This invention relates to demarcation apparatus. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to roof demarcation apparatus.

It is a requirement of health and safety regulations that employers provide "a safe place of work and a safe means of access/egress to and from that place of work". A demarcation system can be used to create a divide between safe and hazardous zones. Known demarcation apparatus can become unstable during high winds.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided demarcation apparatus comprising a support member capable of supporting a demarcation element, and a base member to hold the support member in an upstanding position, wherein the support member is configured to allow the passage of air across the support member. In one embodiment, the air may flow across the support member by flowing through and around the support member, or through the support member.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided demarcation apparatus comprising a support member capable of supporting a demarcation element, and a base member to hold the support member in an upstanding position, wherein the support member has airflow formations to allow the passage of air through the support member.

The base member may be configured to facilitate the passage of air thereacross. The base member may be configured to provide a generally aerodynamic shape for the passage of air thereacross.

The demarcation apparatus may comprise roof demarcation apparatus suitable for demarcating between areas of danger and safety. The support member may be an elongate support member.

The airflow formations may be holes defined by the support member, the holes being arranged in the support member to allow the passage of air through the support member. The support member may comprise a lattice defining the aforesaid airflow formations. The lattice may be a mesh.

The support member may comprise a plurality of side portions defining a central space therebetween. The airflow formations may communicate with the central space.

The support member may have an end plan profile that is polygonal in configuration. In one embodiment, the end plan profile of the support member may be triangular in configuration.

The support member may comprise a main portion, which may comprise a plurality of elongate elements. The elongate elements may cross one another to define the aforesaid airflow formations.

The support member may comprise a plurality of first elongate elements extending lengthwise of the support member, and a plurality of second elongate elements extending transverse to the first elongate elements. The first and second elongate elements may be attached to one another, for example by welding.

When the support member is held by the base member in the upstanding position, the first elongate elements may extend generally vertically, and the second elongate elements may extend generally horizontally.

The second elongate elements may be arranged in a plurality of frame members, and each frame member may have a polygonal configuration, such as a triangular configuration. The frame members may be spaced from one another along the length of the support member.

The first elongate elements may be attached to the frame members, and the frame members conveniently extend around the first elongate elements.

The first elongate elements may comprise a plurality of first wires. The first elongate elements may have a diameter or width of between 1 and 5 mm, desirably between 2 and 4 mm, and conveniently substantially 3 mm. The support member may comprise six first elongate members.

The second elongate elements may comprise a plurality of second wires. The second elongate elements may have a diameter or width of between 0.5 and 4 mm, desirably between 1 and 3 mm, and conveniently substantially 2 mm.

The support member may comprise securing means on the main portion to secure the support member to the base. The securing means may comprise a plurality of insertion members extending from one end of the main portion. In one embodiment, the securing means comprises three insertion members.

The insertion members may be elongate, and may comprise pins. The securing means may comprise three insertion members. Each insertion member may have a diameter or width of between 4 and 8 mm, desirably between 5 and 7 mm, and conveniently substantially 6 mm.

The insertion members may be insertable into suitable apertures in the base member.

The demarcation apparatus may include a holding formation on the support member to hold the demarcation element. The holding formation may comprise a hook member which can cooperate with the demarcation element to hold the demarcation element.

The holding formation may comprise a first part secured to the support member, for example by welding. The holding formation may include a second part displaced from alignment with the first part. The first and second parts may be substantially parallel with each other.

The holding formation , may be provided at an upper region of the support member. The first part may be arranged on the support member such that the first part is beneath the second part.

The base member may be arrangeable on a support surface, such as a roof of a building.

The lower face may be defined by a lower edge. A major proportion of the area delimited by the lower edge may be substantially planar, and may be substantially devoid of recesses or projections.

The lower face may engage the support surface and provide frictional engagement therewith to restrict or prevent sliding of the base member across the support surface.

The base member may be formed of a rubber or rubberlike material.

The base member may have a substantially rectangular profile in top plan view. Desirably, the base member has a substantially square profile in top plan view.

The lower face of the base member may be of a rectangular configuration. The lower face of the base member may be of a square configuration. The base member may have an upper face, which may be of a rectangular configuration. The upper face of the base member may be of the square configuration.

The upper face of the base member may be smaller than the lower face of the base member, and may be substantially centrally arranged over the lower face of the base member. The base member may have a plurality of side faces extending between the upper and lower faces. The side faces may be tapered relative to the upper and lower faces. Each side face may be arranged at an acute angle to the lower face, and each side face may be arranged at an obtuse angle to the upper face.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a demarcation system comprising a plurality of demarcation apparatus as described above arrangeable in spaced relation to one another, and an elongate demarcation member extending between the support members.

The demarcation member may comprise a chain or a rope.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a support member forming part of a first embodiment of a demarcation apparatus;

Figure 2 is a side view of the support member shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view along the lines Ill-Ill in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a front view of a base member forming part of the demarcation apparatus; Figure 5 is a side view of the base member shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the base member shown in Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the base member shown in Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a front view of a demarcation system incorporating the demarcation apparatus;

Figure 9 is a side view of a holding member;

Figure 10 is a front view of a holding member;

Figure 11 is a front view of a support member forming part of a second embodiment of a demarcation apparatus, the support member incorporating the hook member shown in Figures 9 and 10; and

Figure 12 is a side view of the support member shown in Figure 11.

Referring to the drawings, a demarcation system 100 (see Figure 8) comprises a plurality of a first embodiment of a demarcation apparatus 110, only two of which are shown in Figure 8. The demarcation system 100 is arranged upon a support surface 120 to demarcate between areas of safety and physical danger using a physical barrier.

Each demarcation apparatus 110 comprises an upstanding a generally vertical elongate support member 10, and a base member 12 holding the support member 10 in the upstanding position. A flexible elongate demarcation member, such as a chain 122, extends between adjacent support members 10. Figures 1 to 3 show one of the support members 10 in more detail, and Figures 4 to 7 show one of the base members 12 in more detail.

The support member 10, as shown in figures 1 to 3, comprises a main portion 14 and a securing means 16 for securing the support member 10 to the base member 12, as explained below. In the embodiment shown, the main portion 14 is substantially 1 m in height.

The main portion 14 comprises a plurality of first elongate elements 18 extending the lengthwise of the main portion 14, and a plurality of second elongate elements 20 extending transverse to the first elongate elements 18. The first and second elongate elements 18, 20 cross each other to provide a lattice having a plurality of airflow holes 21.

The first elongate elements 18 are in the form of elongate wires which, in the present embodiment, are substantially 3 mm in diameter. The first elongate elements 18 are spaced from, and extend generally parallel to, one another.

The second elongate elements 20 are arranged in a plurality of frame members 22 (see Figure 3). The frame members 22 are of a triangular configuration which, as shown in Figure 3, is an equilateral triangle. The frame members 22 have sides of substantially 50 mm in length, and extend around the first elongate elements 18. The first elongate elements 18 are attached to the frame members 22, for example by welding.

In the present embodiment, the first elongate elements 18 provide three side portions 23 to the support member 10, and define a space 25 centrally between the side portions 23. The airflow holes 21 communicate with the central space 25 to allow the air to flow through the support member 10. This provides the advantage in the embodiment described herein that air can flow through the support member 10, which means that it is less likely to be pushed over by the wind than the prior art.

The securing means 16 comprises three insertion members 24 which are attached to the main portion 14 of the support member 10. In the embodiment shown, the insertion members 24 are in the form of pins. As shown in Figure 3, the insertion members 24 are attached to the first elongate elements 18 in the apexes 26 of the triangular frame members 22.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the insertion members 24 extend downwardly from the lower end of the main portion 14 of the support member 10, for insertion into the base member 12, as explained below.

The base member 12, as shown in Figures 4 to 7, is a formed of a high friction/high- density material, such as rubber. The base is formed from 92% recycled rubber. Suitable recycled rubber is formed from recycled tyre shred and granules from truck and car origin. The recycled rubber shred and granules are bound together by the use of a binder, which comprises 8% of the base. A suitable such binder is flexible polyurethane, such polyurethane being classified as non-hazardous and chemically inert.

The base member 12 is formed throughout of the high-density material to provide a large weight. The base member 12 comprises a lower face 26 and an upper face 28, which are both of a square configuration, as can be seen from Figures 6 and 7.

The lower face 26 has a generally planar surface a major proportion of which is substantially without recesses or projections to provide a high level of friction between the base member 12 and the roof 120. The lower face 26 has a lower edge 30, and as can be seen from Figure 7, a major proportion of the area delimited by the lower edge 30 is substantially planar.

A recess 32 is defined in the base member 12, extending from the lower face 26. As can be seen from Figures 4 to 7, the recess 32 is a slot. The purpose of the recess 32 is to provide a carrying handle for ease of installation.

Four side faces 34 extend between the lower face 26 and the upper face 28. The side faces 34 are tapered at an angle of substantially 30° to the lower face, and substantially 120° to the upper face. This feature provides the advantage in the embodiment described herein in that it presents a more aerodynamic face to the wind than a vertical face, which means that the wind is more likely to flow over the base member 12 than the lift, or move, the base member 12.

The upper face 28 defines three blind apertures 36 extending from the upper face 28 into the base member 12. The three apertures 36 are arranged at the apexes of a triangle, which corresponds to the triangular configuration of the insertion members 24 on the support member 10.

The recesses 36 extend into the base member 12 a distance which is equal to, or slightly greater, than the length of the part of the insertion members 34 extending from the lower end of the main portion 18 of the support member 40.

Thus, the insertion members 24 can be inserted fully into the recesses 36, thereby securing the support member 10 to the base member 12. As a result, when the base member 12 is arranged on the support surface 120, with the lower face 26 engaging the support surface 120, the insertion members 24 can be arranged in the apertures 36, and the support member 10 is, thus, held in the upstanding position shown in Figure 8 by the base member 12. In one use of an embodiment of the invention, the support surface 120 may be a roof, such as a flat roof. Although it will be appreciated that the demarcation apparatus can be used on other support surfaces where demarcation between areas of danger and safety is required.

It is an advantage of the embodiment described herein that it provides an effective demarcation apparatus which can be used during high winds with a reduced danger that the apparatus will be blown over by the wind.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the flexible elongate member could be a rope. The base could be hemispherical in shape, and could be formed of a different material, such as recycled PVC, concrete or steel.

In a second embodiment shown in Figures 9 to 12, each support member 10 is provided with a holding formation in the form of a hook member 40, which can cooperate with the demarcation element 122.

The support member 10 shown in Figures 11 and 12 is generally the same as the support member 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the features of the support member 10 in Figures 11 and 12 have been given the same reference numerals as in Figures 1 and 2.

The hook member 40 comprises two prongs 42A and 42B attached to each other by an upper connecting part 44. Each of the prongs 42A, 42B comprises a lower first part 46 secured to the support member 10, for example by welding. Each of the prongs 42A ₁ 42B also has an upper second part 48 from each of which the upper connecting part 44 extends. Each upper second part 48 Is attached to the respective lower first part 46 by a transverse portion 50 which displaces the upper second part 48 out of alignment with the respective lower first part 46. The first and second parts 46, 48 are substantially parallel with each other.

The hook member 40 is attached to the support member 10 at an upper region thereof. When the lower first parts 46 are secured to the support member 10, the hook member 40 is arranged so that both upper second parts 48 are spaced from the elongate elements 18 by reason of the transverse portion 50. This allows the demarcation element 122 to be disposed over both upper second parts 48 and the connecting part 44 so that the demarcation element is held by the hook member 40.