Barrier safety system

Abstract

A barrier safety system ( 3 ) for supporting a barrier rail ( 1 ) between a pair of frangible upright posts ( 2 ) includes a pair of pins ( 8 ) insertable in respective sockets ( 4 ) in the posts, the pins each having a weakened portion designed to break upon the application of a vertically downward load onto the barrier rail within or above a predetermined range. In one embodiment stop members ( 10 ) are provided to vary the distance the support pin may be inserted into the socket for accommodating different sizes of barriers, to thereby ensure that similar leverage is applied to the weakened portion by different sized barrier rails such that they all break the pin when a similar load has been applied to the top of the barrierrail. In another, preferred, embodiment the weakened portion is in the form of a generally ‘V’-shaped notch ( 9 a ) providing a sharply defined fracture point for the pin when under load.

1 . A barrier safety system for supporting a generally horizontally disposed barrier rail of generally circular section between a pair of generally vertically disposed upright members, the system comprising a pair of sockets, one for each upright member and a pair of barrier rail support pins, one for each socket, each support pin being insertable at one end into a respective socket and including near to that end a weakened portion wherein the support pin will break upon the application of a vertically downward load onto the barrier rail within or above a desired range of loads.  
     
     
         2 . A barrier safety system according to  claim 1  wherein the weakened portion of the support pin for each socket comprises a waist region.  
     
     
         3 . A barrier safety system according to  claim 1  wherein the weakened portion of the support pin for each socket comprises a generally ‘V’-shaped notch defining a generally sharp fracture point for the pin when under load.  
     
     
         4 . A barrier safety system according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more stop members are provided between the weakened portion and the open end of the socket to vary the distance the support pin may be inserted into the socket for accommodating different sizes and weights of barrier rails, to thereby ensure that different leverage is applied to the weakened portion by different sized barrier rails, such that they all break the pin when the same or a similar load has been applied to the top of the barrier.  
     
     
         5 . A barrier safety system according to  claim 4  wherein the stop members comprise stop pins receivable in respective bores in the support pin for each socket substantially at right angles to the major axis thereof.  
     
     
         6 . A barrier safety system according to  claim 1  wherein each support pin is made of a substantially non-ductile material.  
     
     
         7 . A barrier safety system according to  claim 6  wherein the substantially non-ductile material is aluminium alloy.  
     
     
         8 . A barrier safety system according to  claim 1  wherein the socket for each pin is in the form of a tube for receiving a respective support pin, and a flange is provided in the form of a large plate adapted to be secured to an upright member.  
     
     
         9 . A barrier safety system according to  claim 8  wherein the flange includes apertures for securing the flange to an upright member by connectors.  
     
     
         10 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         11 . (Cancelled)