GB2105397A

GB2105397A - Scaffolding platform support

Info

Publication number: GB2105397A
Application number: GB08126236A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stanley Julius Pettitt
Original assignee: Martin Thomas Ltd
Current assignee: Martin Thomas Ltd
Priority date: 1981-08-27
Filing date: 1981-08-27
Publication date: 1983-03-23

Abstract

A supporting arrangement for platforms carried by scaffolding structures comprises a first portion (7) arranged to locate with a box section (3) supporting a first platform (1), and a second portion (5) capable of interengagement with an adjacent second portion (6) belonging to an adjacent support arrangement which itself supports a second platform (2). The adjacent second portion (6) includes a lower surface (10) shaped to be received on and supported by a scaffolding support member (20). The second portion (5) of the arrangement supporting the first platform (1) includes an upper surface (11) and a lower surface (9), the latter being adapted to interengage with and be supported by an upper surface (12) of the adjacent second portion (6), and the former being shaped whereby said interengagement produces a substantially continuous platform from the first platform (1) to the second platform (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Scaffolding platform support This invention relates to supporting arrangements for platforms carried by scaffolding structures.

Scaffolding structures are typically used to support working or access platforms at a desired position in relation to work and access to work areas. Such platforms are usually wooden supported by bearer tubes which incorporate hooks which fit over appropriately positioned, horizontally extending scaffolding tubes. It is desirable for such platforms to present a substantially continuous working surface, for reasons of safety, but the use of conventional hooks for supporting the platforms almost inevitably results in the creation of gaps, especially between platforms either linking or supported by neighbouring structures.

It is an object of this invention to provide a supporting arrangement for platforms carried by a scaffolding structure in which, by suitable construction of hooks used to support said platforms to said structure, a substantially continuous working surface can be provided.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, some embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 shows, in cross-sectional view, part of a supporting arrangement in accordance with one example of the invention, Figure 2 shows, in plan view, one way in which the arrangement of Figure 1 can be used to create a substantially continuous working surface which includes a plurality of platforms, Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 show, in similar view to Figure 1, parts of supporting arrangements in accordance with further examples of the invention.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, a working surface is made up of two platforms 1 and 2 of neighbouring structures which share a common horizontal scaffolding tube shown in section at 20.

In this example, the platforms 1 and 2 are constructed of ±inch plywood and they are supported on 2 inch square hollow box-section members or members of other convenient shapes.

Two of the box-section members are shown at 3 and 4 respectively, and it will be observed that each member is secured, for example by welding, to a respective hook member 5, 6. Each hook member is formed integrally with a square sectioned protrusion 7, 8 respectively which are dimensioned to fit inside the respective boxsection members 3 and 4. The hook member 6 is formed with a concave, substantially semicylindrical inner surface 10 which fits the outer contour of the horizontal scaffolding tube shown in cross-section at 20. The outer surface 12 of member 6 is similarly shaped to present a convex outer surface shaped to receive the inner surface 9 of the hook member 5. The outer surface 11 of the hook member 5 is flat and caused to lie at the same horizontal level as the upper surfaces of the platforms 1 and 2.Each of the platforms 1 and 2 is provided with a respective cut-out to accommodate the hook member 5 so that the two platforms can abut over a substantial part of their facing edges. Where the platforms do not abut, due to the presence of the hook members, the outer surface 11 of hook member 5 substitutes therefor and provides a substantially continuous working surface. This can be seen in Figure 2 wherein components common to Figure 1 share the same reference numbers.

The hook-and-protrusion members 5, 7 and 6, 8 may be formed by casting or forging, but it is preferable to produce them by cutting from an elongate, appropriately shaped extrusion in the same general manner as that described in published British Patent Application No.

2 027 620A.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, particular advantage is gained by forming the internal surfaces, 9 and 10 respectively, of the hook members such that either can be used alone if it is desired to effect conventional mounting of a working or access platform to horizontal scaffolding tubes. In other words, the platform 1 alone could be mounted to the tube 20 by direct contact of the internal surface 9 of its hook member 5 thereon.

Alternatively, the platform 2 alone could be mounted to the tube 20.

It will be understood that the principle of the invention is to provide, for neighbouring platforms, support hook members that are suitably shaped to inter-engage and also to present a substitute working surface in areas where the platforms themselves have to be cut away to accommodate the hook members. In the foregoing example of the invention, and in those to follow, the interengagement of the hook members is such as to permit an overlying, or "piggy-back" relationship between the hook members. This need not necessarily be the case, however, and the two hook members may be disposed in side-by-side relationship provided that the upper surface of each is, when assembled, so positioned and dimensioned as to form a substitute part of the working surface.

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 show further examples of the invention, with the reference numbers of features common to Figure 1 being increased by 300, 400, 500 and 600 respectively relative to those used for their counterparts in Figure 1.

It can be advantageous to form the interengaging hook members such as 5 and 6 so that they are formed either as complementary shapes or as equivalent, but inverse, shapes in order to facilitate production thereof. A particular example of this kind of construction is shown in Figure 6.

1. A supporting arrangement for platforms carried by scaffolding structures wherein first and second platform are supported on a common

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Scaffolding platform support This invention relates to supporting arrangements for platforms carried by scaffolding structures. Scaffolding structures are typically used to support working or access platforms at a desired position in relation to work and access to work areas. Such platforms are usually wooden supported by bearer tubes which incorporate hooks which fit over appropriately positioned, horizontally extending scaffolding tubes. It is desirable for such platforms to present a substantially continuous working surface, for reasons of safety, but the use of conventional hooks for supporting the platforms almost inevitably results in the creation of gaps, especially between platforms either linking or supported by neighbouring structures. It is an object of this invention to provide a supporting arrangement for platforms carried by a scaffolding structure in which, by suitable construction of hooks used to support said platforms to said structure, a substantially continuous working surface can be provided. In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, some embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 shows, in cross-sectional view, part of a supporting arrangement in accordance with one example of the invention, Figure 2 shows, in plan view, one way in which the arrangement of Figure 1 can be used to create a substantially continuous working surface which includes a plurality of platforms, Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 show, in similar view to Figure 1, parts of supporting arrangements in accordance with further examples of the invention. Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, a working surface is made up of two platforms 1 and 2 of neighbouring structures which share a common horizontal scaffolding tube shown in section at 20. In this example, the platforms 1 and 2 are constructed of ±inch plywood and they are supported on 2 inch square hollow box-section members or members of other convenient shapes. Two of the box-section members are shown at 3 and 4 respectively, and it will be observed that each member is secured, for example by welding, to a respective hook member 5, 6. Each hook member is formed integrally with a square sectioned protrusion 7, 8 respectively which are dimensioned to fit inside the respective boxsection members 3 and 4. The hook member 6 is formed with a concave, substantially semicylindrical inner surface 10 which fits the outer contour of the horizontal scaffolding tube shown in cross-section at 20. The outer surface 12 of member 6 is similarly shaped to present a convex outer surface shaped to receive the inner surface 9 of the hook member 5. The outer surface 11 of the hook member 5 is flat and caused to lie at the same horizontal level as the upper surfaces of the platforms 1 and 2.Each of the platforms 1 and 2 is provided with a respective cut-out to accommodate the hook member 5 so that the two platforms can abut over a substantial part of their facing edges. Where the platforms do not abut, due to the presence of the hook members, the outer surface 11 of hook member 5 substitutes therefor and provides a substantially continuous working surface. This can be seen in Figure 2 wherein components common to Figure 1 share the same reference numbers. The hook-and-protrusion members 5, 7 and 6, 8 may be formed by casting or forging, but it is preferable to produce them by cutting from an elongate, appropriately shaped extrusion in the same general manner as that described in published British Patent Application No. 2 027 620A. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, particular advantage is gained by forming the internal surfaces, 9 and 10 respectively, of the hook members such that either can be used alone if it is desired to effect conventional mounting of a working or access platform to horizontal scaffolding tubes. In other words, the platform 1 alone could be mounted to the tube 20 by direct contact of the internal surface 9 of its hook member 5 thereon. Alternatively, the platform 2 alone could be mounted to the tube 20. It will be understood that the principle of the invention is to provide, for neighbouring platforms, support hook members that are suitably shaped to inter-engage and also to present a substitute working surface in areas where the platforms themselves have to be cut away to accommodate the hook members. In the foregoing example of the invention, and in those to follow, the interengagement of the hook members is such as to permit an overlying, or "piggy-back" relationship between the hook members. This need not necessarily be the case, however, and the two hook members may be disposed in side-by-side relationship provided that the upper surface of each is, when assembled, so positioned and dimensioned as to form a substitute part of the working surface. Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 show further examples of the invention, with the reference numbers of features common to Figure 1 being increased by 300, 400, 500 and 600 respectively relative to those used for their counterparts in Figure 1. It can be advantageous to form the interengaging hook members such as 5 and 6 so that they are formed either as complementary shapes or as equivalent, but inverse, shapes in order to facilitate production thereof. A particular example of this kind of construction is shown in Figure 6. CLAIMS

1. A supporting arrangement for platforms carried by scaffolding structures wherein first and second platform are supported on a common bearing member by way of means including respective hook-like members shaped to cooperate with one another on assembly to present an upper surface substantially level with said platforms thereby constructing a substantially continuous platform in the vicinity of said bearing member.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said hook-iike members include at least one projection arranged to co-operate with at least one complementary recess on assembly.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a first of said hook-like members is formed and shaped to rest on said bearing member and the second of said hook-like members is formed and shaped to overlie said first hook-like member.

4. An arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein locations of said respective hooklike members are interchangeable.

5. A method of manufacturing a supporting arrangement according to any preceding claim including the steps of a) forming a metallic elongate shaped extension, b) cutting from said extrusion sections comprising said supporting arrangement.

6. A supporting arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

7. A method of manufacturing a supporting arrangement substantially as herein described.