DE102023200681A1 - Front railing for securing/blocking off a scaffold level on the front of a scaffold - Google Patents

Abstract

Front railing (20) for securing/blocking off a scaffolding level of a scaffold (10) at the front, comprising: at least one receiving element (23) which is designed to receive a holding element (12) of the scaffold (10), wherein the receiving element (23) is further designed to receive the holding element (11) in an insertion/extraction position (24) and in a holding position (25), wherein the holding element (12) can be guided from the insertion/extraction position (24) into the holding position (25); at least one lock element (26) with a blocking means (27) which is designed to block guiding of the holding element (12) from the holding position (25) into the insertion/extraction position (24) when the lock element (26) is in the closed state.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a front railing for securing/blocking off a scaffolding level of a scaffold, a scaffolding system with at least one such front railing and the use of a lock element in such a front railing and/or scaffolding system.

background

Scaffolding is a temporary building structure of variable length, width and height. It is assembled from scaffolding components at the place of use to form work platforms, facade scaffolding and supporting scaffolding, for example for assembly or formwork work. Scaffolding should always be designed in such a way that it can be used as safely as possible. In particular, so-called fall protection devices are used to ensure that users of such scaffolding do not fall from the scaffold.

In this context, it has become apparent that there is a further need to improve the safety of scaffolding, in particular there is a need to improve the fall protection of scaffolding.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the safety of scaffolding, in particular it is an object of the present invention to improve the fall protection of a scaffold.

These and other objects, which will be mentioned upon reading the following description or which can be recognized by the person skilled in the art, are solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims develop the central idea of the present invention in a particularly advantageous manner.

Summary of the invention

• zumindest ein Aufnahmeelement, das eingerichtet, um ein Halteelement des Gerüstes aufzunehmen, wobei das Aufnahmeelement weiterhin eingerichtet ist, um das Halteelement in einer Ein-/Ausführposition und in einer Halteposition aufzunehmen, wobei das Haltelement von der Ein-/Ausführposition in die Halteposition führbar ist;
• zumindest ein Schlosselement mit einem Blockiermittel, das eingerichtet ist, um ein Führen des Halteelements von der Halteposition in die Ein-/Ausführposition im geschlossenen Zustand des Schlosselements zu blockieren.

A first aspect of the present invention relates to a front railing for securing/blocking a scaffold level of a scaffold, comprising:

• at least one receiving element configured to receive a holding element of the scaffold, wherein the receiving element is further configured to receive the holding element in an insertion/extraction position and in a holding position, wherein the holding element can be guided from the insertion/extraction position into the holding position;
• at least one lock element with a blocking means which is designed to block a guidance of the holding element from the holding position into the insertion/extraction position in the closed state of the lock element.

A receiving element can be, for example, a guide, a slide track or the like in the front railing. The holding element of the scaffolding can be guided in the receiving element from an insertion/extraction position to a holding position, whereby guiding is understood to mean a relative displacement of the holding element in the receiving element, regardless of which component is moved. For example, the front railing can be moved as a whole relative to the scaffolding. The holding element can be, for example, a railing hook, which is provided, for example, on a vertical element of the scaffolding. In this embodiment, the railing hook can be inserted into the receiving element in the insertion/extraction position and then moved into the holding position. In the holding position, the holding element can rest against a stop on the receiving element and be held/secured in the holding position by gravity.

A lock element is basically any lockable element that includes at least one blocking means that prevents the holding element from being moved/guided from the holding position to the insertion/extraction position when the lock element is closed. In a simple embodiment, the lock element is a U-lock, for example a combination lock, whereby the blocking means can be provided by part of the shackle. For example, when the lock element is closed, the shackle is at least partially arranged in the receiving element, thereby preventing the holding element from being moved from the holding position to the insertion/extraction position. The front railing can only be removed from the scaffolding when the lock element is opened and the blocking means is removed from the receiving element, so that the holding element can be moved back into the insertion/extraction position.

The proposed solution can prevent the front railing from being removed, thus preventing falls during operation. It can also be ensured that only authorised persons have access to the means with which the locking element can be opened. Such a front railing can also be used to block off certain areas of a scaffold and make them accessible only to authorised persons. The safety of scaffolding can thus be improved, in particular the fall protection of a scaffold can be improved.

In one embodiment, at least one second receiving element can be provided, which is designed to receive a second holding element of the scaffold, wherein the second receiving element is further designed to receive the second holding element in the insertion/extraction position and in the holding position, wherein the second holding element can be guided from the insertion/extraction position into the holding position. For example, the two receiving elements can be provided on a vertical side of the front railing. In one embodiment, further receiving elements and corresponding holding elements can be provided, for example on a further vertical side of the front railing.

In one embodiment, the first and/or second receiving element can be designed as a slot-shaped guide track in which the holding elements can be guided from a respective insertion/extraction position into the respective holding position.

In one embodiment, the holding element can be a hook element, such as a railing hook, of a scaffold, wherein the hook element can be provided in particular on a vertical element of the scaffold, and wherein the hook element can preferably have at least one projection, bead, collar or the like, which can be inserted into a corresponding recess at the insertion/extraction position of the holding element.

In one embodiment, the front railing can have a substantially rectangular cross-section and preferably comprise two vertical sections and two horizontal sections in the installed state, wherein the at least one receiving element and the at least one locking element are preferably provided on a vertical section of the front railing.

In one embodiment, the lock element can be arranged detachably on the front railing, wherein the blocking means of the lock element is preferably designed to be arranged in the receiving element in the closed state of the lock element in such a way that guiding the holding element from the holding position into the insertion/extraction position is blocked. Alternatively, the lock element can also be provided integrally on the scaffolding, for example on a railing beam. This makes it possible to prevent a lock element from being "lost".

In one embodiment, the lock element can comprise at least one timer element that is designed to open the lock element at a predetermined time and/or close it at a predetermined time. This makes it possible to provide a timed opening and closing of the lock element. This can, for example, prevent the scaffold from being used at times when work is not permitted or similar.

In one embodiment, the lock element can comprise at least one wireless communication interface that is designed to communicate with a mobile computer unit and wherein the lock element is further designed to be opened and/or closed by means of the mobile computer unit. The wireless communication interface can be, for example, a Bluetooth interface, a WLAN interface or the like, with which a data exchange with a mobile computer unit, such as a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, a smartwatch or the like, can be provided. For example, application software can be provided on the mobile computer unit with which the lock element can be opened.

In one embodiment, the lock element can comprise at least one RFID interface, preferably a near-field communication interface, which is designed to communicate with a corresponding RFID communication means and wherein the lock element can further be designed to be opened and/or closed by means of the RFID communication means. The near-field communication interface can be, for example, an RFID interface, an NFC interface or the like, which can exchange data with a corresponding RFID communication means or RFID identification means, such as an RFID chip card, RFID tag or the like, in order to thereby open and/or close the lock element.

In one embodiment, the lock element may comprise at least one fingerprint recognition means, wherein the lock element is further configured to be opened and/or closed by means of a fingerprint of an authorized person.

In one embodiment, the lock element can comprise at least one storage means that is designed to store protocol data relating to the opening and closing of the lock element. The term protocol data is to be understood broadly and can include, for example, actuation times, identification information, personal information and the like.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a scaffolding system comprising at least one end railing as described above. In one embodiment, the scaffolding system can comprise at least two end railings as described above, wherein the locking elements each comprise at least one storage means in which identification information of the respective locking element can be stored. The embodiments mentioned above in connection with the end railing also apply to the present scaffolding system.

In one embodiment, the identification information of a lock element can be stored in encrypted form in the at least one storage means. This can prevent unauthorized access to the identification information. It is also possible to encrypt the entire communication in order to further increase security.

In one embodiment, the scaffolding system can further comprise at least one mobile computer unit and/or at least one RFID communication means, wherein the mobile computer unit and/or the RFID communication means are set up to open and/or close only certain locking elements of the scaffolding system using the identification information. For example, it is possible to provide access management and to grant authorizations to open front railings in the scaffolding only to certain people or groups of people. It can also be provided that only certain people have access to certain areas of a scaffold. In addition, by evaluating the log data, it can be determined which people were working in which areas of a scaffolding and when.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of a lock element in a front railing described above and/or in a scaffolding system described above.

Description of a preferred embodiment

• 1 ein Gerüstsystem mit einem Stirngeländer gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung; und
• 2 einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt aus 1.

Further features, advantages and possible applications of the present invention emerge from the following description, the exemplary embodiment and the figures. In them:

• 1 a scaffolding system with a front railing according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
• 2 an enlarged section of 1 .

1 shows a scaffolding system 10 with a front railing 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown, the scaffolding system 10 comprises vertical support elements 11 on which the various devices of the scaffolding are arranged. 2 shows an enlarged section of 1 .

The front railing 20 has a substantially rectangular cross-section, with two vertical sections 21 and two horizontal sections 22. On one of the two vertical sections 21 (in 1 , the vertical section 21 arranged on the right), the front railing 20 comprises two receiving elements 23. The receiving elements 23 are designed as guide slots or slide tracks. Holding elements 12, here in the form of railing hooks 12, are provided on the scaffolding system 10, here on the vertical upright elements 11. These holding elements 12 can each be inserted into a receiving element 23 in an insertion/extraction position 24 and then moved/guided into a holding position 25. In the holding position 25, the holding element 12 rests on the upper end of the receiving element 23 and is held/secured in the holding position 25 by gravity.

In the embodiment shown, a lock element 26 is provided, here in the form of a combination lock 26. The bracket 27 of the lock element 26 is arranged in the receiving element 23 in such a way that the holding element 13 cannot be guided downwards to the insertion/extraction position 24. In the embodiment shown, the bracket 27 is guided through an opening 28 in the vertical section 21 of the front railing 20 and is thereby fastened in the vertical section 21.

Alternatively or additionally, the lock element 26 can comprise at least one wireless communication interface that is designed to communicate with a mobile computer unit, wherein the lock element 26 can further be designed to be opened and/or closed by means of the mobile computer unit. The wireless communication interface can be, for example, a Bluetooth interface, a WLAN interface or the like, with which a data exchange with a mobile computer unit, such as a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, a smartwatch or the like, can be provided. For example, application software can be provided on the mobile computer unit with which the lock element 26 can be opened. The lock element 26 can comprise at least one RFID interface, preferably a near-field communication interface, that is designed to communicate with a corresponding RFID communication means. communicate, wherein the lock element 26 can further be set up to be opened and/or closed by means of the RFID communication means. The near-field communication interface can be, for example, an RFID interface, an NFC interface or the like, which can exchange data with a corresponding RFID communication means or RFID identification means, such as an RFID chip card, RFID tag or the like, in order to thereby open and/or close the lock element. Furthermore, the lock element 26 can comprise at least one fingerprint recognition means, wherein the lock element 26 can further be set up to be opened and/or closed by means of a fingerprint of an authorized person. The lock element 26 can comprise at least one storage means which is set up to store log data relating to the opening and closing of the lock element 26.

It is also possible to provide a plurality of end railings 20 with corresponding locking elements in the scaffolding system, whereby the locking elements 26 can each comprise at least one storage means in which identification information of the respective locking element 26 can be stored. This makes it possible to provide access management and to grant authorizations to open end railings 20 in the scaffolding 10 only to certain people or groups of people. It can also be provided that only certain people have access to certain areas of a scaffolding 10. In addition, by evaluating the log data, it can be determined which people were working in which areas of a scaffolding and when.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above as long as it is covered by the subject matter of the following claims.

In addition, it is pointed out that the terms "comprising" and "having" do not exclude other elements or steps and the indefinite articles "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it is pointed out that features or steps that have been described with reference to the above embodiment can also be used in combination with other features.

List of reference symbols

10

Scaffolding/scaffolding system

11

vertical stand element of the scaffold 10

12

Holding elements/railing hooks

20

Front railing

21

vertical section of the front railing 20

22

horizontal section of the front railing 20

23

Mounting element/guide slot

24

Insertion/Insertion position

25

Holding position

26

Lock element

27

hanger

28

Opening in the vertical section 21 of the front railing 20

Claims (15)

Front railing (20) for securing/blocking off a scaffold level of a scaffold (10) at the front, comprising: at least one receiving element (23) which is designed to receive a holding element (12) of the scaffold (10), wherein the receiving element (23) is further designed to receive the holding element (11) in an insertion/extraction position (24) and in a holding position (25), wherein the holding element (12) can be guided from the insertion/extraction position (24) into the holding position (25); at least one lock element (26) with a blocking means (27) which is designed to block guiding of the holding element (12) from the holding position (25) into the insertion/extraction position (24) in the closed state of the lock element (26). Front railing (20) after Claim 1 , wherein at least one second receiving element (23) is provided which is configured to receive a second holding element (11) of the scaffold (10), wherein the second receiving element (23) is further configured to receive the second holding element (11) in the insertion/extraction position (24) and in the holding position (25), wherein the second holding element (11) can be guided from the insertion/extraction position (24) into the holding position (25). Front railing (20) after Claim 1 and Claim 2 , wherein the first and/or second receiving element (23) is designed as a slot-shaped guide track in which the holding elements (11) can be guided from a respective insertion/extraction position (24) into the respective holding position (25). Front railing (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding element (11) is a hook element (12) of a scaffold (10) and wherein the hook element (12) is provided in particular on a vertical element (11) of the scaffold (10), and wherein the hook element (12) preferably has at least one projection which can be inserted into a corresponding recess at the insertion/extraction position (24). Front railing (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front railing (20) has a substantially rectangular cross-section and preferably comprises two vertical sections (21) and two horizontal sections (22) in the installed state, and wherein the at least one receiving element (23) and the at least one locking element (26) are preferably provided on a vertical section (21) of the front railing (20). Front railing (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lock element (26) is detachably arranged on the front railing (20), and wherein the blocking means (27) of the lock element (26) is preferably designed to be arranged in the receiving element (23) in the closed state of the lock element (26) in such a way that guiding of the holding element (12) from the holding position (25) into the insertion/extraction position (24) is blocked. Front railing (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lock element (26) comprises at least one wireless communication interface which is configured to communicate with a mobile computer unit and wherein the lock element (26) is further configured to be opened and/or closed by means of the mobile computer unit. Front railing (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lock element (26) comprises at least one RFID interface, preferably a near-field communication interface, which is configured to communicate with a corresponding RFID communication means and wherein the lock element is further configured to be opened and/or closed by means of the RFID communication means. Front railing (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking element (26) comprises at least one fingerprint recognition means and wherein the locking element (26) is further configured to be opened and/or closed by means of a fingerprint of an authorized person. Front railing (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking element (26) comprises at least one storage means arranged to store log data relating to the opening and closing of the locking element (26). Scaffolding system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lock element (20) comprises at least one timer element which is arranged to open the lock element (20) at a predetermined time and/or to close it at a predetermined time. Scaffolding system (10), comprising at least one front railing (20), according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 , preferably at least two front railings (20), wherein the lock elements (26) each comprise at least one storage means in which identification information of the respective lock element (26) is stored. Scaffolding system (10) according to Claim 12 , wherein identification information of a lock element (26) is stored in encrypted form in the at least one storage means. Scaffolding system (10) according to Claim 12 or Claim 13 , further comprising at least one mobile computer unit and/or at least one RFID communication means, wherein the mobile computer unit and/or the RFID communication means is configured to open and/or close certain locking elements (26) of the scaffolding system (10) by means of the identification information. Use of a lock element (26) in a front railing (20) according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 and/or in a scaffolding system (10) according to one of the Claims 11 until 14 .