US-12623101-B2 - Anchor devices for fall protection

Abstract

Anchor devices for fall protection are provided. The anchor device may comprise a structural sheet and at least one anchorage connector. The sheet may be a one-sided sheet or a two-sided sheet and may comprise a plurality of slots with an elongated or round profile for connecting the sheet to a working structure such as a roof. In some embodiments, the slots are at an angle. The anchorage connector may be one of the following structures: 1) a loop with a hole extending therethrough, the loop being integral with the sheet; 2) a lateral extension having a tubular portion that engages a connector ring; and/or 3) a bent extension connected to a connector ring via a bolt. In some embodiments, the anchor device may further comprise one or more testing projections.

Inventors

• Christopher Fabbi

Assignees

• UNIFIED SAFETY INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240412

Claims (18)

1. 1 . An anchor device comprising: a structural sheet comprising an upper face and a lower face, first and second short sides, and first and second long sides, and having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis; at least one anchorage connector extending outwards from at least one of the first and second long sides of the structural sheet perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and parallel to the lateral axis; and a plurality of slots extending through the structural sheet from the upper face to the lower face, each slot of the plurality of slots dimensioned to receive a respective fastener therethrough and having an elongated profile that is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the structural sheet; wherein the plurality of slots are arranged in two or more rows, the slots of each row being longitudinally aligned with one another and diagonally offset and longitudinally overlapping with slots of an adjacent row, and wherein the slots of one row are at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and the slots of another row are at a supplementary angle to the acute angle.
2. 2 . The anchor device of claim 1 , wherein the two or more rows are arranged into a first pair of rows and a second pair of rows, and wherein the slots of the first pair of rows are at the acute angle and the slots of the second pair of rows are at the supplementary angle.
3. 3 . The anchor device of claim 2 , wherein the two or more rows are further arranged into a third pair of rows, and wherein the slots of the third pair of rows are at the acute angle.
4. 4 . The anchor device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one vent hole extending through the structural sheet from the upper face to the lower face, the at least one vent hole intersecting the longitudinal axis.
5. 5 . The anchor device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one vent hole comprises a central vent hole and a plurality of side vent holes on either side of the central vent hole.
6. 6 . The anchor device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one anchorage connector is integral with the structural sheet and comprises a loop with a hole extending therethrough.
7. 7 . The anchor device of claim 6 , wherein the loop is bent upwards towards the upper face of the structural sheet.
8. 8 . The anchor device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one anchorage connector comprises: a connector ring; and a lateral extension of the structural sheet, the lateral extension having a tubular portion that receives a portion of the connector ring therethrough.
9. 9 . The anchor device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one anchorage connector comprises: a connector ring; a bent extension of the structural sheet, the bent extension being bent upwards towards the upper face of the structural sheet; and a bolt extending through the bent extension to interconnect the bent extension and the connector ring.
10. 10 . The anchor device of claim 1 , wherein the structural sheet is a one-sided sheet such that the at least one anchorage connector is a single anchorage connector extending outwards from one side of the structural sheet.
11. 11 . The anchor device of claim 1 , wherein the structural sheet is a two-sided sheet such that the at least one anchorage connector comprises a first anchorage connector extending outwards from one side of the structural sheet and a second anchorage connector extending outwards from the opposite side of the structural sheet.
12. 12 . The anchor device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one testing projection extending outwards from the structural sheet, the at least one testing projection configured to detach from the structural sheet at a pre-determined load.
13. 13 . The anchor device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one testing projection has a straight portion and a ring portion, the straight portion connected to the structural sheet via one or more detachable connection points and the ring portion extending from the straight portion and comprising a hole therethrough.
14. 14 . The anchor device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one testing projection is V-shaped or U-shaped and has at least two detachable connection points with the structural sheet.
15. 15 . An anchor device comprising: a structural sheet comprising an upper face and a lower face, first and second short sides, and first and second long sides, and having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis; at least one anchorage connector extending outwards from at least one of the first and second long sides of the structural sheet perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and parallel to the lateral axis; a plurality of slots extending through the structural sheet from the upper face to the lower face, each slot of the plurality of slots having an elongated or round profile, wherein the plurality of slots are arranged in two or more rows, the slots of each row being longitudinally aligned with one another and diagonally offset and longitudinally overlapping with slots of an adjacent row, and wherein the slots of one row are at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and the slots of another row are at a supplementary angle to the acute angle; and at least one vent hole extending through the structural sheet from the upper face to the lower face, the at least one vent hole intersecting the longitudinal axis.
16. 16 . The anchor device of claim 15 , wherein the at least one vent hole comprises a central vent hole and a plurality of side vent holes on either side of the central vent hole.
17. 17 . A method for making an anchor device, comprising: providing a structural sheet having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, first and second short sides, and first and second long sides; forming at least a portion of at least one anchorage connector in the structural sheet, wherein the at least one anchorage connector extends outwards from at least one of the first and second long sides of the structural sheet perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and parallel to the lateral axis; and forming a plurality of slots in the structural sheet, each slot of the plurality of slots dimensioned to receive a respective fastener therethrough and having an elongated profile that is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the structural sheet; wherein the plurality of slots are arranged in two or more rows, the slots of each row being longitudinally aligned with one another and diagonally offset and longitudinally overlapping with slots of an adjacent row, and wherein the slots of one row are at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and the slots of another row are at a supplementary angle to the acute angle.
18. 18 . The anchor device of claim 4 , wherein each vent hole of the at least one vent hole is a void that is oval or elliptical in shape.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present disclosure claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/496,188, filed Apr. 14, 2023, the entire content of which is herein incorporated by reference. FIELD The present disclosure relates to anchor devices. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to anchor devices for fall protection for installation on elevated structures such as roofs of buildings. BACKGROUND Operative access to elevated structures, such as roof areas, is a major source of danger during building construction, inspection and maintenance procedures, especially on sloping roofs. Falls from elevated structures are a common contributor to injuries and fatalities in the construction industry. A variety of fall protection devices and systems have been developed to anchor a user to the elevated structure, for example, via a safety line. Such devices typically attach to the roof (or other working structure) via a small number of fastening apertures and typically to a single structural member. Moreover, conventional devices are often comprised of multiple components that are assembled into the final device, resulting in increased manufacturing costs as well as potential weak points. Current commercial devices are also not typically configured to allow ventilation i.e., to allow air from inside the structure to exit therethrough. The lack of ventilation may decrease the efficiency of air exchange, particularly in attic spaces with a vented ridge cap. SUMMARY In one aspect, there is provided an anchor device comprising: a structural sheet comprising an upper face and a lower face and having a longitudinal axis; at least one anchorage connector extending outwards from the sheet; and a plurality of slots extending through the sheet from the upper face to the lower face, each slot of the plurality of slots dimensioned to receive a respective fastener therethrough and having an elongated profile that is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the structural sheet. In some embodiments, the plurality of slots are arranged in two or more rows, and wherein the slots of one row are at a different angle with respect to the longitudinal axis than the slots of another row. In some embodiments, the slots of one row are longitudinally offset from the slots of another row. In some embodiments, the two or more rows are arranged into a first pair of rows and a second pair of rows, and wherein the slots of the first pair of rows are at first angle and the slots of the second pair of rows are at a second angle, the second angle being different than the first angle. In some embodiments, the two or more rows are further arranged into a third pair of rows, and wherein the slots of the third pair of rows are at the first angle. In some embodiments, the anchor device further comprises at least one vent hole extending through the sheet from the upper face to the lower face, the at least one vent hole intersecting the longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, at least one vent hole comprises a central vent hole and a plurality of side vent holes on either side of the central vent hole. In some embodiments, at least one anchorage connector is integral with the sheet and comprises a loop with a hole extending therethrough. In some embodiments, the loop is bent upwards towards the upper face of the sheet. In some embodiments, at least one anchorage connector comprises: a connector ring; and a lateral extension of the sheet, the lateral extension having a tubular portion that receives a portion of the connector ring therethrough. In some embodiments, at least one anchorage connector comprises: a connector ring; a bent extension of the sheet, the bent extension being bent upwards towards the upper face of the sheet; and a bolt extending through the bent extension to interconnect the bent extension and the connector ring. In some embodiments, the sheet is a one-sided sheet such that at least one anchorage connector is a single anchorage connector extending outwards from one side of the sheet. In some embodiments, the sheet is a two-sided sheet such that at least one anchorage connector comprises a first anchorage connector extending outwards from one side of the sheet and a second anchorage connector extending outwards from the opposite side of the sheet. In some embodiments, the anchor device further comprises at least one testing projection extending outwards from the sheet, the at least one testing projection configured to detach from the sheet at a pre-determined load. In some embodiments, at least one testing projection has a straight portion and a ring portion, the straight portion connected to the sheet via one or more detachable connection points and the ring portion extending from the straight portion and comprising a hole therethrough. In some embodiments, at least one testing projection is V-shaped or U-shaped and has at least two detachable connection points with the sheet. In another as