Scaffolding

Abstract

The invention relates to a bridge that is for use with a scaffolding standard. The standard may comprise of an elongate pipe to which there is secured at least one rosette of a kind that presents a plurality of apertures about the pipe at which a connection to said standard can be established by other scaffolding components. The bridge is capable of connection to said rosette at at least two said apertures, said bridge allowing a scaffolding component to be secured thereto to be positioned and supported by said bridge at a location not catered for by any aperture of said rosette.

Claims

1. A bridge configured to connect to a scaffolding standard, the scaffolding standard comprising at least one rosette secured to an elongate pipe, the at least one rosette having a plurality of angularly spaced apertures each residing at a respective side of a region of the rosette, and each positioned at a respective location about the pipe at which the standard can be connected to other scaffolding components, the bridge including a bridge portion and at least two angularly spaced connectors each connector releasably connected to a respective one of the apertures of the rosette, and the bridge portion including a fastening region at a location other than the locations of the apertures of the rosette when the connectors are connected to the apertures of the rosette to allow a scaffolding component to be secured to the bridge and positioned and supported by the bridge at a location other than the locations of the apertures of the rosette, wherein a space between the spaced connectors permits the region of the rosette to be received between the connectors of the bridge, wherein the bridge portion supports the at least two spaced connectors, wherein each connector is a prong having a free end, and the two prongs are spaced completely apart along an entire length thereof, and each prong projects in a respective direction from the bridge portion, wherein the bridge portion of the bridge and the prongs are shaped and configured so as to allow the bridge portion of the bridge to rest on the region of the rosette when the prongs are fully engaged with the apertures, wherein the fastening region is on, and the bridge portion extends only along, a radial plane that is not parallel to the direction of projection of the prongs and extends radially relative to two adjacent apertures of the rosette when the connectors are connected to the apertures of the rosette, wherein the bridge portion is a planar body that includes a continuous and endless border wall located between a top surface of the bridge portion and a bottom surface of the bridge portion, wherein the continuous and endless wall defines the outer perimeter of the bridge portion, and wherein the prongs project from the bottom surface of the bridge portion and are isolated from one another along the entire length thereof from the bottom surface to the free ends thereof.

2. A bridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening region is located at a location between two radial lines passing through two adjacent apertures of the rosette when the connectors are connected to the apertures of the rosette.

3. A bridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening region is located at a location between radial lines passing through two apertures of the rosette when the connectors are connected to the apertures of the rosette.

4. A bridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening region includes a feature having a shape complementary with a part or parts of a scaffolding component that is configured to connect to an aperture of the rosette.

5. A bridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening region includes an aperture.

6. A bridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening region includes a slot, the slot extending in an elongate direction that lies in a notional plane that is parallel to an elongate direction of a standard, the notional plane not passing through the apertures of the rosette with which the bridge is engaged when the connectors of the bridge are connected to the apertures of the rosette.

7. A bridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prongs project in a same direction and are parallel to each other.

8. A bridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prongs are shaped and configured to engage with the pipe of a standard when fully engaged into a respective aperture of the rosette of the standard.

9. A bridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bridge is at least partially staple shaped.

10. A bridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bridge portion of the bridge defines a landing on which the scaffolding component can rest when engaged at an aperture in the bridge.

11. A bridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bridge also comprises a pipe abutment upwardly located from the bridge portion to abut the pipe of the standard at a location above the bridge portion when in use.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings of which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scaffold structure comprising of a plurality of standards, ledgers and guard rails connected together as a modular system,

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rosette that may be affixed to the standard,

(4) FIG. 3 is a ledger that may be used in the modular system,

(5) FIG. 4 is a close up view of an end of a ledger,

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a scaffolding standard to which there is connected four separate ledgers,

(7) FIG. 6 is a sectional view of part of a building such as part of an elevator shaft within which a scaffold structure can be erected and taken at section BB of FIG. 7,

(8) FIG. 7 is a plan view of FIG. 6,

(9) FIG. 8 is a close up view of area A of FIG. 6,

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an extendable arm,

(11) FIG. 10 is a side view showing some hidden detail of the extendable arm of FIG. 9,

(12) FIG. 11 is an end view of the arm of FIG. 10,

(13) FIG. 12 is a view from the opposite end of the arm,

(14) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a bridge,

(15) FIG. 14 is a perspective view from another direction of the bridge,

(16) FIG. 15 illustrates the bridge engaged to a standard at a rosette,

(17) FIG. 16 illustrates the bridge engaged to the rosette in the absence of the standard,

(18) FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an alternative configuration of a bridge,

(19) FIG. 18 is a perspective view from another direction of the bridge of FIG. 17,

(20) FIG. 19 is an alternative view of the bridge of FIG. 17,

(21) FIG. 20 illustrates the bridge of FIG. 19 engaged to a standard and having received a ledger,

(22) FIG. 21 is a side view of the bridge of FIG. 17,

(23) FIG. 22 is a front view of the bridge of FIG. 17,

(24) FIG. 23 is a top view of the bridge of FIG. 17,

(25) FIG. 24 is a view through section cc of FIG. 23,

(26) FIG. 25 is a view through section aa of FIG. 21,

(27) FIG. 26 is a view through section bb of FIG. 21,

(28) FIG. 27 is a side view of an alternative form of a bridge,

(29) FIG. 28 is a front view of the bridge of FIG. 27,

(30) FIG. 29 is a plan view of the bridge of FIG. 27,

(31) FIG. 30 is a sectional view through section cc of FIG. 29,

(32) FIG. 31 is a view through section aa of FIG. 31,

(33) FIG. 32 is a view through section bb of FIG. 27,

(34) FIG. 34A illustrates a standard with which a non-45 degree bridge is engaged and with which a ledger is coupled,

(35) FIG. 34B shows the bridge used in FIG. 34A,

(36) FIG. 35A shows a 45 degree bridge being used, engaged to a standard,

(37) FIG. 35B shows the bridge used in FIG. 35A,

(38) FIG. 36A shows an alternative non-45 degree bridge being used for connecting a ledger to a standard,

(39) FIG. 36B shows the bridge of FIG. 36A,

(40) FIG. 37 shows a scaffold structure erected in an elevator shaft, wherein bridges are used at the corner of the structure to allow a support arm to project therefrom and to the shaft wall to provide lateral support,

(41) FIG. 39 shows a plan view down an elevator shaft for example, where a service cart or lift is positioned, the cart carrying extendible arms that project to each make contact with a wall of the shaft such that in concert they can operate to provide lateral stability to the cart,

(42) FIG. 40 shows the cart, suspended from a cable inside the lift shaft, in a side cross sectional orientation,

(43) FIG. 41 is a side view with hidden detail showing of a variation of the extendible arm that may be utilised in the application as described with reference to FIGS. 39 and 40 and 43,

(44) FIG. 42 is a perspective view of the extendible arm of FIG. 41, and

(45) FIG. 43 is a side view of part of a building showing a swing stage or service cart, suspended adjacent the building and showing how the extendible arm of FIGS. 15 and 16 may be utilised for the purposes of keeping separation between the building and the swing stage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(46) The invention may be described with reference to components forming part of a modular scaffolding system, parts of which are already known. In FIG. 1 for example there is shown a scaffold structure 100 that comprises of a plurality of standards 1. The standards 1 preferably consist of a metal pipe that, at preferably regular intervals, has secured thereto a rosette 6. The rosette 6 may be made from a sheet metal 6 and is preferably substantially planar. The rosette 6 includes a central aperture 7 which is of a shape and configuration to snugly fit about the pipe of the standard 1. The rosette 6 may be welded to the pipe of the standard 1 to become securely fastened thereto. The rosette 6 may include a plurality of apertures 8. The apertures 8 may for example be slots that are positioned to radiate away from the pipe of the standard 1 and are preferably equispaced about the pipe of the standard 1. The slots 8 are preferably elongate slots and may be substantially rectangular in plan shape. Alternative shapes of such rosette apertures may be provided by the rosette.

(47) Able to form part of the scaffolding structure 100 are a plurality of ledgers 2. The ledgers may comprise elongate linear pipes, U or RHS sectioned members. The ledgers 2 have connection heads at each end that are of a shape and configuration to allow for the ledger to become secured at an aperture of a rosette of a standard. Such a head may comprise projections 10. These projections 10 are of a shape to allow for these to be located into a slot 8 of a rosette 6. Each projection 10 may be welded to the end of the pipe section of the ledger. The projection 10 presents a leg 11 that can be received into a slot 8 of a rosette 6. The leg 11 may be a projection. The leg may be tapered so that it can be conveniently located into the slot and become wedged to the standard. An aperture 12 may be provided through the leg 11 to allow for a fastener to extend through. Such can ensure that the ledger cannot be removed from the rosette 6. The fastener may for example be a split pin or ring or other arrangement that can help secure the ledger to the rosette 6. Preferably the leg is made of a sheet metal of a thickness that is substantially the same as the width of the slot 8 of the rosette. This allows for the leg to have a very snug fit in a slot of a rosette and thereby become secured without being able to swivel relative to the standard. This allows for a simple erection of a scaffold structure.

(48) As can be seen in FIG. 5 a plurality of ledgers may be engaged at a single rosette of a standard 1 to each radiate away from the standard 1 in predefined and different directions.

(49) With reference to FIG. 6-8 there is shown a scaffold structure 200 located intermediate of two walls 201 and 202 of a building. The two walls may be facing walls or may be walls that are at an angle to each other. In the example shown in FIG. 6-8, the two walls shown in FIG. 6 are facing walls of an elevator shaft. FIG. 7 illustrates a plurality of walls of an elevator shaft 203 and within which the scaffold structure 200 is erected.

(50) In order to provide lateral stability to the scaffold structure the scaffold structure is supported, at discrete locations by a plurality of extendable lateral support arms 300. Such support arms 300 may be provided at a plurality of discrete locations to extend between the scaffold structure 200 and an adjacent wall 201 (etc). The support arm is preferably adjustable in length.

(51) In a preferred form the support arm comprises of two arm members, a first arm 302 and a second arm 303. The two arms are threadingly coupled together. In the preferred form the second arm 303 is a threaded rod whereas the first arm 302 includes an internally threaded region 304 that can receive the threaded rod 303. The first arm 302 includes a first head 305 that is presented at a first distal end of the support arm 300 for engagement to a wall or other part of a building structure. The first head 305 may for example be a plate 306 having a plurality of apertures 307 through which fasteners can extend to engage to the wall of a building structure.

(52) The second arm 303 includes a second head 307 that is configured and adapted to be able to conveniently engage and be secured to the scaffold structure 200. The second head is preferably defined at the second distal end of the support arm 300. The second head 307 preferably comprises a tongue 308. The tongue is preferably planar and of a width that is complimentary to the width of a slot of a rosette of modular scaffolding system with which the support arm may be used. As can be seen the tongue 308 is of a shape to allow for the tongue to drop into the aperture of a rosette and thereat become secured to a standard of a scaffold structure.

(53) It is desirable for the support arm to become secured to a scaffold structure not at a ledger but at a standard and preferably at a rosette of a modular scaffold system standard to allow for a lateral force transfer to occur to the scaffold structure via the support arm to the wall of the building structure. Indeed in a preferred form the support arm is engaged to a standard at a rosette at which ledgers also extend from as part of the scaffold structure so as to provide a solid anchoring point with little or no flexibility in the standard at the rosette by virtue of other scaffolding components being connected thereto. FIG. 7 shows a preferred assembly of a scaffold structure where support arms are utilised. It is desirable for two support arms to extend from a rosette, one support arm extending in one direction from the scaffold structure to an adjacent wall and a second support arm extending substantially perpendicular thereto and extending to an adjacent wall of the building structure. The adjacent walls are preferably at right angles to each other. Alternatively the first and second support arms could extend to the same wall and triangulate with the wall and/or the scaffold structure.

(54) In a preferred form the support arm 300 comprises of two arm members 302 and 303. These arm members are preferably elongate and preferably extend coaxial relative to each other.

(55) In the preferred form the two arms 302 and 303 are directly engaged to each other. Alternatively they may be engaged with each other but wherein an intermediate member may be provided. Such an intermediate member may be a separate threaded component that engages to threaded portions of the first and second arm 302 and 303 and thereby form a turn buckle style arm. This allows for the intermediate member to be rotated when the first and second arms are secured in place, yet allow the overall length of the support arm 300 to be adjusted. A telescopic configuration is also anticipated which may or may not include lock out features to allow the support arm to be adjustable yet still be established in a rigid configuration. Such may provide for a spring biased telescoping or similar.

(56) In use, the preferred form of the support arm may be adjusted in length by relative rotation of the threaded components of the support arm 300 so that the distance between the first and second distal ends of the support arm can be varied to establish an overall length that is suitable to allow for the support arm 300 to extend between the scaffold structure and an adjacent wall and become coupled to both. Alternatively the support arm 300 may first be engaged to a rosette of a standard and then its length may be adjusted until the first head 305 presses against an adjacent wall. Alternatively the first head may first be secured to an adjacent wall and the length of the support arm 300 may then be adjusted so that it can span between the adjacent wall and the scaffold structure. Handles 309 may be provided to one or both of the first and second arm 302 and 303 to facilitate the relative rotation of the threaded components to allow for the length to be adjusted.

(57) The use of a plurality of support arms can allow for a scaffold structure to obtain lateral support and also be clampingly engaged between facing or adjacent walls of a building. Pressure can be applied via the support arms by adjustment of the threaded components to change the length of a or each of any of the support arms. This can allow for a force to be applied to the scaffold structure to ensure a rigid connection is established between the adjacent walls of the building and the scaffold structure.

(58) Whilst the support arm herein described is preferably utilised where a scaffold structure is desirous of being supported relative to two facing or otherwise adjacent walls so as to allow for a plurality of support arms to be utilised, it is also envisaged that the support arm may be utilised for supporting a scaffold structure merely adjacent one planar wall of a building. The support can be adjusted so as to ensure that if substantially vertical orientation of a or the vertical standards is maintained by virtue of providing lateral support to the scaffold structure from the building.

(59) The support arm may also be utilised in a mode where it is secured to a service car or swing stage that maybe suspended adjacent a building wall. As shown in FIG. 39 or 40 a service car is shown inside an elevator shaft, the service car suspended by a cable 800. A plurality of support arms 802 may be secured to and project away from the service car 801 to as to extend to an adjacent wall of the shaft. Such a configuration can allow for the service car to get lateral stability as it travels up and down or is stationary inside the lift shaft. As a result workers in the car can perform functions without the lift car swaying relative the building. So whilst in a preferred form the support arm may be used with scaffolding, it can be seen that other applications for the support arm exist. Indeed as shown in FIG. 43, the service car or swing stage 801 may be suspended by a crane exterior of a building and via a cable 800. The support arm may project from the service car towards a face of the building and contact the building. A plurality of support arms may be so mounted and travel with the service car as it moves up and down.

(60) To ensure that such up and down movement is not impaired and/or causes no or little damage to the building, the support arm may include a contact roller 805. This is more clearly seen in FIGS. 41 and 42. The contact roller may include a wheel that has a tire or other suitable material on it that make if compatible with the surface over which it is to roll. The roller may be mounted in a castor like manner so that it can swivel. This may be important where for example lateral stability in a direction parallel to the adjacent building surface is not able to be achieved. The service car may for example sway from side to side parallel to the building and a castor wheel arrangement can allow for the contact roller to passively adjust its orientation to allow for up and down rolling contact as well as side to side rolling contact with the building.

(61) The tires may be pneumatic tires. This allows for some impact damage and dampening to occur if a swing stage is moved away from the building and then comes back at the building. In addition or alternatively, the two arm portions of the support arm may be able to move relative to each other in a manner to that provides such shock absorption. A spring, ram or other element may be included sot that the two arm portions can displace relative to each other upon the application of a force.

(62) As mentioned above, the rosette of the kind as shown in FIG. 2 comprises of four slots each to allow for ledgers to extend from a standard at 90 degrees to each other. Likewise a support arm may be so disposed.

(63) However it may be desirable for a ledger or the support arm as hereinbefore described to be presented for projecting from the vertical standard 1 in a different direction. Given that complementary nature of the slot and ledger, a ledger cannot swivel relative to a standard without wrenching or twisting the leg 11 of the projection 10 of the ledger.

(64) To provide greater flexibility of configuration, a bridge 500 as for example shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 can be used. The bridge 500 is a discrete item. It may form part of a kit of parts of a scaffolding system. The bridge is capable of connection to a rosette 6 in a manner to register at at least two apertures 8 of the rosette. These are preferably immediately adjacent apertures but need not necessarily be so. This can for example be seen with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16.

(65) The bridge 500 may present a fastening region 501 at which scaffolding components can become secured to the bridge and thereby become secured to the rosette 6 and its associated standard 1. The fastening region 501 may be of a similar or like shape to the slot 8 of the rosette so that scaffolding components such that ledgers 2, that can engage with a slot 8 of a rosette, can also locate with the fastening region 501 of the bridge. Therefore the fastening region 501 may for example be a slot that is of a similar or identical plan shape or identical plan shape to the slot 8 of the rosette.

(66) The fastening region is presented by the bridge 500 in a location that is not catered for by any aperture 8 of the rosette when the bridge is engaged at the rosette. Such a location may be in a position which presents the slot 501 radially different and/or positionally different to the slot 8 of the rosette and/or diametrically different. The fastening region presented by the bridge 500 is therefore in a location (whether it's the position and/or rotation or orientation that is different to the apertures 8 of the rosette).

(67) In the example shown of the bridge of FIGS. 13 and 14 the aperture 501 is positioned on a radial line extending from the standard that is intermediate of the radial lines at which two adjacent slots 8 of the rosette are provided. The slot 501 hence has a longitudinal direction that is substantially 45 degrees to both the adjacent slots with which the bridge is engaged.

(68) The bridge 500 may engage with two adjacent slots of the rosette or may engage with non-adjacent slots. In the preferred form the bridge engages with at least two slots of the rosette but in an alternative form may engage more than two slots.

(69) The aperture 501 of the bridge allows for scaffold components to extend from a standard in a direction which is not catered for by the slots of the rosette 8. The bridge may also allow for the position of engagement of scaffolding components thereto to be different from locations at where scaffolding components can be engaged to the standard via the rosette slots 8.

(70) The bridge 500 preferably comprises a body portion 520 that includes a bridging section 521 from which there project at least two prongs 522 and 523. The prongs 522 and 523 preferably project in a direction parallel to each other. The prongs are able to drop into slots 8 of a rosette. The prongs 522 and 523 may have a slight tapered shape to them so that they can become wedged in a slot. Alternatively the bridge 500 may include a bridging member 521 and alternative connection regions to allow for the bridge 500 to become secured at apertures of a rosette. The pronged version of the bridge 500 is convenient for use with a scaffolding system that utilises a rosette of a kind as shown in FIG. 2. The prongs 522 and 523 may include arcuate surfaces 525 that are of a radius that is complimentary to the diameter of the pipe of the standard. The rosette with which the present invention is capable of being used with, provides its slots 8 in a manner so that the pipe of the standard 1 defines at least part of the boundary of the slot. The arcuate surfaces 525 of the prongs are hence, when located in a respective slot of a rosette, able to locate directly against the pipe of the standard 1. In alternative forms the surfaces 525 may not be arcuate but still present a pipe contact surface. This allows for force transfer to occur when a load is placed on the bridging portion 521 of the bridge 500 to the pipe of the standard 1. This will hence offer certain rigidity and provide a secure registration of the bridge 500 with a standard 1.

(71) To provide further secure location against a standard a bridge 600 is shown for example in FIGS. 17-19 may be utilised. The bridge 600 comprises the same or similar features of the bridge 500 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 with the addition of an extension member 602. The extension member 602 projects in a direction opposite to the prongs and includes a standard engaging surface 603. This standard engaging surface 603 may also be arcuate and of a radius complimentary to the diameter of the pipe of the standard. This allows for lateral support to be gained by the bridge 600 at a distance away from where the prongs may receive lateral support from the rosette and pipe of the standard 1 to thereby offer greater secured location of the bridge 600 at a rosette of a standard.

(72) The extension member 602 may also present a registration surface or surfaces for engagement by a scaffolding component such as scaffolding component 700 shown in FIG. 20. The scaffolding component 700 may for example be a ledger having a head 710 that includes a feature that can register with the registration region 720 of the extension 602 of the bridge 600. This feature of the ledger (or other component), being a distance away from where the scaffolding member 700 engages with its tongue into the slot 501 of the bridge, can allow for a transfer of force to be applied by the scaffolding member 700 to the bridge 600, in an effective manner, to the pipe of the standard 1. For example a lifting of the scaffolding member 700 will allow for a force to be applied via the registration region 720 and via the extension member 602, to the pipe of the standard 1.

(73) Where a bridge is to be provided to present its slot 501 in a direction that may not be at 45 degrees to slots of the rosette, an asymmetric bridge may be provided as for example shown in FIGS. 27-32. Alternatively the slot 501 may be provided in a different orientation in the bridging portion 521 of the bridge. However it is desirable to present the slot so that it extends radially relative to the pipe of the standard 1.

(74) The bridge may also offer a location for the support arm 300 to extend obliquely to the general rectilinear plan shaped scaffold structure that may be erected adjacent a building and/or in a lift shaft as shown in FIG. 37. With the provision of a bridge 500 the support arm can project from the scaffold structure in order to it to provide the desired support at that portion of the scaffold structure where otherwise two support arms may have been desirable as shown in FIG. 7.