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EP 0 692 056 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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29.12.1997 Bulletin 1997/52 |
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Date of filing: 30.03.1994 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC)6: E04G 21/32 |
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International application number: |
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PCT/FI9400/123 |
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International publication number: |
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WO 9423/156 (13.10.1994 Gazette 1994/23) |
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SAFETY RAIL SYSTEM
SICHERHEITSGELÄNDER
BARRIERE DE SECURITE
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH DE DK FR GB IT LI NL SE |
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Priority: |
30.03.1993 FI 931440
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Date of publication of application: |
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17.01.1996 Bulletin 1996/03 |
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Proprietor: PELTITARVIKE OY |
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00770 Helsinki (FI) |
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Inventors: |
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- TOROPAINEN, Seppo
FIN-01490 Vantaa (FI)
- TOROPAINEN, Reijo
FIN-00940 Helsinki (FI)
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Representative: Nilsson, Karl Ingvar et al |
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STENHAGEN PATENTBYRA AB
P.O. Box 4630 116 91 Stockholm 116 91 Stockholm (SE) |
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References cited: :
EP-A- 0 288 100 DE-A- 3 347 395 GB-A- 2 027 768 US-A- 5 188 342
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DE-A- 2 910 325 DE-A- 3 803 211 US-A- 4 787 475
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The present invention relates to a safety fence system according the preamble of
claim 1.
[0002] Such safety fence systems such as that disclosed in the present invention are conventionally
used in, e.g., the repair and installation work of flat roofs. Particularly during
the repair or installation of eaves or working close to the safety fence, situations
occur in which the posts of the safety fence form an obstacle or impediment to the
work. Specifically the base parts of the fence posts are often quite disturbing to
the work performed. E.g., the European patent publication EP-A-0 288,100 discloses
a construction in which the base part of the fence post is hingedly mounted to the
post itself, and is thus upward foldable against the post part. This embodiment has
a disadvantage of complicated construction and the drawback that the base part when
folded against the post disturbs work close to the post. Moreover, fixing the fence
to the post is clumsy and slow in conventional systems.
[0003] In document US-A 5,188,342 there is disclosed a safety rail system having support
base units which include shoes for an upright post and a cantilever counterweight
connector. The counterweight assembly could be removed but the base remains and thus
disturbs the work performed close to the post.
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an entirely novel type of safety
fence system capable of overcoming the drawbacks of the prior-art technology, and
additionally, fulfilling the load test specifications of the DIN 4420 standard. The
invention is based on detachable fixing of the post part to the base part in the safety
fence system, whereby the base part can be easily and rapidly detached, while the
post part still remains fixed to the erected safety fence which remains supported
by the adjacent posts.
[0005] More specifically, the invention is characterized by what is stated in the appended
claims.
[0006] The invention provides significant benefits. The base part can be easily and rapidly
detached from the post part and thus moved aside. This facility speeds the erection
and dismantling of the safety fence system, thus permitting faster repair and installation
operations on a roof than was possible with prior-art techniques. The fence part can
be placed just at the roof edge as the base part is designed to be upward angled at
its end mating with the post part, thus permitting the base part to extend beyond
the roof edge. Moreover, the posts can be easily shifted, without the use of any tools,
steplessly along the fence when, e.g., more working space is desired. By virtue of
an angle joint piece, the fence system can be erected in any desired form with steplessly
adjustable angles. The approach according to the invention provides an easy-to-use,
quick-to-erect and dismantle safety fence system fulfilling the requirements of the
DIN 4420 standard.
[0007] The invention is next examined with reference to the appended drawings, in which
- Figure 1
- is a perspective view of the safety fence system according to the invention erected
on a roof;
- Figure 2
- is a side view of a post of the system according to the invention;
- Figures 3a, 3b and 3c
- are details of the fixing of the post part to the base part;
- Figure 4
- is a detail of the post viewed from direction A indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2;
- Figures 5a and 5b
- are details of the adjustment facility for the locking mechanism;
- Figure 6
- is a perspective general view of the adjustment facilities of the fence system; and
- Figure 7
- is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.
[0008] With reference to Fig. 1, the safety fence system is shown erected on a roof 2 having
an edge 3. The safety fence system comprises at least one fence part 1 arranged to
be supported by a plurality of support elements 4. Each support element comprises
a post part 5 and a base part 6 adapted to rest against the roof. The base part 6,
and consequently, the entire fence system is anchored in place with the help of at
least one weight 7.
[0009] With reference to Fig. 2, the post of the safety fence system comprises the base
part 6 having the post part 5 fixed to its locking bracket 8 with the help of locking
means 9,10. The lower end of the post part is advantageously located suitably outdistanced
above the support surface of the base part. In the exemplifying embodiments illustrated
in the diagrams, the locking bracket end of the base part 6 joining with the post
part 5 is suitably upward angled from horizontal to make room for a gutter ridge possibly
raised from the roof to remain untouched under the angled bracket part.
[0010] The base part is additionally provided with anti-slip means 20, 21 to secure the
safety fence system in place. Advantageously, the anti-slip means are adapted to the
base part at its end supporting the post part 5 and/or at the weight 7 or its vicinity.
The anti-slip means are made from plastic, rubber or equivalent high-friction material.
[0011] With reference to Figs. 3a - 3c, a detail of the locking of post part 5 to the base
part is shown. The left-side diagram in Fig. 3a illustrates the locking bracket part
8 of the base part. The locking bracket part may be a separate piece attached to the
base part, or alternatively, integral with the base part. The locking bracket part
is provided with notches 11, 12 or equivalent shapes. The notches 11, 12 are advantageously
made to opposite sides of the locking bracket part so as to face in opposite directions.
The lower end of the post part 5 is provided with horizontally projecting fixing means
9, 10 having a design compatible with notches 11, 12 of the locking bracket part.
Advantageously, the post part is attached as shown in Fig. 3b with the post part first
held almost horizontal, in which position the upper fixing means 9 is inserted in
the upper notch of the locking bracket part. Subsequently, the post part 5 is rotated
about the axis of the fixing means 9 until the lower fixing means 10 mates with the
lower notch 12. The lower fixing means 10 advantageously comprises a horizontal shaft
bolt 13 of the post part having outside threads at its one end and a compatibly inside-threaded
conical element 14, whose rotation tight secures the fixing means in the notch 12.
This arrangement provides the locking of the post part to the base part as shown in
Fig. 3c. Obviously, the detachment of the post part from the base part takes place
in the reverse order. It must be noted that, instead of rotating the post part, the
base part can be rotated during the fixing/dismantling operations of the base part
with the post part in order to secure the fixing means in the notches of the locking
arrangement.
[0012] With reference to Fig. 4, the fixing means of the post part 5 and the locking bracket
part of the base part are shown in a side view corresponding to that indicated by
arrow A in the diagram of Fig. 2. The locking bracket part 8 is in the embodiment
illustrated herein adapted for mounting with fixtures 15 such as bolts to the base
part 6. The locking bracket part 8 has an inverted U-shaped cross section with the
open side oriented downward. At the post part 5 the locking bracket part 8 has merely
the sides 16 into which the upper notch 11 and the lower notch 12 are machined for
the insertion of the fixing means 9, 10 of the post part. The diagram also illustrates
a support part 17.
[0013] With reference to Fig. 5, an advantageous embodiment according to the invention is
shown having the locking bracket part 8 designed adjustable. Such a locking bracket
part is shown in Fig. 5a in its initial position and in Fig. 5b in its angled end
position. Thus, the angle α can be varied when the safety fence system is used on,
e.g., steep saddleback roofs in the manner shown in Fig. 6. The adjustment of the
bracket angle can be stepless or in preset steps. In a stepwise angle adjustment the
locking bracket part 8 is provided with holes in desired locations. In the case shown
in the diagram, the adjustment is implemented in the form of a two-step angle adjustment
secured with a bolt and a nut. In the illustrated embodiment the adjustment facility
permits alteration of the bracket angle, whereby the safety fence is moved to the
position indicated by dashed line. The angle α can be varied in wide limits; in a
typical case it is 18°.
[0014] With reference to Fig. 7, an arrangement is shown in which the post part 5 is adapted
to have an eaves support 30 resting against the roof lower edge. In certain conditions
such an adjustable additional support may be required for the safety fence system.
The additional support 30 comprises a vertical part 31 and a horizontal part 32, both
being equipped with an adjustment facility. The adjustment is indicated by arrows
in the diagrams. The horizontal part 32 is provided with holes or similar provisions
permitting the attachment of the support to the roof by means of suitable fixtures
such as screws.
[0015] For those versed in the art it is obvious that the invention is not limited by the
exemplifying embodiments described above, but rather, can be varied within the scope
of the annexed claims.
1. A safety fence system comprising a plurality of fence elements (1) and a plurality
of support elements (4), each support element comprising a base part (6), which is
adapted to rest against a roof or similar backing surface and secured in place by
means of at least one weight (7), and a post part (5), which is fixed to the base
part and to which part the fence elements (1) are attached and the lower end of which
post part (5) is located upward outdistanced from the backing surface of the base
part,wherein the base part (6) and the post part (5) are detachably fixed to each
other by virtue of a locking bracket part (8) and by virtue of at least one fixing
means (9, 10) so that the base part (6) can be detached from the post part (5) without
detaching the post part from the fence element (1), characterized in that the locking bracket part (8) is provided with notches (11, 12) designed to
accommodate the fixing means (9, 10) adapted to the post part (5).
2. A safety fence system as defined in claim 1, characterized in that, besides the normal fixing means, the post part (5) is adapted to accommodate
an additional support (30) resting against, e.g., the lower edge of a roof, and advantageously,
having facilities for both vertical and horizontal adjustment.
3. A safety fence system as defined in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking bracket part (8) is integral with the base part (6).
4. A safety fence system as defined in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking bracket part (8) is attachable to the base part (6) by virtue
of fixtures (15).
5. A safety fence system as defined in any of foregoing claims 1-4, characterized in that the locking bracket part (8) is provided with an adjustment arrangement for
tilting the post part (5) to an angle.
6. A safety fence system as defined in any of foregoing claims 1-5, characterized in that said notches (11, 12) are made to opposite sides of the locking bracket part
(8).
7. A safety fence system as defined in any of foregoing claims 1-6, characterized in that said locking bracket part (8) has a rectangular hollow cross section, in
which the bottom side is open and, for the length mating with the post part (5), the
locking bracket part (8) has only the lateral sides to which the notches (11, 12)
are made.
1. Sicherheitsgeländer umfassend mehrere Geländerelemente (1) und mehrere Stützelemente
(4), wobei jedes Stützelement einen Sockelteil (6) aufweist, der so ausgebildet ist,
daß er gegen ein Dach oder eine ähnliche Stützfläche gelehnt ist und durch mindestens
ein Gewicht (7) sicher am Ort befestigt ist, und einen Pfostenteil (5), der am Sockelteil
befestigt ist und an dem die Geländerelemente (1) angebracht sind und dessen unteres
Ende nach oben gerichtet angeordnet ist, beabstandet von der Stützfläche des Sockelteils,
wobei der Sockelteil (6) und der Pfostenteil (5) lösbar aneinander befestigt sind
durch ein Sperrklammerteil (8) und durch mindestens ein Befestigungsmittel (9,10),
so daß der Sockelteil (6) vom Pfostenteil (5) gelöst werden kann, ohne daß der Pfostenteil
vom Geländerelement (1) gelöst wird,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der Sperrklammerteil (8) mit Kerben (11,12) versehen ist, die so ausgebildet sind,
daß sie die Befestigungsmittel (9,10) aufnehmen, die an den Pfostenteil (5) angepaßt
sind.
2. Sicherheitsgeländer nach Anspruch 1,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß über die durchschnittlichen Befestigungsmittel hinaus der Pfostenteil (5) so ausgebildet
ist, daß er eine zusätzliche Stütze (30) enthält, die gegen z.B. den unteren Rand
eines Daches gelehnt ist, und die vorteilshafterweise Einrichtungen für sowohl vertikale
als auch horizontale Einstellung aufweist.
3. Sicherheitsgeländer nach Anspruch 1 oder 2,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der Sperrklammerteil (8) mit dem Sockelteil (6) eine Einheit bildet.
4. Sicherheitsgeländer nach Anspruch 1 oder 2,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der Sperrklammerteil (8) mittels Befestigungen (15) an dem Sockelteil (6) angebracht
werden kann.
5. Sicherheitsgeländer nach irgendeinem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche 1 bis 4,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der Sperrklammerteil (8) mit einer Einstellungsvorrichtung zum Kippen des Pfostenteils
(5) in einem Winkel versehen ist.
6. Sicherheitsgeländer nach irgendeinem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche 1 bis 5,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Kerben (11,12) an gegenüberliegenden Seiten des Sperrklammerteils (8) ausgebildet
sind.
7. Sicherheitsgeländer nach irgendeinem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche 1 bis 6,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der Sperrklammerteil (8) einen rechteckigen Hohlquerschnitt aufweist, der an der
Unterseite offen ist und, entlang der Länge, die dem Pfostenteil (5) entspricht, der
Sperrklammerteil (8) nur die Schenkel hat, an denen die Kerben (11,12) ausgebildet
sind.
1. Système de barrière de sécurité comportant une pluralité d'éléments de barrière (1)
et une pluralité d'éléments de support (4), chaque élément de support comportant une
partie de base (6) qui est conçue pour reposer contre un toit ou une surface de support
similaire et qui est fixée en place par au moins un poids (7), et une partie de montant
(5) qui est fixée à la partie de base et à laquelle les éléments de barrière (1) sont
attachés et l'extrémité inférieure de la partie de montant (5) se situe vers le haut
avec un dépassement relativement à la surface de support de la partie de base, où
la partie de base (6) et la partie de montant (5) sont fixées détachablement l'une
à l'autre au moyen d'une partie de support de verrouillage (8) et au moyen d'au moins
un moyen de fixation (9, 10) de telle sorte que la partie de base (6) peut être enlevée
de la partie de montant (5) sans démonter la partie de montant de l'élément de barrière
(1), caractérisé en ce que la partie de support de verrouillage (8) présente des encoches
(11, 12) conçues pour loger les moyens de fixation (9, 10) adaptés à la partie de
montant (5).
2. Système de barrière de sécurité selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que, à
part le moyen de fixation normal, la partie de montant (5) est conçue pour loger un
support additionnel (30) reposant contre, par exemple, le bord inférieur d'un toit
et présentant avantageusement des dispositifs pour un ajustement à la fois vertical
et horizontal.
3. Système de barrière de sécurité selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que
la partie de support de verrouillage (8) est intégrale avec la partie de base (6).
4. Système de barrière de sécurité selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que
la partie de support de verrouillage (8) peut être fixée à la partie de base (6) par
des éléments de fixation (15).
5. Système de barrière de sécurité selon l'une des revendications précédentes 1-4, caractérisé
en ce que la partie de support de verrouillage (8) présente un agencement d'ajustement
pour faire basculer la partie de montant (5) suivant un angle.
6. Système de barrière de sécurité selon l'une des revendications précédentes 1-5, caractérisé
en ce que lesdites encoches (11, 12) sont réalisées aux côtés opposés de la partie
de support de verrouillage (8).
7. Système de barrière de sécurité selon l'une des revendications précédentes 1-6, caractérisé
en ce que ladite partie de support de verrouillage (8) a une section transversale
rectangulaire creuse où le côté de fond est ouvert et, pour la longueur appariée avec
la partie de montant (5), la partie de support de verrouillage (8) a seulement des
côtés latéraux dans lesquels les encoches (11, 12) sont réalisées.