AU726381B2 - Balustrade support assembly - Google Patents

Description

I, P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

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*5 S *0 S

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "BALUSTRADE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- 2 "BALUSTRADE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY" THIS INVENTION relates to an improved balustrade support assembly wherein attachment of balustrades to existing frame members of buildings may be facilitated.

The invention also includes within its scope balustrades (otherwise known as scaffolding or guard rail assemblies) which incorporate the attachment assembly.

Building regulations require that safety guard rails or balustrades be provided where building workers are working above 10 certain heights. In most cases, the regulations require such balustrades for the use of workers installing roof sheeting or tiles on domestic dwellings.

While balustrades have been developed to be placed along the sides of roof structures, it will be appreciated that no simple 15 balustrade has been developed suitable for the C- or Z-section purlins or fascias of roofs or other building frame members of roofs.

Reference may be made to Australian Patent 608166 which describes an adjustable stanchion assembly comprising a support post capable of receiving a structure to be carried by the assembly such as guard rails of a balustrade. The support post is attached to a clamping mechanism comprising an elongate connection member and at least two clamps which are selectively relatively adjustable along the elongate connection member. Each of the clamps are engageable with an 3 associated frame member a C-shaped purlin or Z-shaped purlin) of a building carrying the balustrade whereby each clamp comprises jaws having a mouth of restricted maximum width and a throat portion behind the mouth having a dimension substantially parallel to the width of the mouth which dimension is greater than the maximum width.

In use, each of the clamps could only be attached to an associated purlin by inserting a distal lip of a purlin through the mouth of an associated clamp and rotating the clamp around the distal lip and its associated leg. Likewise, each clamp could only be removed from the purlin by rotation of each clamp about the distal lip.

6016, In installation of the stanchion assembly of Australian Patent 608166, it was therefore necessary for the installer of the stanchion assembly to attach each clamp to an adjacent purlin by the rotational *9o9 procedure described above before the elongate connection member could 15 be inserted through a sleeve associated with each clamp with subsequent attachment of the upright post to the elongate connection member.

It will be appreciated that for installers working above their heads and standing on a ladder that attachment of each clamp to an adjacent frame member was time consuming and installation time was increased substantially if inexperienced installers were utilized.

Another problem with the clamp of Australian Patent 608166 was that the structure of each of the clamps was complicated requiring a sleeve to receive the elongate cross member, a locking bolt and clamping *fl 4 4 4 4**q 4

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4 means having an L-shaped section and an inverted U-shaped section whereby the narrow mouth was located between one free end of the Ushaped section and an adjacent leg of the L-shaped section. The complicated structure of each clamp, therefore, made manufacture a relatively expensive undertaking.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a balustrade attachment assembly which is simple in structure and readily attachable to an adjacent frame member of a building.

The invention, therefore, provides a balustrade support assembly comprising:an elongate connection member connectable to a post of a balustrade; and (ii) a pair of spaced attachment members mountable to the connection member and movable therealong 15 characterized in that each attachment member includes an attachment plate extending outwardly from the connection member whereby, in use, the attachment plate is in substantial and firm abutment with at least part of an adjacent frame member of a building and fastened thereto which is achieved by the use of fastening means associated with at least one of the attachment members.

The invention also includes a balustrade component which includes the aforementioned balustrade support assembly and a post of the balustrade which is connected to the elongate connection member by connection means.

The invention also includes a balustrade which includes a plurality of the aforementioned balustrade components.

The invention also includes a method of installation of a balustrade attachment assembly to a building which includes spaced frame members which method includes the steps of:attaching spaced attachment members each having 10 an outwardly extending attachment plate to an elongate connection member; "0 adjusting the position of each attachment member of the connection member so that each attachment plate is in substantial abutment with at least part of an 15 adjacent frame member; and

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fastening at least one of the attachment plates to its corresponding frame member.

The invention also includes a method of installation of a balustrade component to the building wherein a balustrade post is connected to the connection member after steps and The invention also includes a method of installation of a balustrade to a building whereby a series of balustrade posts are attached to the building by the sequence of steps discussed above.

6 The frame members of the building which are attached to each attachment plate are preferably C- or Z-shaped purlins wherein each attachment plate is attached to an abutting web of the purlin. However, it will be appreciated that each attachment plate can be attached to other spaced frame members such as I- beams, rafters, roof trusses and the like wherein the attachment plate may be in abutment with a mating surface of an adjacent frame member.

:It is preferred that each attachment plate extends outwardly normally to the connection member but this may not be necessary in 10 certain circumstances. Each attachment plate may have any suitable cross-section and may be L-shaped as shown in one embodiment herein.

Each attachment member suitably includes a sleeve or channel which may receive the elongate connection member so that each attachment member is slidable along the elongate connection member.

15 Preferably each attachment member includes a sleeve of round, square or rectangular shape and has the aforementioned attachment plate which extends upwardly or normally thereto which is oriented transversely to the axis of the elongate connection member.

In relation to each attachment plate, in one form the fastening means may comprise self-tapping screws or bolts which extend through each attachment plate and also through a part of each frame member, such as a web or flange. Alternativley, fastener(s) may extend through each frame member when of round or rectangular cross-section.

7 Preferably the elongate connection member is a length of metal of square or rectangular rolled hollow sectioned (RHS), although circular tube or other sections may be permitted. A plurality of apertures may be provided at spaced intervals along the length of the body and more suitably in opposed side walls thereof.

Preferably one end of the elongate connection member is adapted to receive an elbow joint, universal joint, or other suitable bracket to support a balustrade post.

In one embodiment, one of the attachment members and 10 more preferably the second of the attachment members located remotely of the post) is fastened to its associated frame member by :fastening means which in this emboduiment includes clamping means. In one suitable arrangement, such clamping means may include a clamping "plate attached to the attachment plate of the second attachment member.

15 There also may be provided an additional clamping member which has a socket or sleeve slidably mounted on the elongate connection member and is releasably locatable thereon by a locking pin or grub screw.

Preferably the clamping member has an adjustable clamping head, engageable with the second attachment member and is adapted to move the second attachment member relative to the first attachment member to apply a clamping force to the frame members, such as rafters, engaged by the first and second attachment members.

Preferably locating pins are provided on the attachment 8 plates to engage the respective frame members, such as rafters, to prevent lateral movement of the attachment plates relative to the rafters.

Reference may be made to a preferred embodiment as shown in the attached drawings, wherein:- FIG. 1 is a side view of a balustrade apparatus of the invention which incorporates the support assembly of the invention; FIG. 2 is a side view of a slidable attachment means of the support assembly shown in FIG. 1; 3 is a perspective view of the slidable component of the 10 attachment means shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2; **FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the support assembly shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention showing a balustrade attached to a gable which incorporates the 15 balustrade support assembly of the invention; 9 FIG. 6 is a side view of a balustrade component of FIG. including the support assembly and a balustrade post; FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the balustrade component of FIG. 6; and FIG. 8 is a perspective view from a direction opposite to that shown in FIG. 7 of a second attachment member.

With reference to the drawings shown in FIGS. 1-4, there is provided a balustrade component 10 which includes post 11 and slidable brackets 13 which are used to support horizontal rails (not shown) of a balustrade (not shown) which pass through sleeves 15. Post 11 includes a plurality of spaced apertures 16 which register with a corresponding aperture 17 of brackets 13 for insertion of an appropriate fastener (not shown) to attach bracket 13 at a selected location on post 11.

There is also provided a corner bracket or elbow 18 of balustrade apparatus 10 which interconnects post 11 and horizontal connection member 19 whereby again fasteners (not shown) may be inserted through aligned apertures 16 and 20 for attachment to post 11 and aligned apertures 20 and 21 for attachment to connection member 19.

:Also shown is support assembly 22 which includes connection member 19 and attachment members in the form of brackets oa 23 and 24 which are each slidably connected to connection member 19 bass 15 by socket or sleeve 25 where connection member 19 extends through internal bores 24 of each bracket 23. Each sleeve 25 has attachment aperture 26. Brackets 23 also include upright projection or attachment plate 27 welded to sleeve 25 at 28. Projection 27 also has attachment apertures 29 whereby fasteners 30 may be passed therethrough as well as aligned apertures 32 of web 31 of Z-shaped purlin 33 which also has horizontal flanges 34 and distal lips Attachment brackets 23 and 24 may also be attached to a C-shaped purlin 33A if desired as shown in phantom in FIG. 2.

Subsequently each sleeve 25 is attached to connection member 19 by pins (not shown) being inserted through co-aligned apertures 21 and 26.

As shown in the preferred embodiment represented in the drawings, the balustrade component 10 and/or support assembly 22 of the invention are advantageous in installation because all that is necessary is that each attachment member 23 and 24 slidably be attached to connection member 19, moved to the location of an adjacent purlin and then attached thereto by fasteners 30 as described above. It is 10 then necessary to attach each sleeve 25 to connection member or rail 19 ~by the use of pins extending through aligned apertures 21 and 26.

Subsequently, corner brackets 18 and posts 11 are attached to support assembly 22 as described above.

oll This is in specific contrast to the stanchion assembly 15 referred to in Australian Patent 608166 wherein it is necessary to initially l 0 fit each clamp individually to an adjacent purlin and subsequently slide the connection member between each sleeve associated with each of the clamps before fitting of the corner bracket and post. This is a laborious and time consuming installation procedure.

It also will be appreciated from the foregoing that connection member 19 need not be necessarily oriented to post 11 at 900 thereto and thus depending upon the circumstances may be oriented to post 11 at an acute angle or obtuse angle.

11 It also will be further appreciated that use of support assembly 22 provides a very strong attachment of the balustrade component 10 to the frame members of the building because of the fact that attachment plate 27 is in firm abutment with web 31 which is brought about by the use of fasteners 30 interconnecting attachment plate 27 and web 31. This, therefore, provides a stronger support for the balustrade by the use of support assembly 22 than was achieved by the prior art.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-8, the roof structure has a pair of barge rafters 101, and a plurality of common rafters 102 10 provided at spaced intervals, being downwardly inclined from the ridge board 103.

~The balustrade 200 has balustrade posts 201 therein connected by three, vertically spaced, balustrade rails 202 to provide a safety system for the gable end of the roof structure 100. The balustrade 9999 15 posts 201 are connected to the support assembly 10A, to be hereinafter 9 .9 described, by elbow joints 203.

Referring to FIGS. 6-8, each support assembly 22A has a connection member 19A of square RHS steel, with apertures 21 provided at spaced intervals in all four walls. Thus the connection member 19A may be of the same construction as for the balustrade posts 201 whereby the connection member 19A and the posts 201 may be interchangeable.

A first rafter attachment member 23A has an attachment plate 14A of an inverted L-shape adapted to engage the rear and top 12 faces of the barge rafter 101. Plate 14A is welded to a square section socket 15, slidably mounted on the connection member 19A and adapted to be secured thereto at selected locations via a locking pin 16A engageable in aligned holes 21 in the connection member 19A.

The second attachment member 23B has an inverted Lshape attachment plate 14B and socket 15A of similar construction to the plate 14A and socket 15 of the first component 23A. The plate 14B is adapted to engage the rear and top faces of a common rafter 102.

U A clamping plate 20A, of L-shape in side view, has a pair of 10 studs 21A adapted to be engaged in aligned pairs of holes 22B in the plate 14B and be secured by nuts 23B. The clamping plate 20A is adapted to engage the front and bottom faces of the common rafter 102, so that the common rafter 102 is securely clamped between the plates 14B and Locating pins 24A, 25A on the plates 14A, 14B can be driven into the rafters 101,102 to prevent lateral (or sliding) movement of the plates 14A, 14B relative to the rafters 101, 102 while the support assembly 22A is being installed.

Gussets 26A, 27A provide reinforcing for the connection between plates 14A, 14B and the sockets 15, A clamping member 28A has a socket 29A slidably mounted on the connection member 19A and is secured thereto at selected locations by a locking pin 30A engageable in aligned holes 21 in the 13 connection member 19A. The clamping member 28A has a bracket member 31A of substantially U-shape in plan view which supports a nut 32A, with a screw-threaded bore in alignment with a hole through the bracket member 31A. Stud 33A is screw-threadably engaged in the nut 32A and has a clamping head 34A adapted to engage the second component 23B. Depending on the depth of the common rafter 102, the clamping head 34A may engage the plate 14B, below the clamping plate (see FIG. or engage the vertical flange 20B of the clamping plate 14B (see FIG. By rotation of the stud 33, the clamping head 34A 10 moves the second attachment member 23B away from the first attachment member 23A to apply a spreading force between the barge rafter 101 and the common rafter 102. This provides additional clamping of the support assembly 22A to the rafters 101, 102.

In a modified embodiment, not shown, the clamping member 28A may be omitted and the plate 20A of the second attachment member 23B may be adjustably mountable on the socket 15A, the latter being releasably secured to the connection member 19A by a locking pin, the adjustment of the plate 20A relative to the socket 15A allowing any variation in the distances between the barge rafter 101 and the common rafter 102 to be accommodated.

In a further alternative embodiment not shown, the connection member 19A may be of substantially U-section with inturned flanges; and the sockets 15, 15A, and 29A may be blocks, or T-section 14 members, slidably received within the body.

While the support assembly 22A has been shown with the first attachment member 23A engaged with the barge rafter 101, it will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that the first attachment member 23A could be attached to the common rafter 102 immediately behind the barge rafter 101.

It will also be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that a third attachment member, similar to the second engagement component 23B (and with a respective clamping member 28A) can also be provided 10 for engagement with a further common rafter 102.

While the support assembly 22A is shown suspended ~between the rafters 101, 102, it could be above the rafters but this would make removal difficult after the roofing sheet/tiles have been installed.

o0° 000 With the installation as shown in the drawings, the support assembly can 15 be easily removed from below the roof after the roof sheet/tiles have been 0o 0q installed.

By making the connection member 19A common with the balustrade post 201, the number of components required in inventory for the balustrade system can be minimised.

It will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that the support assembly of the invention as shown in FIGS. 5-8 provides a simple, inexpensive, efficient and safe means for erecting a balustrade assembly particularly for a gable end of a roof structure of a domestic dwelling or the like.

It will also be appreciated that while attachment pins, such as 16A or 30 can be used to attach sleeves 25 or sockets 15 or 15A to connection member 19 or 19A that any other suitable attachment means can be utilized such as grub screws.

It will also be appreciated that because attachment plates 14A and 14B are in firm abutment with a corresponding surface of rafters 101 and 102 which is caused by the provision of locating pins 24A, and/or the use of clamping member 28A that the advantages of the C10 embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 are also achieved with this embodiment as are also the ease of installation.

C o The invention also includes within its scope a builidng including a pair of spaced frame members incorporating a balustrade comprising a plurality of balustrade components having a post and a balustrade support assembly as described above wherein each attachment member of the balustrade support assembly has its attachment plate in substantial abutment with at least part of an associated frame member and fastened thereto by fastening means.

Claims (21)

1. A balustrade support assembly comprising:- an elongate connection member connectable to a post of a balustrade; and (ii) a pair of spaced attachment members mountable to the connection member and movable therealong characterized in that each attachment member o includes an attachment plate extending outwardly from the connection member whereby, in use, the 10 attachment plate is in substantial and firm abutment with at least part of an adjacent frame member of a building and fastened thereto which is achieved by the use of fastening means associated with at least a• one of the attachment members. 15

2. A balustrade support assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each attachment plate extends outwardly normally from the connection member.

3. A balustrade support assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each attachment member includes a sleeve or channel for slidable movement along the connection member.

4. A balustrade support assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the elongate connection member has a plurality of attachment apertures provided at spaced intervals along its length 17 thereof.

A balustrade support assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the fastening means includes fasteners which extend through each attachment plate and also through a mating web or flange of an adjacnet frame member in use.

6. A balustrade support assembly as claimed in Claim wherein the fasteners are self-tapping screws or bolts.

7. A balustrade support assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1-4 wherein the fastening means includes clamping means which 10 clamps one of the attachment members to its adjacent frame member in use.

8. A balustrade support assembly as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the clamping means includes a clamping plate attached to the U.. attachment plate. 15

9. A balustrade support assembly as claimed in Claim 8 e" °wherien there is provided an additional clamping member slidably attached to the connection member which engages with its associated attachment member in use to move said associated attachment member relative to another attachment member to apply a clamping force to the frame members engaged by each of the attachment members.

A balustrade support assembly as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the clamping plate is adjustably mountable to its associated attachment member. 18

11. A balustrade component including a post and a balustrade support assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the post is attached to the elongate connection member by connection means.

12. A balustrade including a plurality of spaced balustrade components as claimed in Claim 11.

13. A method of installation of a balustrade support assembly to a building which includes spaced frame members which method includes the steps of:- attaching spaced attachment members each having 10 an outwardly extending attachment plate to an elongate connection member; adjusting the position of each attachment member of the connection member so that each attachment plate S.eo is in substantial abutment with at least part of an 15 adjacent frame member; and 9 e fastening at least one of the attachment plates to its corresponding frame member.

14. A method as claimed in Claim 13 wherein in step each attachment plate is fastened to its corresponding frame member.

15. A method of installation as claimed in Claim 13 wherein a balustrade post is attached to the connection member after step

16. A method of installation of a balustrade support assembly to a building as claimed in Claim 15 wherein in step said at least one 19 attachment plate is fastened to a frame member located remotely from said post.

17. A building including a pair of spaced frame members incorporating a balustrade comprising a plurality of balustrade components having a post and a balustrade support assembly as claimed in any one of Claim 1-10 wherein each attachment member of the balustrade support assembly has its attachment plate in substantial abutment with at least part of an associated frame member and fastened *thereto by fastening means. •eeomas 10

18. A balustrade support assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A balustrade component substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A balustrade substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. o*

21. A method of installation substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this twenty-ninth day of April 1998. PAPARD PTY. LTD. and BRAD INVESTMENTS PTY. LTD., by their Patent Attorneys, FISHER ADAMS KELLY.