AU652609B2 - A stanchion assembly for a timber frame structure - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (ORIGINAL)26 652609 Name of Applicant: DGS PROPERTY PTY. LTD.

Actual Inventor(s): ANTHONY KENNETH MITCHINSON CORNELIS JOHANNES GRIEK JOHN BARRY STOKES

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.ddress for Service: Invention Title: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

A STANCHION ASSEMBLY FOR A TIMBER FRAME

STRUCTURE

Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): PK 4894/91 4 March, 1991 PK 6108/91 4 May, 1991 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: -1- -2- A STANCHION ASSEMBLY OR A TIMBER FRAME STRUCTURE The present invention relates to timber frame structures, especially timber frame buildings, and is particularly concerned with a stanchion assembly for such a framed building and capable of carrying a structure on the building.

Structures whi-h may be advantageously supported on a building, or a building construction, include especially a safety barrier, for example to prevent or assist in preventing construction site workers accidentally falling from the construction. In order to provide adequate support, it is necessary that a stanchion assembly for a safety barrier can be securely mounted on, as well as readily removed from the building, for example, when the building construction has been substantially completed.

One proposal for a stanchion assembly for a safety So 20 barrier on a timber frame building construction is described in US Patent Specification No. 4,666,131. The proposal has an upright support post of the stanchion assembly extending from an adaptor bracket which is pivotally secured to a C-shaped clamp member that partly envelops a rafter of the building from below and is clamped to the rafter by two locking bolts. While the described proposal should be readily releasable from the rafter, there must be some doubt as to its safety since accidental release or partial release of the locking bolts would allow the support barrier to drop to the ground.

According to the present invention there is pr. t,-led a stanchion assembly for a timber frame building, comprising a support post capable of receiving a structure to be carried by the stanchion assembly and a support assembly for the support post, the support 920304.P I-HSPE.022.deckguafd.spe.2 -3assembly comprising a bracket having a base and spaced legs projecting therefrom which is adapted to receive a timber frame member of the frame building between the base and the spaced legs, the spaced legs having free ends which releasably receive a closure member which closes the bracket and wherein the support post is supported by the closure member.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a safety barrier assembly comprising at least two stanchion assemblies in accordance with the invention and restraint means extending between the support posts of the or adjacent stanchion assemblies.

The stanchion assembly of the present invention is particularly, but not only, adapted for use with substantially rectangular cross-section rafters of a timber framed roof.

o: .o: e oo 20 By the term "frame building" as used herein is meant a building or building construction having at least one timber frame member to which the stanchion assembly of e the invention can be affixed. Thus, for example, only the roof or floor construction of the building may be 25 frame-like or the whole building may comprise a frame construction. Where the stanchion assembly is associated *0*0 with a safety barrier, the aformentioned 'it least two stanchion assemblies may be associated with respective eoom frame members of the frame building.

The or each stanchion assembly will generally be connected to a frame member of a roof structure so that the support post of the stanchion assembly extends upwardly from the support assembly, but occasionally it will be desirable to have the support post projecting downwardly.

920304,PF1H SPEO22,deckguard.spe,3 The closure member may be integrally formed with the support post or may form part of adaptor means with which the support post is connected in use. Advantageously the connection of the closure member with the bracket and/or of the support post with the closure member is selectively adjustable..

The manner in which the closure member is received by the free ends of the bracket may be one of many.

Advantageously the closure member is slidably received, for example by a sleeve or other opening, by one of the free ends of the bracket and the other of the free ends guides the closure member, for example by an open hook arrangement. Most preferably, the other of the free ends also comprises a sleeve or other opening to slidably receive the closure member. Desirably the closure member may be locked against such sliding movement.

Preferably the closure member is non-rotatably received by the free ends of the bracket. In a preferred embodiment the closure member comprises a rod of noncircular cross-section, for example square.

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The bracket may be selected to be a close fit over the frame member of the building in which case it may extend transversely across the frame member. In an alternative embodiment the bracket is oversized compared to the frame member and extends in an inclined manner thereacross. In this embodiment, the free ends of the bracket may define 30 a mouth of restricted width thereacross, through which the frame member can be passed, with .he legs of the bracket defining a throat behind the mouth of relatively enlarged width which accommodates the frame member with the bracket inclined relative thereto. In the inclined orientation of the bracket the restricted width mouth resists disengagement of the bracket from the frame member before the free ends of the bracket receive the 920304,PHHSPE.022,deckguarcspe,4 closure member as well as when the bracket is closed by the closure member.

The closure member resists accidental withdrawal of the frame member from the bracket through the mouth thereof and thereby ensures the security of the mounting of the stanchion assembly on the frame member. In view of this security, it may no-' be necessary that the support assembly be positively clamped to the frame member. Thus freedom of movement of the support assembly relative to the frame member may be resisted in a desired direction by the mass of the stanchion assembly or by means, such as a safety barrier, engaged wi..h the stanchion assembly.

Preferably, however, the support assembly further comprises means for clamping the frame member relative to the bracket. For example, the bracket may be adjustable to take up slack between the; bracket and the frame member, and in a preferred embodiment one or more locking screws are associated with the bracket and are threadedly adjustable to urge the frame member against an opposed portion or portions of the bracket or against the closure member.

Various embodiments of a stanchion assembly in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the stanchion assembly engaged with a rafter of a timber frame building; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of part of Figure i showing how a bracket is received on the N 'fter; Figure 3 is an enlarged view taken aloiig tho line 3- 3 in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the stanchion assembly engaged with a rafter of a timber framed building; 920304,PHHSPE.02Zdcckguard.spe.5 -6- Figure 5 is an enlarged view taken along the line in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a side view of a third embodiment of the stanchion assembly engaged with a rafter of a timber framed building; Figure 7 is an enlarged view of part of Figure 6 showing how a bracket is received on the rafter; Figure 8 is an enlarged view similar to Figures 3 and 5 but of the third embodiment and showing a modification; Figure 9 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of the stanchion assembly engaged with a rafter of a timber frame building; Figure 10 is an enlarged side view of part of Figure 9 showing the locking of the closure member; Figure 11 is an enlarged view similar to Figures 3, S 5 and 8 but of the fourth embodiment; Figure 12 is a side view of a fifth embodiment of a stanchion assembly engaged with two rafters showing a gable end detail of a timber frame roof structure; and Figure 13 is an enlarged view taken in the direction of arrow X in Figure 12.

The various embodiments of the stanchion assembly S23 described hereinafter are closely similar in many respects and, for convenience only, where the same or similar parts are referred to the same reference numerals will be used, sometimes followed by a for slightly modified parts.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 an adjustable stanchion assembly 10 is secured to a rafter 12 having opposed bottom and top edges 14 and 16. The rafter is supported on a wall frame 30 and has affixed to it battens 22 that are intended to support a roof 20 (shown in dashed lines).

920304,PHHSPE.022dcckguarcspe,6 -7- The rafter 12 in this case is shown to have an oblong cross-section, but other shapes such as square are possible. The end of the rafter is cut vertically and has a fascia board 18 and gutter 24 affixed to it. The fascia board also has an eaves lining 26 fixed to a groove therein and extending horizontally to the veneer wall 28. This particular arrangement does not allow a stanchion support assembly 40 toextend below the rafter.

Instead the support assembly protrudes through a gap between the fascia board 18 and the adjacent batten 22 where the lowermost tile 32 will extend so that this tile can only be laid after or as the stanchion assembly 10 is removed. The stanchion assembly 10 forms part of a safety barrier for protecting roof workers as they lay the roof.

The support assembly 40 comprises a substantially Cshaped bracket 42 having a base 44 and opposed legs 46 S•and 48 formed from steel plate. At the free ends of the 20 legs 46 and 48 are welded aligned respective sleeves and 52 of square cross-section whose axis extends parallel to the base 44. The sleeves project inwardly across the mouth 54 of the bracket so that the mouth has a restricted width compared to a throat 56 defined between the base 44, legs 46 and 48 and sleeves 50 and 52. The restricted width of the mouth 54 is such that it is slightly greater than the transverse dimension of the rafter 12 between the bottom and top edges 14 and 16, as shown in Figure 2.

Once the rafter 12 has passed through the mouth 54 of the bracket 42, the bracket is rotated in the direction of the arrows in Figure 2 so that a leading edge 58 (in the direction of rotation) of the throat engages the top edge 16 of the rafter and a trailing edge 60 of the throat engages the bottom edge 14 of the rafter. As is clear from Figures 1 and 3, removal of the bracket 42 from the 920304,PHHSPE.O22deckguardspe,7 -8rafter 12 is resisted by the sleeves 50 and 52 in this inclined orientation of the clamp member.

Reinforcement of the engagement of the sleeve 50 with the leg 46 is provided by means of a gusset plate 62 which is welded to the sleeve 50 and leg 46. Similarly engagement of the sleeve 52 with the leg 48 is reinforced by way of a gusset plate 64 which is welded between them.

As shown in Figure 3, the bracket 42 is provided with clamping bolts 66 which threadedly engage the base 44 of the bracket 42 and project therethrough to abut the rafter 12 at points 68 and thereby force the rafter 12 into contact with the sleeves 50 and 52 of the bracket.

The support assembly 40 further includes an elongate closure member 70 of square tubular cross-section which is received in sliding manner closely through the sleeves and 52 to close the mouth 54. The closure member S" 20 is adjustable relative to the sleeves and is lockable in the desired location by means of a screw threaded locking bolt 71 which threadedly engages the sleeve 52 and projects through the sleeve wall to abut the closure member. The provision of the closure member 70 ensures that the support assembly 40 cannot be accidentally dislodged from the rafter 12.

The closure member 70 is welded to an upright support post 72 of the stanchion assembly and is strengthened with a gusset plate 74 at the joint. Three barrier mounts 76, each in the form of a shaped bracket, are welded to the post 72. Each of the three barrier mounts 76 is capable of receiving two barrier rails 80 of a safety barrier, both transversely to the plane of Figure 1 as shown. This allows the barrier rails 80 to be lapped and joined at the post for maximum strength of the complete assembly. The barrier rails 80 are securely 920304,PH HSPE.022,deckguardc,8 -9held in the desired position by means of screw threaded locking bolts 78 which threadedly engage the respective barrier mounts 76 and project therethrough to abut the barrier rails The closure member 70 ensures that the support assembly can locate the support post 72 outwardly of the rafter 12 and therefore of the roof 20 so that as much of the roof as possible can be laid with the stanchion assembly 10 in place. The mass of the support post 72 and associated mounts 76 and rails 80 helps to retain the bracket 42 in the inclined orientation shown in Figure 1.

Likewise, twisting of the bracket 42 about the rafter 12 may be resisted by the engagement of the barrier rails with other stanchon assemblies or, for example, by the throat 56 having a depth from the mouth 54 to the base 44 of the bracket which is similar to the thickness of the rafter. Thus, the clamping bolts 66 may be omitted.

20 Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, the bracket 42' is similar to the bracket 42 described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 but has only one sleeve 52' welded to the "leg 48'. The plate steel of the leg 46' is extended compared to the leg 46 of bracket 42 and has a square opening 90 punched in it, the opening being aligned with the sleeve 52' to receive the closure member 70', In order to provide a bearing surface 92 for the top edge 16 of the rafter 12, the leading edge of the leg 46' of bracket 42' is notched at 94. Additionally, a spacer plate 95 is welded to the wall of the sleeve 52'.

The omission of the sleeve 50 enables the gusset plate 62 to be omitted and the spacing of the bearing surface 92 from the opening 90 is substantially the same as the combined thicknesses of the spacer plate 95 and the adjacent wall of the sleeve 52'. A single clamping bolt 66' urges the rafter 12 against the bearing surface 92 920304,PtitISPE.02.deckguard.spe9 and the spacer plate 95. In all other respects the bracket 42' is the same as bracket 42.

The bracket 42' enables the roof 20' to be laid over the support assembly 40', and this is particularly useful for sheet type roofing such as corrugated steel. However, this means the support post 72' of the stanchion assembly 96 must be supported from below the rafter 12 and fascia board 18, and in this embodiment the eaves lining 26 is omitted until the stanchion assembly 96 has been dismounted.

In order to support the support post 72' from below the rafter 12, the closure member 70' forms one leg of an angled adaptor 98. The closure member 70' thus comprises a rod of square cross-section which is welded at its lower end to the second leg 100 of the adaptor 98 which comprises an elongate sleeve. The connection of the closure member 70' with the sleeve 100 is reinforced by 20 one or more gusset plates 102. As before, the closure member 70' is clamped in the sleeve 52' by means of the locking bolts 71'. Since no adjustability of the closure member 70' relative to the bracket 42' is necessary to vary the spacing of the support post 72' from the roof 20', the closure member 70' is only just long enough to S.C' extend through the opening 90. Such adjustment is provided by a telescopic engagement in the sleeve 100 of an elongate connection member 104 which is welded to the lower end of the support post 72'. As shown in Figure both the connection member 104 and the sleeve 100 have a square cross-section so that the connection member 104 is non-rotatably received in the sleeve 100. A locking bolt 106 is provided on the sleeve 100 to secure the connecting member 104 therein.

Compared to the support post 72, the support post 72' is extended downwardly from the lowermost barrier mount 76 920304,P HHSPE.022deckguardsMpc 11 to the lower end and the engagement of the lower end with the elongate connection member is reinforced by opposed gusset plates 108 (one only shown). In all other respects, the support post 72' is identical to the support post 72.

In use, before the roofing material 20' is secured to the battens 22, the bracket 42' is located over the rafter 12 and rotated as described with reference to Figure 2 to the inclined orientation shown in Figure 4. The clamping bolt (or bolts) 66' is the adjusted to clamp the rafter in the bracket 42'. The mouth of the bracket 42', whose width corresponds to the height of the rafter, is then closed by sliding the closure member 70' through the sleeve 52' and the opening 9G, and the locking bolt 71' is engaged to secure the closure member 70' in place.

The elongate connection member 104 of the support post 72' may then be telescopically engaged with the sleeve 100 of the adaptor 98 and secured by means of the locking 20 bolt 106.

It will be appreciated that the support posts 72 and 72' described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 may have a substantial mass which makes their engagement with the support assembly difficult. The third embodiment shown *in Figures 6 to 8 is designed to alleviate this.

Referring now to Figures 6 to 8, the stanchion assembly 110 is similar to the stanchion assembly 10 in that a support assembly 112 for a support post 72'' projects from the top of the rafter 12 and therefore through the gap where the lowermost tile 32 of the roof 20 will be laid.

The support assembly 112 comprises a substantially Cshaped bracket 114 bent out of flat steel plate to define a base 116 and spaced legs 118 through which are provided 920304,PHHiSP02Zdeckguard.spe, 1I 12aligned square openings 120 at their free ends. A pair of clamping bolts 122 is screw threadedly engaged with the base 116 and is adjustable to engage the rafter 12 between the legs 118.

In this embodiment, the mouth of the bracket 114 defined between the openings 120 has the same width as the throat in which the rafter 12 is clamped. That width is only slightly larger than the height of the rafter 12 between the top and bottom edges 14 and 16.

A closure member 124 for the bracket 114 is in the form of an elongate rod of square cross-section which forms the first leg of an adaptor 126 to support the support post The closure member 124 is a close sliding fit in the openings 120 of the bracket 114 and a stop 128 (shown in Figure 6) welded to the outer wall of the closure member limits penetration of the closure member through the openings.

It is therefore only "Ne closure member 124 which prevents the bracket 1i.4 being withdrawn off the rafter e" 12 through the mouth thereof, and once the closure member is received in the openings 120 the clamping bolts 122 are adjusted to urge the rafter 12 against the closure member as shown in Figure 8. During or before this operation, the support assembly 112 is likely to have tilted over slightly under the mass of the adaptor 126, se'. as shown in Figure 6, to take up any slack between the rafter 12 and the opposed legs 118 of the bracket 114.

As shown in Figure 8, the stop 128 may be omitted since further penetration of the closure member 124 through the openings 120 in the bracket 114 is resisted by the clamping of the rafter 12 between the clamping bolts 122 and the closure member.

9203G4,PHHSPEO2d2eckguard.spe, 12 13 The adaptor 126 comprises a pair of parallel gusset plates 130 welded to opposed faces of the closure member 124 at its upper end. The gusset plates 130 extend at an oblique angle from the closure member 124 to define a fixed knee joint between them, and the other end of the gusset plates have a support sleeve 132 welded between them which opens upwardly to receive the support post A locking bolt 134 is provided to secure the lower end of the upright support post 72'' in the sleeve 132, the support post having a stop 136 to limit penetration into the sleeve 132.

In this embodiment, the lowermost barrier mount of the three barrier mounts 76' associated with the support post 72'' is welded to the sleeve 132. All of the barrier S: mounts are as previously described with reference to the barrier mounts 76 of Figures 1 to 5 except that two substantially opposed locking bolts 78' are provided, one for each of the barrier rails 80. The bottom locking 20 bolt 78' of the lowermost barrier mount 76' is accessible beyond the gusset plates 130.

"Referring now to Figures 9 to 11, the support assembly 140 for the stanchion assembly 142 includes a bracket 114 25 which is identical to the bracket 114 described with reference to Figures 6 to 8. Likewise, the manner of clamping the rafter 12 between the clamping bolts 122 and the closure member 124' is also as described with reference to Figures 6 to 8. However, in this embodiment the support assembly 140 projects below the rafter 12 and fascia board 18 so that the whole roof 20' can be laid with the stanchion assembly 142 in position as described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Thus, the closure member 124', which comprises a rod of square crosssection is introduced to the openings 120 in the bracket 114 from below.

920304,PHHSPE.22deckgiuard-spe, 13 -14- The closure member 124' has adjustable stop means 144 (shown in Figure 10) to prevent accidental withdrawal of the closure member from the openings 120 although, as before, such withdrawal is resisted by the clamping of the rafter 12 against the closure member.

The stop means 144 comprises a key 146 of essentially circular cross-section with a projecting lug at one end which is introduced to one of a plurality of correspondingly shaped openings 148 in the closure memLer and rotated so that the lug is no longer aligned with the corresponding slotted portion 150 of the opening 148.

Such stop means are well known generally. The key 146 is introduced to the opening 148 immediately above the 15 lowermost leg 118 of the bracket 114 to prevent downwards

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movement of the closure member 124' through the bracket.

The closure member 124' forms one leg of an adaptor 152 which is similar to the adaptor 98 described with 20 reference to Figures 4 and 5. The second leg of the adaptor 152 is in the form of an elongate sleeve 154 which is welded to the lower end of the closure member 124' to form an acute angle which is reinforced by a gusset plate A lanyard 158 extends between the gusset plate 156 and the key 146 t:o alleviate the ^likelihood of the key being lost when the adaptor is not in use.

An L-shaped support member 160 extends between the 30 adaptor 152 and the support post 72'' which is identical to the support post described with reference to Figures 6 to 8. The support member 160 has a lower leg 162 which is telescopically received in the sleeve 154 of the adaptor up to a stop 164 and is locked in position by means of a locking bolt 166 on the sleeve 154. The degree to which the support member 160 is telescopically received in the sleeve 154 is adjustable to accommodate, 92P304,PHHSPE22,deckguarcispe, I1I for example, a different sized gutter 24. Thus, it may not be necessary for the lower leg 162 to be slidingly received in the sleeve 154 all the way to the stop 164.

The second leg 168 of the support member 160 extends substantially upright at approximately right angles to the lower leg 162, the join between the two legs being reinforced by a gusset plate 170. The leg 168 is of square cross-section and hollow to telescopically receive the support post 72'' and its upper end 172 is substantially identical to the sleeve 132 of the embodiment described with reference to Figures 6 to 8 so that it supports a barrier mount 76' and has a locking bolt 174 to lock the support post in position.

Referring now to Figures 12 and 13, the stanchion assembly 180 is mounted on a typical gable end of a timber framed roof structure. In this arrangement, the •fascia board 18 is supported on a plurality of timber outriggers 17 (one only shown) which project transversely from the end rafter 12. The stanchion assembly 180 is supported from two rafters, the aformentioned outermost S. rafter 12 and the adjacent rafter 12, by respective identical support assemblies 182 connected by a 25 connecting rod 184. The support assemblies 182 project below the rafters 12 and fascia board 18 so that the roof se* 20, which may be tiled or, for example, sheet metal, can be laid with the stanchion assembly 180 in place.

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see. 30 Each support assembly 182 comprises a bracket 114' which is very similar to the bracket 114 described with reference to Figures 9 to 11, so that only its differences will be described. The bracket 114' has a greater length along the rafter 12 than the brackcet 114 so that both the base 116' and opposed legs 118' have substantial longitudinal extent. It will be appreciated that the rafters 12 may be inclined as shown in Figure 13 90304,PHHSPE.22deckguardspe, -16and as in all of the other described embodiments (although the stanchion assembly 180 may be readily used with the rafters 12 of a substantially flat roof) and the greater longitudinal extent of the clamp 114' allows a greater resistance to twisting. The greater longitudinal extent of the base 116' allows the clamping bolts 122' to be offset from each other. Also to minimise twisting of the bracket 114' about the rafter 12, a pair of longitudinally spaced locking bolts 186 is preferably mounted on the lower leg 118' of the bracket to engage the bottom edge 14 of the rafter and urge the top edge 16 into engagement with the upper leg 118'.

As an alternative to using the bracket 114' in this embodiment it has been found possible to use the bracket 114 described with reference to Figures 6 to 11 modified to include a longitudinal plate (not shown) welded to the lower leg 118 to extend longitudinally along the rafter 12 in much the same manner as the longitudinally extended S 20 lower leg 118' of the bracket 114'. The longitudinally spaced locking bolts 186 may then be provided in the longitudinal plate. The plate may be welded to the lower leg 118 between the opening 120 and the base 116 of the bracket.

0 0The closure member 188 is functionally identical to the closure member 124', including the key 146' and corresponding array of openings 148', so will not be 0 ee described further. However, the closure member 188, which is in the form of an elongate rod of square cro'ssection, has a lower end which is welded to a sleeve 190 whose axes extends at right angles to the closure member 188, as clearly shown in Figure 13, to form an adaptor 191. The engagement of the closure member 188 with the sleeve 190 is reinforced by opposed gusset plates 192.

With both support assemblies 182 mounted on the 920304,PHHSPE.022deckguarcispe, 16 -17respective rafters 12, the elongate connecting rod 184 is slidingly engaged with both sleeves 190 and locked in position by locking bolts 194 screw threadedly engaged with the sleeve. As shown in Figure 13, the connecting rod 184 is of square cross-section and is a close sliding fit in the sleeves 190.

An L-shaped support member 160' is identical to the support member 160 described with reference to Figures 9 to 11, except that the lower leg 162' need not be as long since adjustability to space the support member 160' from the fascia board 18 is provided by the sliding engagement of the connecting rod 184 with the sleeves 190. The support member 160' is telescopically received in the outer end of the connecting rod 184 and locked in position by the locking bolt 196. The support post 72'', which is as previously described, is telescopically received in the support member 160'.

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20 The construction, arrangement and operation of the stanchion assemblies and components thereof illustrated in the drawings can be readily understood by reference to the preceding description. It will be seen that the stanchion assemblies can enable a stanchion or support 25 post to be readily supported from one or more rafters of a timber framed roof structure building and the stanchion can then be used to mount barriers, horizontal rails, barrier nettin and the like. The combination of the substantially C-shaped bracket with the closure member encircles the respective rafter and cannot be removed readily from the rafter until it is dismantled. However the stanchion assemblies can be readily dismantled from the building or building construction for reuse at another location. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications and variations may be made to the stanchion assemblies described herein, and all such modifications and variations should be 920304,PHHSPEO22deckguard.sp 17 18 considered as falling within the scope of the present invention. In particular it will be understood that any one feature described with reference to one embodiment herein may be incorporated as a feature. of any other embodiment.

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92a3G4,PHHSPE.022.deckguard.spe, If'

Claims (13)

1. A stanchion assembly for a timber frame building, comprising a support post capable of receiving a structure to be carried by the stanchion assembly and a support assembly for the support post, the support assembly comprising a bracket having a base and spaced legs projecting therefrom which is adapted to receive a timber frame member of the frame building between the base and the spaced legs, the spaced legs having free ends which releasably receive a closure member which closes the bracket and wherein the support post is supported by the closure member.

2. A stanchion assembly according to Claim 1 in which the closure member is intp-ally forned with the support post. S'

3. A stanchion assembly according to Claim 1 in which 20 the closure member forms part of adaptor means with which the support post is connected in use.

4. A stanchion assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein tle closure member is ulidably received by 25 the free ends of the bracket.

A stanchion assembly according to Claim 4 wherein the free ends of the bracket define aligned openings therethrough to receive the closure member.

6. A stanchion assembly according to Claim 5 wherein one of the openings is defined by a sleeve.

7. A stanchion assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the closure member comprises a rod and is non-rotatably received by the free ends of the bracket. 920304,PHHSPE.2Zdeckguarspe, 19

8. A stanchion assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the free ends of the bracket define a mout of restricted width thereacross through which the frame member is passed, the spacing of the legs behind the mouth being enlarged compared to the mouth to enable partial rotation of the bracket on the frame member.

9. A stanchion assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein adjustable clamping means is provided to clamp the frame member in the bracket.

A stanchion assembly according to Claim 9 wherein the adjustable clamping means is provided in the base of the bracket to clamp the frame member against one or both of the free ends of the bracket or against the closure member. *o t

11. A stanchion assembly according to Claim 9 or Claim 20 10 wherein the adjustable clamping means is provided in one of the legs of the bracket to clamp the frame member against the other of the legs.

12. A stanchion assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A safety barrier assembly comprising at least two stanchion assemblies in accordance with any one of the preceding claims and restraint means extending between the support posts of the or adjacent stanchion assemblies. 9M304,P. iHSPE.022deckguardcspe,2 21 this 4th day of March, 1992. DGS PROPERTY PTY. LTD. By its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE S* S S p S *9SS S 5*5@5 S V S S US S V. 55 S V S V S 920304,PHIHSPE-.O22,deckguatd.spe,21 -22- ABSTRACT A stanchion assembly (10) comprises a stanchion or support post which carries safety barrier rails and a support assembly (40) for the post (72) which locks onto a rafter The support assembly comprises a generally C-shaped bracket (42) defining a mouth (54) through which the rafter (12) may be passed and a throat (56) within the bracket behind the mouth. The free ends of the legs (46) and (48) of the bracket (42) are adapted to receive a closure member (70) to close the bracket and prevent the bracket being removed from the rafter through the mouth The closure member (70) supports the post (72) and may be integrally formed with it or form part of an adaptor which releasably supports the post. o*Go 920304,PHHSPE02Zdeckguarctspe22