tubular arm 52, with which the tubular crossbar 6 can be coupled.

[0027] Moreover, the tubular crossbar 6 is equipped with parallel hollow elements 62, which extend vertically downstream.

[0028] Each element 62 is equipped with a hole 62a, which is made near the free end "L" of the element 62 and which engages a pin 62b in order to fix a corresponding post 63 introduced into the element 62 in a predetermined position.

[0029] The posts 63, coupled telescopically with the hollow elements 62, have a series of holes 63a, one of which is coaxial with the hole 62a of the hollow element 62, with which the post 63 is coupled.

[0030] The posts 63 feature also a second hole 63b made in the terminal part of the posts 63, for the purpose which will be explained later.

[0031] The lower part of the posts 63 is equipped with fastening means 64, e.g. plates, made integral with a structure element 4 of the cover to be protected.

[0032] In the shown example, the structure element 4 includes wooden beams, to which locking means 64 are fastened by screw means 40.

[0033] Obviously, the structure element 4 can be made also of concrete structures or the like.

[0034] As shown in Figures 3, 4, the upright 5 is introduced into a sleeve 7, which engages also a stabilizing member 8, striking against walls P, which are situated under the cover C to be protected.

[0035] The stabilizing member 8 supports bearing blocks, e.g. plates, which bear the operator and allow him to work under the cover, near the cornices.

[0036] The above described protection device for works on the roofs C of buildings and the like, and for supporting workers during works on the cornices operates in the following way.

[0037] With reference to Figure 1, the first module 1 of the device assumes a working position O, so as to be used independently as a protection structure for works on covers of buildings.

[0038] In the working position O (Figure 1), the tubular arm 52 is integral with an external wall P of the roof or cover C to be provided with a protection, the pin 53 is introduced into a hole 50b of the adjusting means 51 to define an angular position, in which the upright 5, articulated to the adjusting means 51, is parallel to the tubular arm 52.

[0039] In order to work on the roofs or covers of buildings, as well as on the cornices, the first module 1 is joined to the second module 2.

[0040] The tubular arm 52 is coupled with the tubular crossbar 6, to which posts 63 are fastened by introducing the pin 62b into the corresponding holes 62a, 63a.

[0041] Thus, the coupling tubular arm 52 - crossbar 6 is stabilized by the introduction of the pin 61 into the hole 6a.

[0042] The vertical position of the upright 5 and the horizontal position of the stabilizing member 8 are defined, with the stabilizing member 8 striking against the wall P of the building.

[0043] The angular position of the mutual coupling of the tubular arm 52 and the tubular crossbar 6 is adjusted to set the posts 63 of the second module 2 vertical with respect to the structure element 4, thus fixing the fastening plates 64 to the structure element 4.

[0044] Bearing members 9, which allow the operator to work on the cornices, are placed over the stabilizing member 8.

[0045] It is to be pointed out that a protective net is fastened to the upright 5 in case only the first module 1 is used as well as in case the combination of the first module 1 and the second module 2 is used.

[0046] The described protection device allows to work on the covers and cornices of buildings and other high structures with absolute safety, avoiding the construction of scaffolds and the like.

[0047] The presence of two separate modules makes the protection device very versatile: actually, the use of the first module 1 allows to work on the covers of buildings, since the position and the fixing of the tubular arm 52 to the building wall P stabilize the upright 5, to which the protection net is fastened.

[0048] Therefore, the operator can work safely on the cover protected by the module.

[0049] The combined use of the first module 1 and the second module 2 is more advantageous, because the operator can work not only on the covers or roofs, but also on the cornices.

[0050] As it has already been described, the second module 2 is firmly fastened to the structure elements 4 of the cover by screw means 40, which assure a firm fixing of the protection device D to the cover, so that the latter resists to possible stresses.

[0051] Obviously, the protection structure, extending along the whole length of the cover on which the works are performed, is supported by the suitably spaced apart posts 63 of the second module 2, which, together with the tubular arm 52, carry, fastened thereto, the uprights 5 of the protection structure.

[0052] It is to be pointed out that the tubular arm 52 of the first module 1 is fastened to the adjusting element 50, which allows to position each upright 5 substantially vertically, independently from the structure elements 4 of the cover, to which the device is fixed.

[0053] Moreover, the telescopic coupling of the posts 63 of the second module 2 with the hollow elements 62 allows to substitute the elements K forming the cover in case they are damaged; actually, it is enough to release only the fastening means 64, remove the pin 62b, change the position of the post 63, i.e. the post is raised and locked by inserting of the pin 62b into the holes 62a, 63b (made co-axial), to facilitate the substitution of the element K (see Figure 4).

[0054] Further, the device assembling is very simple and easy, since it requires traditional screw means, whose number is limited.


Claims

1. Protection device for people working on roofs of buildings and the like, and for supporting operators during works on the cornices of the roofs, characterized in that it includes a first module (1) formed by: a tubular arm (52), made integral with an outer wall (P) of a roof (C) situated below; adjusting means (51) fastened to one end (E) of said tubular arm (52) and articulated to an upright (5) in adjustable position.
 
2. Protection device for people working on roofs of buildings and the like, and for supporting operators during works on the cornices of the covers, characterized in that it includes a first module (1) formed by: a tubular arm (52), made integral with an outer wall (P) of a roof (C) situated below; adjusting means (51) fastened to one end (E) of said tubular arm (52) and articulated to an upright (5) in adjustable position and in that in includes a second module 82), coupled with said tubular arm (52) and made integral with a structure element (4) of the roof to be provided with a protection.
 
3. Protection device, according to claim 1, characterized in that pairs of crosspieces, carrying a protection net, are joined to said upright (5) by joining means.
 
4. Protection device, according to claim 2, characterized in that said second module includes: a tubular crossbar (6), coupled with said tubular arm (52); hollow elements (62), which are fixed to said crossbar (6) and extend vertically downwards, said hollow elements (62) coupling telescopically with corresponding posts (63) equipped with fastening means (64) situated in the lower part of said posts (63), said fastening means (64) being integral with a structure element (4) of the roof (C) to be provided with a protection, and in that pairs of crosspieces, carrying a protection net, are joined to said upright (5) by joining means.
 
5. Protection device, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said adjusting means (51) include a pair of wings (50), articulated symmetrically to the upright (5), each of said wings being equipped with a hole (50a), which engages with a hinging pin (55) of the upright (5), and with a plurality of holes (50b), arranged along a circumference arc, with the center in correspondence to the axis of the pin (55), said holes (50b) engaging with a pin (53) to define the angular position of the tubular arm (52) with respect to the upright (5).
 
6. Device, according to claim 2 or 3 or 4 or 5, characterized in that the upright (5) is introduced into a sleeve (7), aimed at adjusting the vertical position of said upright (5) with respect to the roof (C) and in that said sleeve (7) adjusts the horizontal position of a stabilizing member (8), with which it is coupled; said stabilizing member (8) supporting boards (9) bearing the operator and allowing him to work below the roof (C).
 
7. Protection device, according to claim 2, characterized in that the tubular crossbar (6) is equipped with a hole (6a), engaging with a pin (61) to fix said crossbar (6) with said tubular arm (52).
 
8. Protection device, according to claim 2, characterized in that said telescopic coupling between the hollow elements (62) and the uprights (63) is locked by introduction of a pin (62b) into a hole (62a), made in each hollow element (62), and into one hole of the plurality of holes (63a) made in each post (63), and in that the terminal part of each post (63) includes a second hole (63b), which, due to the vertical movement of the post (63) becomes coaxial with said hole (62a) and engages with said pin (62b) to keep the post (63) in raised position.
 




Drawing