Concrete anchor point system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An anchoring system for providing fall protection by supporting a rated load, comprising:
- a structure having a hole therein; and
an anchor point for removably attaching to the structure through the hole, the anchor point comprising an anchoring portion supporting a first chock, a locking/unlocking portion supporting at least one second chock, and an elongate primary support member defining an elongate axis supporting said anchoring portion and said locking/unlocking portion so that said locking/unlocking portion is allowed, and also constrained, to move relative to said anchoring portion along the elongate axis in forward and backward directions along the elongate axis, wherein moving said locking/unlocking portion in the forward direction relative to said first chock results in said second chock being forced radially outwardly by said first chock to define a wedging configuration of the anchor point allowing for wedging said first and second chocks in the hole, wherein moving the locking/unlocking portion in the backward direction relative to said first chock results in said second chock moving radially inwardly to define a narrowed configuration of the anchor point allowing for removing the anchor point from the hole, wherein the hole defines a frustoconical surface of the structure, and wherein, with the anchor point inserted into the hole in the direction along which the hole increases in diameter and set in said wedging configuration so as to be ready to support the rated load, at least 50% of the radially outermost surface of said second chock that lies within the depth of penetration conforms to said surface.
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Abstract
A concrete anchor point system provides for an anchor point, a receptacle for embedding into a concrete structure for removably receiving the anchor point, and a tool for remotely installing the anchor point in the structure, or removing the anchor point from the structure. The receptacle is preferably tapered, and an anchoring end of the anchor point is preferably tapered to match.
37 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An anchoring system for providing fall protection by supporting a rated load, comprising:
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a structure having a hole therein; and an anchor point for removably attaching to the structure through the hole, the anchor point comprising an anchoring portion supporting a first chock, a locking/unlocking portion supporting at least one second chock, and an elongate primary support member defining an elongate axis supporting said anchoring portion and said locking/unlocking portion so that said locking/unlocking portion is allowed, and also constrained, to move relative to said anchoring portion along the elongate axis in forward and backward directions along the elongate axis, wherein moving said locking/unlocking portion in the forward direction relative to said first chock results in said second chock being forced radially outwardly by said first chock to define a wedging configuration of the anchor point allowing for wedging said first and second chocks in the hole, wherein moving the locking/unlocking portion in the backward direction relative to said first chock results in said second chock moving radially inwardly to define a narrowed configuration of the anchor point allowing for removing the anchor point from the hole, wherein the hole defines a frustoconical surface of the structure, and wherein, with the anchor point inserted into the hole in the direction along which the hole increases in diameter and set in said wedging configuration so as to be ready to support the rated load, at least 50% of the radially outermost surface of said second chock that lies within the depth of penetration conforms to said surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A tool for installing or removing an anchor point from a hole, comprising:
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a first grasping element having a “
C”
shaped structure defining a first opening for grasping a first part of the anchor point;a second grasping element having a “
C”
shaped structure defining a second opening for grasping a second part of the anchor point;an elongate support member defining a longitudinal axis, said first and second grasping elements each being pivotally supported by said support member so that they are longitudinally spaced apart from one another a predetermined amount and extend from said support member in radial directions relative to the longitudinal axis, said support member adapted to allow for radially angularly displacing one of said grasping elements relative to the other of said grasping elements about the longitudinal axis, said first and second grasping element further adapted so that a radially angular displacement of one of said grasping elements relative to the other of said grasping elements about the longitudinal axis produces a corresponding linear displacement of the respective said openings, wherein increasing amounts of said radially angular displacement correspond to increased distance between said openings; and a spring for spring biasing said first and second grasping elements such that the first and second grasping elements are spaced from one another along the support member toward increasing amounts of said radially angular displacement. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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- 19. A method for installing an anchor point in a structure, or removing an anchor point from a structure, the anchor point including an anchoring portion supporting a first chock, a locking/unlocking portion supporting at least one second chock, a cleaning bushing, and an elongate primary support member defining a longitudinal axis, said primary support member supporting said anchoring portion, said locking/unlocking portion, and said cleaning bushing, so that said locking/unlocking portion is allowed, and also constrained, to move relative to said anchoring portion along the longitudinal axis in forward and backward directions, and so that said cleaning bushing is allowed, and also constrained, to move relative to said anchoring portion along the longitudinal axis in forward and backward directions independent of said locking/unlocking portion and so that said cleaning bushing is allowed to come into or out of abutting relationship with said anchoring portion over a range of relative movements of said locking/unlocking portion and said anchoring portion, the relationship between said first and second chocks being such that moving said locking/unlocking portion in the forward direction relative to said first chock results in said second chock being forced radially outwardly by said first chock to define, at an anchoring end of said anchoring portion, a wedging configuration of the anchor point, and such that moving the locking/unlocking portion in the backward direction relative to said first chock results in said second chock being allowed to move radially inwardly and thereby to define, at said anchoring end of said anchoring portion, a narrowed configuration of the anchor point, the method comprising providing a tool including a first grasping element, a second grasping element, and a support member supporting said first and second grasping elements for rotation about a tool axis in a longitudinally spaced apart relation, causing said first grasping element to grasp said cleaning bushing at a first part thereof, moving said cleaning bushing in the forward direction relative to said anchoring portion so as to cause said cleaning bushing to come into abutment therewith, continuing to move said cleaning bushing in the forward direction relative to the anchoring portion against a spring-bias so as to cause said cleaning bushing to exert a force on said anchoring portion and move said anchoring portion in the forward direction, thereby disposing said anchor point into the narrowed configuration, causing said second grasping element to grasp the locking/unlocking portion at a second part thereof to maintain said anchor point in the narrowed configuration, and moving said tool so as either to insert said anchoring end of said anchor point into a hole in the structure or withdraw said anchoring end of said anchor point from the hole.
Specification