Anchor assembly for safety device

Abstract

An anchor assembly ( 3 ) for securing at least one safety device indirectly to a structure is disclosed. The anchor assembly includes at least two spacers ( 10,20 ), including a first spacer and a second spacer; at least one bridging member ( 50 ) spanning between the spacers; and engagement means ( 30,40 ) for securing the safety device to the anchor assembly. Each spacer includes securing means for securing the spacer directly to the structure; a head for fastening the spacer to the bridging member and/or to the engagement means; and a shaft extending between the securing means and the head. The shaft of at least the first spacer is adapted to deform progressively so as to at least partially absorb the kinetic energy applied by a load of a falling object attached to the safety device.

1 . An anchor assembly for securing at least one safety device indirectly to a structure, the anchor assembly including at least two spacers, including a first spacer and a second spacer; at least one bridging member spanning between the spacers; and engagement means for securing the safety device to the anchor assembly, wherein each spacer includes securing means for securing the spacer directly to the structure; a head for fastening the spacer to the bridging member and/or to the engagement means; and a shaft extending between the securing means and the head, wherein the shaft of at least the first spacer is adapted to deform progressively so as to at least partially absorb the kinetic energy applied by a load of a falling object attached to the safety device.  
   
   
       2 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , in which the deformation occurs progressively along the length of the shaft of the spacer starting from below the head and moving towards the securing means.  
   
   
       3 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , in which the anchor assembly is an end anchor, a railing or cable terminating at the anchor assembly.  
   
   
       4 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 3 , in which the anchor assembly cooperates with one or more other anchor assemblies or simpler anchor devices located along the length of the rail or cable they support, each other such anchor assembly or simple anchor device cooperating to distribute the load and preferably also each having the means to progressively deform as described above in relation to the spacer, to absorb the load.  
   
   
       5 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , in which the spacers, including the first and the second spacer, are adapted to space the bridging member from the structure, such as a purlin or other roof structural member.  
   
   
       6 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 5 , in which the first and second spacers are identical.  
   
   
       7 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 5 , in which the first and second spacers are different.  
   
   
       8 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , in which the securing means for attaching each spacer to the structure is provided the shaft of the spacer terminating at its lower portion in a threaded bolt, which is adapted to extend through or into the structure and be threadably engaged therewith or attached by means of a threaded element such as a nut.  
   
   
       9 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , in which one or more of the shafts of the two or more spacers are resiliently deformable whereby, after removal of the load, the shaft returns to its original pre-load position.  
   
   
       10 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , in which one or more of the shafts of the two or more other spacers are adapted to deform plastically, whereby it does not return to its original shape after the removal of the load.  
   
   
       11 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , in which one or more of the shafts of the two or more spacers are tapered, such that the shaft region nearest the securing means for the spacer is relatively wide in diameter and the shaft portion nearest the bridging member is narrower in diameter corresponding to a neck portion.  
   
   
       12 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , in which the shafts of the two or more spacers are solid or hollow or tubular in structure.  
   
   
       13 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , in which the head of the two or more spacers includes means for securing the bridging member and/or the engagement means to the spacer.  
   
   
       14 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , in which the bridging member includes an elongate plate with holes spaced along its length to receive threaded bolt portions.  
   
   
       15 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 14 , in which the bridging is also adapted to resiliently deform upon the application of the load.  
   
   
       16 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 14 , in which the bridging is also adapted to deform plastically.  
   
   
       17 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , in which the engagement means includes a simple eyelet.  
   
   
       18 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , in which the engagement means is provided in the form of a plate having a generally “s-shaped” configuration when viewed side on.  
   
   
       19 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 1 , in an extension member in the form of a beam or elongated plate adapted to be engaged with each of the engagement devices and itself includes engagement means whereby to secure the safety device is employed.  
   
   
       20 . An anchor assembly according to  claim 19 , in which the extension member is a turnbuckle.