Abstract
The invention relates to a device for preventing persons from falling, in particular from a roof, comprising a foot plate (10) which can be secured to an underlying surface and which comprises a stop point that can be attached to the foot plate, comprising either a post which projects upwards from the foot plate and which comprises an eyelet arranged in the upper end region of the post or an eyelet which can be introduced directly into the foot plate, in each case for attaching a cable by means of which the person is prevented from falling. According to the invention, a foot plate central region, in which the post or the eyelet is connected to the foot plate, is slotted around the post or the eyelet along at least one first defined circumferential slotted line (18a), which extends over at least approximately 270° in the circumferential direction, such that the central region is connected to the rest of the peripheral region of the foot plate (10) solely via narrow material webs (18b). In the event of a load, a type of joint is produced along the foot plate (10) sheet webs remaining between the slots, and the central region lying within the circumferential slotted line pivots together with the posts secured to the region upwards out of the plane of the footplate on the basis of the lifting force acting via the posts. The posts can thus lie flatly, and a torque is no longer acting on the peripheral region of the foot plate.
Claims
1. A device for preventing persons from falling, in particular from a roof, comprising, a foot plate and either a post attached to the foot plate, the post having an eyelet arranged in the upper end region of the post, or the eyelet being attached directly at said foot plate, a cable which protects the person from falling, connected to the post or eyelet, the footplate having a central region to which said post or said eyelet is connected at least one first defined circumferential slotted line, extending around the central region which extends over at least approximately 270° in the circumferential direction, such that the central region is connected with a remaining peripheral region of said foot plate solely by narrow material webs said first circumferential slotted line extending over approximately 270° in the circumferential direction, a generally straight slotted line arranged between respective ends of said first circumferential slotted line, wherein the distance between said first circumferential slotted line and said straight slotted line corresponds to the width of said narrow material webs.
2. A device for securing persons against falling according to claim 1, positioned within a radial distance of said first defined circumferential slotted line at least one second circumferential slotted line with a smaller diameter the shape of the at least one second circumferential line is geometrically similar to said first circumferential slotted line in a plan view, said second circumferential slotted line is disposed generally 90° or generally 180° offset to said first circumferential slotted line.
3. A device for securing persons against falling according to claim 2, comprising, within said second defined circumferential slotted line at least one third circumferential slotted line with a smaller diameter is disposed within said second defined circumferential slotted line, the shape of the at least one third slotted line is geometrically similar to said first circumferential slotted line, wherein in a plan view, however, said at least one third circumferential slotted line is offset by approximately 90° or approximately 180° to at least one of said first circumferential slotted line and said second circumferential slotted line.
4. The device for securing persons against falling according to claim 3 comprising at least one fourth circumferential slotted line is disposed within the radius of the third slotted line a smaller diameter, the shape of the fourth slotted line is geometrically similar to said third circumferential slotted line in a plan view, however, said fourth circumferential slotted line is offset approximately 90° or approximately 180° offset to at least one of said first circumferential slotted line and said second circumferential slotted line and said third circumferential slotted line.
5. The device for securing persons against falling according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said first and said second and said third and said fourth circumferential slotted line have approximately a peripheral shape of an omega.
6. The device for securing persons against falling according to claim 3 the peripheral shape of at least one of said first and said second and said third and said fourth circumferential slotted line is defined by a sequence of lined-up, straight sub sections, being disposed at an angle to one another, according to the principle of Mohr's circle of stress.
7. The device for securing persons against falling according to claim 3 wherein said circumferential slotted lines and said straight slotted lines are formed in said foot plate by means of a laser beam or a high-pressure water jet.
8. The device for securing persons against falling according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the generally straight slotted line and the second circumferential slotted line and the third circumferential line are arranged in a distance between the respective ends of each of said circumferential slotted lines, wherein the distance between the respective ends of each of said circumferential slotted lines and the respective straight slotted line corresponds to the width of the narrow material webs.
9. The device for securing persons against falling according to claim 1 wherein the post or the eyelet is connected by screw threads with said foot plate.
10. The device for securing persons against falling according to claim 1 the foot plate is screw-connected with a trapezoidal metal sheet of the roof construction.
11. The device for securing persons against falling according to claim 1 wherein the foot plate is made of stainless steel and has a material thickness of approximately 3 to 5 mm.
12. The device for securing persons against falling according to claim 1 wherein the post or said eyelet has an outer thread within an end region facing the roof and said post or said eyelet can be fixed to said foot plate by a nut which screwed onto the outer thread.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) In the following, the present invention is described in more detail according to exemplary embodiments under reference to the accompanying drawings:
(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view from above of an exemplary foot plate for a fall protection according to the invention, wherein the innermost pivot region is bent upwards;
(3) FIG. 2 shows a similar view of a foot plate from another perspective, wherein in this case, the second innermost pivot range is bent upwards;
(4) FIG. 3 shows a similar view of a foot plate from the same perspective as in FIG. 2, wherein in this case, however, the third pivot range is bent upwards;
(5) FIG. 4 a shows a similar view of a foot plate from the same perspective as in FIG. 3, wherein in this case, however, the outermost pivot region is bent upwards;
(6) FIG. 4b shows a further view of the foot plate seen from the other side than in FIG. 4a, wherein here also the outermost pivot region is bent upwards;
(7) FIG. 5 shows a further view of a foot plate from another perspective, wherein in this case, two inner pivot ranges are bent upwards at the same time;
(8) FIG. 6 shows a view of a post attached to the foot plate in upright position;
(9) FIG. 6a shows a corresponding view of a post in the tilted down position after the load case has occurred;
(10) FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment, wherein an eyelet is attached directly at the foot plate;
(11) FIG. 7 a shows a corresponding view of the embodiment of FIG. 7, wherein after the load case has occurred, the eyelet is with the pivot range of the foot plate pivoted into the horizontal position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(12) Subsequently, it is firstly referred to FIG. 1 which shows a simplified schematic view of a part of a fall protection device according to the invention. This comprises an in its shape for example approximately rectangular, however in parts rounded foot plate 10 being connected with a trapezoidal metal sheet of the roof construction, not shown here, for example by screwed connections. For this purpose, the foot plate has screw or rivet holes 11 arranged in lines for example in outer edge regions. In this way, such a foot plate 10 of the fall protection device, lying onto a trapezoidal metal sheet, is firmly connected with it. The foot plate 10 can for example be a metal sheet made of stainless steel, having a thickness of approximately 3 to 4 mm. In the center of the foot plate 10, within the innermost pivot range, there is a through hole 12, through which a screw thread can be inserted, being arranged at the lower end of a post of the fall protection device, such that the post can be tightened via a lock nut on the underside of the foot plate 10.
(13) In FIG. 1, the innermost pivot range 13 is shown in an upwardly pivoted position, in order to illustrate the functioning of the fall protection device. This upwardly pivoted position is achieved, when in the load case, the post is loaded via tensile load acting onto its upper end, such that a leverage is generated, which causes the post to tilt down into an approximately horizontal position. This is possible because the lower end of the post is fixed in the area of the through hole 12 at the foot plate 10. As soon as the leverage acts from a certain direction, parallel towards the longitudinal edges 14 of the foot plate, as shown in FIG. 1, the innermost pivot range 13 is loaded to bending and pivots upwards into the position shown in FIG. 1, wherein the post itself is not shown here for the sake of a better overview. This pivoting upwards is allowed as the innermost pivot range 13 is separated from the remaining foot plate 10 by means of a circumferential slotted line 13a, which can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2 and which extends over the largest part of the periphery, for example over approximately 270°. Consequently, the innermost pivot range 13 is connected with the second innermost pivot range 15 only via a comparably narrow material web 13b (see FIG. 2).
(14) In FIG. 2, the second innermost pivot range 15 is bent upwards, which occurs when the leverage acts from a direction which is offset by approximately 90° to the direction as shown in FIG. 1. The second innermost pivot range 15 is also circumferentially surrounded by a circumferential slotted line 15a, which can be seen in FIG. 3. Thus, a large area of the second innermost pivot range 15 is separated from the third pivot range 16 surrounding it. Differently from the innermost pivot range 13, here, even an additional straight slotted line 15c is provided, which extends in the lower area between the two limbs of the omega shape of the circumferential slotted line 15a, in the area where these two limbs are closest to one another, wherein, however, a narrow material web 15b remains on each of the two sides between the straight slotted line 15c and the circumferential slotted line 15. These two material webs practically form the joint, if the post tilts down and the pivot range 15 is bent up, as shown in FIG. 2.
(15) Comparing the two FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that in FIG. 2, the second innermost pivot range 15 pivots upwards, if the leverage acts by approximately 90° offset, as compared to the action of the leverage shown in FIG. 3, wherein the leverage is effected approximately parallel to the two transverse edges 17 of the foot plate.
(16) FIG. 4a, finally, shows a pivoting upwards of the outermost pivot range 18, which is also generated in case of a leverage acting approximately parallel towards the two transverse edges 17 of the foot plate, however, in an opposite direction (offset by 180°) as compared to FIG. 3. In the view according to FIG. 4, with the outermost pivot range 18 being pivoted upwards, it can also be clearly seen that the third pivot range 16, the second innermost pivot range 15 and the innermost pivot range 13 are all within the outermost pivot range 18, each separated from the other by circumferential slotted lines. Furthermore, it can be seen that each of the four circumferential slotted lines 18a, 16a, 15a, 13a, has a geometrically similar shape, namely approximately the form of a Greek Omega in this embodiment. In case of the three outermost pivot ranges there are each time additional straight slotted lines which extend at the periphery side, where no circumferential slotted line is provided, such that finally, a slotted line is provided nearly circumferentially, only interrupted by the two narrow material webs. In this case, FIG. 4 a shows that the two circumferential slotted lines 16a and 15a, being arranged one inside the other, of the second and the third pivot range, are arranged offset to one another by 90° and again offset towards the outermost circumferential slotted line 18a. Furthermore, the two straight slotted lines 16c and 15c of these two pivot ranges can be seen in FIG. 4a and it can also be seen that only one circumferential slotted line 13a is provided for the innermost pivot range, as in this case, the remaining material web between the ends of this circumferential slotted line is already comparably short and serves as a joint for the pivot movement of the innermost pivot range 13.
(17) FIG. 4B shows basically the same pivot position as FIG. 4a, having an upwardly pivoted outermost pivot range 18, but from another perspective view, such that in FIG. 4b, the opening in the foot plate 10 can be seen, which is caused by the upwardly pivoting outermost pivot range upon tilting down the post in the load case.
(18) FIG. 5 shows a pivot position which is generated when the leverage is not acting exactly from a direction approximately parallel to one of the longitudinal edges 14 or transverse edges 17. In this case, more than one pivot range become active and in FIG. 5 it can be seen, that in this case, the innermost pivot range 13 as well as the second innermost pivot range 15 are pivoting upwards at least partly, while the two outermost pivot ranges 16 and 18 remain in their original position within the plane of the foot plate 10.
(19) In the following, it is referred to the FIGS. 6 and 6a, each of which in a perspective view shows a foot plate 10 of the above described kind, to which a post 20 for the fall protection is attached. As can be seen, in FIG. 6, the normal use position is shown, in which the post 20 stands upright. At the upper end of the post 20 an eyelet 19 is provided, for attaching for example a cable of the fall protection device. The lower end of the post 20 is attached to the foot plate 10, for example by means of a screwed connection. In FIG. 6a, it can be roughly seen that the post 20 pierces a central hole in the foot plate 10 and is with its bottom side attached for example via a nut to the foot plate. FIG. 6a shows the state after occurrence of the load case and it can be seen that the post 20 was tilted down into a horizontal position, which is possible as the corresponding pivot range pivots upwards with the lower end of the post by means of the tensile load. If the post is in the horizontal position according to FIG. 6a, no moment acts any longer on the foot plate 10, such that it, respectively the trapezoidal sheet to which it is attached, cannot tear off.
(20) FIGS. 7 and 7a also show an alternative embodiment of the fall protection device in a perspective view, which works according to the same principle of the present invention. As a difference to the above described embodiment, in this case, the eyelet 19 is attached directly to the foot plate, such that not post is required in this case. The fall protection device can in this case be attached directly to the eyelet. The eyelet itself can be attached to the foot plate 10 for example by means of a threaded section on the bottom side and a nut by screwing or other suitable attachment means. When the load case occurs, firstly, a torque is generated, which causes a pivot movement of the pivot range of the foot plate 10, wherein the pivot range pivots with the eyelet into the unload position shown in FIG. 7. The functioning is thus even in case of this embodiment the same as in the embodiment described above according to FIG. 6, wherein in this specific example, the third pivot range 15 pivots upwards from outside. The question as to which pivot range is effective in which case depends on the respective direction from which the torque acts.
REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST
(21) 10 foot plate 11 bore holes 12 through hole 13 innermost pivot range 13a circumferential slotted line 13b material web 13 Longitudinal edges of the foot plate 15 second innermost pivot range 15a Circumferential slotted line 15b material web 15c straight slotted line 16 third pivot range 16a circumferential slotted line 16b material web 16c straight slotted line 17 transverse edges of the foot plate 18 outer pivot range 18a circumferential slotted line 18b material web 18c straight slotted line 19 eyelet 20 post
