Abstract
A perimeter warning system is provided having a plurality of substantive stand bases and stanchions, which when combined together with a flag line provide a means to demark the perimeter of a surface across which there is danger. The stand bases include a surface onto which an insertion sleeve is placed, for holding the stanchion stably, and an opening symmetrically equidistant from the center of the surface of the stand base from the sleeve. In this way, stand bases can be stacked together with the sleeve of one placed in the opening in the surface of the other for stability. The system includes storage and transportation elements; wherein the surface of the base stand defines an opening through which the pillar of a storage unit can be threaded to stack the plurality of base stands together onto the storage element. Stanchions are provided with storage boxes configured to stack together neatly and stably.
Claims
1. A perimeter warning system for use to warn persons, in construction and repair situations, of the proximity of an edge of a surface on which the person is present and from which he could fall, comprising: a flag line; a plurality of stanchions; a plurality of stand bases at least equal in number to the plurality of stanchions, each stand base having a stanchion insertion point, comprising a sleeve into which the stanchion is berthed, to hold at least one stanchion in a generally upright position when assembled together, and each stand base having means to be secured, including a generally solid flat surface having at least one dedicated opening therein on each stand base, to a base which has means, including at least one pillar, sized to fit within the at least one dedicated opening of each stand base, to secure the stand bases thereto when the stand bases are not in use and stacked thereon and on each other; each stand base being capable of placement near the edge of a surface across which edge there is danger; wherein the plurality of stand bases and plurality of stanchions are assembled together to form a means to hold the flag line so as to create a visible line of flags to warn of the proximity of the edge of the surface, when warning is needed; wherein each stand bases comprises a surface which defines an opening into which the stanchion insertion point of another of the plurality of stand bases can be inserted when the stand base and the another stand base are stacked together and at least one other opening; wherein the plurality of stand bases are stored together, and when so stored securely transportable generally and between a ground position and an elevated position, by stacking them on the base by the stanchion insertion point and the means to be secured of the stand bases, when not in use or when being transported; and, wherein the base of the perimeter warning system comprises a storage and transportation element, the storage and transportation element comprising a surface onto which the plurality of stand bases can be stacked, one atop another, for storage and transportation.
2. The perimeter warning system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of stand bases are capable of being placed together on the base for storage and transportation.
3. The perimeter warning system of claim 1, wherein the stanchion insertion point of each stand base and the opening defined in the surface of each stand base is, on each stand base, symmetrically equidistant from the center point of the surface of that stand base.
4. The perimeter warning system of claim 1, wherein the at least one other opening allows for any water thereon to drain off of the surface of the stand base.
5. The perimeter warning system of claim 1, wherein the storage and transportation element comprises the at least one pillar extending, generally perpendicularly, from the surface of the storage and transportation element.
6. The perimeter warning system of claim 5, wherein the at least one other dedicated opening defined in the surface of each of the plurality of stand bases is defined so as to allow the at least one pillar to be threaded therethrough.
7. The perimeter warning system of claim 1, including at least one storage case for holding the plurality of stanchions for storage and transportation when the warning system is not in use.
8. The perimeter warning system of claim 7, wherein the at least one storage case is two storage cases having means to allow one to be stacked on the other.
9. The perimeter warning system of claim 1, wherein the at least one pillar comprises a top having connection means onto which external equipment, which can lift and place the entire system to a desired location, can be connected.
10. The perimeter warning system of claim 9, wherein the connection means is an eyelet and the external equipment is a device for attachment to the eyelet.
11. The perimeter warning system of claim 9, wherein the at least one pillar is at least two pillars.
12. A method of storing and transporting a perimeter warning system, for use to warn persons, in construction and repair situations, of the proximity of an edge of a surface on which the person is present and from which he could fall, including the steps of: providing the perimeter warning system of claim 1; providing a means to lift the base, either alone or with one or more stand bases stacked thereon; and, lifting a base to a position at or near a desired warning location such that when the base has one or more stand bases thereon the entire perimeter warning system can be transported to the warning location for deployment and when desired the system can be moved to storage or a new location.
13. The method of storing and transporting a perimeter warning system of claim 12, wherein the at least one pillar comprises a top having connection means onto which external equipment, which can lift and place the entire system to a desired location, can be connected.
14. The method of storing and transporting a perimeter warning system of claim 13, wherein the connection means is an eyelet.
15. The method of storing and transporting a perimeter warning system of claim 12, wherein the at least one pillar is at least two pillars.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a warning line system of the present invention.
(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one stanchion and stand of the present invention.
(3) FIG. 3 is a closer perspective view of a stanchion of the present invention.
(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a stand of the present invention.
(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a stack of stands of the present invention, shown in transportation and storage configuration.
(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bottom of one embodiment of a stand used in the present invention.
(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of stands of the present invention in storage configuration, on a storage device of the present invention, showing elements used to store and transport the present invention.
(8) FIG. 8 is perspective view of the bottom of a stand storage device of the present invention.
(9) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a stand storage device of the present invention
(10) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a stanchion storage device of the present invention with stanchions stored therein.
(11) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of several stanchion storage devices, with stanchions stored therein, showing the stackability of the stanchion storage devices.
(12) FIG. 12 is another perspective view of stacked stanchion storage devices.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT
(13) While the present invention is susceptible of embodiments in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described some exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification for the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. In this disclosure, the use of the disjunctive is intended to include the conjunctive. The use of the definite article or indefinite article is not intended to indicate cardinality. In particular, a reference to the object or a object is intended to denote also one of a possible plurality of such objects. It should be further understood that the title of this section of the application (Detailed Description of the Illustrative Embodiment) relates to a requirement of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and should not be found to limit the subject matter disclosed herein.
(14) Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the perimeter warning system 10 of the present invention; specifically presented as a segment of a warning line system comprising flags, shown in the manner in which it would be deployed along the perimeter of a work situation. FIG. 1 shows that system 10 provides multiple generally vertical positioned stanchions or poles 18 and a flag line 14 connecting the multiple stanchions 18 to provide a perimeter line. As illustrated, stanchion 18 comprises a length of durable tubing, such a steel pipe or pipe of other structurally significant material. It will be understood that stanchion 18 can be made of any number of materials and in any number of cross sectional shapes and act in accordance with the teaching of the present invention. While flag line 14 is depicted as a length of flat reinforced nylon line with pennant flags extending therefrom, it is to be understood that any manner of creating the perimeter defining member, such as with rope, cable, chain, wire or others (as noted in the regulations identified above) and with any shaped flag or pennant or other means of defining a line and providing a means for the line to be seen clearly at a distance, can be used in the present invention, without departing from the novel scope thereof and complying with regulations of law.
(15) As shown in FIG. 1, a stand base 26, comprising a platform having openings and or holding means, as will be described in greater detail below, is provided into which stanchion 18 can be fitted. In the illustrative embodiment, a stanchion insert 28 is provided on the surface 26a of stand base 26, such that a stanchion 18 can be placed therein and held in position. Stanchion insert 28, as illustrated, is configured so as to support a stanchion in a generally upright stable position when inserted into insert 28 and allow, as will also be described below, for stand base 26 to be nested together with other stand bases 26. Stanchion insert 28 can be seen, in the figures, as a segment of pipe, or other tubing, having an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of stanchion 18, such that stanchion 18 can slide into insert 28 for support while maintaining a low rise stand 26 height. In this way, stanchion 18 is properly supported in stand 18, while keeping the height of stand 26 low to provide a safer environment for walking nearby the warning line, and as will be explained later, a lower profile allowing for stacking more stands 26 together for ease of storage and transportation. It will be understood, that insert 28 can be made of any shape and size to accommodate a corresponding stanchion 18 of similar shape and size. In addition, as will be described, stand 26 can be made so that it provides an opening through stand 26 to allow liquids, such as rain water, to pass through; insert 28 can likewise be made to have a solid bottom as a sealed tube, or can be made so that it is has an opening at its bottom, to provide for the drainage of, for example, rain water away from stanchions 18, as desired and all without departing from the novel scope of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, insert 28 provides a pass through opening 29 for drainage purposes and to provide access for removal of a stanchion 18 wedged in place.
(16) It will be seen that in the illustrative embodiment, stanchion insert 28 is offset from the center of stand base 26 generally an equal distance from the location of a surface opening 32 in stand base 26. In this manner, and as described in more detail below, two or more stand bases 26 can be stacked together by rotating the one stand base 26 180 relative to the other such that stanchion insert 28 fits into, from below, surface opening 32 of another stand base 26. As will be made clear as the description continues, the length of stanchion insert 28 can be made such that when it is in place in the surface opening 32 of a second stand base 26, it extends slightly above the surface of the second stand base 26, when they are mounted together as described above. In this manner, any number of stand bases 26 can be stacked together without their respective stanchion inserts 28 interfering with each other (see FIG. 4). As will be discussed in more detail below, the stability of a number of stand bases 26 will be increased by this interaction of the stanchion insert 28 of one stand base 26 with the surface opening 32 of another stand base 26.
(17) As will be seen most particularly in FIG. 3, stanchion 18 can include an additional element, or extension piece, 20 attached to stanchion 18. It will be understood by persons having ordinary skill in the art, that extension piece 20 can be made or added to stanchion 18 in a variety of manners known to persons having ordinary skill in the art, including being molded or cast thereon, welded thereto or connected, such as by the use of bolts threaded into stanchion 18, or created in any number of ways. Extension pieces 20 serves to add functionality to stanchion 20 as will be described in detail below. One or more extension pieces 20 can be disposed on stanchion 18 near the end of the stanchion opposite the end that is inserted into a stand base 26; extension pieces 20 typically serve as anchoring points, such as for flag lines, and having other purposes as will be known to persons having ordinary skill in the art.
(18) Continuing with the discussion of the figures, and as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, in at least one embodiment of the present invention, one element of a perimeter warning system flag stand configuration comprises a stanchion 18 and a stand base 26. In one form, stand base 26 may comprise a stanchion insert point 28 having one or more liquid/water drain holes 29, pillar receiving openings 30 (as described in greater detail below), positioned in a preferred embodiment, near opposite corners of stand base 26, as shown in FIG. 2. It will be seen that openings defined in stand base 26 provide both a necessary element to the function of the present invention and provide a means to save weight and material in the creation of the devices of the present invention.
(19) In FIGS. 5 and 6, the illustrative embodiment of a stand base 26 is shown, in a generally turned over position, so as to reveal the underside 36 of a preferred embodiment of stand base 26. In the illustrative embodiment, stand base 26 is formed from a generally rectangular sheet of steel, although other materials can be substituted by persons having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the teachings of the present invention. In the illustrative embodiment, the rectangular base sheet is preferably a square sheet, which is punched and/or cut to form a shape that allows for the bending of each lateral side at least two times, to form an elevated side 26e and a bottom surface 26b at each end of the square sheet; providing a height element A to base stand 26 and a surface to rest on a floor or roof. Persons having ordinary skill in the art will understand the size, shape, thickness and cuts that are necessary to produce a sheet of steel, bend the steel and prepare it for use in the present invention, such that only a minimal explanation of the process is provided herein. In addition, it will be understood that the dimension of base 26 and the lateral openings 261, shown in various figures, can be configures such that a typical fork lift device can be used to life one or more stand base 26.
(20) As is shown in the figures, in one embodiment stand base 26 comprises at least one drain hole 29, one or more pillar receiving openings 30, a stacking hole 32, and non-slip elements 34, such as a section of roughened steel or a strip of material having a higher co-efficient of friction than the base stand 26 material, or other non-slip products as known to persons having ordinary skill in the art, positioned as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Persons having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the elements included in the drawing figures are a preferred embodiment of the invention and that any one or more of the elements may be removed without departing from the novel scope thereof.
(21) Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, elements of the inventive method of storing and storing for transport of the invention are shown. Shown in FIG. 7, is a ready for storage or movement collection of stand bases 26 positioned on a rack 40. FIGS. 8 and 9 more clearly show one embodiment of rack 40, illustrated without the placement of stand bases 26 thereon for clarity. In a preferred form, rack 40 comprises a base 26r, configured very much like a stand base 26 with some differentiating elements as will be discussed herein. Attached to base 26r are one or more rack pillars 44 having eyelets 46 at the end distal to base 26r; pillars 44 are positioned adjacent opposing corners of base 26r, as shown in the figures. It will be seen, upon a comparison of the stand base 26 to the base 26r, best shown in FIG. 2, that pillars 44 are placed so as to coincide with pillar receiving openings 30 in a stand base 26. It will be understood that rack pillars 44 can be secured to base 26r by, among other ways known to persons having ordinary skill in the art, welding, attachment through cooperative threading and others. It will also be understood that while two rack pillars are shown, substantial stability could be achieved with a single rack pillar and the use of such a system is contemplated as part of the scope of the present invention.
(22) As best shown in FIG. 8, the underside elements 42 of rack 40 can comprise correspondingly similar elements to those shown with respect to stand base 26, specifically, elevation elements 42e, bottom surface elements 42b and one or more non-slip elements 47 positioned substantially as shown in FIG. 8. In addition, openings 43 can be provided to reduce the weight of rack 40, provide access to water drainage and for use in an anchoring system for rack 40. Persons having ordinary skill in the art will understand that rack 40 can also be made without any such openings 43 in situations where a more structurally significant stand base 26r is desired.
(23) As can be seen in FIG. 7, pillar-receiving openings 30 can be threaded onto rack pillars 44 so as to hold the stand bases 26 in place on base 26r. Multiple stand bases 26 can be stored in a stackable configuration 50 as shown in FIG. 7. When stand bases 26 are stacked in position contiguous to pillars 44 of rack 40, it can be seen, most clearly in FIG. 7, that stanchion insert piece 28 also fits into and is received by surface opening 32 to provide the stable and secure stackable position for the bases 26 noted above. Referring again to FIG. 4, there is further illustrated the above-described connection of the bases 26 when they are in a stacked position. As with stanchions 18, it will be understood that the use of rack pillars 44 having a circular cross section, as shown in the figures, is for illustrative purposes and that a pillar, or column, having any cross sectional shape can be used instead, without departing from the novel scope of the present invention.
(24) As shown in FIG. 7, during storage and transportation of the invention, multiple stand bases 26 can be stacked into position on rack 40. Eyelets 46, on rack pillars 44, extend above the last stacked base 26 of stacked base configuration 50. The hooks from a crane or other lifting apparatus, can then be securely attached to eyelets 46 and used to lift the entire stacked base configuration 50 to the top of a structure's roof or other elevated work surface. It will be understood that eyelets 46 can be created by welding processes, by threading segment together, by molding and by other methods know to persons having ordinary skill in the art and providing the structural abilities required by the element and the combinations of elements described herein. When stacked base configuration 50 is in place on a structure's roof or other surface, the lift's hooks can be removed from eyelets 46 and bases 26 can be quickly and easily removed from rack 40. Tools are generally not required for assembly of the flag warning line system. It will be seen, as described above, that a fork lift can be used to lift off one or more stand bases 26 from the base configuration 50 and help to place them as needed on a roof or other surface.
(25) In addition to making the stand bases 26 easy to store or transport, the present invention also provides a means to store and transport the stanchions 18 of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are provided one or more stanchion storage cases 60, the number of such depending on need. In the illustrative embodiment storage case 60 is shown generally as a rectangular cuboid. As a rectangular cuboid, any number of cases 60 can be filled with stanchions 18 and stacked together for easy storage and transportation. Cases 60 can be constructed so as to provide a generally flattened rim or top edge 64 along the length of the top 60t of case 60. With such an edge 64, the stability of one case 60 placed on top of another is improved.
(26) In another embodiment, illustrated in the figures, it will be seen that case 60 can be constructed so as to have a section of diminished width 61 (and therefore, concomitantly, diminished volume) along the bottom of case 60 relative to the shorter ends 60s of the rectangular cross section of case 60. The diminished width (and volume) thereby providing, on each of the shorter ends 60s of case 60, a cut-out section that extends the entire length of case 60, and defines a smaller volume section therein. The area of the bottom of the smaller volume section, in a preferred embodiment, is constructed so as to fit within the inner perimeter of the opening 60p of the case 60, so that one case 60 can be nestled into the top opening 60p of another case 60; further enhancing stability in stacking such cases 60 and for compactness. It will be understood by persons having ordinary skill in the art, that the diminished volume section of case 60 can be constructed such that the volume is contiguous with the volume of the case (so as to provide more volume for storage) or can be constructed incontiguously with the volume of case 60, so as to merely assume a useful stabilizing shape for nestling into opening 60p. In the latter instance, stability can be more inexpensively achieved by adding flanges along and parallel to the length of the bottom of case 60, at or near where the diminished width 61 was shown to have been created above. Storage cases 60 can include handles 70, at opposite ends of case 60 as shown in the figures, for ease of carrying. Multiple stanchions 18 may be placed within each storage case 60, and then the cases can be stacked together, for easy storage and transportation of stanchions 18.
(27) As disclosed, in various embodiments, the elements of the perimeter warning system with storage and transport devices of the present invention can be made form a variety of material such as metals, including composites, plastics and wood depending on the particular application required. Combinations of these materials can be used in one system without departing from the novel scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, the stands and/or stanchions are dipped in hot galvanized compound to minimize corrosion. In one embodiment, each stand weighs approximately 45 lbs to 55 lbs. For other applications, additional or less weight can be used for the stands as required, without departing from the novel scope of the present invention. In some applications of the invention, welding of parts is the method of construction, in others parts can be threaded together as previously described and such technics as forming through metal work, molding, injection molding and 3D printing can be used to create the parts of the present invention.
(28) As shown in FIG. 1, during use of the invention, multiple stand bases 26 are spaced apart adjacent the perimeter of a structure's roof edge. Stanchions 18 are removed from storage cases 60 and then securely inserted into pole insert points 28 until the required number of stands 26 with stanchions 18 are in position to form the necessary (or required) flag line dimensions to secure the work area. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, flag line 14 is secured to a stanchion 18 at extension pieces 20, forming a line tie off point 16. This process of securing the line to each stanchion 18 and extension piece 20 continues until all of the stanchions 18 are joined, by one or more flag lines 14, to complete a perimeter warning system.
(29) In summary, some, but not all, of the differences and benefits of the current and various embodiments of the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 12 are summarized below: 1. A storage rack holds the stands firmly in place when not in use. 2. The rack also provides the ability to securely hoist the stands to the roof. 3. A non-skid surface on the bottom of the stand and storage rack is provided for enhanced safety during use. 4. The stanchions used to hold flags and line, when in a vertical position during use fit inside the base of the stand giving the stand assembly enhanced stability. 5. Multiple elements of the stand design provide a stable way of stacking the stands while storing/transporting/loading them. 6. Stackable storage and transport devices for the flag stanchions may be provided in one form of the invention.
(30) Specific embodiments of novel methods and apparatus for construction of flag warning line systems according to the present invention have been described for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention is made and used. It should be understood that the implementation of other variations and modifications of the invention and its various aspects will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and that the invention is not limited by the specific embodiments described. Therefore, it is contemplated to cover the present invention any and all modifications, variations, or equivalents that fall within the true spirit and scope of the basic underlying principles disclosed and claimed herein.
