AU2006203120A1 - Scaffolding method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention title: ACCESS GUARD INTERIM PTY LTD JOHN R.G. GARDNER Suite 398 Albert AVENUE BROADBEACH QLD 4218 SCAFFOLDING METHOD AND APPARATUS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it know to me:- SCAFFOLDING METHOD AND APPARATUS Technical Field _This invention relates to scaffolding method and apparatus particularly designed for use with erected or already clad buildings.

Background Art _There are now in force regulations designed to prevent injury to persons engaged in working on roofs of buildings. For this purpose, so called "edge protection" is required around the periphery of a roof so that roof tilers, roof repairers or other workers can work in safety and be prevented from falling. Edge protection in one form requires the erection of upstanding posts on the roof frame and connecting wires or rails extending between the posts. Such an arrangement is not suitable for many situations and in particular is not suitable in the case of existing buildings. Whilst a conventional independent scaffolding structure can be used around the periphery of a building, such structures are expensive and time consuming to erect. Some systems have been proposed for attachment to the wall frames of a building to form a walkway and handrail system around the roof of the building to protect tradesman installing fascia and gutter to the building or for working on walls however the known systems are usually suitable only for buildings during the erection thereof and not for already erected or clad buildings.

Summary of the Invention The present invention aims to provide a scaffolding method and apparatus which may be simply and effectively used for working on buildings and in particular to a scaffolding method and apparatus for use on existing or already clad buildings. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

The present invention thus provides in one aspect scaffolding apparatus adapted to be mounted externally to a building, said apparatus comprising elongated post means, means for supporting the lower end of said post means directly or indirectly on a ground or floor surface, mounting means at the upper end of said post means for releasably mounting said post means to said building such that said post means is supported in a substantially upright attitude, and scaffolding arm means detachably securable to said post means at a selected one of a set of positions along said post means so as to extend substantially horizontally outwardly of said post means and said building.

The mounting means at the upper end of the post means may comprise a rafter (hook or bracket adapted to be secured to a roof rafter of the building. The hook or bracket may comprise a first flange adapted to be juxtaposed with a side face of a roof _rafter and a second flange adapted to be juxtaposed with a top face of the roof rafter.

Preferably the first and second flanges are adapted to be secured to the side face and top face of the roof rafter respectively. Preferably the flanges are provided with apertures through which fasteners may be driven to secure the flanges to the roof rafter at the side and top faces. The roof rafter to which the hook or bracket is secured may be an NO independent roof rafter or incorporated in a truss.

In another aspect, the mounting means at the upper end of the post means may comprise a bracket adapted to be secured to a fascia or soffit of the building. The bracket in this aspect may comprise a mounting plate or flange adapted to be secured to the fascia or soffit and a support arm or one or more lugs extending from the mounting plate or flange and adapted for connection to the elongated post means. Preferably the support arm or one or more lugs are adapted to be pivotally mounted to the post means.

Preferably the support arm or one or more lugs are adapted to be pinned to the elongated post means through aligned apertures in the support arm or one or more lugs and post means.

Preferably, the elongated post means is of telescopic form to enable adjustment of the length thereof to suit different applications. Preferably for this purpose, the post means includes a main post member and an extension member telescopically extendable from the main post member. Preferably, the extension member may be set at one of a series of set extension positions relative to the main post member to set the require length of the post means. For this purpose, the extension member may be provided with a series of spaced apertures one of which may be aligned with an aperture in the main post member to receive a pin therethrough to positively position the extension member at a set extension position relative to the main post member.

An extensible support foot may be provided at the lower end of the post member.

The support foot may be connected to an adjustable prop such as an Acro prop to effectively extend the length of the post means.

Preferably the mounting means for the upper end of the post means is connected to the extension member. Where the mounting means comprises a hook or bracket adapted to be mounted to a roof rafter, the mounting means is suitably connected to the extension member through a threaded connection. Preferably for this purpose, the threaded connection comprises a threaded stud connected to the extension member and a cooperable threaded member fixed to the hook or bracket and suitably to a base flange of _the hook or bracket.

Where the mounting means is a bracket adapted to be mounted to a soffit or fascia member, the support arm or the one or more lugs of the bracket are suitably pinned to the N extension member for pivotal movement. The bracket may be mounted to the extension member at a selected on or a plurality of positions along the extension member defined preferably by a series of apertures in the extension member.

The scaffolding arm means suitably includes spaced end brackets which may cooperate with the post means suitably the main post member. The end brackets may be of channel sectioned form to locate neatly about the main post member. Suitably, the brackets are provided with apertures for alignment with spaced apertures on the post member to receive securing pins therethrough to set the scaffolding arm at a required elevation or position along the post member.

Suitably the scaffolding arm means defines in use a horizontal support for scaffolding planks or the like to permit a user to move about the building. Suitably, a generally upright or slightly inclined guardrail post is supported on the scaffolding arm means. The guard post suitably include a channel or socket at its lower end for location over the scaffolding arm means. The scaffolding arm may have an aperture therein and the channel or socket may include an aperture for alignment with the aperture in the scaffolding arm means to receive a retaining pin therethrough.

The scaffolding apparatus may additionally include a spacer bracket assembly adapted for mounting to the post means to extend laterally therefrom to space the post means from a building and provide additional stability to the scaffolding apparatus. The spacer bracket assembly may include a socket mounted adjustably to the post means and a spacer bracket having an arm receivable in the socket and adjustable relative thereto and an abutment member affixed to the arm and adapted to abut a side of the building such as cladding or the like.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of applying scaffolding apparatus of the above described type to a building, said method including the steps of positioning said post means on the outside of said building such that said post means is substantially upright, securing the upper end of said post means to said building using said mounting means, and securing said scaffolding arm means to said post means (Z at a desired position along said post means such that the scaffolding arm means extends Zoutwardly from the building frame.

The method suitably also includes the step of securing the post means to a prop at its lower end to effectively extend the length of the post means.

Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a O preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:- Fig. 1 is side view of scaffolding apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention for mounting to a roof rafter; Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate in side and end views the inner extension member of the scaffolding post; Figs. 4 to 6 illustrate in a side partly-sectioned view, end view and top view, the rafter hook for the scaffolding apparatus; Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate in plan and side view a lower foot or connection member of the scaffolding post of the apparatus; Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate in side partly-sectioned view, and end view, a spacer bracket connector for use with the scaffolding post; Figs. 11, 12 and 13 illustrate in end, top and side views a spacer bracket for use with the scaffolding post; Fig. 14 is a side view of the scaffolding apparatus adapted for mounting to a soffit or fascia; Figs. 15 to 17 illustrate in side, end and plan view, the mounting bracket for mounting the scaffolding apparatus to a soffit or fascia.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to the drawings and firstly to Fig. 1, there is illustrated an assembled scaffolding apparatus 10 according to the present invention including an elongated post 11 comprising a main post member 12 and an extension member 13 telescopically engaged with the main post member 12. The main post member 12 has an aperture 14 therethrough and the and extension member 13 has a series of spaced apertures respectively therethrough such that the extension member 13 can be extended to a required position relative to the post member 12 and set in that position by means of a locking pin passed through aligned apertures 14 and 15 in the post member 12 and extension member 13. Both the post member 12 and extension member 13 are preferably of rectangular hollow cross section with the dimensions of the extension member 13 being less than the post member 12 so as to be telescopically receivable in the post member 12. The extension member 13 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 additionally includes at its upper end a transversely extending angle bracket 16 and a spigot 17 aligned with the extension member 13 and extending beyond the end of the extension member 13. The spigot 17 is threaded at 18 at its free end. The transversely extending angle bracket 16 is apertured at 19 for alternative mounting to a building.

The threaded spigot 17 is connected to a rafter hook 20 shown also in Figs. 4 to 6 which is adapted to be connected to a rafter 21 of a building. The rafter hook 20 is formed of a strip material and includes a first base flange 22, a side flange 23 extending at right angles to the base flange 22 and a top flange 24 extending from the side flange 23 in the same direction as the base flange 22. The top flange 24 however is angled such that when it seats on the top face of the rafter 21, the side flange 23 is in a substantially vertical attitude. The base flange 22 additionally has a threaded nut 25 secured to its underside for threaded engagement with the spigot 17. The position of the hook or bracket 20 can thus be adjusted relative to the extension member 13 by rotation of the hook or bracket 20 relative to the threaded stud 17.

A foot bracket 26 (see also Figs. 7 and 8) is provided at the lower end of the post member 12, the foot bracket 26 including a member 27 telescopically engageable with the main post member 12. The lower end of the main post member 12 has an aperture 28 therethrough and the foot bracket member 27 has a pair of spaced apertures 29 respectively therethrough such that the member 27 can be set at a required position relative to the post member 12 and secured in that position by means of a locking pin passed through aligned apertures 28 and 29. Both the post member 12 and member 27 are preferably of rectangular hollow cross section with the dimensions of the member 27 being less than the post member 12 so as to be telescopically receivable in the post member 12. The foot bracket 26 also includes a foot plate 30. The foot plate 30 is connectable by bolting to the upper end of an extendible prop 31 such as an Acro prop which is seated on the ground to provide the required length to enable the hook or bracket to be mounted to the rafter 21.

A spacer bracket 32 may also be mounted to the post member 12 via a spacer bracket connector 33 (see also Figs. 9 to 12). The spacer bracket connector 33 has a Schannel shaped member 34 which can locate over the post member 12 and which may be pinned thereto by a pin through aligned apertures in the member 34 and post member 12.

_The connector 33 additionally includes a second hollow spigot or socket 35 extending at right angles to the member 34.

The spacer bracket 32 includes an extension arm 36 receivable in the socket and a transversely extending abutment member in the form of an angle member 37 fixed to the arm 36, the arm 36 being capable of being set at a series of positions relative to the spacer bracket 32 and thus post member 12 by a pinned connection through aligned apertures in the arm 36 and socket The scaffolding apparatus 10 also includes a scaffolding arm 38 which includes upper and lower substantially parallel joined arm members 39 and 40 each of which is provided with U-or channel shaped brackets 41 which are aligned with each other and which are substantially complementary to the main post member 12 and which may be pinned to the post member through apertures in the brackets 41 and aligned apertures in the post 12. The arm 37 may thus be set at a series of fixed positions along the main post member 12.

The scaffolding arm 38 is adapted to support a generally upright or slightly inclined guardrail post 42 which is provided with a channel or socket 43 at its lower end which is sized to located neatly over or receive the arm member 39 and be pinned thereto.

The guardrail post 42 include suitably spaced brackets 44 to clamp guardrails or wires to the post 42. A brace 46 extends between the lower arm member 40 of the scaffolding arm 38 and post 12 to brace the scaffolding arm 38.

In use and as shown in Fig. 1, the scaffolding apparatus 10 is erected by securing the foot bracket 26 to an Acro prop 31 and hooking the rafter hook 20 over a rafter 21 with the top flange 24 seating on the inclined top face of the rafter and the side flange 23 being juxtaposed with the side face of the rafter 21 with the flanges being secured in position by screwing into the rafter 21 through the apertures in the flanges 23 and 24.

The length of the post 11 is set by extending or retracting the extension member 13 as desired and locking it in the required position by a pin passed through aligned apertures 14 and 15. The spacer bracket 32 may be extended from the spacer bracket connector 33 as shown in dotted outline so that the abutment member 37 abuts the side of the building to provide additional stability to the post assembly 12 and maintain the post assembly 12 in the substantially vertical or upright attitude. The scaffolding arm 38 may then be Smounted to the post member 12 to extend outwardly therefrom at a desired height as illustrated.

A plurality of scaffolding apparatuses 10 are erected at selected intervals around the building after which scaffolding planks 47 forming a walkway may be supported on the respective scaffolding arms 38 and connecting rails 45 joined between the respective guardrail posts 42. Workers can then walk along the supported scaffolding planks 47 to work on the roof of the building or other elevated part of the building. At the cessation ,in of the work, the apparatus 10 may simply and effectively be disassembled in the reverse manner.

The embodiment of scaffolding apparatus 48 of Figs. 14 to 17 is similar to that described above but is used where rafters 21 are not accessible. Thus in this case, a mounting bracket assembly 49 is provided in place of the rafter hook 20, the mounting bracket assembly 49 including a mounting plate 50 and a pair of lugs 51 extending therefrom, the lugs 51 being apertured at 52 and being located on opposite sides of the extension member 13 and being pinned to the extension member 13 by a pin 53 passed through aligned apertures 52 and 15 in the lugs 49 and in the extension member 13 respectively.

The scaffolding apparatus 48 is erected in a similar manner to that described above however in this case the mounting plate 50 is secured to a fascia 54 by screwing through apertures in the mounting plate 50. Alternatively, the mounting bracket assembly 49 may be pivoted to enable the mounting plate 50 to be juxtaposed with a soffit and secured thereto to secure the upper end of the post assembly 12. The bracket assembly 49 may be of different configuration and sizes to suit the fascia to soffit to which the bracket assembly 49 is to be mounted.

As with the apparatus 10, a series of apparatuses 48 may be set up along a wall of a building with walkway members spanning and extending between respective scaffolding arms 38.

The components of the scaffolding apparatus are suitably formed of metal with the scaffolding arms of aluminium and the posts of galvanized steel however all components may be galvanized steel, aluminium or other material. The components of the scaffolding apparatus may also be of square cross section or of any other cross section. As the apparatus is in modular form, it may be easily stored, transported and erected for use and simply disassembled.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such variations and modifications thereto as would be apparent to persons _skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein defined in the appended claims.

,N

Claims (16)

1. Scaffolding apparatus adapted to be mounted externally to a building, said apparatus comprising elongated post means, means for supporting the lower end of said post means directly or indirectly on a ground or floor surface, mounting means at the upper end of said post means for releasably mounting said post means to said building such that said post means is supported in a substantially upright attitude, and scaffolding N arm means detachably securable to said post means at a selected one of a set of positions along said post means so as to extend substantially horizontally outwardly of said post means and said building.

2. Scaffolding apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a rafter hook or bracket adapted to be secured to a roof rafter of said building.

3. Scaffolding apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said hook or bracket comprises a first flange adapted to be juxtaposed with a side face of a roof rafter and a second flange adapted to be juxtaposed with a top face of the roof rafter.

4. Scaffolding apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first and second flanges are adapted to be secured to the side face and top face of the roof rafter respectively by fasteners driven through apertures in said flanges into said roof rafter.

Scaffolding apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a bracket adapted to be secured to a fascia or soffit of the building.

6. Scaffolding apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said bracket comprises a mounting plate or flange adapted to be secured to the fascia or soffit and a support anrm or one or more lugs extending from the mounting plate or flange and adapted for connection to the elongated post means.

7. Scaffolding apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said support arm or one or more lugs are adapted to be pivotally mounted to the post means.

8. Scaffolding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said (elongated post means comprises a main post member and an extension member telescopically extendable from the main post member. ,1

9. Scaffolding apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said extension member is adapted to be adjusted to one of a series of set extension positions relative to the main N post member.

Scaffolding apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 wherein said mounting means is connected to the extension member.

11. Scaffolding apparatus as defined in any one of the preceding claims and including a spacer bracket assembly adapted for mounting to the post means to extend laterally therefrom to space the post means from the building.

12. Scaffolding apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spacer bracket assembly includes a socket mounted adjustable to the post means and a spacer bracket having an arm receivable in the socket and adjustable relative thereto and an abutment member fixed to the arm and adapted to abut said building cladding.

13. A method of applying scaffolding apparatus of the above defined in any one of the preceding claims, said method including the steps of positioning said post means on the outside of said building such that said post means is substantially upright, securing the upper end of said post means to said building using said mounting means, and securing said scaffolding arm means to said post means at a desired position along said post means such that the scaffolding arm means extends outwardly from the building.

14. Scaffolding apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.

15. Scaffolding apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 14 to 27 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of applying scaffolding apparatus to a building substantially as 12 hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this twenty-first day of July 2006 ACCESS GUARD INTERIM PTY LTD By Their Patent Atttorney John G Gardner