GB2448199A

GB2448199A - Support for scaffolding boards

Info

Publication number: GB2448199A
Application number: GB0710444A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nancy Jane Turner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-05
Filing date: 2007-05-31
Publication date: 2008-10-08
Also published as: GB0706779D0; GB0710444D0

Abstract

A support (130) for supporting scaffolding boards on scaffolding tubes, the support (130) comprising a first member (131) provided with gripping means (136) for gripping an underside of a first scaffolding board, a second member (132) provided with gripping means (134) for gripping an underside of a second scaffolding board, a sliding mechanism (136,137) disposed on the first and second members to allow relative sliding movement between the first and second members (131, 132) to vary the overall length of the support (130), and attachment means (152) for attaching the support to two substantially parallel scaffolding tubes.

Description

* 2448199

SUPPORT FOR SCAFFOLDING BOARDS

The present invention relates to supports for boards, arid in particular, scaffolding boards.

There is a continuing high accident rate on building sites. Accidents often occur on access systems, including scaffolding, which site operatives depend upon to move around the building above ground level during construction work.

A typical scaffolding has a framework of scaffolding tubes or pipes, on which scaffolding boards are supported.

The site operatives can stand or walk on the scaffolding boards. The scaffolding boards are generally not secured to the scaffolding tubes, but merely rest upon the tubes. The boards may inadvertently slide over the tubes during use, which may lead to a board having an end which is not supported by a scaffolding tube. A site operative could have an accident by tripping over a protruding board, overbalancing on an end of a displaced board, or falling through a gap between ends of adjacent boards.

The present invention provides a support for scaffolding boards according to claim 1.

Thus, the scaffolding boards are supported and secured in place, preventing the boards from being dislodged. The support can be used with different widths of scaffolding.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the figures in which: Figure 1 if a perspective view of an example of prior art scaffolding; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows an example of scaffolding, on which the present invention can be used. Scaffolding 100 is typically used to allow site operatives to work on a structure above ground level. The scaffolding 100 comprises a system of tubes (also known as pipes) typically made of steel or aluminium, and which may alternatively be made of other materials, for example bamboo. Uprights 102 (also known as standards) extend vertically. The uprights 102 support ledgers 104 extending in a horizontal plane along the length of the scaffoldin9. Transoms 106 extend in a substantially horizontal plane, generally perpendicularly to the ledgers 106. The uprights 102, ledgers 104 and transoms 106 are connected together by couplers (not shown).

Scaffolding boards 110 rest on the transoms 106. The boards 110 are typically formed from wood. The boards 110 are laid adjacent to one another, and further boards (not shown) are laid end-to-end with the boards 110 to provide a continuous walkway for site operatives.

Figure 2 shows a support 130 for supporting scaffolding boards. The support 130 can be attached to two ledgers 104.

The support 130 has a variable length to allow it to be attached to different spacings of ledgers 104. The support 130 can securely support scaffolding boards in place of a transom 106.

The support 130 comprises a first body section 131 and a second body section 132. The first body section 131 can slide within the second body section 132. The second body section 132 is preferably hollow. The second body section 132 may be substantially U-shaped.

When the first body section 131 is wholly received within the second body section 132, the support 130 has a minimum length. When the first body section 13]. is extended as far as possible out of second body section 132, the support 130 has a maximum length.

sliding of the first body section 131 relative to the second body section 132 may be achieved using any known means. Preferably, the first body section 131 is provided with a groove 136 extending along each of its long sides.

The groove 136 is engaged with a flange 137 extending on the long sides of the second body section 132. Alternatively, the second body section 132 may be provided with grooves engageable by flanges on the first body section 131.

Alternatively, the second body section 132 may have flanges engageable with an underside of the first body section 131.

The first body section 131 has an upper surface 138a, and the second body section 132 has any upper surface 138b.

The upper surfaces 138A, 138B are substantially planar and parallel. The upper surfaces l38a, 138b are each provided with gripping means for gripping one or more scaffolding boards. The gripping means are preferably in the form of a S plurality of teeth 134. The teeth 134 extend perpendicularly to the upper surfaces 138a, l38b. The teeth 134 may be formed by punching the material of the first and second body sections 131, 132.

The support 130 comprises attachment means for attachment to two standard scaffolding tubes, and in particular to two ledgers 104. The attachment means comprises one or more arms 142 arranged to engage scaffolding tubes extending on opposite sides of the support 130. The arms 142 are preferably curved to f it partially around the scaffolding tubes 104, so that they sit on top of the scaffolding tubes 104. Preferably two arms 142 are provided on each side of the support 130. Each arm 142 is preferably provided with a fixing bolt 146. Each fixing bolt 146 can be tightened so that the arm and/or fixing bolt securely engages the scaffolding tube.

A lining 145 may be provided on a lower surface of each arm 142. The lining is preferably formed of rubber to increase friction between the arms 142 and a ledger 104.

The length of the support 130 may be shortened to engage two parallel ledgers 104 which have three scaffolding boards 122 between them. The support 130 may be extended by sliding the first body section 131 out of the second body section 132. In an extended position, the support 130 may be supported on two parallel ledgers 104 separated by five scaffolding boards 122 between them.

An alternate embodiment of the support 130 is shown in Figure 3. All features of the support 130 are the same unless otherwise specified. The support 150 has attachment means in the form of at least one clip 152. The support 150 may be provided with four clips 152, two clips on the first body section 131 and two clips on the second body section 132. The clips 152 are preferably fixedly connected to the respective body section 131, 132 so that their position cannot be changed. Alternatively, the clips 152 may be moveable secured or securable to the board 150.

Each clip 152 is in the form of a C-shape. Each clip 152 comprises two resilient curved arms, defining an opening between them at an end distil to the body sections 131, 132.

The opening is orientated in an opposite direction to the upper surfaces 138A, 138B, i.e. downwardly in use. The opening is narrower then the diameter of the standard scaffolding tube 106. The clips 152 can be resiliently deformed, or opened, to clips onto two parallel scaffolding tubes 106. This can be down by placing the clips 152 over the scaffolding tube, and pressing downwardly on the upper surfaces 138a, 138b of the support 150. Once the support is clipped onto the or each scaffolding tube, the support will be securely retained on the scaffolding. Any scaffolding boards laid on the support 150 will be engaged by the teeth 134.

The clips 152 are preferably formed of metal e.g. steel, or aluminium or plastic.

The clips 152 on the support 150 have been described as resiliently deformable to click onto the scaffolding tube.

Alternatively the clips may have an opening which is wider than the diameter of the scaffolding tube. The clips then may not be deforrnable.

In use, a scaffolding system comprising a framework of scaffolding tubes is constructed. The support 130, 150 is varied in length to fit the distance between two substantially parallel scaffolding tubes. One or more scaffolding boards is laid on top of the support 130, 150.

The teeth 134 engage an underside of the or each scaffolding board. The teeth 134 prevent the scaffolding boards from being dislodged, by gripping an underside of each scaffolding board to resist any potentially dislodging forces.

The attachment means for the supports 130, 150 may be at the ends or adjacent to the ends of the support 130, 150.

Alternatively, the arms 142 or clips 152 may be spaced away from one or each end of the support 150. The support 130, may have attachment means configured to attach to two ledgers 104 and have a part extending outwardly of an adjacent upright 102. The part extending outwardly of the upright 102 can support and secure a further scaffolding board arranged substantially parallel to the scaffolding boards between the two uprights 102.

Any of the described or illustrated features or details may be used with or applied to any of the described embodiments.

S

Claims

Claims; 1. A support for supporting scaffolding boards on scaffolding

tubes, the support comprising: a first member provided with gripping means for gripping an underside of a first scaffolding board; a second member provided with gripping means for gripping an underside of a second scaffolding board; a sliding mechanism disposed on the first and second members to allow relative sliding movement between the first and second members to vary the overall length of the support; and attachment means for attaching the support to two substantially parallel scaffolding tubes.
2. The support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second members have a substantially planar surface on which the gripping means is provided.
3. The support in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the gripping means is a plurality of teeth on each of the first and second members.
4. The support is claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first member slides within the second member.
5. The support is claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the attachment means comprises arms extending from each end of the support.
6. The support is claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the attachment means comprises at least one C-shaped clip.
7. The support as claimed in claim 6 wherein the at least one clip opens in a direction opposite to the gripping means.
8. A scaffolding system comprising; interconnected scaffolding tubes forming a structure; at least one support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims secured to one or more scaffolding tube(s) one or more boards laid on the support(s) and supported by scaffolding tubes or support (s).
9. A method of constructing scaffolding comprising: interconnecting scaffolding tubes to form a structure; securing at least one support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims to a scaffolding tube; placing one or more scaffolding boards on the scaffolding tubes and on the support(s).
10. A support for supporting scaffolding boards substantially as herein before described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2 or 3.