WO1998048131A1

WO1998048131A1 - Clamp

Info

Publication number: WO1998048131A1
Application number: PCT/GB1998/000864
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roger John Pitman
Original assignee: Roger John Pitman
Priority date: 1997-04-02
Filing date: 1998-04-01
Publication date: 1998-10-29

Abstract

A clamp for providing for the attachment of a planar member to a structural member comprises a plate (11) for engagement with a planar member, the plate (11) including: a longitudinal aperture (16) lying on a longitudinal axis of the plate and towards a first end of the plate (11); a detent (17) on the plate lying on the longitudinal axis and at or near a second end of the plate (11); a clip (21) for engagement with a structural member (33), the clip (21) being at least in part of spring like, tensile, material; the clip comprising: at one end a major hook section (22) with the hook section configured to receive and embrace at least a major portion of a structural member (33); and at or near the second end of the clip (21), that is to say the other end of the plate to the first end, a minor hook section (32) configured to receive and engage the detent (17); the major hook section (22) and the minor hook section (32) being spaced from one another by a central section of the clip (21); the major and minor hook sections lying in substantially the same plane so as to give a working gap between the major hook section and the minor hook section.

Description

CLAMP

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a clamp. It is particularly concerned with a clamp whereby planks can be secured to a scaffold structure.

BACKGROUND ART

In building scaffold structures it is good practice to ensure that planks laid across poles of the scaffold structure are secured to the poles or otherwise coupled to the structure as a whole. . This is particularly significant when seeking to prevent lifting of the planks by wind action. Wind action becomes increasingly significant as height above the ground increases due to the higher wind velocities such as those arising from wind shear.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a clamp for securing a pair of planar members to a cross member transverse the pair by way of a gap between the pair comprising:

1 a plate with a central gutter extending along a first side of the plate, the gutter extending a major part of the length of the first side of the plate, a hole in the gutter towards one end of the plate, a detent in the gutter towards, or at, the other end of the plate to the one end; the plate having a second side on the opposite side of the plate to the first side;

2 a spring member mounted so as to extend in part through the plate by way of the hole to provide on the second side of the plate a first, hooked, section of the member for engagement with a cross member; the spring member having a second section linked to the first section by way of a first angle of inflection, the second section being of similar length to the distance along the gutter between the hole and the detent; the second section being linked to a third section by way of a second angle of inflection; the first and second angles of inflection lying in the same plane; the spring member serving to engage with the plate member between: a locked configuration in which member lies with the first angle of inflexion in the hole to cause the first section to lie with its first, hooked, section opening towards the plate; the second section of the member lies in the gutter and that part of the spring member making up the second angle of inflection serves to engage the detent so as to retain the spring member in a locked configuration with the plate; and an unlocked configuration in which when the member is released from engagement between the second angle of inflection and the detent so as to cause the first, hooked, section to open in a direction other than towards the plate.

The present invention serves to provide a clamp having a secure and positive locking action while being configured as to provide a minimum projecting profile so that the risk of tripping is reduced. It further provides a clamp which is readily used for demountably but safely securing scaffolding planks to scaffold poles in the course of building a scaffold structure. It also provides for the ready, though not inadvertent, release of a clamp from its working position when the associated scaffold pole structure is being modified or dismantled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of several different embodiments of a scaffold clamp and their function of which

Figures 1A, IB and 1C are, respectively, plan, side and end views of a plate of a first embodiment;

Figure 2 is a side view of a spring member for use in conjunction with the plate of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows is a plan view of a region of a scaffold structure in which the components of Figures 1 and 2 are utilised; and

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation on section IV-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment- Figure 7 is a view of the third embodiment of Figure 6 when viewed from its opposite side;

Figure 8 shows the third embodiment in use for face boards in a scaffold structure;

Figure 9 shows the third embodiment in use for toe boards in a scaffold structure;

Figure 10 shows the use of the second embodiment of Figure 5 for use to hold down decking boards in a scaffold structure; and

Figure 11 shows the use of the second and third embodiments in combination in a scaffold structure.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENΉON

First embodiment

Figures 1A, IB and 1C show plate 11 having an upper face 12 and a lower face 13. The plate 11 includes a channel 14 which when viewing the upper face 12 is concave. The channel 14 has sides 14A, 14B projecting upwardly from plane 15 in which the major part of upper surface 12 lies.

The channel 14 includes towards its left hand end (as viewed in Figures 1A, IB) a hole 16 extending through the plate 11. The channel 14 is provided at its right hand end (as viewed in Figures 1A, IB) with a detent 17. Hole 16 is distant from detent 17 by an amount L.

Underside 18 of channel 14 projects below plane 19 in which the major part of lower surface 13 lies.

Figure 2 shows a spring member 21 is of spring wire. Member 21 has a first section 22 in form of a hook with an internal diameter 23 corresponding to a lightly smaller diameter (D) than that of a scaffold pole (see Figure 4) to which the plate 11 in conjunction with member 21 is to be coupled as will be described hereafter. Outer end 26 of first section 22 is formed to provide a retaining lip with an undistorted clearance C slightly less than the outside diameter of a scaffold pole with which it is to be used.

Second section 27 is straight with a length LI and is linked to first section 22 by way of a first inflexion 28 in the form of a short curve providing for the first section 12 to lie at right angles to, but in the same plane as, the second section 27.

Third section 29 provides a clip configuration on opposite end 30 of the member 12 to the first section 22. A second inflexion section 31 is provided with a part 32 projecting towards the first section 12 so that length L2 is slightly shorter than length LI.

Figures 3 and 4 variously show plate 11 and member 21 in combination providing for the retention of scaffold planks 31, 32 on a scaffold pole 33.

Scaffold pole 33 having been secured in position in a scaffold planks 31, 32 are laid side by side on the pole to leave a parallel sided gap 34 between them and at right angles to the pole 13. Plate 11 is then placed so that the downwardly projecting part of the plate 11 formed by the underside of channel 14 seats in the gap 34. The member 21' (shown in broken outline in its unlocked configuration) with first inflexion 28 in the hole 16. The member 21' is then deflected about the first inflexion 28 in the hole 16, such as by pressing the second section 27' of the member 21' with the foot, so that outer end 26 of member 21' is passed beneath the scaffold pole 33 as shown in Figure 4. The second section 27' of member 21 is then aligned above the channel 14 and then pressed down into the channel so that part 32 contacts and then deflects to slip round and thereafter engage the detent 17 in the working configuration of the member 21 shown in full outline. In progressively rotating the member about the first inflexion 28 the first end 26 of the member 21 is driven around and so engage the scaffold pole 33. In this way the neighbouring edges of the planks 31, 32 beneath the plate 11 are demountably secured in place on the pole 33.

It will be seen that in the fully engaged position of the member 21 with the plate 11 the second section 27 of the member 21 is recessed in the channel 14 and the third section 29 is located within the gap 34. Thus nothing of the member projects to any significant extent above the gap 34. The upper side of the plate 11 is of negligible height above the level of the planks engaged by the plate and present little obstruction to the passage of feet or equipment over the planks when secured. The clamp is readily disassembled when the planks are to be dis-engaged from the scaffold pole 33 such as by levering up the third section 29 of the member 21 out of the gap 34 so releasing the first section 22 from engagement with scaffold pole 33. The plate 11 and member 21 are then readily lifted from the planks.

By providing a clamp which in its working configuration is a relatively compact assembly it is easy to inspect a recently assembled arrangement of clamps and planks to establish that all the clamps are correctly closed.

Second Embodiment

Figure 5 shows a developed version of the first embodiment. Plate 51 is similar in form to plate 11 of Figures 1, 4 but differs from plate 11 in having holes H in each corner to enable the plate 51 to be secured, such as by nails, to a decking plank as will be described hereafter in connection with Figures 10, 11. The plate 51 is provided with channel 54 and an aperture 56 (in contrast to the hole 16 of Figure 1). Detent 57 serves to engage minor hook section 52 of clip C which is shown with central section 55 seated in channel 54 and with major hook section 58 in its working position extending on the same side of plate 51 as minor hook section 52.

Third embodiment

Figure 6 shows from the right hand side a plate 61 with a left side downwards extension 62 and a re-entrant lip 63 to proved a J shaped recess J.. The plate 61 contains channel 64 and an aperture 66. Detent 67 serves to engage minor hook section 60 of clip C which is shown with central section 68 seated in channel 64 and with major hook section 69 in its working position extending on the same side of plate 61 as minor hook section 60. A pair of holes H are provided to enable the plate 61 to be readily secured to a plank or other planar member on which it is mounted.

Figure 7 shows the embodiment of Figure 6 from the opposite side to that shown in Figure 6. Figures 8 and 9 show the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7 in use, respectively, to secure face and toe boards. Figure 8 shows a face board 80 resting on a horizontal scaffold pole 81. Plate 61 is secured by nails through holes H to face board 80 which projects some way into J- shaped recess J. Clip C is shown in its closed position with its minor hook section 60 clipped over detent 67 and major hook section 69 anchoring the combined plate and clip in place around horizontal pole 81.

Figure 9 shows a toe board 90 clipped to a vertical scaffold pole 91. Plate 61 is secured by nails through holes H to toe board 90 which projects some way into J-shaped recess J. Clip C is shown in its closed position with its minor hook section 60 clipped over detent 67 and major hook section 69 anchoring the combined plate and clipped in place around vertical pole 91.

Figure 10 shows several clamps 101, 102, 103 according to the second embodiment in use to secure a parallel series of decking planks 105, 106, 107, 108 (partly) to a horizontal scaffold pole 109. Each of the clamps 101, 2,3 are shown in their closed position and each plate seats on two planks (for example plate 101A lying over planks 105, 106) to which the plate is secured by holes H. The figure demonstrates the snug fit of the clamps to the boards with the clips readily accommodated in the gap between each pair of decking planks. It will also be apparent that in the event a clamp is not fully closed (hat is to say the clip is not located with its centre section seated in the channel of its associated plate) then the fact will be readily apparent with even a brief viewing of a given region of the structure.

Figure 11 shows a decking assembly with clamps 110, 113 according to the second embodiment and clamps 111 and 112 according to the third embodiment providing for the retention of decking planks 114, 115 to a horizontal scaffold pole 116. The planks 114, 115 are spaced apart by vertical scaffold poles 117, 118.

The size of the clamps are related to a modular size based on the outside diameter of a scaffold pole. Thus it will be seen that the overall width of clips 111, 112 provides for them fitting within the gap between the planks 114, 115 without contact between them. The width of the plates of clips 110, 113 and the location of the holes H provides for a pair of such plates to be bolted together along their longer sides so that a gap established between planks by a vertical scaffold pole can be readily bridged by a bolted together pair of plates.

In an alternative version the plate can be made in a double ended form with a further longitudinal aperture being provided in the channel lying on the longitudinal axis of the plate and towards the second end of the plate, a further detent on the plate on the longitudinal axis and at or near the first end of the plate, and the longitudinal axial distance between the edge of the further aperture and the further detent being of the given length. Typically the aperture and the detent on the one hand and the further aperture and the further detent on the other hand are located symmetrically on the plate. This doubled arrangement is particularly applicable to the version of the third embodiment described in connection with Figures 6 and 7. As shown in Figures 6 and 7 these are handed versions with side extension 62 and side lip 63 on what can be said to be the left hand side. By providing a further aperture to mirror aperture 66 in channel 64 and a further detent at the opposite end of the channel 64 to detent 67 the ability to use the clamp either left or right handed is provided for. Thus with the relatively small number of components described in connection with Figures 1 to 8 together with the mirrored alternative it is possible to provide secure clamping means for most situations arising in scaffolding structures.

Claims

1 A clamp for providing for the attachment of a planar member to a structural member comprising: a plate for engagement with a planar member, the plate including: a longitudinal aperture lying on a longitudinal axis of the plate and towards a first end of the plate; a detent on the plate lying on the longitudinal axis and at or near a second end of the plate, that is to say the other end of the plate to the first end; and the longitudinal axial distance between the edge of the aperture nearest the second end and the detent being of a given length; a clip for engagement with a structural member, the clip being at least in part of spring like, tensile, material; the clip comprising: at one end a major hook section with the hook section configured to receive and embrace at least a major portion of a structural member; and at or near the second end of the clip, that is to say the other end of the plate to the first end, a minor hook section configured to receive and engage the detent; the major hook section and the minor hook section being spaced from one another by a central section of the clip; the major and minor hook sections lying in substantially the same plane so as to give a working gap between the major hook section and the minor hook section; a first length of the working gap measured between the major hook section and the minor hook section in the vicinity of the central section being of a length comparable with the given length; and a second length of the working gap measured between the major hook section and the minor hook section along and parallel to, but off-set from, the first length being of a length less than the given length; the clip being configured for linkage with the plate between a relative open position in which the clip extends through the longitudinal aperture to project the major hook section on one side of the plate with the minor hook section on the opposite side of the plate; and a relative closed position in which the major and minor hook section lie on the same side of the plate with the central section on the other side of, and juxtaposed with, the plate the minor hook section serving to resiliently anchor the clip to the detent against reaction of the major hook section such as by engagement of the clamp with a structural member.

A clamp as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the plate is provided on one side with a channel extending between the aperture and the detent; the cannel being adapted to receive and at least in part shroud, the centre section of the clip when in its closed position.

A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plate is provided with a side extension whereby the plate can be juxtaposed with a first face of planar member so a s to provide for the side member to be juxtaposed with a further face of the, or of another, neighbouring planar member.

A clamp as claimed in claim 3 wherein the side extension is provided with a lip serving to provide in combination with the side extension and the plate a J- shaped enclosure in which to receive a planar member.

A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plate is provided with one or apertures to enable the plate to be secured to a juxtaposed planar member.

A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the a plate for engagement with a planar member, the plate including: a further longitudinal aperture is provided lying on the longitudinal axis of the plate and towards the second end of the plate, a further detent on the plate on the longitudinal axis and at or near the first end of the plate, and the longitudinal axial distance between the edge of the further aperture and the further detent being of the given length.

A clamp as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the aperture and the detent on the one hand and the further aperture and the further detent on the other hand are located symmetrically on the plate.

A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the clip at or near its second end is configured so that in the event the clip is engaged with a corresponding plate so that the minor hook section is inadvertently directed towards the first end of the plate rather than the detent on the second end then the clip is configured to positively resist engagement with the plate.

A clamp as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A clamp for securing a pair of planar members to a cross member transverse the pair by way of a gap between the pair comprising:

A structure comprising a series of vertical and horizontally structural members and a series of planar members at least some of the planar members being attached to at least some of the structural members by means of clips as claimed in any preceding claim.

A structure as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the series of structural members comprise scaffolding poles and the series of planar members comprise planks.