Locking and Lifting Mechanism for Safety Fence Support Post

• US 20110042539A1
• Filed: 08/09/2006
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integrity Worldwide Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jonathan Jonny Melic
• Inventors: Melic, Jonathan Jonny
• Granted Patent: US 8,590,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/354.7
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 2005/148 latticed or netted
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/3233 without permanent provision in the floor or roof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44017 with specific mounting means for attaching to rigid or semirigid supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32426 Plural distinct positions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32467 Telescoping members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7071 Lever actuator

Abstract

A support post (22) and safety fence assembly (24) in which the post (22) has a telescoping inner and outer tube (34, 36) and is supported on a threaded internal shaft (42) coupled to a floor engaging end (30) and ceiling engaging end (32) preferably formed with claws that have a number of sharp penetrating points for firm engagement with a support surface. An over-centre locking lever assembly (60) is provided for fixing the relative position of the inner tube and outer telescoping tubes (34, 36).

Claims

1. A support post (22) for a safety fence assembly (20), the post (22) having

a floor engaging end (30),

a shaft (42) coupled at one end to said floor engaging end (30) and having a free end (44) which is threaded along at least a portion of its length,

a first longitudinally extending telescoping tube (36) having an internal nut (46) for threaded engagement with said shaft (42),

a second longitudinally extending telescoping tube (34) adapted for sliding telescoping engagement with said first telescoping tube;

a ceiling engaging end (32) coupled to said second telescoping tube; and

an over-centre locking lever assembly (60) for fixing the relative position of the first (36) and second (34) telescoping tubes.

2. A post according to claim 1 in which the floor engaging end (30) consists of a number of claws, each claw having a number of sharp penetrating points for firm engagement with a supporting surface.

3. A post according to claim 2 in which each claw has a pair of spaced apart points, each point having a length selected to limit penetration into a supporting surface.

4. A post according to claim 2 in which the ceiling engaging end (32) consists of a number of claws each having a number of sharp penetrating points for firm engagement with a supporting surface.

5. A post according to claim 4 in which each claw has a pair of spaced apart points, each point having a length selected to limit penetration into a supporting surface.

6. A post according to claim 1 in which the floor engaging end (30) is rotatably coupled to the shaft.

7. A post according to claim 1 in which the ceiling engaging end (32) has a stem (52) slidingly received in the second tube (34), and a top compression spring (58) captured between the stem (52) and a supporting collar (56) fixed to an interior surface of the second tube (34).

8. A post according to claim 7 in which the ceiling engaging end (32) is rotatably coupled to the stem (52).

9. A support post according to claim 1 in which the over-centre locking lever assembly (60) includes a collar (62) slideable longitudinally over an inner one of said first and second telescoping tubes (34, 36), and a lever (66) pivotally mounted to the collar (62) on a first pivot pin (70) and pivotable between a release position where the collar (62) is freely movable on said inner telescoping tube (34, 36) and a lock position where the lever has moved past a center line of the pivot pin (70) parallel to the support post (22) and the collar (62) is tilted to grip the inner telescoping tube (34).

10. A support post (22) according to claim 9 in which the lever (66) is bifurcated at an inner end into a pair of cam portions (68) that receive the first pivot pin (70) therebetween, the cam portions (68) being adapted to bear against an upper peripheral edge of an outer one of said first and second telescoping tubes (34, 36) and having a curvature and shape adapted to raise the first pivot pin (70) so that the collar (62) is raised above the upper peripheral edge of the telescoping outer tube (36) and tilted to grip an outer surface of the inner telescoping tube (34).

11. A support post (22) according to claim 9 in which the lever (66) is bifurcated at an inner end into a pair of leg portions (66a, 66b) that receive the first pivot pin (70) therebetween, the over-centre locking lever assembly (120) further including a pivot bar (126) pivotable on a second pivot pin (128) extending between said leg portions and positioned between the first pivot pin 70 and an outer end of the lever (66), the pivot bar (126) having a free end to engage an upper peripheral edge of an outer one of said first and second telescoping tubes (34, 36) so that the collar (62) may be raised above the upper peripheral edge of the telescoping outer tube (36) and tilted to grip an outer surface of the telescoping inner tube (34).

12. A support post (22), according to claim 11 having a coil spring (124) disposed on said second pivot pin (128), the coil spring (124) having one free end bearing on the first pivot pin (70) and a second free end bearing on the pivot bar (126) to urge the pivot bar (126) into engagement with the telescoping inner tube (34).

13. A support post (22) according to claim 9 in which the collar (62) has an inside surface which is serrated to better grip an outer surface of the inner telescoping tube (34).

14. A support post (22) according to claim 9 in which the collar (62) has a longitudinally extending lip (64) on one side of the collar (62) opposite from said lever (66) for resting on an upper peripheral edge of an outer one of said telescoping first and second tubes (34, 36).

15. A support post (22) according to claim 10 in which the upper peripheral edge of an outer one of said telescoping first and second tubes (34, 36) has a pair of oppositely disposed grooves (90) shaped to receive and locate said cam portions (68).

16. A support post (22) according to claim 9 in which the collar (62) has spring biasing means (80) opposite from said pivot pin (70) and adapted to maintain said collar (62) in said tilted orientation for gripping the inner telescoping tube (34).

17. A support post (22) according to claim 16 in which the outer one of said first and second telescoping tubes (34, 36) has an opening (82) for receiving the spring biasing means (80) in a release position of the over-centre locking lever assembly (60).

18. A support post (22) according to claim 9 in which the lever (66) has a flared portion remote from said pivot pin (70) adapted to receive means for prying the lever back over said center line (72) of the pivot pin to a release position.

19. A support post (22) according to claim 9 having an inner leaf spring (104) disposed inside the inner one of said first and second telescoping tubes (34, 36), said inner tube having openings (106) for receiving said leaf spring (104) and allowing the leaf spring (104) to frictionally engage the outer one of said telescoping first and second tubes (34, 36).

20. A support post (22) for a safety fence assembly (20), the post having:

a floor engaging end (30);

a shaft (42) coupled at one end to said floor engaging end (30) and having a free end coupled to a first longitudinally extending telescoping tube;

a second longitudinally extending telescoping tube adapted for sliding telescoping engagement with said first telescoping tube;

a ceiling engaging end (32) coupled to said second telescoping tube; and

an over-centre locking lever assembly (60) for fixing the relative position of the first and second telescoping tubes (34, 36), the over-centre locking lever assembly (60) including a collar (56) slideable longitudinally over an inner (34) one of said telescoping first and second tubes (34, 36), and a lever (66) pivotally mounted to the collar on a first pivot pin (70) and pivotable between a release position where the collar is freely movable on said inner telescoping tube and a lock position where the lever has moved past a center line (72) of the first pivot pin parallel to the support post and the collar (62) is tilted to grip the inner telescoping tube (34).

21. A support post (22) according to claim 20 in which the lever (66) is bifurcated at an inner end into a pair of cam portions (68) that receive the first pivot pin (70) therebetween, the cam portions (68) being adapted to bear against an upper peripheral edge of an outer one of said first and second telescoping tubes and having a curvature and shape adapted to raise the first pivot pin (70) so that the collar (62) is raised above the upper peripheral edge of the telescoping outer tube (36) and tilted to grip an outer surface of the inner telescoping tube (34).

22. A support post (22) according to claim 20 in which the lever (66) is bifurcated at an inner end into a pair of leg portions (66a, 66b) that receive the first pivot pin (70) therebetween, the over-centre locking lever assembly (120) further including a pivot bar (126) pivotable on a second pivot pin (128) extending between said leg portions and positioned between the first pivot pin 70 and an outer end of the lever (66), the pivot bar (126) having a free end to engage an upper peripheral edge of an outer one of said first and second telescoping tubes (34, 36) so that the collar (62) may be raised above the upper peripheral edge of the telescoping outer tube (36) and tilted to grip an outer surface of the telescoping inner tube (34).

23. A support post (22), according to claim 22 having a coil spring (124) disposed on said second pivot pin (128), the coil spring (124) having one free end bearing on the first pivot pin (70) and a second free end bearing on the pivot bar (126) to urge the pivot bar (126) into engagement with the telescoping inner tube (34).

24. An over-centre locking lever assembly (60) for fixing the relative position of telescoping inner and outer tubes (34, 36) in a support post (22) for a safety fence assembly (20), the assembly including a collar (62) slideable longitudinally over the inner one of said telescoping tubes (34), and a lever (66) pivotally mounted to the collar (62) on a first pivot pin (70) and pivotable between a release position where the collar (62) is freely movable on said inner telescoping tube (34) and a lock position where the lever (66) has moved past a center line (72) of the first pivot pin (70) parallel to the support post (22), the lever (66) being bifurcated at an inner end into a pair of cam portions (68) that receive the first pivot pin (70) therebetween, the cam portions (68) being adapted to bear against an upper peripheral edge of the outer one of said telescoping tubes (36) and having a curvature and shape adapted to raise the first pivot pin (70) so that the collar (62) is raised above the upper peripheral edge of the telescoping outer tube (36) and tilted to grip an outer surface of the inner telescoping inner tube (34).

25. An over-centre locking lever assembly (60) for fixing the relative position of telescoping inner and outer tubes (34, 36) in a support post (22) for a safety fence assembly (20), the assembly including a collar (62) slideable longitudinally over the inner one of said telescoping tubes (34), and a lever (66) pivotally mounted to the collar (62) on a first pivot pin (70) and pivotable between a release position where the collar (62) is freely movable on said inner telescoping tube (34) and a lock position where the lever (66) has moved past a center line (72) of the pivot pin (70) parallel to the support post (22), the lever (66) being bifurcated at an inner end into a pair of leg portions (66a, 66b) that receives the first pivot pin (70) therebetween, the over-centre locking lever assembly (120) further including a pivot bar (126) pivotable on a second pivot pin (128) extending between said leg portions and positioned between the first pivot pin (70) and an outer end of the lever (66), the pivot bar (126) having a free end to engage an upper peripheral edge of an outer one of said first and second telescoping tubes (34, 36) so that the collar (62) may be raised above the upper peripheral edge of the telescoping outer tube (36) and tilted to grip an outer surface of the telescoping inner tube (34).

26. A support post (22), according to claim 25 having a coil spring (124) disposed on said second pivot pin (128), the coil spring (124) having one free end bearing on the first pivot pin (70) and a second free end bearing on the pivot bar (126) to urge the pivot bar (126) into engagement with the telescoping inner tube (34).

27. A wire clip (110) for securing a post (22) to a fence panel (28), the wire clip (110) having a bend (114) in a midportion and open hooks (112) at opposite ends.