RETRACTABLE SAFETY DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a retractable safety device. It is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with a safety device for use in connection with a floor opening through which an individual could fall inadvertently.

BACKGROUND ART

A number of industries make use of a work area in which wheeled units are worked on. Typically a garage or other workspace for car maintenance, repair or construction needs to be able to access a vehicle from any direction. In order to work on the underside of the vehicle there is a need for a pit over which the vehicle can be placed to enable an operative to enter the pit to inspect and work on the underside of the vehicle. With a vehicle in place over a pit opening so as to fully cover the opening then inadvertent falling is prevented. However once the vehicle is removed from the pit opening the pit becomes a serious hazard until some form of barrier is put in place. The situation is a serious hazard to anyone moving in the vicinity of the opening especially to one who is new to the location.

Various methods have been used to prevent inadvertent entry into such a pit. These include a vertical barrier extending around the pit periphery or baulks of timber inserted to lie on a rim about the pit opening. However these methods require action by somebody and take time to carry out. In addition if the person working in the pit on a vehicle subsequently climbs out and moves the vehicle away from the pit the pit opening is left unguarded until a person arrives to rectify the situation. Whatever barrier is used can be supplemented by signs, lights or sounding means.

DlSCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a retractable safety device for use

In a hazard area comprising: a parallel array of members each member in the array having- a first end pi vo tab Iy attached to a firs!: side rail to which each member is pivotably attached by a first end of each array member; a second side member to which each member in the array is pivotably attached by a second end of each array member; the array and first and second side being displaceable in a plane between a first, working, configuration in which the first and second side members are relatively wide apart; and a second, stowage, configuration where the first and second side members are relatively close together; at least two slide arms, each slide arm being located on, and pivotably connected to, the second side member; the slide arms being spaced apart on the second side member; a slider mounted on each slide arm adapted to slide along the slide arm on which it is mounted, each slider including means whereby the slider can be secured to a region in or near the hazard area so as to permit the slide arm to be displaceable relative to the slider; and stop means to limit the extent of travel of the slide arm relative to the slider so as to define the second stowage configuration; the device providing that with the array in the first, working, configuration entry to a hazard area is obstructed by the array disposed with the plane horizontal; and with the array in the second, storage, configuration the array is disposed with the plane vertical.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of a retractable safety device of which:

Figure IA, IB are rear views of the device in, two different configurations;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a garage floor involving two of the devices of Figure

1; and

Figures 3 to 7 are diagrams showing the configurations of the device of Figures IA and

B once installed.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Figures IA, IB are rear views of the device 11 prior to being installed in position and used. The device 11 includes a parallel array 12 of members, typically members 13, 14,

15.

Figure IA shows the device 11 with the array 12 in an extended configuration and Figure IB shows the device partially folded. The functioning of the device 11 in its various configurations will be briefly described hereafter.

The device 11 further includes a first side rail 16 to which a first end of each member (typically end 13 A, 14A, 15A) in the array 12 is pivotably attached; and a second side rail 17 to which a second end of each member (typically end 13Z, 14Z, 15Z) in the array is pivotably attached.

The array 12 and the first and second side rails 16, 17 are displaceable in a plane A between a first, working, configuration (Figure IA) in which the first and second side rails 16, 17 are relatively wide apart and the device has an overall width Wl; and a second, stowage, configuration (Figure IB) where the first and second side rails 16, 17 are relatively close together and the device has an overall width W2. The array 12 has a

spacer bar B, parallel to the first side rail 16 and second side rail 17, pivotably attached to each member of the array 12. The bar B serves to resist deformation or relative displacement of individual members of the array relative to one another in plane A.

The device 11 includes first slide arm 18 and second slide arm 19. Each slide arm 18, 19 have, respectively, first end 18A, 19A located on, and pivotably connected to, the second side rail 17 by way, respectively, of hinges 20, 21 so that the slide arms 18, 19 can pivot about axis B relative to the plane A of the array 12. The slide arms 18, 19 are spaced apart on the second side member by a distance S.

The slide arms 18, 19 each have a slider, respectively slider 22, 23 mounted on them. The sliders 22, 23 include a plate, respectively plates 22A, 23A, by means of which the device 11 is attached to a surface in or adjacent an area with which the device is to be used.

Each slide arm 18, 19 is equipped with stop means, respectively end stops 24, 25, at second end 18B, 19B of their respective slide arms which serve to limit the extent of travel of the slide arm 18, 19 relative to, respectively, slider 22, 23.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of part of the floor F of a garage G. The floor F contains an inspection pit 25 of length L, width W and depth D. The depth D is of sufficient depth D enable an operator to stand up and work in a relatively un-impeded way on the underside of a vehicle (shown as broken outline V) which is located over the pit 25. The depth D is such that a person falling into the pit P (when entry to the pit P is not barred in some way) is likely to sustain serious injury.

Figure 3 to 7 show the device in its various configurations when in use. The device 11 has been installed by securing plates 22A, 23A, to vertical wall W of the pit P. As a

result the slider arms 18, 19 can readily slide through their associated slider 22. 23 to enable the array 12 to be readily displaced between working and storage positions as will be described hereafter.

Figure 3 shows the device 11 located in its working configuration over a pit 12 with first side rail 16 resting on pit rim Pl and second side rail 17 resting on pit rim P2, The array 12 is shown fully extended with a width Wl (as shown in Figure IA). in the event of the array 12 being loaded in some way the loading is distributed by way of the side rails into the garage floor.

Figure 4 shows the device 11 being changed from its working configuration by raising the array 12 vertically. During this withdrawal stage end stops 24, 25 ensure the slide arms 18, 19 are not inadvertently withdrawn from their respective sliders 22, 23.

Figure 5 shows the array 12 when the first side rail 16 has been drawn towards second side rail 17 to enable the array 12 to pivot relative to both side rails 16, 17 so that the device width is reduced, to width W2 (as shown in Figure IB).

Figure 6 shows the array 12 in its stowage configuration as shown in Figure 5 and IA being pivoted downwardly so as to enter the pit 25 with first side rail 16 well clear of the pit rim Pl.

Figure 7 shows the device 11 now lowered resulting in the slide arms 18, 19 passing through sliders 22, 23 until the hinges 20, 21 seat on top of their slider associated with their respective slide arm. This represents the stowage configuration for the array 12 and for the device 11.

To restore the device 13 to its working configuration the array is withdrawn from the pit p following the steps shown in Figures 3 - 6 in reverse.

Figure 2 shows the pit p equipped with two devices of the type described so that in the event only half the length of the pit is occupied by a vehicle it is still possible to use one of the devices to bar access to the open other half of the pit P.

While the exemplary embodiment is directed to a vehicle pit installation the device can be used for other applications. Typically one where it is necessary to have a view of a site, such as a ditch, duct, conveyor belt or whatever. The openwork nature of the invention allows the site to be viewed when in the device is in its working configuration while preventing inadvertent falling into the site.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The invention provides a safety device which can be readily set up and readily removed particularly, but not exclusively, for a pit for vehicle servicing. The device is readily mounted whether in an existing pit installation or in a new one.