Fall Restraint Equipment Component and Method for Manufacturing the Same

• US 20100031455A1
• Filed: 06/18/2009
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safe Rack LLC
• Original Assignee: Safe Rack LLC
• Inventors: Honeycutt, Robert W., Mefferd, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,782,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 14/69.500
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 39/06 of tubes in openings, e.g. rolling-in
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/14 of ramps, gangways or outboard ladders ; Pilot lifts
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/00 Stairways, ramps, or like structures mounting or marking-off stairways E04F21/26; of temporary use during building construction E04G27/00; means for facilitating access to swimming pools E04H4/144; means for facilitating access to swimming pools E04H4/144; appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00; Balustrades; Handrails ladders permanently attached to fixed structures E06C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/112 of metal or with an upper layer of metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/181 Balustrades
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49936 Surface interlocking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49996 Successive distinct removal operations

Abstract

Uprights and lateral or connecting posts to be used in conjunction with a gangway or other fall restraint equipment where the uprights and posts are created by cutting portions of integral, continuous pieces of tubular metal rather than welding smaller pieces of stock material together. Sidepost assemblies or handrails are created by connecting the uprights and posts together.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing at least one upright post for a gangway, the gangway comprising at least one handrail and a support, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a first upright post from a first continuous piece of tubular metal;

b. lasering a top portion of the first continuous piece of tubular metal to define a first area configured to receive a portion of the at least one handrail; and

c. connecting the first upright post to the support.

2. The method of claim 1.a further comprising:

a. galvanizing the first upright post.

3. The method of claim 1.a further comprising:

a. lasering a bottom portion of the first continuous piece of tubular metal to define a second area configured to connect to the support.

4. The method of claim 1.a, wherein the gangway further comprises another handrail, the method further comprising:

a. providing a second upright post from a second continuous piece of tubular metal;

b. lasering a top portion of the second continuous piece of tubular metal to define a second area configured to receive a portion of the another handrail; and

c. connecting the second upright post to the support.

5. The method of claim 4.a further comprising:

a. lasering a bottom portion of the second continuous piece of tubular to define a second area configured to connect to the support.

6. The method of claim 1.a further comprising:

a. providing a support bar from a second continuous piece of tubular metal;

b. lasering at least one upright post aperture in the first continuous piece of metal;

c. lasering at least one support bar aperture in the second continuous piece of metal, wherein the at least one support bar aperture corresponds to the at least one upright post aperture;

d. connecting the support bar to the first upright post by inserting a first end of a third tubular piece of metal into the at least one upright post aperture and inserting a second end of the third tubular piece of metal into the at least one support bar aperture; and

e. connecting the support bar to the support.

7. The method of claim 6.a further comprising:

a. galvanizing the first upright post, the support bar, and the third tubular piece of metal.

8. The method of claim 6.a wherein the third tubular piece of metal is a third continuous piece of metal.

9. An upright post for a gangway comprising

a. a first continuous piece of tubular metal connected to a support of the gangway, a top portion of which is lasered to define a first area configured to receive a portion of a handrail of the gangway.

10. The upright post of claim 9.a wherein:

a. the first continuous piece of tubular metal comprises a bottom portion lasered to define an area configured to connect to the support.

11. The upright post of claim 9.a further comprising:

a. a second continuous piece of tubular metal connected to the support.

12. The upright post of claim 11.a further comprising:

a. a third continuous piece of tubular metal, a first end of which is connected to the first continuous piece of tubular metal and a second end of which is connected to the second continuous piece of tubular metal.

13. The upright post of claim 12.a wherein:

a. the first continuous piece of tubular metal defines at least one aperture configured to receive the first end of the third continuous piece of tubular metal; and

b. the second continuous piece of tubular metal defines at least one aperture configured to receive the second end of the third continuous piece of tubular metal.

14. The upright post of claim 13.a wherein:

a. the upright post is galvanized.

15. A gangway comprising:

a. an underbody;

b. a support connected to the underbody;

c. an upright post connected to the support; and

d. a handrail connected to the upright post;

wherein

e. the upright post comprises a first continuous piece of tubular metal, the first continuous piece of tubular metal comprising a first portion lasered to define an area configured to receive a portion of the handrail.

16. The gangway of claim 15.a wherein:

a. the support is a ramp.

17. A gangway of claim 16.a wherein:

a. the upright post is connected to the underbody.

18. The gangway of claim 15.a wherein:

a. the upright post further comprises a second continuous piece of tubular metal connected to the support

19. The gangway of claim 18.a wherein:

a. the upright post further comprises a third continuous piece of tubular metal;

b. the first continuous piece of tubular metal comprising a second portion lasered to define at least one aperture to receive a first end of the third continuous piece of tubular metal; and

c. the second continuous piece of tubular metal comprising a second portion lasered to define at least one aperture to receive a second end of the third continuous piece of tubular metal.