SCAFFOLDING SYSTEM COMPRISING INCLINED POSTS AND SPHERICAL CLAMPS

Abstract

The invention relates to a scaffolding system (10) with posts (20) and spherical clamps (25), in which one or more posts (10) are arranged at an angle. The spherical clamps (25) are formed from two hemispheres (30) each having at least two elements (30A, 30B), each of which surrounds the post (20). The equatorial surfaces (32) of the hemispheres (30), which are formed by the respective at least two elements (30A, 30B), deviate at the angle () from a plane perpendicular to an inclined post (20), at which this same post (20) is inclined. As a result, the equatorial surfaces (32) are aligned horizontally. Furthermore, the hemispheres (30) of the clamps (25) have receptacles (40) for the insertion of attachment parts (60).

Claims

1. Scaffolding system (10) with posts (20) and spherical clamps (25), in which at least one post (20) is arranged inclined at an angle, respectively, and at least one spherical clamp (25) is arranged on a post (20), respectively, and wherein a spherical clamp (25) in each case is composed of two hemispheres (30) and wherein each of the two hemispheres (30) is formed from the same at least two elements (30A, 30B), which differ from one another within one hemisphere (30), the at least two elements (30A, 30B) of each hemisphere (30) surround the post (20), the equatorial surfaces (32) formed by the at least two elements (30A, 30B) of a hemisphere (30) deviate from a plane perpendicular to the associated post (20) at the angle) at which this post (20) is inclined in order to align these equatorial surfaces (32) horizontally, the at least two elements (30A, 30B) of a hemisphere (30) are screwed together so that a clamping effect results between the hemisphere (30) and the associated post (20), the hemispheres (30) are screwed together, and the elements (30A, 30B) have receptacles (40) in the region of the equatorial surfaces (32) of the hemispheres (30) for the insertion of at least one attachment part (60).

2. Scaffolding system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one post (20) has a round cross-section and the hemispheres (30) of the at least one clamp (25) arranged on it each surround the post (20) in an annular manner.

3. Scaffolding system (10) according to claim 1, wherein a post (20) is arranged at an angle in the range from 2 to 12.

4. Scaffolding system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the at least two elements (30A, 30B) of a hemisphere (30) have different colours.

5. Scaffolding system (10) according to claim 1, wherein an attachment part (60) is selected from the group consisting of a tube (60.1), a handle (60.3), a decorative element (60.5, 60.6), a sunshade (60.4), a rope (60.7), a closure plug (60.2).

6. Scaffolding system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the receptacles (40) for attachment parts (60) are each arranged offset by 90 along the equatorial surfaces (32).

7. Scaffolding system (10) according to claim 1, wherein an attachment part (60) in the region which is inserted into a receptacle (40) of the spherical clamp (25) is formed with a profiling (42), a circumferential octagonal profiling, and the receptacles (40) of the spherical clamp (25) are formed with a corresponding profiling (44) in order to realise a form fit between the attachment part (60) and the receptacle (40).

8. Scaffolding system (10) according to claim 1, wherein an element of a first hemisphere (30) is formed with a bulge (46) in an edge region of the hemisphere (30), which extends into the edge region of the adjacent element of the other hemisphere (30), with a protuberance (48) in the region of this bulge (46), and the adjacent element of the other hemisphere (30) is formed with a corresponding recess (50), with a receptacle (52) which corresponds to the protuberance (48).

9. Scaffolding system (10) according to claim 1, wherein elevations (54) and/or depressions (56) corresponding to one another are formed along the equatorial surfaces (32) of the hemispheres (30) in order to realise a form fit between the hemispheres (30).

10. Scaffolding system (10) according to claim 1, wherein, starting from the surface of the spherical clamp (25), recesses (39) are formed in the direction of the screw connections.

11. Scaffolding system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the elements (30A, 30B) for forming the hemispheres (30) are designed as hollow bodies.

12. (canceled)

Description

[0057] The invention is explained below in embodiments with reference to the associated drawings. They show:

[0058] FIGS. 1 and 2 exemplary designs of the elements for a hemisphere of a spherical clamp,

[0059] FIG. 3 a view of the assembly of the elements from FIGS. 1 and 2 to form a spherical clamp,

[0060] FIGS. 4 to 8 the assembly of a spherical clamp on an inclined post, and

[0061] FIGS. 9 to 11 examples of playground installations with the scaffolding system according to the invention.

[0062] FIGS. 1 and 2 show elements 30A, 30B for forming a hemisphere 30 for a spherical clamp 25 of a scaffolding system 10 according to the invention with two elements within a hemisphere 30. Both figures are explained together. The design with two elements 30A, 30B in a hemisphere 30 is merely an exemplary embodiment.

[0063] The elements 30A, 30B are intended to be arranged on a post inclined by an angle . In both figures, a view from the direction of the equatorial surface 32 is shown in figure part a, lateral views are shown in figure parts b and c and a perspective view is shown in figure part d. After the description of the elements 30A, 30B, their assembly and use are described with reference to the other figures.

[0064] FIG. 1 therefore shows a first element 30A. It occupies approximately half of a hemisphere 30 and is modelled approximately on a spherical quarter. The same applies to element 30B in FIG. 2. Both elements 30A, 30B have a recess in the direction of the future vertical axis, which serves to accommodate the post. It is referred to with the radius R.

[0065] The elements 30A, 30B have screw holes 34 and threaded bushes 36 into which screws can be inserted, by means of which the two elements 30A, 30B can be screwed together and to the elements 30A, 30B of the other hemisphere 30. Element 30B in FIG. 2 has elevations 54 in the region of its screw holes 34, which are arranged on the equatorial surface 32 to be formed. Element 30A in FIG. 1 has depressions 56 in the region of the threaded bushes 36, which face the equatorial surface 32 to be formed. Both elements 30A, 30B together form a hemisphere 30.1 and, in the same combination, a second hemisphere 30.2, as will be shown in the following figures. If these hemispheres 30.1 and 30.2 are put together, an element 30A passes over an element 30B and an element 30B passes over an element 30A. The elevations 54 and depressions 56 just explained then interlock and form a form fit between the hemispheres 30.1 and 30.2.

[0066] To ensure that the necessary screws do not pose a risk of injury after the hemispheres 30.1 and 30.2 have been mounted in the scaffolding system, recesses 39 are formed starting from their surface in the direction of the screw connections, i.e. the screw holes 34, in which the screws are countersunk.

[0067] So that the spherical clamp 25 can accommodate attachment parts (not shown here) as intended, receptacles 40 are provided in each element 30A, 30B. They are arranged in a 90 grid in relation to the base surface of the hemispheres 30 to be formed. Each of the receptacles 40 has a profiling 44 which corresponds to a profiling on an attachment part in order to effect a form fit between the attachment part and element 30A, 30B of the spherical clamp 25. The receptacles 40 and thus also the profilings 44 are each formed half in an element 30A, 30B. The profiling 44 in each case represents a constriction in the receptacle 40. As an example, the profiling of the attachment parts should run around the attachment part as an octagonal circumferential ring (see also FIG. 5).

[0068] In order to facilitate installation and to effect a further form fit between the hemispheres 30.1 and 30.2, the element 30B has a bulge 46 in its edge region (FIG. 2), which protrudes in the direction of the element 30A of the other hemisphere and overlaps it there. Correspondingly, the element 30A has a recess 50 into which this bulge 46 can extend. This means that it is no longer possible for the hemispheres 30.1 and 30.2 to move relative to each other. The relative position of the two elements 30A, 30B in the two hemispheres 30.1 and 30.2 arranged one above the other is further fixed because the bulge 46 is formed with a protrusion or lug 48, which engages in a receptacle 52 of the recess 50 when the elements 30A, 30B are assembled.

[0069] In each of FIGS. 1c and 2c, the formation of the elements 30A, 30B to compensate for the inclined post around the angle becomes clear: Instead of a surface perpendicular to the vertical axis V of the element 30A, 30B (in FIGS. 1b and 2b), the surfaces of the elements 30A, 30B, which form the equatorial surface 32, run inclined around the angle .

[0070] The function and interaction of the elements 30A, 30B of a hemisphere are best illustrated in FIG. 3. There, the elements 30A and 30B are shown in a lateral view as they are arranged in relation to each other. The angle is also designated here. As already explained, an element 30A and an element 30B form a hemisphere 30.1 or, in the same way, a hemisphere 30.2. Each hemisphere 30.1, 30.2 has an equatorial surface 32.1 or 32.2 which runs over both elements 30A, 30B. The elements 30A, 30B of a hemisphere 30.1, 30.2 each continue the inclination by the angle so that a common plane is formed. If the hemispheres 30.1 and 30.2 are arranged on top of each other, they must be arranged rotated by 180 relative to each other (as shown in FIG. 3) so that the inclinations of the equatorial surfaces 32.1 and 32.2 allow them to lie flush against each other and form the spherical shape of the clamp 25. This also brings the screw holes 34 and threaded bushes 36 already described into the correct relative position, as well as the bulges 46 and recesses 50.

[0071] However, the representation of the elements 30A, 30B in FIG. 3 deviates from the installation position in that the vertical axis 70 shown there corresponds to the axis of the inclined post in the installation position, i.e. would be inclined by the angle (referred to as axis 72), whereby the equatorial surfaces 32.1 and 32.2 are aligned horizontally, as provided for in accordance with the invention.

[0072] Only FIGS. 4 to 8, which describe the actual assembly or one possibility of the assembly, are explained below. FIG. 4a shows a post 20 that is inclined by an angle , as illustrated in FIG. 4b. The angle is intended to be 5 (degrees) as an example. The post 20 is formed as a tube with a round cross-section.

[0073] Elements 30A and 30B of the lower hemisphere 30.1 are to be attached to the post 20. As can be seen from FIG. 4a, some of these are designed as hollow bodies in order to reduce weight. They also have different colours in order to distinguish them quickly and reliably from one another, so that installation is simplified and accelerated.

[0074] The elements 30A, 30B are brought up to the post 20 individually until they surround it in a ring and then screwed together with screws 38. The screw holes 34 and threaded bushes 36 described above are used for this purpose. This also creates a clamping effect of the lower hemisphere 30.1 on the post 20. The equatorial surface 32 formed by the elements 30A, 30B is now aligned horizontally due to the formation of the elements 30A, 30B, as previously explained.

[0075] In FIG. 5, attachment parts 60 are inserted into the receptacles 40 of the element 30A provided for this purpose. In this figure, one tube 60.1 is shown in each case, which is intended, for example, to serve as a horizontal connection between two posts. The tubes 60.1 have profilings 42 in the form of an octagonal ring in their end regions, which correspond to the profilings 44 of the receptacles 40. The end of the tubes 60.1 no longer has any profiling. Since the profilings 42 form a narrowing of the cross-section and the tubes 60.1 then have a wider cross-section again without profilings, they cannot be pulled out of the receptacles along their longitudinal axis. The profilings 42, 44 prevent the tubes 60.1 from twisting and slipping in the receptacles 40 and offer the possibility of pre-alignment of attachment parts 60 until the element of the upper hemisphere can be attached and fixed. The profilings 42, 44 shown here can be used in the same way for other attachment parts 60.

[0076] The installation of the upper element 30B is shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6a clearly shows that the element 30B of the upper hemisphere 30.2 is attached with its bulge 46 to the recess 50 of the element 30A of the lower hemisphere 30.1 and rotated around it in the direction of the post 20. In the process, the protuberance 48 also comes into engagement with the receptacle 52. The tubes 60.1, or other attachment parts, are now fixed in position. As can be seen in FIG. 6b, the upper element 30B and the lower element 30A are connected to each other using screws 38. Now closure plugs 60.2 or other attachment parts 60 can be inserted into the receptacles 40 of the lower element 30B (FIG. 7) and the upper element 30A can be mounted. This is screwed to both the element 30B of the same hemisphere 30.2 and the element 30B of the lower hemisphere 30.1 (FIG. 8). Both hemispheres 30.1 and 30.2 are now completely secured in their position and thus form the spherical clamp 25 with horizontally connected attachment parts 60.

[0077] The use of the spherical clamp 25 and the entire scaffolding system 10 according to the invention is shown by way of example in FIGS. 9 to 11. The figures are described together and the differences are pointed out in particular. Reference numerals are assigned and explained in each case only to relevant elements, but not each element is designated individually.

[0078] All three FIGS. 9 to 11 show a playground installation with climbing and play elements realised with the scaffolding system 10. The posts 20 are mostly inclined. A large number of spherical clamps 25 are arranged on the posts 20, to which attachment parts 60 of all kinds are attached. In FIG. 9, for example, awnings 60.4 are each inserted and attached to two receptacles of a clamp 25, respectively. Handles 60.3 are arranged between two clamps 25 and facilitate access to the climbing frame. Tubes 60.1 connect clamps 25 horizontally and are used to attach panelling elements and decorative elements that cannot be attached to a clamp 25. Some clamps 25 are also only used decoratively with plugs 60.2.

[0079] In FIG. 10, clamps 25 form starting points for climbing aids 60.5 and ladders 60.6. FIG. 11 also shows the connection of ropes 60.7 to the spherical clamps 25.

REFERENCE NUMERAL

[0080] 10 Scaffolding system [0081] 20 Post [0082] 25 Spherical clamp [0083] 30 Hemisphere [0084] 30 Element of one hemisphere [0085] 30 Element of one hemisphere [0086] 32 Equatorial surface [0087] 34 Screw hole [0088] 36 Threaded bush [0089] 38 Screw [0090] 39 Recess for screw [0091] 40 Receptacle [0092] 42 Profiling on the attachment part [0093] 44 Profiling in the element [0094] 46 Bulge [0095] 48 Protuberance in bulge [0096] 50 Recess [0097] 52 Receptacle in recess [0098] 54 Elevation on the equatorial surface [0099] 56 Depression in the equatorial surface [0100] 60 Attachment part [0101] 70 axis [0102] 72 axis [0103] Inclination angle of the post [0104] R Radius (inner radius) [0105] V Vertical axis