Roof perimeter safety rail system

Abstract

A roof perimeter safety rail system includes a base securing member having one or more of a cutaway / recess portion or a sleeve / stanchion receiving portion, and a stanchion having at least one of a line / cable receiving recess / slot that is operatively arranged to receive a line / cable therein, or a rail aperture that is operatively arranged to receive a rail therein. The base securing member is detachably securable to the stanchion, and the base securing member is detachably securable to one or more of a roof portion of a building and / or a wall portion or face of a building. The stanchion is detachably securable to a wall portion or a face portion of a building.

Description

ROOF PERIMETER SAFETY RAIL SYSTEMCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit, under Articles 4 and 8 of the Stockholm Act of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, and priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 63 / 626,333, filed January 29, 2024.FIELD

[0002] The instant disclosure broadly relates generally to the field of fall prevention apparatus for rooftop workers, and more particularly to an improved safety rail system for installation about the perimeter of a roof.BACKGROUND

[0003] During application and maintenance of roofing on buildings, workers are placed at risk of falling from heights which are known to cause Serious injury or death. Therefore, insurance companies and governmental agencies such as OSHA now prescribe that a safety barrier be erected about the perimeter of a rooftop work Site to prevent accidental falls.

[0004] In view of this need, several safety rail systems designed to be erected about a roof perimeter are known. One example of a roof perimeter safety rail system is described in U.S Pat. No. 6,053,281, assigned to the Murray Roofing Company, Inc., and which patent is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As described therein, a roof perimeter safety rail system, generally includes a plurality of stanchion supporting bases that attach to a building roof and / or wall. A plurality of stanchions removably secure to the bases and have cable-receiving links thereon. Additionally, a pair of wire rope cable safety rails supplied by a pair of winches are fixed to at least one of the stanchions. The bases include a pair of plate members connected by a hinge for adjustably attaching the bases to a vertical wall surface of the building, as well as another structural surface, such as a rooftop, that forms an edge with the vertical wall surface. A vertically extending sleeve is fixedly secured to a plate member that secures to the vertical wall surface of the building. The sleeve slidably receives a bottom portion of a stanchion therein, and a transversely extending locking pin is used to retain the bottom portion of the stanchion within the sleeve via a borehole in the stanchion. The safety rail cables are unwound from theirrespective winches and connected to the stanchions using the cable receiving links, and the cables can then be tensioned using the winches.

[0005] While the roof perimeter safety rail system described in U.S Pat. No. 6,053,281 is entirely satisfactory and suitable for its intended purpose, there is room for improvement. For example, the stanchions utilize cable receiving means, which limits the system to the use of cables. Additionally, the stanchion supporting bases are formed from a pair of plate members hingedly secured to one another, with one of the plate members including a sleeve welded thereto for receiving a stanchion therein. Hence, the stanchion supporting bases can be heavy and unwieldly and / or utilize unnecessary additional materials. Finally, the stanchions are not height adjustable within the sleeves.

[0006] Thus, there is a long-felt need for an improved roof perimeter safety rail system that addresses the problems discussed above.SUMMARY

[0007] At the outset it should be understood that while the following disclosure, figures, and / or claims, etc. describe subject matter including one or more aspects described as either alone or in combination with one or more other aspects, the subject matter of the instant disclosure is not intended to be so limited. That is, the instant disclosure, figures, and claims are intended to encompass the various aspects described herein, either alone or in one or more combinations with one another. For example, while the instant disclosure may describe and illustrate a first aspect, a second aspect, and a third aspect in a manner such that the first aspect is only specifically described and illustrated relative to the second aspect, or the second aspect is only described and illustrated relative to the third aspect, the instant disclosure and illustrations are not intended to be so limiting and may encompass the first aspect alone, the second aspect alone, the third aspect alone, or one or more combinations of the first, second, and / or third aspects, e.g., the first aspect and the second aspect, the first aspect and the third aspect, the second and third aspect, or the first, second and third aspects.

[0008] A roof perimeter safety rail system generally includes a base securing member including a one or more of a cutaway / recess portion or a sleeve / stanchion receiving portion, and a stanchion including at least one of a line / cable receiving recess / slot that is operatively arranged to receive a line / cable therein, and / or a rail aperture that is operatively arranged to receive a railtherein. The base securing member is detachably securable to the stanchion. The base securing member is detachably securable to one or more of a roof portion of a building and / or a wall portion or face of a building, and the stanchion is detachably securable to a wall portion or a face portion of a building.

[0009] In some aspects, the base securing member includes a sleeve / stanchion receiving portion. In some aspects, the stanchion is adjustably slidably received by the sleeve / stanchion receiving portion. In some aspects, the stanchion and the sleeve / stanchion receiving portion each include a plurality of pin receiving through-holes operatively arranged to adjustably receive a pin therethrough. In some aspects, the plurality of pin receiving through-holes of the stanchion and the plurality of pin receiving through-holes of the sleeve / stanchion are aligned with each other. In some aspects, the base securing member and the stanchion each include a plurality of fastener receiving through-holes operatively arranged to receive a fastener.

[0010] In some aspects, the base securing member includes a base plate fastening portion, a cutaway / recess portion, and a riser portion, the stanchion is detachably securable to the base securing member in a hinged manner, and the base plate fastening portion is detachably securable to a roof portion of a building and the stanchion is detachably securable to a wall portion or a face portion of a building. In some aspects, the stanchion is detachably securable to the base securing member via the riser portion. In some aspects, the stanchion is detachably securable to the base plate fastening portion via the riser portion. In some aspects, the stanchion is adjustably slidably received by the cutaway / recess portion and the riser portion. In some aspects, the stanchion includes a plurality of pin receiving through-holes operatively arranged to adjustably receive a pin therethrough, and the riser portion includes at least one pin receiving through-hole operatively arranged to adjustably receive the pin therethrough. In some aspects, the base plate fastening portion and the stanchion each include a plurality of fastener receiving through-holes operatively arranged to receive a fastener.

[0011] In some aspects, the line / cable receiving recess / slot is in the form of a maze-like recess / slot that that includes a plurality of tums / windings. In some aspects, a plurality of line / cable receiving recesses / slots are provided and spaced apart from one another at one or more intervals. In some aspects, a plurality of rail apertures are provided and spaced apart from one another at one or more intervals. In some aspects, a plurality of line / cable receivingrecesses / slots and a plurality of rail apertures are provided, and the plurality of line / cable recesses correspond with the plurality of rail apertures to form combination line / cable receiving recesses / slots and rail apertures, the combination line / cable receiving recesses / slots and rail apertures can be spaced apart from one another at one or more intervals.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The nature and mode of operation of the inventive subject matter will now be more fully described in the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a roof rail perimeter safety system in accordance with the instant disclsoure;FIG. 2 are perspective and perspective close-up views of a stanchion and a base securing member in accordance with the instant disclosure;FIG. 3 is a perspective, exploded view of a stanchion and based securing member in accordance with the instant disclosure; and,FIG. 4 are perspective and perspective close-up view of a stanchion and alternative base securing member in accordance with the instant disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers and / or the use of prime notations on different drawing views are intended to identify identical, similar, or functionally similar, structural elements. It is to be understood that the claims are not limited to the specifically disclosed and illustrated aspects.

[0014] Furthermore, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular methodologies, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure or claims.

[0015] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice the example aspects.

[0016] It should be understood that use of “or” in the present application is with respect to a “non-exclusive” arrangement, unless stated otherwise. For example, when saying that “item x is A or B,” it is understood that this can mean one of the following: (1) item x is only one or the other of A and B; (2) item x is both A and B. Alternately stated, the word “or” is not used to define an “exclusive or” arrangement. For example, an “exclusive or” arrangement for the statement “item x is A or B” would require that x can be only one of A and B. Moreover, as used herein, the phrases “comprises at least one of’ and “comprising at least one of’ in combination with a system or element is intended to mean that the system or element includes one or more of the elements listed after the phrase. For example, a device comprising at least one of: a first element; a second element; and, a third element, is intended to be construed as any one of the following structural arrangements: a device comprising a first element; a device comprising a second element; a device comprising a third element; a device comprising a first element and a second element; a device comprising a first element and a third element; a device comprising a first element, a second element and a third element; or, a device comprising a second element and a third element. A similar interpretation is intended when the phrase “used in at least one of:” is used herein. Furthermore, as used herein, “and / or” is intended to mean a grammatical conjunction used to indicate that one or more of the elements or conditions recited may be included or occur. For example, a device comprising a first element, a second element and / or a third element, is intended to be construed as any one of the following structural arrangements: a device comprising a first element; a device comprising a second element; a device comprising a third element; a device comprising a first element and a second element; a device comprising a first element and a third element; a device comprising a first element, a second element and a third element; or, a device comprising a second element and a third element.

[0017] It should be appreciated that the term “substantially” and “generally” are synonymous with terms such as “nearly,” “very nearly,” “about,” “approximately,” “around,” “bordering on,” “close to,” “essentially,” “in the neighborhood of,” “in the vicinity of,” etc., and such terms may be used interchangeably as appearing in the specification and claims. It should be appreciated that the term “proximate” is synonymous with terms such as “nearby,” “close,” “adjacent,” “neighboring,” “immediate,” “adjoining,” etc., and such terms may be usedinterchangeably as appearing in the specification and claims. The term “approximately” is intended to mean values within ten percent of the specified value.

[0018] By “non-rotatably connected” elements, it is meant that: the elements are connected so that whenever one of the elements rotate, all the elements rotate; and relative rotation between the elements is not possible. Radial and / or axial movement of non-rotatably connected elements with respect to each other is possible, but not required. Additionally, “plastic deformation” is intended to mean instances when a sufficient load is applied to a material that causes a permanent change in shape to that material.

[0019] Adverting now to the figures and referring to FIG. 1, a roof perimeter safety rail system 10 in accordance with the instant disclosure is shown installed about the perimeter of a roof 14 of building 12 having structural walls 16. Safety rail system 10 generally comprises a plurality of stanchions 20 removably mounted about the roof perimeter at spaced apart intervals, preferably no greater than eight feet in length, and / or at a intervals generally accepted by various government safety agencies and / or standards, e.g., OSHA, ANSI, etc. Each stanchion 20 generally includes lower stanchion portion 30 and upper stanchion portion 32. Lower stanchion portion 30 detachably and pivotally secures with base securing member 18 so as to secure stanchion 20 to roof 14 and wall 16 of building 12.

[0020] Upper stanchion portion 32 generally includes a plurality of spaced apart cable receiving slots 22, as well as a plurality of spaced apart rail receiving apertures 26 disposed along a length thereof. As shown in the figures, cable receiving slots 22 and rail receiving apertures 26 can be disposed proximate one another as a set, but at spaced apart intervals along the length of the upper portion of each stanchion 20 in accordance with regulatory requirements. While cable receiving slots 22 and rail receiving apertures 26 are shown as being disposed proximate one another as sets, they may be spaced apart from one another. As shown in the closeup view of cable receiving slot 22 in FIG. 2, cable receiving slot 22 comprises a maze-like winding recess that includes a number of turns that allows cable 24 to be readily inserted therein, but which also prevents cable 24 from being easily removed therefrom as may occur under the application of a force, e.g., a worker inadvertently contacting cable 24. As may be apparent from the figures, upon insertion of cable 24 into cable receiving slots 22, an effective safety barrier can be formed. As may also be appreciated from the figures, rail receiving apertures 26 areconfigured to receive rails 28 therein, which can also form an effective safety barrier. Rails 28 can be formed from, for example, wood, or other suitable materials that may be received within rail receiving apertures 26. Upper stanchion portion 32 is generally formed in an angle iron type-fashion that has sides that are generally orthogonal to one another, which provides strength, but yet reduces weight and material requirements as compared to the use of fully tubular materials.

[0021] Lower stanchion portion 30 is generally provided for securing stanchion 20 to base securing member 18, as well as to wall 16 of building 12 - all while allowing the height of stanchion 20 to be readily adjusted. In accordance therewith, lower stanchion portion 30 is generally shown as comprising a square tube structure that includes a plurality of spaced apart pin receiving through-holes 36 capable of receiving pin 38 therein (in conjunction with later described pin receiving through-holes 46 of risers 44 of base securing member 18). Lower stanchion portion 30 also includes through-holes 35 and fastener receiving through-holes 34, which are disposed opposite one another. As mentioned above, pin receiving through-holes 36 are configured to receive pin 38 therein such that the height of stanchion 20 may be adjusted as desired. Fastener receiving through-holes 34 are provided on a wall facing side of each stanchion 20. Fastener receiving through-holes 34 receive appropriate fasteners, such as lag bolts or screws, such that the lower stanchion portion 30 can be fastened and secured to wall 16. Each through-hole 35 of lower stanchion portion 30 is aligned and disposed opposite a respective fastener receiving through-hole 34. Each through-hole 35 has a diameter larger than that of each fastener receiving through-hole 34 of lower stanchion portion 30, which allows a tool such as a screwdriver, drill, or ratchet, for example, or an appropriate fastener to be inserted therethrough for purposes of securing the lower stanchion portion 30 to wall 16. It should be understood that while the figures illustrate through-bores 35, lower stanchion fastener receiving through-holes 34, and stanchion pin receiving through-holes 36 as extending along the entire length of the lower stanchion portion 30, one or more of through-holes 34, 35 and 36 may only extend along certain portions thereof, for example, in order to prevent a user from raising the height of stanchion 20 too high, which may negatively affect the ability of stanchion 20 to be securely and stably fastened to wall 16.

[0022] As shown in the figures, base securing member 18 generally includes plate fastening portion 42, recess portion 43, and a pair of risers 44. Plate portion includes a plurality of through-holes 34 for receiving fasteners therethrough, e.g., screws or bolts, to secure the base securing member 18 to roof 14 of building 12. Recess portion 43 is generally provided for receiving lower stanchion portion 30 therein. Each of the pair of risers 44 generally extend orthogonally from plate fastening portion 42 and are disposed on opposite sides of recess portion 43. Each of the pair of risers 44 includes pin receiving through-hole 46 for receiving pin 38 therethrough. As may be best appreciated by reference to FIG. 3, the height of stanchion 20 can be adjusted by inserting lower stanchion portion 30 between risers 44 and passed recess portion 43, through-holes 46 of each riser can then be aligned with an appropriate stanchion pin receiving through-hole 36, pin 38 passed through the aligned through-holes, and pin 38 secured therein using cotter pin 40, for example, or a clips. Pin 38 and cotter pins / clips can be secured to a stanchion or the base securing member as by means of chains, for example, to prevent loss. As may also be appreciated from the figures, the interface between base securing member 18 and stanchion 20 forms a hinge that allows the safety rail system to be adjustably secured to various types of roofs, i.e., flat or angled. In aspects, the base securing members 18 and stanchions 20 are formed from suitable materials, such as metals, and are in accordance with various regulatory requirements or industrial standards, e.g., OSHA, ANSI, etc., and / or also secure to a building / roof in accordance with various regulatory and industrial standards, e.g., appropriate fasteners and numbers of fasteners and through-holes, etc.

[0023] Referring now to FIG. 4, which illustrates the use of an alternative base securing member 50 along with stanchion 20. As shown in FIG. 4, alternative base securing member 50 generally comprises a vertical base plate 52 configured to be secured to a vertical wall, for example, and includes a securing portion 54 and a sleeve portion 56, which is configured to receive square tube of lower stanchion portion 30 therein. In accordance therewith, securing portion 54 includes a plurality of fastener receiving through-holes 34 for receiving fasteners in order to secure vertical base plate 52 to a wall, as well as stanchion pin receiving through-holes 36 on opposite sides of sleeve portion 56 for receiving pin 38 therethrough such that the height of stanchions 20 can be adjusted as needed.

[0024] Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present disclosure and inventions described herein are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the inventions should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the inventions as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of the inventions and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other aspect and embodiments of the inventions are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions.

[0025] Parts List10 Roof perimeter safety rail system12 Building14 Roof16. Wall18 Base securing member20 Stanchion22 Cable receiving slot24 Cable26 Rail receiving aperture28 Rail30 Stanchion lower portion32 Stanchion upper portion34 Fastener receiving through-hole35 Through-hole36 Stanchion pin receiving through-hole38 Pin40 Cotter pin42 Base plate fastening portion43 Cutaway / recess portion44 Riser46 Riser pin receiving through-hole50 Alternative base securing memberVertical base plate Securing portion Sleeve / Stanchion receiving portion

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. A roof perimeter safety rail system comprising: a base securing member including a one or more of a cutaway / recess portion or a sleeve / stanchion receiving portion; and, a stanchion including at least one of a line / cable receiving recess / slot that is operatively arranged to receive a line / cable therein, or a rail aperture that is operatively arranged to receive a rail therein; wherein the base securing member is detachably securable to the stanchion; and, wherein the base securing member is detachably securable to one or more of a roof portion of a building and / or a wall portion or face of a building, and the stanchion is detachably securable to a wall portion or a face portion of a building.

2. The roof perimeter safety rail system of claim 1, wherein the base securing member includes a sleeve / stanchion receiving portion.

3. The roof perimeter safety rail system of claim 2, wherein the stanchion is adjustably slidably received by the sleeve / stanchion receiving portion.

4. The roof perimeter safety rail system of claim 3, wherein the stanchion and the sleeve / stanchion receiving portion each include a plurality of pin receiving through-holes operatively arranged to adjustably receive a pin therethrough.

5. The roof perimeter safety rail system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of pin receiving through-holes of the stanchion and the plurality of pin receiving through-holes of the sleeve / stanchion are aligned with each other.

6. The roof perimeter safety rail system of claim 2, wherein the base securing member and the stanchion include each a plurality of fastener receiving through-holes operatively arranged to receive a fastener.

7. The roof perimeter safety rail system of claim 1, wherein the base securing member includes a base plate fastening portion, a cutaway / recess portion, and a riser portion; wherein the stanchion is detachably securable to the base securing member in a hinged manner; and, wherein the base plate fastening portion is detachably securable to a roof portion of a building and the stanchion is detachably securable to a wall portion or a face portion of a building.

8. The roof perimeter safety rail system of claim 7, wherein the stanchion is detachably securable to the base securing member via the riser portion.

9. The roof perimeter safety rail system of claim 7, wherein the stanchion is detachably securable to the base plate fastening portion via the riser portion.

10. The roof perimeter safety rail system of claim 7, wherein the stanchion is adjustably slidably received by the cutaway / recess portion and the riser portion.

11. The roof perimeter safety rail system of claim 7, wherein the stanchion includes a plurality of pin receiving through-holes operatively arranged to adjustably receive a pin therethrough, and the riser portion includes at least one pin receiving through-hole operatively arranged to adjustably receive the pin therethrough.

12. The roof perimeter safety rail system of claim 7, wherein the base plate fastening portion and the stanchion each include a plurality of fastener receiving through-holes operatively arranged to receive a fastener.

13. The roof perimeter safety rail system of claim 1, wherein the line / cable receiving recess / slot is in the form of a maze-like recess / slot that that includes a plurality of tums / windings.

14. The roof perimeter safety rail system of claim 7, wherein the line / cable receiving recess / slot is in the form of a maze-like recess / slot that that includes a plurality of tums / windings.

15. The roof perimeter safety rail system of claim 1, including a plurality of line / cable receiving recesses / slots spaced apart from one another at an interval.

16. The roof perimeter safety rail system of claim 7, including a plurality of line / cable receiving recesses / slots spaced apart from one another at an interval.

18. The roof perimeter safety rail system of claim 1, including a plurality of rail apertures spaced apart from one another at an interval.

19. The roof perimeter safety rail system of claim 7, including a plurality of rail apertures spaced apart from one another at an interval.20 The roof perimeter safety rail system of claim 7, including a plurality of line / cable receiving recesses / slots and a plurality of rail apertures, the plurality of line / cable recesses corresponding with the plurality of rail apertures to form combination line / cable receiving recesses / slots and rail apertures, the combination line / cable receiving recesses / slots and rail apertures spaced apart from one another at an interval.

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