GB2273953A

GB2273953A - Scaffold plank retainer

Info

Publication number: GB2273953A
Application number: GB9300651A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John James Mccarthy; Paul Fuller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-01-05
Filing date: 1993-01-05
Publication date: 1994-07-06
Also published as: GB9300651D0

Abstract

A clamping device primarily for use in the scaffolding industry, which is shown in situ in figure 4. The device is for clamping scaffold planks or boards to the various parts of a scaffolding arrangement in order to prevent the boards from being blown off by winds, to reduce theft, and to prevent personnel treading and falling from loose boards and subsequent overhangs. The device comprises a standard tube clamp 3 and a side arm 1, 7 which clamps over the edge of a plank 9. Trip hazards on current fixing methods are considerable and highly dangerous to scaffold users. The trip hazard is kept to a minimum by the thin cross section of the clamp and the added chamfer around the gripping edges. Holes have been included in the clamp pads for nailing the devices to the boards, especially for long term scaffold assemblies. <IMAGE>

Description

SCAFFOLD PLANK RETAINER 1. The invention relates to a device for simply and safely securing a scaffold plank or planks in position on a transom in such a wa.y as to reduce the trip hazard. to an absolute minimum.

5. Scaffold systems are erected around buildings and the like, using standard poles and clamps to form a multi-level staging to aid the erection, cleansing, maintenance etc. of the object around which the scaffold system has been assembled. The final system may comprise numerous levels or 10. landings, and is formed by vertical poles called Standards clamped to horizontal member poTes- called Ledgers by the use of clamps called Double CoupLers. To render the structure rigid and thus prevent lozenging diagonal poZes are affixed these are knows as Braces, and are also fixed using special 15. Couplers.Once the structure has been completed, it is essential that planks are added at the various levels to facilitate the use of the scaffold. These act as floors at these levels. To support the planks on the structure it is necessary to provide bearers in the form of further poles 20. which are clamped on and at right angles horizontaLly to the Ledgers. These supports are the Transoms.

The planks which are of a standard Length of 4000mm (13') X 229mm ( 9" ) Wide X 38mm (1.5") Thick are Zaid side by side and end to end continuously along the Transoms to form the 25. the floor or platform at the various levels. The planks must be laid precisely with minimum gapping and end overhang primarily for safety reasons. To complete the floor1 a further plank is laid verticaZZy at the outer edge in line with the floor planks. This vertical edging plank, 229mm 30. high1 is know as the Toeboard, and acts as a safety barrier for both personnel and dropped items.

In use the planks would of course move ff not secured, also in high wind situations planks may be lifted from the scaffold thereby causing extreme hazard to persons and 35. property below. Currently the planks are secured in a number of ways to the transoms. Most common practice is either the lashing of the ends with rope, or clamping k?ith extra poles across the planks. Other methods include metal or plastic tension banding system.All the aforementioned securing 40. techniques are either very time consuming in their implementation or very quickly become a severe Trip Hazard, or as in the case of the roping method. both limitations apply.

Our invention is a device which when used overcomes both the 45. aforementioned limitations. The trip hazard is drastically reduced and the time required to secure the planks is considerably faster than any of the existing methods, whilst the cost of the device is comparable to any of the couplers in current use.

50. Referring to Fig 1 this shows two vies of the unit with leading dimensions. The dimensions indicate that the unit will be of small size and Zo weight, thus allowing reasonable quantities to be easily carried around the scaffoLd at any one time.

55. Reference to Fig 2 shows the various parts of the Scaffold Plank Retainer (SPR). The clamp at 1. is shown to be chamfered severely on all edges whilst still retaining a small edge at the clamping surface to prevent persons using the device from cutting themselves when fixing. In 60. practice however, the forging or casting process will cause most of the edges to be rounded. thus making the unit even more safe in use. The main plate at 2. provides the pull to the clamp and the mounting of the toggle grip 3. the swivel stud 6. and the clamping nut and washer 5. The fulcrum at 4.

65. is essentially the pivot for the toggle grip. The plan view of Fig.2 illustrates the fork fixing of toggle 3. This allows for simple fixing and quick release of the device.

Figure 3 shows a single sided version of the unit. the clamp 7. in this case being a right angle. not a tee. This enables 70. the device to be used on the outer edge planks where space may be at a premium. Also the projection of the unused part of the Tee unit would be dangerous and unacceptable. This version may also be used for securing the Toeboard.

Reference to Fig 4 demonstrates how the SPR is clamped to 75. the Transom 10 whilst gripping two adjacent planks 8 & 9.

The dimension T has been ascertained as the minimum thickness of any plank less 0.50mm. This figure was empirically obtained from a number of planks measured. Also shown in Fig 4 is the Ledger 12. Upright 11 and Brace 13.

80. Fig 5 shows an arrangement in plan view utilising five planks. the economical use of only four double SPR 14. and two single SPR 15. Also shown are planks 8 & 9, Transoms 10.

Standards 11. Ledgers 12, Toeboard 16. and a wall 17.

Fig.6 shows an SPR design which is more appropriate to 65. manufacture by drop forging. This process allows considerable cost savines over casting whilst still retaining required strength with no consequential loss of the safety features. The single sided version may also be manufactured in the same way.

Claims

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. n clamping device, particularly applied to scaffolding arrangements which enables planks to be quickly and easily secured to horizontal poles with any trip hazard reduced to an absolute minimum by the thin bifurcated section and the chamfered edge, the device being utilised in various configurations for the Purpose of greatly improving safety and wind movement over other methods currently in use and having a clamp of cast construction fitted to a toggle via a pivot enables quick assembly, disassembly and also re-use.

2. A device as claimed in 1. but having a clamp of formed steel construction for ease of manufacture.