Fall protection kit for securing an installed pole

Abstract

The fall protection kit according to the present invention comprises a cap (21), fixable to close an upper opening of the pole, and provided with a rigid, curvilinear guide pipe (23), protruding at the top from the cap plane (T). The guide pipe (23) is provided with an end (29) fixed to the cap (21) and an opposite end ending in a guide opening (25), and internally defines an inner channel (24) suitable for running cables and / or ropes. Since such a fall protection kit is a cap with an incorporated guide pipe, it is easy and quick to install on existing poles. Advantageously, such a fall protection system allows drastically reducing the number of poles which need to be completely replaced to be rigged and secured, resulting in significant cost savings. [Fig. 1]

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a fall protection kit for previously installed poles, e.g., utility poles or lighting poles.

[0002] Workers who work "at height" (i.e., at a height of more than two meters above a stable surface) are exposed to the risk of falling, and therefore must use personal protective equipment (PPE) as a legal requirement. However, it is known that PPE helps to reduce, but not totally eliminate, the risk of falls or traumas and injuries to the worker. Indeed, when a worker climbs a structure, a safety rope must be moved from a lower anchor to a higher anchor to allow the ascent. However, such an operation has a number of critical issues. Firstly, falling from the height of the higher anchor when the safety rope is not yet fixed thereto causes a sudden descent with strong accelerations which could cause physical injuries to the worker. Furthermore, the worker could work on structures insufficiently spaced apart from the stable surface to allow the PPE to perform its function properly. Specifically, the safety rope and the possible shock absorber thereof could be too long so as to be totally ineffective in keeping the worker below a certain height.

[0003] In order to solve these problems, the Applicant devised a fall protection system, described in IT102018000004272, applicable when installing new utility poles. Such a system allows securing all newly installed poles, but it is not applicable to existing poles, i.e., already in place, which must be completely replaced with new poles rigged with a fall protection system in order to be secured. However, replacing existing poles with new rigged poles is very expensive.

[0004] Therefore, the need is felt in the industry to provide effective fall protection systems applicable to existing poles, i.e., already in place.

[0005] It is the object of the present invention to provide a fall protection kit easily applicable to an existing pole, i.e., already in place, in order to rig the existing pole with a fall protection system.

[0006] Such an object is achieved by a fall protection kit according to claim 1. The claims dependent thereon show preferred variants of the invention.

[0007] The features and advantages of the fall protection kit according to the present invention will be apparent from the following description, given by way of nonlimiting example, according to the accompanying figures, in which: figure 1 shows an existing pole to which a fall protection kit, and in particular a pole kit, according to a first embodiment, is applied; figure 2 shows an enlarged view of the pole kit in figure 1; figures 3A to 3D show the steps of use of the fall protection kit in figure 1, in particular the pole kit in combination with an operator kit; figure 4 shows an existing pole to which a fall protection kit, and in particular a pole kit, according to a second embodiment, is applied; figure 5 shows an enlarged view of the pole kit in figure 4; figure from 6A to 6C show the steps of use of the fall protection kit in figure 4, in particular the pole kit in combination with an operator kit.

[0008] The present invention relates to a fall protection kit consisting of a pole kit, to be installed on an existing pole to secure it and which then remains in place, and a portable operator kit to be used as needed and removed from the pole at the end of use.

[0009] The present technical solution is applicable to existing poles, i.e., already installed in place. The pole can be of the tapered, cylindrical, conical, polygonal (e.g., octagonal) type. The pole is generally made of metal, e.g., steel. For example, a pole means a utility pole, i.e., intended to support electrical cables (e.g., high-voltage), or a lighting pole, or a pole for photovoltaic panels or light towers. In further examples, the pole is for telecommunications, sign-holding, loudspeakers, video surveillance, traffic lights, tramway.

[0010] The pole 1, which is not the subject of the present invention but is the support structure to which the fall protection kit of the present invention is applied, comprises a lower end 11, fixed to the ground or ground level, and an upper end 12 to which the pole kit will be applied.

[0011] As shown in figures 1 and 4, the pole 1 is provided with a pole cavity 13 therein, which extends between the lower end 11 and the upper end 12.

[0012] The pole 1 has, at the upper end 12, an upper opening 14 for entering into the pole cavity 13. The upper opening 14 is an axial opening, having the same section as the upper end 12. The upper opening 14 is open, i.e., it has no closing means.

[0013] Generally, the pole 1 has, at the upper end 12 and accessible from the upper opening 14, a seat 16 suitable for housing fixing means, e.g., screws, for coupling pole accessories, such as for example arms, crossbars, pole heads, or decorative finials. For example, the seat 16 is arranged axially and centrally with respect to the upper opening 14.

[0014] The pole 1 has, close to the lower end 112, a lower opening 15 for entering into the pole cavity 13. The lower opening 15 is a transverse opening in the side wall of the pole. Generally, the lower opening 15 is oval in shape. Generally, the lower opening 15 is closed by an inspection door (not shown in the figures), removable to access the pole cavity 13.

[0015] Figures 2 and 5 show in detail two embodiments of a pole kit installed at the top end 12 of an existing pole 1, i.e., already installed in place for some time. The pole kit comprises a cap 21 provided with a guide pipe 23.

[0016] The cap 21 is engageable with the upper end 12 of the pole 1, to close from the upper opening 14.

[0017] For example, the cap 21 is screwable onto the upper end 12 of the pole 1.

[0018] For example, the cap 21 is engaged by friction with the upper end 12 of the pole 1.

[0019] For example, the cap 21 is engaged by fixing means 22, e.g., screws, screwed into the seat 16 inside the upper end 12 of the pole 1. In such an embodiment, the cap 21 is provided with a hole for the passage of a fixing means 22.

[0020] The cap 21 defines a horizontal cap plane T.

[0021] The guide pipe 23 protrudes at the top from the cap plane T.

[0022] The guide pipe 23 is curvilinear and defines an inner channel 24 therein suitable for running cables and ropes. The guide pipe 23 is rigid so as to maintain the curvature.

[0023] Preferably, the guide pipe 23 defines a 180° curve from the cap plane T. Preferably, the guide pipe 23 is off-center with respect to the cap 21, e.g., it extends from a peripheral zone of the cap 21.

[0024] The guide pipe 23 is fixed to the cap 21, e.g., by welding. The cap 21, and the guide pipe 23 therewith, is preferably made of metal, e.g., steel.

[0025] Preferably, the cap 21 is provided with a support 26 to support the guide pipe 23. For example, the support 26 is a plate which extends from the cap plane T to the guide pipe 23.

[0026] The guide pipe 23 is provided with an end 29 fixed to the cap 21 and an opposite end ending in a downward-facing guide opening 25, preferably arranged horizontally, i.e., parallel to the cap plane T. Preferably, the guide opening 25 protrudes transversely from the cap 21.

[0027] In the embodiment in figure 2, the pole kit further comprises an auxiliary pipe 31 which defines an auxiliary pipe 32 therein, suitable for running cables and ropes. The auxiliary pipe 32 can be rigid or flexible.

[0028] The auxiliary pipe 31 is engaged with the cap 21, in particular below the cap 21 at the end 29 of the guide pipe 23, so that the auxiliary channel 32 is a downward continuation of the inner channel 24 of the guide pipe 23. Thereby, a single, continuous path is provided, in which ropes or cables can move.

[0029] The auxiliary pipe 31 extends into the pole cavity 13 of the pole 1 from the upper opening 14 to the lower opening 15 of the pole itself.

[0030] The auxiliary pipe 31, and in particular the auxiliary channel 32, ends in an auxiliary opening 33 close to the lower, transverse opening 15 of the pole 1.

[0031] In the embodiment in figure 5, the pole kit further comprises a cable 41 provided with a weight 42 at an upper end. The cable 41 is very long, i.e., for example, it has a length equal to at least twice, or three times, the height of the pole 1. For example, the cable 41 is 25 meters long, the pole being 8.5 meters high.

[0032] The cable 41 is slidingly inserted into the inner channel 24 of the guide pipe 33 so that the weight 42 comes out of the guide opening 25 and the rest from the cable, i.e., almost the entire cable 41, extends into the pole cavity 13 of the pole 1, from the upper end 12 to the lower end 11, and is accessible through the lower, transverse opening 15 of the pole itself.

[0033] Preferably, a small end portion of the cable 41 at the weight 42 also comes out of the guide opening 25.

[0034] Preferably, the cable 41 is a metal cable.

[0035] Figures 1 and 4 show an existing pole 1 onto which the pole kit according to the present invention has been installed. Such a pole kit, in both versions in figure 2 and in figure 5, is installable onto an existing pole 1 to secure it and, once it has been fixed on the upper end 12, it remains on the pole 1, which is thus, in effect, a pole rigged with a fall protection system.

[0036] As anticipated above, the present invention relates to a fall protection kit consisting of a pole kit and a portable operator kit, i.e., engageable with the pole kit and usable together with the pole kit to complete the fall protection kit. The operator kit is portable, i.e., it is carried on site by the operator, used together with the pole kit to complete the fall protection kit during at-height work operations, at the end of which it is removed from the pole 1 and does not remain on site, unlike the pole kit. Such a solution allows the same operator kit to be reused for multiple poles.

[0037] The operator kit comprises at least one rope 51 and a removable anchoring point 52.

[0038] The rope 51 is preferably a textile rope.

[0039] The rope 51 can be used together with a harness, to which it is connectable by means of a coupling member. For example, the harness 4 comprises a pair of straps (e.g., adjustable in length), a belt (optionally comprising a back support, e.g., padded), and a pair of mutually interconnected leg loops. For example, the coupling member is a carabiner.

[0040] The removable anchoring point 52 is a shackle and / or a hook-like body, for example.

[0041] An operator kit consisting of at least one rope 51 and a removable anchoring point 52 is suitable for a pole kit according to the constructional variant in figure 4.

[0042] An operator kit comprising a rope 51, a removable anchoring point 52 and a grommet probe 53 is suitable for a pole kit according to the constructional variant in figure 1.

[0043] The mode for rigging an existing pole 1, i.e., already in place, by means of the fall protection kit of the present invention will now be described.

[0044] The operator, by means of an appropriate lifting system or other climbing means, is lifted to the top of the pole 1 and applies the cap 21, provided with guide pipe 23, to the upper end 12 of the pole 1, to close from the upper opening 14. In the case of the pole kit according to figure 2, the cap 21 is provided with a long auxiliary pipe 31 which is arranged inside the pole cavity 13 so that the corresponding auxiliary opening 33 is accessible from the lower opening 15 of the pole itself.

[0045] In the case of the pole kit according to figure 5, the cap 21 is provided with the cable 41 with weight 42, which cable 41 is arranged inside the pole cavity 13 so that it is accessible from the lower opening 15 of the pole itself. The cable 41 is fixed to the inner wall of the pole 1, e.g., close to the inspection door, to avoid the weight 42 from falling to the ground.

[0046] The mode of using the fall protection kit of the present invention will now be described.

[0047] In the case of the pole kit according to figure 1, the operator is provided with an operator kit consisting of a rope 51, a removable anchoring point 52, and a grommet probe 53.

[0048] The operator inserts one end of the grommet probe 53 through the lower opening 15 of the pole 1 and then through the auxiliary opening 33 of the auxiliary pipe 31 of the pole kit; the end of the grommet probe 53 is moved up until it comes out of the guide opening 25 of the guide pipe 23 of the pole kit (figure 3A).

[0049] The end of grommet probe 53, which is now outside the guide opening 25 and thus outside the pole and the pole kit, is lowered to the ground; the operator couples one end of the rope 51 to the end of the grommet probe 53 (figure 3B).

[0050] The operator retracts the grommet probe 53 to move the end of the rope 51 up to the guide opening 25 of the guide pipe 23 of the pole kit (figure 3C), then into the auxiliary pipe 31 until the end of the rope 51 comes out of the lower opening 15 of the pole 1.

[0051] Having removed the grommet probe 53, the operator fixes the removable anchoring point 52 to the outer wall of the pole 1, e.g., close to the lower opening 15, after that the operator fixes the end of the rope 51 to the removable anchoring point 52 (figure 3D). At this point, the fall protection kit is fully installed and operating, and can be safely used by the operator to ascend the pole 1.

[0052] In the case of a pole kit according to figure 4, the operator is provided with an operator kit consisting of a rope 51 and a removable anchoring point 52.

[0053] The operator, accessing from the lower opening 15 of the pole 1 to the pole cavity 13, releases the cable 41 (which was fixed to the inner wall of the pole 1) to allow the weight 42 to descend, by gravity, to the ground; the operator couples one end of the rope 51 to the cable 41 and retracts the cable 41 to cause the end of the rope 51 to ascend into the pole cavity 13, passing through the lower opening 15 (figure 6A).

[0054] The end of the rope 51 is moved up until it comes out of the guide opening 25 of the guide pipe 23 of the pole kit (figure 6B).

[0055] At this point, the end of the rope 51, which is now outside the guide opening 25 and thus outside the pole and the pole kit, is lowered to the ground. The operator fixes the removable anchoring point 52 to the outer wall of the pole 1, e.g., close to the lower opening 15, after that the operator fixes the end of the rope 51 to the removable anchoring point 52 (figure 6C). Once removed the cable 41 with weight 42 from the rope 51, the fall protection kit is installed and operating, and can be safely used by the operator to ascend the pole 1.

[0056] When the fall protection kit is operating, figures 3D and 6C, the rope 51 is mounted to the pole 1 by means of the guide pipe 23.

[0057] Innovatively, the fall protection kit of the present invention is applicable to existing poles, i.e., already in place.

[0058] Advantageously, the fall protection system of the present invention, being a cap with an incorporated guide pipe for running cables and / or ropes, is easy and quick to install on existing poles.

[0059] Advantageously, such a fall protection system allows drastically reducing the number of poles which need to be completely replaced to be rigged and secured, resulting in significant cost savings.

[0060] Advantageously, such a fall protection system allows avoiding the critical ascent (or descent) issues suffered by currently employed systems, because the coupling point with the releasable connector can be displaced distally (or proximally) so as to reduce the user's travel in the event of a fall, and so as to increase the clearance, i.e., the minimum distance - measured vertically - required to safely stop the user in a fall protection system.

[0061] It is apparent that those skilled in the art may make changes to the kit described above, all contained within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A fall protection kit for securing an installed pole, comprising a cap (21) fixable to close an upper opening of said pole, said cap (21) defining a cap plane (T), said cap (21) having a rigid, curvilinear guide pipe (23), protruding at the top from said cap plane (T), wherein said guide pipe (23) is provided with an end (29) fixed to the cap (21) and an opposite end ending in a guide opening (25), and wherein said guide pipe (23) internally defines an inner channel (24), ending in the guide opening (25), suitable for running cables and / or ropes.

2. A fall protection kit according to claim 1, wherein the guide pipe (23) defines a 180° curve from the cap plane (T).

3. A fall protection kit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide pipe (23) extends from a peripheral zone of the cap (21).

4. A fall protection kit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said guide opening (25) of the guide pipe (23) is arranged parallel to the cap plane (T) and / or protrudes transversely from the cap (21).

5. A fall protection kit according to any one of the preceding claims, also comprising a fixing means (22) in the form of a screw, and wherein said cap (21) is provided with a central hole for the passage of said fixing means (22).

6. A fall protection kit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cap (21) is provided with a support (26) extending from the cap plane (T) to the guide pipe (23).

7. A fall protection kit according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: - an auxiliary pipe (31), which defines an auxiliary channel (32) therein, suitable for running cables and ropes, said auxiliary pipe (31) being engaged below the cap (21) so that the auxiliary channel (32) is a downward continuation of the inner channel (24) of the guide pipe (23), said auxiliary pipe (31) ending in an auxiliary opening (33).

8. A fall protection kit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: - a cable (41) provided, at an upper end, with a weight (42), said cable being slidingly inserted into the inner channel (24) of the guide pipe (33) so that the weight (42) comes out of the guide opening (25).

9. A fall protection kit according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an operator kit engageable with the pole kit and comprising a rope (51), a removable anchoring point (52), and optionally a grommet probe (53).

10. A method of installing a fall protection kit according to claim 7 or 8 onto an installed pole (1), said pole (1) having an upper end (12) ending in an upper opening (14), and internally defining a pole cavity (13) accessible from a lower opening (15), comprising the step of: - fixing the cap (21) to the upper end (12) of the pole (1) to close the upper opening (14), arranging the auxiliary pipe (31) or cable (41) inside the pole cavity (13) so that said auxiliary pipe (31) or said cable (41) is accessible from the lower opening (15) of the pole (1) .

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