A construction safety aid

Abstract

A safety aid 1 suitable for construction work having a ground engaging base 2, and upstanding shield mounted on the base and a clamp (Figure 3 – 10) mounted for vertical movement between an upper open position and a lower clamping position to clamp a workpiece 20 laterally of the shield plate. The clamp has a clamp element 5 on the outside of the shield to clamp a workpiece and a foot-engaging actuator 6 mounted on the inside of the shield. The user applies downward foot pressure to the clamp, clamping the workpiece whilst the foot is protected by the shield. The actuator may extend through a slot 4, which is preferably perpendicular to the base and vertical. The actuator may be a bar attached at a lateral end with the camp element. The actuator may have a length of angle bar with the open side facing away from the base, providing two edges for the user’s foot. The angle bar may have the open side towards the base, with two edges contacting the workpiece.

Description

We describe a safety aid for construction work, the safety aid comprising: a ground-engaging base, an upstanding shield mounted to the base, and extending in a longitudinal direction, and a clamp mounted for vertical movement between an upper open position and a lower clamping position to clamp a workpiece laterally of the shield, the clamp (10) comprising: 25 a clamp element laterally of the shield at an outer side of the shield to clamp a workpiece, and a foot-engaging actuator mounted laterally of the shield at an inner side of the shield, to allow a user to apply downward foot pressure on the clamp. 30 In some preferred examples: the upstanding shield comprises a vertical shield plate extending in the longitudinal direction from the base, and the clamp actuator extends laterally through the shield plate between said outer and inner sides, engaging the clamp on the outer side of the shield plate and allowing a user to place 20 01 25 a foot on the actuator at the inner side of the shield plate to press the clamp element downwardly against a workpiece while the foot is protected by the shield plate. In some preferred examples, the actuator extends through a slot in the shield plate. 5 In some preferred examples, the slot is perpendicular to the base to be vertical in use. In some preferred examples, the actuator comprises a bar extending laterally and being attached at a lateral end with the clamp element. 10 In some preferred examples, the actuator comprises a length of angle bar with the open side facing away from the base, providing two edges for the user’s foot to be placed. In some preferred examples, the clamp element has a top surface which extends laterally and 15 towards the base and terminates in an edge which defines a cutting line for the user. In some preferred examples, the clamp element comprises a length of angle bar with the open side facing towards the base, so that two edges contact the workpiece. In some preferred examples, the shield provides a surface facing the outer side for abutment with a workpiece for alignment of the workpiece in the longitudinal direction while clamped. In some preferred examples, the upstanding shield comprises a vertical shield plate extending in the longitudinal direction from the base, and the base comprises a flat planar plate. 25 In some preferred examples, the shield comprises a pair of parallel shields and the clamp element comprises a clamp element laterally of each shield on an outer side of each shield, and the actuator comprises a single actuator extending between the shields, thereby allowing choice of workpiece placement either on the left side or the right side of the safety aid. 30 In some preferred examples, the safety aid is symmetrical about a vertical plane mid-way between the shields. In some preferred examples, the aid further comprises a spring for urging the clamp to the upper 35 open position ready for use. 20 01 25 Detailed Description of the Invention The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some 5 embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. lisa perspective view of a safety aid of the invention, 10 Fig. 2 is a similar view but with a brick in place, having been pushed in laterally by the user, Fig. 3 is a similar view with the clamp lowered and foot pressure applied, and Fig. 4 shows the clamp in place under the weight of the user’s foot and cutting taking place in a safe 15 manner with an angle grinder, the brick being both securely retained for accurate cutting and the user’s foot being protected, Fig. 5 is a view of the aid after removal of the off-cut brick part, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative safety aid of the invention. Referring to the drawings, a safety aid 1 comprises a ground-engaging flat plate forming a base 2 and a shield comprising a pair of upstanding shield plates 3 at right angles to the base. The shield plates 3 extend in a longitudinal direction, and each has a vertical slot 4. The slots 4 are aligned, 25 and a horizontal clamp actuator bar 6 extends through the slots 4. The plates 3 are primarily for shielding the user’s foot during cutting of a workpiece with a hand-held rotary saw, but they also perform a very useful workpiece guide function. The shield plates 3 define a space between them, this being the inner side of each plate, which is 30 safe for a user’s foot. The outer side of each plate 3 is for the workpiece cutting to take place, with the foot being shielded by the plate 3. At each end of the actuator bar 6, on the outer side of each shield plate, there is a clamp element 5 comprising a length of angle iron or bar with the open side facing downwardly so that the pair of 35 opposed edges can engage a workpiece such as a brick placed on the base 2 underneath the clamp 20 01 25 bar 5. The actuator 6 and the pair of opposed clamp bars 5 are together a clamp 10. The clamp 10 is arranged to move vertically to the extent allowed by movement of the actuator bar 6 in the slots 4. In this embodiment the slots 4 are vertical, however it is envisaged that they may be sloped at a desired angle while still allowing vertical movement of the clamp. 5 The aid 1 is symmetrical about a vertical plane between the vertical shield plates 3. This allows the aid to be used with a workpiece clamped either to the right or the left, as preferred by the user. The shield plates 3 define the longitudinal direction, and each has an outside surface 7 against 10 which a workpiece can be butted in order to ensure that it is aligned correctly (is “square”) for cutting. Also, the base 2 provides a platform laterally outside of the guide plates 3, for supporting a workpiece. Use of the Aid 1 15 Fig. 1: An item to be cut such as a brick 20 is lifted to a position alongside the aid 1, and the user lifts the clamp 10 upwardly by grasping the actuator bar 6. Fig. 2: The brick 20 is placed directly underneath one of the clamp bars 5, laterally outside of a shield plate 3 (in this case the right-hand side) and it is flat against the nearest vertical shield plate 3, along its guide surface 7. This ensures that the clamp bar 5 is square along the length of the brick 20. The user may mark a line along the brick using the outer edge of the clamp bar 5 as a guide. Because the clamp bar 5 is of angle bar with its splayed sides facing downwardly it has comprehensive engagement with the brick 20, there being contact along two parallel edges. This 25 shape provides a convenient guide for cutting, especially to the downward taper of the clamp element 5. Fig. 3: The user places his foot on the actuator bar 6, at the inner side of the shield plate, and applies foot pressure on it so that the clamp bar 5 is pressed against the brick 20, holding it securely 30 on the base plate 2 and in alignment with the guide / shield plate 3. Fig. 4: With the brick 20 securely clamped in place and the clamp 5 providing a cutting edge guide, the user cuts along this edge with a consaw S, cutting through the brick to leave two parts 21 and 22. It will be appreciated that during this action the nearest shield plate 3 provides a reference 35 surface 7 for the brick so that it is square and it also acts as a shield to protect the user’s foot as it 20 01 25 is pressing down on the actuator 6 on the far side of the guide plate 3. In fact, the foot is comprehensively shielded on both sides, while performing the useful function of providing the clamping force for clamping the brick 20. 5 Fig. 5: The user’s foot is removed and the brick parts 21 and 22 are taken away. The aid 1 provides an intuitive way of cutting items, as it allows a user to do what is convenient and natural, using his or her weight to hold / retain the item, while also providing a cutting line guide and protection for the user’s foot when the angle grinder is being used. 10 The aid 1 may be used in either orientation, left or right-handed, and the symmetry about the longitudinal vertical plane also provides balance. Also, the shield plates can be made high enough to allow the brick or a block to be cut when upstanding or on its side rather than flat, if desired. Also, the aid can be used for assistance in cutting with a hand say, for example wood. 15 The aid is compact and can be used to assist sawing and safety on small sites, even for a single person working in the open. Also, it can be conveniently used to cut a workpiece at an angle as it is not necessarily aligned with the shield plate. The clamp element 5 provides excellent clamping force even when the workpiece is not extending longitudinally. Components of embodiments can be employed in other embodiments in a manner as would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described but may be varied in construction and detail. For example, the clamps may include features such as pads for gripping or the workpiece. It is not essential that the aid is double sided, 25 nor symmetrical. There may be a spring mounted to the base and linked with the clamp to urge the clamp to a default upper position ready for use. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 6, in which a safety aid 100 has parts similar to the aid 1 and additionally comprises a helical spring 101 for urging the clamp actuator 6 upwardly to a position ready for use. Such a bias is preferably just sufficient to lift the clamp, but not enough to provide much resistance to the downward 30 clamping force by the user’s foot. 20 01 25

Claims

1. A safety aid for construction work, the safety aid comprising:a ground-engaging base (2),5 an upstanding shield (3) mounted to the base, and extending in a longitudinaldirection, anda clamp (10) mounted for vertical movement between an upper open position and a lower clamping position to clamp a workpiece laterally of the shield, the clamp (10) comprising:10 a clamp element (5) laterally of the shield at an outer side of the shield toclamp a workpiece, anda foot-engaging actuator (6) mounted laterally of the shield at an inner side of the shield, to allow a user to apply downward foot pressure on the clamp.15 2. A safety aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein:the upstanding shield comprises a vertical shield plate (3) extending in the longitudinal direction from the base, andthe clamp actuator (6) extends laterally through (4) the shield plate between said outer and inner sides, engaging the clamp (5) on the outer side of the shield plate (3) and allowing a user to place a foot on the actuator (6) at the inner side of the shield plate to press the clamp element (5) downwardly against a workpiece while the foot is protected by the shield plate.

3. A safety aid as claimed in claim 2, wherein the actuator (6) extends through a slot (4) in 25 the shield plate.

4. A safety aid as claimed in claim 3, wherein the slot (4) is perpendicular to the base, to be vertical in use.30 5. A safety aid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the actuator comprises a bar (6)extending laterally and being attached at a lateral end with the clamp element (5).

6. A safety aid as claimed in claim 5, wherein the actuator (6) comprises a length of angle bar with the open side facing away from the base, providing two edges for the user’s foot to be 35 placed.20 01 257. A safety aid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the clamp element (5) has a topsurface which extends laterally and towards the base and terminates in an edge which defines a cutting line for the user.

58. A safety aid as claimed in claim 7, wherein the clamp element (5) comprises a length of angle bar with the open side facing towards the base, so that two edges contact the workpiece.10 9. A safety aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shield provides a surface (7) facing theouter side for abutment with a workpiece for alignment of the workpiece in the longitudinal direction while clamped.

10. A safety aid as claimed in claim 9, wherein the upstanding shield comprises a vertical shield 15 plate (3) extending in the longitudinal direction from the base, and the base comprises aflat planar plate.

11. A safety aid as claimed in any claim 1, wherein the shield comprises a pair of parallel shields and the clamp element comprises a clamp element laterally of each shield on an outer side of each shield, and the actuator comprises a single actuator extending between the shields, thereby allowing choice of workpiece placement either on the left side or the right side of the safety aid.

12. A safety aid as claimed in claim 11, wherein the safety aid is symmetrical about a vertical 25 plane mid-way between the shields.

13. A safety aid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the aid further comprises a spring (101) for urging the clamp to the upper open position ready for use.

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