GB2230292A

GB2230292A - Scaffolding

Info

Publication number: GB2230292A
Application number: GB9007002A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Royston George Wilbrey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-04-08
Filing date: 1990-03-29
Publication date: 1990-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 2010-03-29
Also published as: GB2230292B; GB9007002D0; GB8907965D0

Abstract

A scaffold member 10 has two spade-end portions 12 which in use, engage with and are supported by respective brick or block walls, such as the walls of adjacent houses in a dense development. Spacing means 14 set the spacing of the two end portions 12 and consist of a sleeve 16 and a tubular member 20 which is sufficiently small to be a sliding fit in the sleeve 16. Flexible connection 24 links the range of relative movement. When the end portions 12 are separated as required, they may be locked in their relative positions by means of a screw member 22 or, in another embodiment, a pin fitting in a selected one of a series of holes. In this second embodiment, the range of movement is limited by a pen-and-slot arrangement. The sleeve 16 and tubular member 20 can be axially rotated relative to one another, to allow the spade-ends to have various orientations relative to each other. Welded-on plates 30 are used to lever out the spade ends. <IMAGE>

Description

Scaffold Member The present invention relates to scaffold members.

Scaffold members are commonly used to assist in the construction of houses and other buildings. In order to maximise the use of available land, houses in particular are being built at progressively smaller and smaller separations. It is now relatively common to build houses whose walls are spaced by only 90 cm. Traditional scaffolding cannot conveniently be used in such circumstances.

A traditional scaffolding arrangement would use putlogs lodged at one end in the brickwork to project out perpendicular to the brickwork, and supported at their other end by standards (upright scaffold poles). The normal length of a putlog is greater than 90 cm so that in the situation discussed above, the putlog will extend through openings in the wall of the adjacent house, and be attached to standards within the adjacent house.

After the scaffolding has been dismantled, the remaining holes in the brickwork of the adjacent house must be filled. This is time consuming, and adversely affects the quality and appearance of the brickwork.

Alternatively, it may sometimes be possible to cut short the putlogs to allow scaffolding in conventional form to be contained within the space between the two houses and supported by the brickwork or blockwork of one of them. This results in considerable waste of short putlogs which are not be used in other situations, and are rarely re-used in similar situations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved scaffold member which obviates or mitigates some or all of the difficulties previously encountered.

According to the invention, there is provided a scaffold member having two end portions shaped to engage with and be supported by respective brick or block walls, and spacing means which set the spacing of the two end portions, the spacing means being variable to allow the spacing of the end portions to be set according the separation of the walls between which the member is to be supported.

The spacing means preferably comprises a first member having one of the said end portions formed at one end thereof, and having a second end, a second member having the other of the said end portions formed at one end thereof and having a second end which is hollow and which receives the second end of the first member within the hollow to a varying degree according to the spacing of the end portions.

Preferably the second end of the second member is tubular, the second end of the first member being received within the tube.

The first member is preferably a bar or tube having an external size which is less than the internal size of the said tubular second member, whereby the first member may be slidingly received in the second member.

The scaffold member preferably further comprises locking means for retaining the first and second members at a selected relative position. The locking means may comprise a screw member mounted on one of the first and second members and which may be tightened to bear on the other of the first and second members to prevent relative movement of the first and second members. Preferably, the spacing means provide a rotatable coupling between the end portions which allows the relative orientations of the end portions to be varied.

The locking means may comprise a member carried by one of the first and second members and which bears on the other of the first and second members at a predetermined position of the said other member relative to the said one member, the relative position corresponding to a minimum or maximum spacing of the end portions.

The locking member may be mounted at a selected one of a plurality of positions to set corresponding minimum and/or maximum spacings. The locking member may be a pin member which is received in a socket in the said one of the first and second members. The locking member is preferably a pin member carried by the said one of the first and second members and slidable in a slot in the other member, the maximum and minimum spacings of the end portions being determined by the length of the slot and the position of the pin.

The scaffold member preferably further comprises a elongate inextensible and flexible member permanently fixed between the two members of the spacing means to set the maximum spacing of the end portions. The flexible member may be a length of chain, wire, rope or other material.

The scaffold member preferably further comprises plate members mounted on respective members of the spacing means and projecting generally perpendicular to the direction of relative movement of the spacing means, the plate members providing a purchase to assist in the shortening of the scaffold member and the removal of the end portions from brick or block walls, after use.

Preferably the spacing means are so arranged and constructed as to allow the spacing of the end portions to be varied by at least 35 cm. The spacing means are preferably so arranged and constructed as to allow the spacing of the end portions to be chosen from the range between 85 cm and 130 cm. Alternatively, the spacing means may be so arranged and constructed as to allow the spacing of the end portions to be chosen from the range between 95 cm and 140 cm.

The said end portions are preferably formed by flattening a length of tubular material to form spade ends.

Scaffold members embodying the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic axial section of a first embodiment of a scaffold member according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a similar view of a second embodiment.

The scaffold member 10 (Fig. 1) has two end portions 12 which are spade ends shaped to engage with and be supported by respective brick or block walls.

Spacing means 14 set the spacing of the two end portions 12. The spacing means 14 are variable to allow the spacing of the end portions 12 to be set according to the separations of the walls between which the member is to be supported.

In more detail, the scaffold member 10 consists of an outer tubular member or sleeve 16 which is open at one end 18 and flattened at the other end to form one spade end 12. A second tubular member 20 is sufficiently small to be slidingly received within the sleeve 16 and is similarly flattened at its free end to form the second spade end 12.

The separation of the spade ends 12 can therefore be changed by sliding the tubular member 20 within the sleeve 16. The interfitment of the tubular member 20 and the sleeve 16 forms a rotatable coupling between the spade ends, allowing the relative orientations of the spade ends 12 to be changed by rotating the sleeve 16 and tubular member 20 relative to each other about the axis of the members 16, 20.

A bolt or screw 22 is mounted through the wall of the sleeve 16 and in threaded engagement therewith. The bolt 22 can be tightened to bear on the tubular member 20 to lock the relative positions of the tubular member 20 and sleeve 16.

A length of chain 24 is welded at 26 to a bar 27 running diametrically across the tubular member 20, and is welded at 28 to a similar bar 29 running across the sleeve 16. The length of the chain 24 determines the maximum distance by which the tubular member 20 can withdraw from the sleeve 16. Thus, the length of the chain 24 sets the maximum separation of the spade ends 12. The length of the chain 24 is set to ensure that at the maximum extension, there is sufficient overlap between the tubular member 20 and sleeve 16 to ensure that the scaffold member 10 is not unacceptably weakened by the withdrawal of the tubular member 20 from the sleeve 16. An additional bar may run across the tubular member 20, perpendicular to the bar 27, to reduce the gaps around the bar 27 and thereby prevent the chain passing through the gaps when slack.

Wire, rope or other material could be used in place of the chain.

The sleeve 16 and the tubular member 20 carry striking plates 30 close to the spade ends 12. The plates 30 are welded to the respective member 16, 20 and extend perpendicular to the axis of the device to provide a purchase for purposes to be described.

The scaffold member 10 is used in the following manner. Before the member 10 is installed, the bolt 22 is loosened to allow the tubular member 20 to slide freely in the sleeve 16 from the maximum extension permitted by the chain 24 to the minimum extension at which the striking plate on the tubular member 20 abuts the sleeve 16. With the member at the minimum extension, the spade end 12 at one end is located firmly in the brickwork of a brick or block wall. The member 10 is then extended so that the other spade end 12 is firmly located in brickwork between adjacent bricks or blocks.

The bolt 22 can then be tightened.

The spade ends 12 may be vertical or horizontal.

One may be vertical while the other is horizontal. The separation of the spade ends 12 can be freely changed while they are being located in the brick or block work until the correct positioning of both ends has been achieved, whereupon the bolt 22 can be tightened to lock the relative position of the sleeve 16 and tubular member 20. There is thus formed a double-ended putlog of exactly the right length to span between the two walls and have spade ends 12 fully embedded in the walls. An adequately safe overlap between the members 16, 20 is assured by the chain 24.

When the scaffold member is no longer required, the bolt 22 may be loosened and the tubular member 20 is pushed into the sleeve 16 to shorten the member 10 and allow the spade ends 12 to be released from the walls.

If the spade ends 12 have become set in the walls, it may be necessary to use the striking plates 30 to provide a purchase which allows the spade ends 12 to be knocked or levered free.

Fig. 2 shows an alternative scaffold member 40, also embodying the invention. The member 40 consists of two spade end portions 42 shaped to engage with and be supported by respective brick or block walls. Spacing means 44 set the spacing of the end portion 42 and are variable to allow the spacing to be set according to the separation of the walls between which the member 40 is to be supported.

The member 40 includes a sleeve 46 which is flattened at one end to form one spade end 42. The other end 48 receives a tubular member 50 which is flattened at its free end to form the second spade end 42.

A longitudinal slot 52 runs along the sleeve member 46. A pin 54 mounted on the tubular member 50 projects through the slot 52. Abutment of the pin 54 with the ends of the slot 52 sets a maximum and an absolute minimum extension of the tubular member 50 and sleeve 46.

A minimum extension greater than the absolute minimum can be set by means of a pin 56 and sockets 58 in the tubular member 50. The sockets are transverse to the axis of the tubular member 50 and are of sufficient size to receive the pin 56 which is attached permanently to the sleeve 46 by a short length of chain 60. At extensions between the absolute minimum and the maximum extensions, one or more socket 58 will be located outside the sleeve 46 and can therefore receive the pin 56. Once the pin has been received in a socket 58, it will eventually bear on the sleeve 46 if the tubular member 50 is pushed back into the sleeve 46, to prevent further shortening. Thus, a minimum extension greater than the absolute minimum extension is set by the choice of socket 58 and the positions of the sockets in the tubular member 50.

The member 40 can be used in the following manner.

The pin 56 is initially not located in any of the sockets 58 so that the member 40 can be freely extended between the absolute minimum and the maximum extensions in order to lodge the spade ends 42 securely and fully in respective brick or block walls. The pin 54 is positioned on the tubular member 50 so that even at the maximum extension, there remains sufficient overlap between the tubular member 50 and the sleeve 46 to ensure that the scaffold member 40 is not weakened excessively.

Once the spade ends 42 are satisfactorily positioned, the pin 56 is located in the socket 58 which is nearest to the end 48 of the sleeve 46. Ideally, the chosen socket will be very close to the end 48 so that substantially no shortening of the member 40 is possible thereafter, but this situation will not always arise.

The spade ends 42 cannot thereafter be accidentally pulled from the brickwork by shortening of the scaffold member 40.

Once the work has been completed, the pin 56 is removed from the socket 58 to allow member 40 to be shortened to remove the spade ends 42 from the walls.

Striking plates 62 are provided to assist in this operation by providing a purchase for knocking or levering the spade ends 42.

It will be appreciated from the above description that the width of the slot 52 limits the freedom to rotate the sleeve 46 about the axis of the tubular member 50, in order to change the relative orientations of the spade ends 42. Thus, if the slot 52 is narrow, it may only be possible to use the member 40 with both spade ends 42 vertical, or with both spade ends 42 horizontal.

Many alterations and modifications to the embodiments described above can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The size of the members and their components can be varied according to the intended use. By way of example, it is expected that a device which is variable to set the spade ends at any separation between about 85 cm and 130 cm would find many practical uses. A longer version for some applications may provide separations between about 95 cm and 140 cm. It is envisaged that adequate safety can be obtained by ensuring that at the maximum extension of the scaffold members, there retains an overlap of about 7 inches (18 cm) between the tubular members 20, 50 and the sleeves 16, 46.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A scaffold member having two end portions shaped to engage with and be supported by respective brick or block walls, and spacing means which set the spacing of the two end portions, the spacing means being variable to allow the spacing of the end portions to be set according the separation of the walls between which the member is to be supported.

2. A scaffold member according to claim 1, in which the spacing means comprises a first member having one of the said end portions formed at one end thereof, and having a second end, a second member having the other of the said end portions formed at one end thereof and having a second end which is hollow and which receives the second end of the first member within the hollow to a varying degree according to the spacing of the end portions.

3. A scaffold member according to claim 2, wherein the second end of the second member is tubular, the second end of the first member being received within the tube.

4. A scaffold member according to claim 3, wherein the first member is a bar or tube having an external size which is less than the internal size of the said tubular second member, whereby the first member may be slidingly received in the second member.

5. A scaffold member according to any preceding claim, further comprising locking means for retaining the first and second members at a selected relative position.

6. A scaffold member according to claim 5, wherein the locking means comprise a screw member mounted on one of the first and second members and which may be tightened to bear on the other of the first and second members to prevent relative movement of the first and second members.

7. A scaffold member according to any preceding claim, wherein the spacing means provide a rotatable coupling between the end portions which allows the relative orientations of the end portions to be varied.

8. A scaffold member according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the locking means comprise a member carried by one of the first and second members and which bears on the other of the first and second members at a predetermined position of the said other member relative to the said one member, the relative position corresponding to a minimum or maximum spacing of the end portions.

9. A scaffold member according to claim 8, wherein the locking member may be mounted at a selected one of a plurality of positions to set corresponding minimum or maximum spacings.

10. A scaffold member according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the locking member is a pin member which is received in a socket in the said one of the first and second members.

11. A scaffold member according to claim 8, wherein the locking member is a pin member carried by the said one of the first and second members and slidable in a slot in the other member, the maximum and minimum spacings of the end portions being determined by the length of the slot and the position of the pin.

12. A scaffold member according to any of the preceding claims and further comprising an elongate inextensible and flexible member permanently fixed between the two members of the spacing means to set the maximum spacing of the end portions.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the flexible member may be a length of chain, wire, rope or other material.

14. A scaffold member according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising plate members mounted on respective members of the spacing means and projecting generally perpendicular to the direction of relative movement of the spacing means members, the plate members providing a purchase to assist in the shortening of the scaffold member and the removal of the end portions from brick or block walls, after use.

15. A scaffold member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacing means are so arranged and constructed as to allow the spacing of the end portions to be varied by at least 35 cm.

16. A scaffold member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacing means are so arranged and constructed as to allow the spacing of the end portions to be chosen from the range between 85 cm and 130 cm.

17. A scaffold member according to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the spacing means are so arranged and constructed as to allow the spacing of the end portions to be chosen from the range between 95 cm and 140 cm.

18. A scaffold member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the end portions are formed by flattening a length of tubular material to form spade ends.

19. A scaffold member substantially as described above with reference to Figs. 1 or 2 of the accompanying drawings.

20. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.