Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – With entrance for persons or objects in horizontal or... – With additional enclosure structure; e.g. – manhole
Utility Patent
1999-02-03
2001-01-02
Kent, Christopher T. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
With entrance for persons or objects in horizontal or...
With additional enclosure structure; e.g., manhole
C052S200000, C182S106000, C182S113000
Utility Patent
active
06167659
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward a safety railing and more particularly, toward a railing which is attached to an access hatch such as a roof access hatch in order to allow a person to climb safely onto a roof or platform from a roof hatch ladder.
Falls are a major cause of injuries in the workplace. In particular, falls from roof or access hatch ladders often result in permanent injury or death. In light of these safety hazards, OSHA now requires roof hatch safety railings. However, railings for attachment to roof hatches are virtually non-existent. Railings in other settings are well known. There remains a need for safety railings for access hatches and particularly, for roof hatches.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,855 to Lyons discloses a safety extension that can be mounted to the inside of a passageway which has an opening. A ladder extends through the passageway and is mounted to a wall of the passageway. The safety extension includes a rod received in a sleeve. The sleeve may be attached to the ladder or to a wall of the passageway. The safety extension may be used in manholes or hatchways and is grasped by a person when entering or exiting the passageway. This safety extension must be engaged before each use in order to be functional. Furthermore, this safety extension does not meet the requirements for roof hatch safety railings set forth by OSHA.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,200 to Thompson discloses a sleeve attached to the rungs of a manhole ladder. The sleeve has a slidable rod therein which is extendable from the manhole. The rod acts as a vertical railing or guide for the worker on the ladder. This type of railing would not be suitable for use with a roof hatch ladder. Also, this type of railing does not conform with the current OSHA standards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is designed to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art discussed above. It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety railing which increases a person's safety when he or she is climbing from a stationary ladder to a platform through an access hatch.
It is another object of the railing of the present invention to act as an extension of a ladder leading to a roof or access hatch.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a safety railing which is easily and permanently attached to an existing roof hatch.
In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a roof or access hatch safety railing for increasing a person's safety as he or she climbs onto the roof or other platform of a building from an access or roof hatch. The safety railing includes one or more poles where one pole is attached to the right side of a roof or access hatch and the other pole is attached to the left side of the roof hatch. A person may grab onto the poles as he or she climbs from the roof hatch ladder, through the hatch, and onto the roof or platform. The poles are also spaced away from the hatch, thereby allowing enough clearance for a lid of the hatch to close and cover the hatch. The railing may be modified to accommodate various types and sizes of roof or access hatches.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2572281 (1951-10-01), Pierce
patent: 3598200 (1971-08-01), Thompson
patent: 3858905 (1975-01-01), Peebles
patent: 4418792 (1983-12-01), Cerone
patent: 4509617 (1985-04-01), Lapeyre
patent: 4546855 (1985-10-01), Lyons
patent: 5931258 (1999-08-01), Lorentz
patent: 6053281 (2000-04-01), Murray
Kent Christopher T.
Lehrer Norman E.
Nesea Construction, Incorporated
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