GB2086467A - Scaffolding fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a scaffolding fitting which comprises a body portion (12) which is of generally U-shaped configuration, the two arms of said body portion being formed in adjacent edges with recesses (16) adapted to receive and locate one of the scaffolding members. There is also provided a pressure plate (17) which is mounted adjacent to the base of the body portion (12) so as to be movable towards and away from said recesses (16). A clamp (22) is threadably engaged with the base of said body portion (12) is adapted at its inner end to engage the pressure plate to urge it into engagement with the other scaffolding member which will be positioned between the pressure plate and the first mentioned scaffolding member with said members extending in mutually perpendicular directions. Preferably the pressure plate is shaped so that it is wholly contained within the confines of said body portion (12). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Scaffolding fitting This invention relates to a scaffolding fitting of the kind which is arranged in use to clamp together a pair of elongate scaffolding members in a mutually transverse relationship, the object of the invention being to provide such a fitting in an improved form.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a scaffolding fitting comprising a body portion of generally U-shaped configuration which is formed in adjacent edges of the two arms of said body portion with recesses for receiving and locating one elongate scaffolding member in a position in which its length extends in a direction across said body portion arms, there being also provided a pressure plate which is mounted adjacent to the base of the body portion so as to be movable relative thereto in directions towards and away from said recesses, and a screw actuated clamp which is arranged to engage one side of said pressure plate to urge it, on actuation of said clamp, towards said recesses, the other side of the pressure plate being shaped to engage another alongate scaffolding member which in use will extend between the arms ofthe body so as to be located between the pressure plate and said one elongate scaffolding member with its length extending in a direction perpendicular to the length of said one elongate scaffolding member, the arrangement being such that in use the screw actuated clamp can be operated to cause said pressure plate to engage the other elongate scaffolding member which will itself be forced into engagement with said one elongate scaffolding member to clamp the two scaffolding members together.

The pressure plate may be provided on each of its two lateral sides with one or more laterally extending ears, each ear extending into an elongated slot formed in the body portion so that the pressure plate will be guided in its movement relative to the body portion by the inter-engagement of the ears and their associated elongated slots.

Preferably, the pressure plate is wholly contained within the confines of said body portion so that it does not project at either end beyond the arms of the body portion. Furthermore, each lateral side of the pressure plate may have a pair of laterally extending ears or alternatively each such lateral side may have only one laterally extending ear, the two ears thus provided on opposite sides of the pressure plate being either aligned or offset with respect to each other.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of one example of a scaffolding fitting in accordance with the invention, the fitting being shown with two short lengths of scaffolding members in the clamped position.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown therein a scaffolding fitting which is intended for use in clamping together a pair of elongate scaffolding members in a mutually transverse relationship. Two relatively short lengths of tubu lar scaffoldi ng members, indicated by reference numerals-10 and 11 respectively, are shown in position in the fitting to illustrate how the fitting is used to clamp such members together. One application of a fitting constructed in accordance with the present invention is for use as a putlog coupler.

The fitting itself has a body portion 12 formed from steel plate which is bent to a generally U-shaped configuration so as to provide two arms 13 and 14 together with a base 15. Adjacent edges of said arms 13 and 14 are formed with a generally rectangular notch or recess which in the case of the arm 14 is indicated by reference numeral 16, and such notches or recesses are aligned so that they are adapted to receive and locate the scaffolding member 10 which thus extends in a direction transverse to the length of the arms 13 and 14. Conveniently, that side of each recess (such as recess 16) which is adjacent to the free ends of the arms 13 and 14 is shaped to a part-circular configuration so that it will partially embrace the scaffolding member 10.

There is also provided a presssure plate 17 which is shaped as shown to a part cylindrical configuration so as to be adapted partially to embrace the other elongate scaffolding member 11. Said pressure plate 17 is formed on each lateral side with a pair of integral, laterally extending and spaced ears 18 and 19, and each of said ears projects through an elongated slot 20 or 21 formed in the body portion 12. The pressure plate is thus mounted in the body portion so as to be capable of sliding movement relative thereto, the inter-engagement of said ears 18, 19 and the elongated slots 20, 21 serving to guide such movement of the pressure plate in directions towards and away from the recesses or notches formed in the arms 13 and 14.

There is further provided a screw actuated clamp in the form of a screw 22 which engages a threaded aperture formed in the base 15 of the body portion 12, the inner end of said screw projecting into the interior of the body portion so as to engage one side of the pressure plate 17. The screw 22 is formed with an aperture 23 into which a suitable tool can be inserted for the purpose of rotating the screw. Initially said screw 20 will be in a relatively withdrawn position so that the pressure plate 17 can be pulled back towards the base 15 of the body portion.The two elongate scaffolding members 10 and 11 can then be arranged in their mutually perpendicular relationship as shown in the drawing and the screw 22 moved inwardly into the fitting so as to engage the pressure plate 17 and urge it forwardly into engagement with the scaffolding member 11 which in turn will move the latter into clamping engagementwith the scaffolding member 10.

The pressure plate 17 will distribute the clamping force over a relatively large area of the scaffolding member 11, thereby avoiding the point contact that would otherwise occur between the clamping screw 22 and the scaffolding member 11 if no such pressure plate were employed. It is to be noted that the pressure plate 17 is contained wholly within the body portion 12 in the sense that it does not project at either end from said body portion and furthermore the movement of the pressure plate is guided by the four ears and associated elongated slots as previously described. It is, however, to be under stood that instead of providing the pressure plate on each lateral side with a pair of laterally projecting ears as shown, only one such ear may be provided on each lateral side and the two ears thus provided (namely one on each lateral side) may either be aligned with each other or offset with respect to each other.

Claims (5)

1. A scaffolding fitting comprising a body portion of generally U-shaped configuration which is formed in adjacent edges of the two arms of said body portion with recesses for receiving and locating one elongate scaffolding member in a position in which its length extends in a direction across said body portion arms, there being also provided a pressure plate which is mounted adjacent to the base of the body portion so as to be movable relativethereto in directions towards and away from said recesses, and a screw actuated clamp which is arranged to engage one side of said pressure plate to urge it, on actuation of said clamp, towards said recesses, the other side of the pressure plate being shaped to engage another elongate scaffolding memberwhich in use will extend between the arms ofthe body so as to be located between the pressure plate and said one elongate scaffolding member with its length extending in a direction perpendiculartothe length of said one elongate scaffolding member, the arrangement being such that in use the screw actuated clamp can be operated to cause said pressure plate to engage the other elongate scaffolding member which will itself be forced into engagement with said one elongate scaffolding member to clamp the two scaffolding members together.

2. A scaffolding fitting as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said pressure plate is provided on each of its two lateral sides with one or more laterally extending ears, each ear extending into an elongated slot formed in the body portion whereby the pressure plate will be guided in its movement relative to the body portion by the inter-engagement of the ears and their associated elongated slots.

3. Ascaffoldingfitting as claimed in eitherofthe preceding claims wherein the pressure plate is wholly contained within the confines of said body portion so that it does not project at either end beyond the arms of the body portion.

4. A scaffolding fitting as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein said pressure plate is provided on each lateral side with one laterally extending ear, the two ears thus provided being offset with respect to each other.

5. A scaffolding fitting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.