GB2288206A

GB2288206A - A fixing for securing scaffolding to buildings

Info

Publication number: GB2288206A
Application number: GB9506988A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Anthony Phinn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-04-07
Filing date: 1995-04-04
Publication date: 1995-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-04
Also published as: GB2288206B; GB9506988D0; GB9406926D0

Abstract

A restraint fixing for securing scaffolding to buildings comprises an anchoring element 10 and a securing assembly 12 having a pair of pivoting elements 22 with projecting lug members 26. Lugs 26 engage behind head portion 14 when the elements 22 are inserted into scaffolding pole P. A locating pin 30, having a resilient clip 34, extends through holes 32, 28, thereby securing the pole P to the assembly 12. The anchoring element 10 may be grouted into the wall (see figs 1, 2) of a building or otherwise secured to a building. <IMAGE>

Description

Restraint fixing The invention relates to a restraint fixing for the securing of scaffolding to buildings.

The securing of scaffolding to buildings under construction, safely and yet quickly and easily and thus in an economical manner, is a particular problem. It has in the past been customary to secure the scaffolding through window and other apertures, with the result that the installation of windows and possibly other services has been delayed until the scaffolding has been dismantled. If the scaffolding is secured in place in the above mentioned conventional manner, it will almost certainly impede the fitment of external cladding to the building and other tradesmen may also be considerably delayed in their work.

A further problem is that if an area of cladding subsequently requires repair, it is difficult to re-erect the scaffolding and to tie it to the building safely when windows have been fitted and other apertures closed, so much so that this has sometimes resulted in scaffolding collapse due to wind and other forces.

The invention as claimed is intended to provide a remedy.

According to the invention, a restraint fixing for the securing of scaffolding to buildings comprises an anchoring element formed integrally with or secured to a structural connecting element capable of being secured to the building structure, and a securing assembly capable of being attached to or detached from said anchoring element,said securing assembly being constituted by a pair of elements co-operating together in such a way that in an operative condition, with adjacent ends remote from said anchoring element located in fixed positions, their opposite ends are non-detachable from said anchoring element, and in an inoperative condition with their adjacent ends remote from said anchoring element released, their opposite ends are detachable from said anchoring element.The anchoring element may be formed with or secured to an elongate key element capable of being grouted into or otherwise secured in a hole formed in the building structure, or may be formed integrally with or secured to a bracket member having a portion capable of being secured to a steel framed building structure. A head portion of the anchoring element may be formed as an open ended box section portion through which the ends of the pair of elements of the securing assembly can extend, the extreme ends of said pair of elements being formed with outwardly projecting lug members which act to prevent the detachment of the securing assembly from said anchoring element.The pair of elements of the securing assembly may co-operate together by being pivotally connected together intermediate their ends and will preferably be of like shape and size and arranged back to back so that their lug members project in opposite directions. Said pair of elements may be provided with holes which, in their operative condition, are in alignment to receive locating means connected to or carried by a scaffolding pole; the ends of said pair of elements remote from the anchoring element may be receivable in the end of a scaffolding pole and retained therein by locating means extending through diametrically opposed holes in the pole. If the locating means are constituted by a locating pin, the latter may be a linch pin provided with a resilient clip for preventing its accidental release.

A restraint fixing as just described may be provided in combination with a scaffolding pole having a plurality of pairs of diametrically opposed holes for the reception of the locating means, said diametrically opposed holes being usable selectively according to the required spacing of the end of said pole from the building concerned.

One way of carrying out the invention is described in detail below with reference to drawings which illustrate, by way of example, one specific embodiment, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a restraint fixing embodying the invention, in use for securing scaffolding to a building, Figure 2 is a part- sectional view on the line 2-2 in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the fixing, secured to the building and to one of the scaffolding poles, Figure 4 is an exploded view showing how the scaffolding pole can be released from the fixing, Figure 5 is a further exploded view showing how a part of the fixing can be removed from an anchoring element which will remain as part of the building structure, Figure 6 is a view which shows how the anchoring element may subsequently be hidden from view, and Figures 7 to 13 are views all of which are drawn to a somewhat larger scale than Figures 1 to 6 and illustrating possible modifications which will presently be described.

Referring now to Figures 1-5 of the drawings, the restraint fixing there illustrated is shown in Figure 1 secured to the front face of the building in preparation for the fitment of external cladding thereto, the cladding in this illustrated example being of bricks to be spaced from the building front face by the distance d.

The restraint fixing comprises an anchoring element, generally indicated 10, which is adapted to be secured to the building structure, and a securing assembly, generally indicated 12, which is adapted to be secured to the scaffolding.

The anchoring element 10 includes a head portion 14 of open ended box section spot welded to an elongate plate element 16 which, rearwardly of said head portion, forms an elongate key element 18, which has been brought to a channel shape and formed with a series of notches 20. In use of the fixing, the elongate key element will be grouted into or otherwise secured in a hole formed in the building structure, that is, in the illustrated example, the hole h which has been drilled in the concrete structure from the face of which the cladding is to be spaced.

The securing assembly 12 is capable of being attached to or detached from said anchoring element and is constituted by a pair of elements 22 pivotally connected together intermediate their ends by means of a pivot pin 24. Each element 22 is provided with a laterally projecting lug member 26 at an end which is to be entered into said anchoring element; the elements 22 are of like shape and size and are arranged back to back so that their lug members project in opposite directions. When the fixing is in position, it is the lug members 26,26 which prevent movement of the scaffolding outwards, that is to say away from the building structure. The elements 22 are each also provided with a haunch portion 27 (see Figure 5), that is to say a shoulder portion which prevents movement of the securing assembly inwards towards the building structure.

The pair of elements 22 of the securing assembly 12 are provided, at their ends remote from the lug members 26,26, with respective holes 28 which, when in alignment one with the other, locate said lug members at a wide spacing to prevent said securing assembly from being withdrawn from the anchoring element. The ends of the elements 22 remote from the anchoring element are in fact receivable in the end of a scaffolding pole P and retained therein by a locating pin 30 extending through diametrically opposed holes 32 in said pole. As shown, the locating pin 30 is a linch pin, that is to say a headed pin provided with a resilient clip 34 which in an operative position (as shown in Figures 2 and 3) snap fits around the scaffolding pole to prevent the accidental release of the pin.

Referring now to Figure 7 ,in a modification of the anchoring element, the head portion 14 has been formed by a length of channel section material providing laterally spaced and inturned parallel side walls 36 which are able to perform the function of the box section portion of the original anchoring element, that is to say being able to retain the pair of elements of the securing assembly within it when the lug members 26,26 of said assembly are held at their widest spacing. The length of channel section material is shown to have been welded to the plate portion 16. In a further possible modification, the head portion 14 could conceivably be formed integrally with plate portion 16.

A still further possible modification of the anchoring element could be the modification of the element illustrated in Figure 7 in such a way that its laterally spaced and inturned side walls were no longer parallel but inclined at angles such that they form a non-stick taper to retain the pair of elements of the securing assembly between them, the pair of elements in this case being devoid of the lug members 26,26 and being formed to a tapered shape complementary to the tapered shape of the anchoring element.

In Figure 8 there is illustrated an anchoring element which has been designed to be secured to a steel framed building structure.

As shown, it is provided with a head portion 14 identical to that of the first described embodiment, the head portion in this case being welded to a structural connecting element constituted by a bracket member having an upturned end portion 38 with holes 40 through which bolts or other fastenings can extend.

In Figure 9 there is illustrated a modified form of the anchoring element shown in Figure 8, this having simply been formed from a length of box section material which has been brought to a right angle shape and provided with the hole 40 through which, in use of the fixing, a bolt or other fastening can extend. The part of the element which in use will project outwards from the structure is slotted at 15 for the engagement of the lugs 26,26 of the pair of elements of the securing assembly.

In Figures 10 and 11 there is illustrated a further modified form of anchoring element which has been formed from a length of box section material, this having been formed with an elongate key element capable of being grouted into or otherwise secured in a hole formed in the building structure. As shown, the elongate key element has been formed by first flattening an end length of the box section element and then folding it along its length, a final step in the process being constituted by the slotting of the folded length of material, top and bottom, at 20. As in the case of the anchoring element illustrated in Figure 9, the part of the box section element which, in use, will project from the building structure, is slotted at 15 for the engagement of the lugs 26,26 of the pair of elements of the securing assembly.

In Figure 12 there is illustrated a still further modified form of anchoring element, this having been formed from a length of metal strip material. As shown, an upturned end portion of the length of strip material has been provided with a hole 40 through which, in use of the fixing, a bolt or other fastening can extend. At its opposite end the length of strip has been worked to form a head element which, in use of the fixing, will project outwards from the structure concerned. The manner in which the length of strip has been worked has included the shearing of the strip along parallel lines extending transversely of the strip (but these lines stopping short of the edges of the strip) and the pressing of the area of the strip between those two lines so that it assumes an inverted channel section 42.It will be understood that when worked in this way, the anchoring element produced is usable in the same way as those previously described, that is to say to receive the pair of elements constituting the securing assembly. This last described construction of anchoring element could of course be formed with an elongate key element 18, to be grouted into or otherwise secured in a hole formed in the building structure concerned, instead of with the upturned end portion 38.

In Figure 13 there is illustrated a modified form of anchoring element somewhat similar to those illustrated in Figure 9 and in Figures 10 and 11 in the sense that the part which, in use, will project from a building structure is a length of box section material forming a head portion 14 and being slotted at 15 for the engagement of the lugs 26,26 of the pair of elements of the securing assembly. However, in this case, a root end of said head portion is welded to a substantial metal plate 44 which is provided with holes 40 through which fixing bolts can extend to secure the anchoring element to a vertical face of a building structure. The holes 40 in this case are shown to be slotted holes so that vertical adjustments of said anchoring element can easily be effected.

It will be understood that when designing a set of restraint fixings embodying the invention for the purpose of securing cladding to a building, the overall length of the anchoring elements will be determined according to the required spacing of the cladding from the building structure, that is to say according to the distance d in Figure 1. This dimension can vary considerably from one building to another.The length of the securing assembly, that is to say the pair of elements 22 forming part of each restraint fixing, may also be determined according to particular requirements, in particular according to the thickness of the cladding which is to be fitted to the building structure concerned (although a more preferable way of arranging for such variation may be to provide scaffolding poles each having a plurality of pairs of diametrically opposed holes 32, at varying spacings from the end of said pole, for the reception of the locating pin 30 shown in Figures 3 and 4, said holes being used selectively according to the required spacing of the ends of said poles from the building).

Thus there is provided a form of restraint fixing for the securing of scaffolding to buildings which is inherently safe and which is particularly easy to use; it can therefore be installed in a minimum of time and thus can be expected to result in considerable cost savings. In addition, because it will no longer be necessary to secure the scaffolding at window and other apertures, the installation of window frames and other services to make the structure weather tight and to complete internal finishings need not be delayed until the scaffolding can be dismantled, which will result in further cost savings.

A further advantage of a restraint fixing embodying the invention is that, because the anchoring elements remain in position as part of the completed building, it is a simple operation to re-erect scaffolding against the building at some later date, for example if an area of cladding of the building requires repair, by re-using the existing anchoring elements. To facilitate this it will be advantageous to plug the outer ends of the head portions 14 of the anchoring elements as the scaffolding is being dismantled, for example by means of plastics plugs 46 (see Figure 6); these are small and unobtrusive so that, being at regular spacings, if visible at all can be a decorative feature.

Various other modifications may be made. For example, it is possible for the pair of elements constituting the securing assembly to be so formed that they can co-operate together in a pivotal manner without actually being connected together by a pivot pin, that is to say being formed with abutments capable of bearing one against the other in a manner allowing pivotal movement of one element relative to the other.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A restraint fixing for the securing of scaffolding to buildings, comprising an anchoring element formed integrally with or secured to a structural connecting element capable of being secured to the building structure, and a securing assembly capable of being attached to or detached from said anchoring element, said securing assembly being constituted by a pair of elements co-operating together in such a way that in an operative condition, with adjacent ends remote from said anchoring element located in fixed positions, their opposite ends are non-detachable from said anchoring element, and in an inoperative condition with their adjacent ends remote from said anchoring element released, their opposite ends are detachable from said anchoring element.

2. A restraint fixing according to claim 1, in which the anchoring element is formed integrally with or secured to an elongate key element capable of being grouted into or otherwise secured in a hole formed in the building structure, or is formed integrally with or secured to a bracket member having a portion capable of being secured to a steel framed building structure.

3. A restraint fixing according to either one of the preceding claims, in which a head portion of the anchoring element is formed as an open ended box section portion through which the ends of the pair of elements of the securing assembly can extend, the extreme ends of said pair of elements being formed with outwardly projecting lug members which act to prevent the detachment of the securing assembly from said anchoring element.

4. A restraint fixing according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the pair of elements of the securing assembly co-operate together by being pivotally connected together intermediate their ends.

5. A restraint fixing according to claim 4, in which the pair of elements of the securing assembly are of like shape and size and are arranged back to back so that their lug members project in opposite directions.

6. A restraint fixing according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the pair of elements of the securing assembly are provided with holes which, in their operative condition, are in alignment to receive locating means connected to or carried by a scaffolding pole.

7. A restraint fixing according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the ends of the pair of elements of the securing assembly remote from the anchoring element are receivable in the end of a scaffolding pole and retained therein by locating means extending through diametrically opposed holes in the pole.

8. A restraint fixing according to either one of claims 7 and 8, in which the locating means are constituted by a locating pin, the latter being a linch pin provided with a resilient clip for preventing its accidental release.

9. A restraint fixing according to either one of claims 7 or 8, in combination with a scaffolding pole having a plurality of pairs of diametrically opposed holes for the reception of the locating means, said diametrically opposed holes being usable selectively according to the required spacing of the end of said pole from the building.

10. A restraint fixing constructed, arranged and adapted to be used substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated by Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings or modifications thereof illustrated in Figures 7 to 12.