U.S. patent application number 17/536226 was filed with the patent office on 2022-06-02 for wheel stop bracket and system for wheeled machinery.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jonathan Jonny Melic. Invention is credited to Jonathan Jonny Melic.
Application Number | 20220170219 17/536226 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220170219 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Melic; Jonathan Jonny |
June 2, 2022 |
WHEEL STOP BRACKET AND SYSTEM FOR WHEELED MACHINERY
Abstract
A bracket for a wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or
machinery. The bracket comprises a base releasably securable to a
floor or a surface over which the wheeled equipment or machinery is
operated, and a barrier retainer to releasably secure a
longitudinal barrier rail to the base. The bracket limits movement
of the longitudinal barrier rail, across the floor or the surface
when the base is releasably secured to the floor or surface and
when the longitudinal barrier rail is contacted by a wheel of the
wheeled equipment or machinery. Also disclosed is a wheel stop
barrier for wheeled equipment or machinery, where the wheel stop
barrier comprises two or more brackets and one or more longitudinal
barrier rails.
Inventors: |
Melic; Jonathan Jonny;
(Burlington, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Melic; Jonathan Jonny |
Burlington |
|
CA |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/536226 |
Filed: |
November 29, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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63120248 |
Dec 2, 2020 |
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International
Class: |
E01F 13/02 20060101
E01F013/02; E01F 13/04 20060101 E01F013/04 |
Claims
1. A bracket for a wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or
machinery, the bracket comprising: a base releasably securable to a
floor or a surface over which the wheeled equipment or machinery is
operated, and a barrier retainer to releasably secure a
longitudinal barrier rail to the base and to thereby limit movement
of the longitudinal barrier rail, across the floor or the surface
when the base is releasably secured to the floor or surface and
when the longitudinal barrier rail is contacted by a wheel of the
wheeled equipment or machinery.
2. The bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base is elongate
and the barrier retainer is mounted thereon such that a
longitudinal barrier rail is releasably secured to the base in a
generally perpendicular orientation relative to a longitudinal axis
of the base, the base including a post retainer to retain a bottom
end of a barrier post in contact with the base when the barrier
post is extended between the floor and a ceiling structure of an
immediately adjacent upper floor structure.
3. The bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base is elongate
and the barrier retainer is mounted thereon such that a
longitudinal barrier rail is releasably secured to the base in a
generally perpendicular orientation relative to a longitudinal axis
of the base, the base including a mount to releasably secure the
base to the floor or structure.
4. The bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base is elongate
with a longitudinal axis, the base comprised of a first base
portion slidably engaged with a second base portion, the barrier
retainer mounted on the first base portion.
5. The bracket as claimed in claim 4 including a spring biasing the
first base portion away from the second base portion.
6. The bracket as claimed in claim 5 wherein the second base
portion includes one or more mounts to releasably secure one or
both of the first and second base portions to the floor or surface
over which the wheeled equipment or machinery is operated.
7. The bracket as claimed in claim 6 wherein the spring is a coil
spring that is at least partially received about an elongate first
guide member having a first end fixed to one of the first and
second base portions and a second free end positioned within a
first receiver on the other of the first and second base portions,
the bracket having a rest configuration wherein the spring is in an
uncompressed state, the bracket having a compressed configuration
wherein the spring is in a compressed state and the distance
between the first and second base portions along the longitudinal
axis has been reduced.
8. The bracket as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first end of the
first guide member is fixed to the first base portion and the first
receiver is positioned on the second base portion.
9. The bracket as claimed in claim 8 comprising a second guide
member having a first end fixed to one of the first and second base
portions, the second guide member having a second end slidably
received within a second receiver positioned on the other of the
first and second base portions.
10. A wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment or machinery, the
wheel stop barrier comprising two or more brackets as claimed in
claim 1 and one or more longitudinal barrier rails releasably
securable to two adjacent brackets through engagement with the
barrier retainers of the respective brackets.
11. The wheel stop barrier as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
brackets include a mount to secure their bases to a floor or a
surface over which the wheeled equipment or machinery is
operated.
12. The wheel stop barrier as claimed in claim 11 wherein the base
of each bracket is comprised of a first base portion slidably
engaged with a second base portion.
13. The wheel stop barrier as claimed in claim 12 wherein the
barrier retainer of each bracket is secured to the first base
portion, each bracket including a spring biasing the first base
portion away from the second base portion.
14. The wheel stop barrier as claimed in claim 13 wherein the mount
of each bracket is positioned on the second base portion such that
horizontal force applied to a longitudinal barrier rail in a
direction toward the second base portion of a bracket, where the
longitudinal barrier rail is releasably secured by a barrier
retainer on the bracket, is at least partially accommodated through
compression of the spring.
15. The wheel stop barrier as claimed in claim 14 wherein the
second base portion of each bracket includes a post retainer to
retain the bottom end of a barrier post in contact with the second
base portion when the barrier post is extended between the floor
and a ceiling structure of an immediately adjacent upper floor
structure.
16. The wheel stop barrier as claimed in claim 15 wherein the mount
is a pin receivable within a hole in the floor or surface, the
retention of the bottom of a barrier post in the post retainer
aiding in maintaining the pin within the hole in the floor or
surface.
17. The wheel stop barrier as claimed in claim 14 wherein the
spring is a coil spring that is at least partially received about
an elongate first guide member having a first end fixed to one of
the first and second base portions and a second free end positioned
within a first receiver on the other of the first and second base
portions.
18. The wheel stop barrier as claimed in claim 17 comprising a
second guide member having a first end fixed to one of the first
and second base portions, the second guide member having a second
end slidably received within a second receiver positioned on the
other of the first and second base portions.
Description
FIELD
[0001] This invention relates generally to the field of protective
barriers that can be employed to limit or restrict the movement of
wheeled machinery or vehicles.
BACKGROUND
[0002] It is often important to limit the movement of wheeled
equipment or vehicles such as fork lifts, scissor lifts, motorized
or electrified pallet lifts, motorized or electrified wheelbarrows,
etc., on a construction site or in a manufacturing or warehousing
facility. Currently, where it is desired to prevent or restrict the
movement of such machinery or vehicles in a particular area or in a
particular direction, concrete or steel curbs or barriers are
typically installed. To a significant degree, such curbs or
barriers rely on their mass to stop or limit movement of the
wheeled machinery and are generally not conducive to temporary use
and movement from site to site.
[0003] One particular application where a restriction on the
movement of wheeled machinery or equipment is critical is in the
case of high-rise building construction. In the construction of
multi-floor buildings it is common for various trades to utilize
scissor lifts and other wheeled equipment. Should such equipment
accidentally roll or be driven over an unprotected edge of the
floor in a multi-floor structure, catastrophic results could ensue.
While in many jurisdictions edge protection is required on elevated
floors under construction, such edge protection is commonly in the
form of fencing or railings that are designed to help prevent
people and relatively small objects from falling off a floor under
construction. These fences and railings often lack the ability to
restrain the movement of a piece of equipment or machinery, such as
a scissor lift, that can be under power and that is of considerable
weight.
SUMMARY
[0004] Accordingly, in an embodiment of the invention there is
provided a bracket for a wheel stop barrier for wheeled equipment
or machinery, the bracket comprising a base releasably securable to
a floor or a surface over which the wheeled equipment or machinery
is operated, and a barrier retainer to releasably secure a
longitudinal barrier rail to the base and to thereby limit movement
of the longitudinal barrier rail, across the floor or the surface
when the base is releasably secured to the floor or surface and
when the longitudinal barrier rail is contacted by a wheel of the
wheeled equipment or machinery.
[0005] There is also provided a wheel stop barrier for wheeled
equipment or machinery, the wheel stop barrier comprising two or
more such brackets and one or more longitudinal barrier rails
releasably securable to two adjacent brackets through engagement
with the barrier retainers of the respective brackets
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] For a better understanding of the present invention, and to
show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will
now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which
show exemplary embodiments of the present invention in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is an upper side perspective view of two adjacent
floors under construction demonstrating the application of an
embodiment of a wheel stop bracket and system for wheeled machinery
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, used in
association with an edge protection fence.
[0008] FIG. 2 is an upper side perspective view of the wheel stop
bracket and system for wheeled machinery of FIG. 1 without the use
of the edge protection fence.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of FIG. 1 demonstrating use
in association with a scissor lift.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 3, wherein the scissor lift
has engaged the wheel stop bracket and system.
[0011] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the wheel stop bracket and
system shown in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 6 is an upper side perspective view of the wheel stop
bracket of FIG. 5.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG.
6.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the wheel stop bracket of FIG.
6.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a bottom side perspective view of the wheel stop
bracket of FIG. 6.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a side view of the wheel stop bracket of FIG. 6
in a compressed configuration.
[0017] FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the wheel stop
bracket of FIG. 10.
[0018] FIG. 12 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 11 showing an
alternate manner of mounting the wheel stop bracket to a floor or
surface.
[0019] FIG. 13 is an upper side perspective view of an alternate
embodiment of the wheel stop bracket.
[0020] FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the wheel stop bracket
of FIG. 13.
[0021] FIG. 15 is an upper side perspective view of the wheel stop
bracket of FIG. 13 shown in use with a longitudinal barrier rail, a
support post, and an edge protection fence panel.
DESCRIPTION
[0022] The present invention may be embodied in a number of
different forms. The specification and drawings that follow
describe and disclose some of the specific forms of the
invention.
[0023] With reference to the attached drawings there is shown an
embodiment of a bracket 1 for a wheel stop barrier for wheeled
equipment or machinery constructed in accordance with the
invention. The drawings show one particular application and
embodiment of bracket 1 and the wheel stop barrier system. It will
be appreciated that other applications and embodiments are also
possible and are contemplated.
[0024] In the enclosed drawings bracket 1 is shown in use in
association with the construction of a multi-floor building. FIG. 1
shows a first floor 2 and a second floor 3 of a building under
construction, wherein the outer edges of floors 2 and 3 (i.e. next
to the outside of the building) are noted generally by reference
numeral 4. The particular application of bracket 1 that is shown is
for use to help prevent wheeled equipment or machinery from falling
from floor 2 over outer edge 4. In this embodiment, brackets 1 are
shown used in association with longitudinal barrier rails 5,
support posts 6, and edge protection fencing panels 7.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment wherein three brackets have been
placed adjacent to the outer edge 4 a floor structure, and with
longitudinal barrier rails 5 extending therebetween, in isolation
and without support post or fencing panels.
[0026] FIGS. 3 and 4 depict how brackets 1 and a wheel stop barrier
in accordance with an embodiment of the invention can be used to
help prevent wheeled equipment or machinery (in this instance a
scissor lift 8) from accidentally falling from the edge of a floor
under construction in a multi-story building.
[0027] FIGS. 5 through 12 show, in detail, the structure, function
and operation of bracket 1 as depicted in the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1 through 4. There, bracket 1 is comprised generally of an
elongate base 9 with a longitudinal axis that, in the particular
application that is depicted, is generally perpendicular to outer
edge 4 of floor 2. Base 9 may be comprised of a first base portion
10 that is slidably engaged with a second base portion 11. A
barrier retainer 12 may be mounted on first base portion 10 and
releasably secures one or more longitudinal barrier rails 5 to
bracket 1. As more particularly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, barrier
retainer 5 may be in the form of a sleeve 13 that is oriented
generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of base 9 and through
which one or more barrier rails may be slid. In this configuration,
it will be appreciated that when bracket 1 is oriented generally
perpendicular to outer edge 4 of floor 2, the longitudinal barrier
rails will be oriented generally parallel to edge 4 when received
through sleeve 13. It will further be appreciated that barrier
rails 5 can be constructed from a wide variety of different
materials, including wood and metal. Where the rails are metal,
they could be made to be telescopic in nature. Where the rails are
wooden, the ends of successive rails could overlap when passing
through sleeve 13, or the ends of the rails could overlap at a
position between two adjacent brackets and be secured together with
a clamp 14.
[0028] With particular reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, in an
embodiment, bracket 1 includes a spring 15 that tends to bias first
base portion 10 away from second base portion 11, in a direction
generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base. Spring 15
may be a coil spring that is at least partially received about an
elongate first guide member 16 having a first end 17 fixed to one
of first and second base portions 10 and 11. First guide member 16
may have a second free end 18 that is positioned within a receiver
19 mounted on the other of the first and second base portions, 10
and 11. The second end 18 is free to slide longitudinally within
receiver 19. In the embodiment shown, first end 17 of first guide
member 16 is secured to first base portion 10, and in particular to
sleeve 13, while receiver 19 is secured to second base portion 11.
One end of spring 15 will therefore bear against the outer surface
of sleeve 13, with the other end of spring 15 housed within
receiver 19 and bearing against an internal stop 20 (see FIG. 7).
It will therefore be appreciated that bracket 1 will have a rest
configuration, where spring 15 is in an uncompressed state, and
will have a compressed configuration where the spring is compressed
and the distance between first and second base portions 10 and 11,
along the longitudinal axis of bracket 1, has been reduced.
[0029] In an embodiment of the invention, bracket 1 further
includes a mount to releasably secure it to floor 2. In the
particular embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the mount is a pin 21
that extends from the bottom surface of bracket 1 and that is
receivable within a generally correspondingly shaped hole that is
drilled or otherwise formed within floor 2. Also, in FIGS. 6 and 7,
mount or pin 21 is positioned beneath a post retainer 22, which in
this instance is comprised of a wall structure extending generally
vertically upward from second base portion 11 and into which the
lower end of a support post can be received. Other forms and
structures of post retainer 22 are possible. In addition, other
positions for pin 21 and/or other structures for mounting bracket 1
to a floor or surface are also contemplated, including bolts,
expanding anchors, etc.
[0030] With reference again to FIGS. 1 and 5, one of ordinary skill
in the art will appreciate that inserting the lower end or foot of
a support or tension post 6 into post retainer 22, and then placing
the post in tension between first and second floors 2 and 3, will
effectively maintain the lower surface of bracket 1 in contact with
floor 2 and will retain mount or pin 21 within the hole or opening
in floor 2 into which it has been received. In such a manner, a
horizontally oriented load applied to bracket 1 will be borne by
mount or pin 21 to maintain the bracket in position upon the floor.
As mentioned, in other embodiments, bracket 1 may be secured to
floor 1 through the use of other or additional forms of fasteners,
bolts, wedges, expanding anchors, etc. received through one or both
of first and second base portions 10 and 11. For example, FIG. 12
depicts an embodiment where an expanding stud fastener 27 has been
inserted through a hole in first base portion 10 and into a hole or
opening within floor 2 as a means to maintain the bracket in
position.
[0031] With reference again to FIGS. 6 and 7, bracket 1 may further
comprise a second guide member 23 having a first end 24 fixed to
one of the first and second base portions, 10 and 11. Second guide
member 23 has a second end 25 that is slidably received within a
second receiver 26 positioned on the other of the first and second
base portions 10 and 11. In one embodiment, the second guide member
and the second receiver are vertically offset from first guide
member 16 and first receiver 19. In the embodiment shown, first end
24 of second guide member 23 is secured to sleeve 13 on first base
portion 10, and second receiver 26 is secured to second base
portion 11. It will be appreciated that the opposite is also
possible. Second guide member 23 and second receiver 26 may be
constructed so that second end 25 of second guide member 23 extends
beyond and outwardly through second receiver 26. Second end 25, at
the point that it extends beyond second receiver 26, may then be
fitted with a pin, cotter key, bolt or other structure 28 to
prevent it from sliding backwardly through the receiver. In this
manner there is presented a means to prevent first base portion 10
from becoming separated from second base portion 11, while still
allowing relative sliding movement of the respective base portions.
It will further be appreciated that not only will the second guide
member and second receiver serve as a means to retain the first and
second base portions together in a single unit, but that the
interaction of the second guide member within the second receiver
will also help to assist in accommodating any rotational torque
that may be applied between the first and second base portions.
[0032] From an understanding of the above-described structure it
will be appreciated that there is presented a bracket for a wheel
stop barrier that will limit movement of a longitudinal barrier
rail, across the surface of a floor or other surface upon which
wheeled equipment or machinery is being operated, when the barrier
rail is contacted by a wheel of the wheeled equipment or machinery.
The invention also provides a wheel stop barrier for wheeled
equipment or machinery where the barrier comprises two or more
brackets 1 and one or more longitudinal barrier rails 5 releasably
securable to two adjacent brackets through engagement with barrier
retainers 12 on the respective brackets. In one embodiment, when
such brackets and such barrier rails are in use, horizontal force,
applied to a longitudinal barrier rail (or to a bracket itself) in
a direction generally toward edge 4 will be transmitted from the
barrier rails, through the barrier retainers of the respective
brackets, to first base portion 10, where at least part of the
force will be accommodated through compression of spring 15. Once
the spring has "bottomed out" any residual horizontal load will be
transmitted from first base portion 10 to second base portion 11
and then through mount or pin 21 to floor 2. With particular
reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, in the case of scissor lift 8 coming
into contact with longitudinal barrier rails 5, the depicted
drawings show both a deflection of the rails and a compression of
spring 15. Any additional horizontal load not accommodated by the
deflection of the barrier rails and the compression of the spring
will be applied to floor 2 through mount or pin 21 (not
specifically shown in FIGS. 3 and 4).
[0033] FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 show an alternate embodiment of bracket
1 that does not utilize a spring 15, and where the bracket is a
rigid structure. In this embodiment the first and second base
portions 10 and 11 are rigidly secured to one another such that a
load applied to a longitudinal rail (or to bracket 1 itself) in a
direction from first base portion 10 toward second base portion 11,
is transmitted directly to pin 21 without being transmitted through
a compression spring as in the case of the previously described
embodiment. It will be appreciated that other than the compression
of a spring, the bracket shown in FIGS. 13 through 15 will
essentially function the same as that shown in the previous
figures, while being lighter in weight, less mechanically complex,
and less expensive to manufacture. It will further be appreciated
that additional alternate embodiments of bracket 1 are
contemplated, including those where the first and second base
portions comprise a unitary bottom plate extending along the entire
base of the bracket.
[0034] It will thus be understood that a combination of brackets 1
and longitudinal barrier rails 5 presents a means to help prevent
wheeled equipment or machinery from contacting fencing panels 7
and/or support post 6 (in which case the equipment or machinery
could damage the fencing panels or post) and from potentially
falling off the edge of floor 2. Preferably, longitudinal rails 5
are designed with a sufficient vertical height to discourage the
wheels of the equipment or machinery that may come into contact
with them from "jumping" or riding over the rails. In one
embodiment the novel bracket includes a compression spring that
accommodates part of the load applied by wheeled equipment coming
into contact with longitudinal rails 5 or with a bracket itself. In
another embodiment the bracket is a rigid structure with no
compression spring.
[0035] It is to be understood that what has been described are the
preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the claims
should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth above,
but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the
description as a whole.
* * * * *