Bracket fixing for a safety line

Abstract

A bracket fixing for securing a safety line to a structure, has a safety line receiving portion and a fixing portion connected to the safety line receiving portion, the fixing portion having a captive mechanical fixing, arranged to engage with and secure the bracket to the structure.

Claims

1. A bracket fixing for securing a safety line to a structure, the bracket fixing comprising: a safety line receiving portion, and a fixing portion connected to the safety line receiving portion, the fixing portion having a captive mechanical fixing arranged to engage with and secure the bracket fixing to a structure; wherein the fixing portion comprises a confinement structure in the form of a box structure, the captive mechanical fixing held captive in the confinement structure so as not to be rotatable independently of the bracket fixing, and so as not to be displaceable in a direction transverse to the safety line receiving portion independently of the bracket fixing; wherein the captive mechanical fixing comprises a bolt and the box structure is formed to closely abut at least a portion of two opposing side surfaces of a head of the bolt; wherein the confinement structure comprises first and second portions, each of the first and second portions comprising a terminal end; and wherein each of the terminal ends of the first and second portions abut and overlap with a terminal end of the other of the first and second portions to form the box structure that abuts against the bolt to prevent rotation of the bolt head within the box structure.

2. A bracket fixing according to claim 1, wherein the safety line receiving portion comprises an elongate tube portion for receiving a safety line.

3. A bracket according to claim 2, wherein the fixing portion is spaced from the tube portion in a direction transverse to the elongate tube portion.

4. A fixing according to claim 1, wherein the captive mechanical fixing has an axis extending in a direction away from a safety line.

5. A fixing according to claim 1, wherein the captive mechanical fixing has an axis extending in a direction transverse to a safety line.

6. A fixing according to claim 1 further comprising a connecting web element, wherein the safety line receiving portion comprises an elongate tube portion for receiving a safety line, and the connecting web element connects the tube portion to the fixing portion.

7. A fixing according to claim 6, wherein the captive mechanical fixing has an axis extending in a direction away from the elongate tube portion, the axis being aligned with the direction in which the web portion extends.

8. A fixing according to claim 1, wherein the bracket fixing is configured to be rotated about an axis to secure the captive mechanical fixing with a structure.

9. A fixing according to claim 1, wherein the bracket fixing is a unitary bracket fixing provided as an integrated assembly or unit comprising the safety line receiving portion, the fixing portion and the captive mechanical fixing arranged to engage with and secure the unitary bracket fixing to a structure.

10. A fixing according to claim 1 further comprising a first bracket element formed from a sheet deformed to form an elongate tube portion of the safety line receiving portion.

11. A fixing according to claim 10 further comprising a connecting web element connecting the elongate tube portion to the fixing portion, wherein the connecting web element comprises first and second portions of the sheet arranged face adjacent face.

12. A fixing according to claim 1, wherein the captive mechanical fixing is set in a pre-fixed captive relationship with the fixing portion before deployment to secure the bracket fixing to a structure.

13. A bracket fixing for securing a safety line to a structure, the bracket fixing comprising: a safety line receiving portion, and a fixing portion connected to the safety line receiving portion, the fixing portion comprising a captive mechanical fixing and a confinement structure in the form of a box structure, for confining at least a portion of the captive mechanical fixing; wherein the bracket fixing is configured to be engaged with a receiving structure and rotated about an axis to secure the captive mechanical fixing with the receiving structure; wherein the captive mechanical fixing comprises a bolt with a head and a threaded portion, the head of the bolt held captive in the box structure such that the threaded portion of the bolt projects away from the fixing portion and formed to closely abut at least a portion of two opposing side surfaces of the head of the bolt; wherein the bolt is held captive so as not to be rotatable independently of the bracket fixing, and so as not to be displaceable in a direction transverse to the safety line receiving portion independently of the bracket fixing; wherein the confinement structure comprises first and second portions, each of the first and second portions comprising a terminal end; and wherein each of the terminal ends of the first and second portions abut and overlap with a terminal end of the other of the first and second portions to form the box structure that abuts against the bolt to prevent rotation of the bolt head within the box structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be further described in specific embodiments, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

(2) FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic side views of a prior art safety line bracket and support post;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view of a safety line bracket in accordance with the invention;

(4) FIGS. 3 to 5 are end, side and plan views respectively of a support post structure fitted with bracket fixing according to the invention;

(5) FIGS. 6 and 7 are side and end views respectively of the bracket fixing of FIGS. 2 to 5;

(6) FIGS. 8 and 9 are side and underside views of the fixing;

(7) FIG. 10 shows the elements 9c and 9d separated for explanatory purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 2 onwards, there is shown a safety line bracket fixing 1 mounted to a support post 15 to which is secured by means of a base plate 17 to a roof structure. The bracket fixing 1 secures the safety line 16 which is tensioned. In the embodiment shown, the safety line support bracket fixing 1 comprises a cylindrical tube portion 3 spaced from a fixing arrangement 2 by a narrow width upright web 4. The upright web 4 is narrow in width with respect to the diameter of the cylindrical tube portion 3, as can be seen clearly in FIG. 3, but also less extensive than the tube portion 3 in the axial direction of the cylindrical tube portion 3 as can clearly be seen in FIG. 2.

(9) The fixing portion 2 of the bracket comprises a captivation structure in the form of a box structure 9 which holds captive the head 6 of a bolt 5 such that the threaded shaft 7 of the bolt projects away from the fixing portion to a distal end 8. The bolt is captured within the box structure 9 such that the bolt and its head are not able to rotate about the axis of the bolt relative to the box structure 9 or web 4 of the bracket.

(10) In the embodiment shown, the tube portion 3, box structure 9 and interconnecting upright web portion are formed from a single piece of metal. The cylindrical tube 3 is curve formed of a single thickness wall, curved to meet at a seam 10, such that the web 4 extends downwardly and is of double wall thickness abutting at an interface 11. The separate walls are deformed outwardly at the base of the web 4 to form upper portions 9a 9b of the box structure 9. The material is deformed about the bolt head 6, and the free ends 9c and 9d overlap to capture the bolt head completely and securely in the box structure 9. The overlapping free ends are provided with slots 13 14 communicating with the terminal edge of the respective overlapping portions 9c 9d in order to accommodate the threaded shaft 7 of the bolt 5 when being deformed to the configuration shown. The sidewalls 9e 9f are a close fit abutment against the flats of the bolt head 6 such that the bolt head 6 is captive against rotation about the axis of the bolt within the box structure 9.

(11) The bracket fixing 1, pre-loaded with the bolt 5, provides a unitary fixing which enables significant ease of installation and fixing in place. In use a bracket fixing 1 may be fixed simply by means of inserting the bolt 5, which is already loaded in the bracket, in a suitable threaded receiving socket (for example on a support post 15 or directly anchoring in to a structure). The bolt may be rotated or screwed home (to a locked or engaged position) by rotating the bracket fixing 1 in its entirety about the axis of the bolt 5, by hand. No specialist fixing tools or standard spanners or socket sets are required and the bolt does not need to be tightened to a high torque. Once the bracket fixings 1 are screwed into position the safety line can be fed through the cylindrical tube portions 3. The safety line is then tensioned and the system is securely set up.

(12) In a variation on the fixing it will be appreciated that the threaded bolt 5 could be replaced by means of other mechanical fixing arrangements. For example a bayonet type mechanical fixing could be used. It is preferred that the mechanical fixing that is loaded to the bracket requires a male/female engagement and axial twisting to secure in position locked to the structure to which the bracket is mounted. This is because the axial twisting to an engaged or locked position mitigates against the fixing being disengaged by simply being pulled away from the structure. The bracket is prevented from twisting back to a release position by the tensioned safety line passing through the cylindrical tube portion of the bracket. It is particularly preferred from this aspect that the mechanical fixing carried on-board or loaded on the bracket fixing has a rotational fixing axis that is substantially in line with the direction of extension of the web 8 and/or positioned directly below the tube portion 3. This enables easier rotation and manipulation by hand.

(13) In a variation on the fixing it will be appreciated that in accordance with the invention rather than a bolt or other mechanical fixing held captive in a box or claw structure 5 or other confinement structure, the fixing could be welded, fused or otherwise effectively permanently secured to the fixing portion of the bracket. This is however less preferred as using separate components held captive by a confinement structure provides advantages in terms of ease of production and the ability to use standard off the shelf components.

(14) Furthermore it will be appreciated that other varieties of bracket fixing could be utilised. For example the D ring fixing of FIGS. 1A and 1B could be utilised with a captive bolt (or other mechanical fixing). This would be achieved by means of providing the d ring with a confinement or captivation portion such as the box structure 9 (or for example welding the bolt to the D ring).

(15) The fixings as described are particularly usefully employed in retaining a safety line in position, because when the safety line is tensioned, the safety line itself provides a restraint against the fixings rotating loose.