GB2379241A

GB2379241A - Scaffold guard which is attached to scaffold pole by hooks

Info

Publication number: GB2379241A
Application number: GB0120754A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Mark Greenwood
Original assignee: FAIRBRIGHT IND PLC
Current assignee: FAIRBRIGHT IND PLC
Priority date: 2001-08-25
Filing date: 2001-08-25
Publication date: 2003-03-05
Also published as: EP1302608A1; GB0120754D0

Abstract

A guard (10) includes a screen, at least one hook (18) from which the guard may be hung, and a base member (30) located at a lower part of the screen. Preferably the base member is solid or is of a fine mesh such that tools or the like cannot pass through. In a second invention (Figures 5 and 6) a guard includes a screen and a least one hook, where the hook is adjustable between an in use position where a hooked end is transverse to the screen and a storage position in which the hooked portion is parallel to the screen. Furthermore, the hook is movable between a raised position, where the hooked portion extends above the screen and a storage position where the hooked portion is within the screen boundary.

Description

237924 1

Scaffolding Gtlard The invention relates to guards for use in scaffolding.

Scaffolding alongside a building or similar structure conventionally provides support for boards forming a platform or walkway and for a safety rail above the boards, at about waist height. A further wooden board, referred to as a "toe board" is generally set on edge along the outer edge of the walkway, its substantially vertical orientation preventing small tools from falling from the side of the scaffolding. A scaffolding guard may be hung from the safety rail to cover the gap between the safety rail and the toe board. Conventional scaffolding guards comprise a generally planar mesh screen provided with a number of small wire hooks welded to the mesh. The hooks enable the guard to be hung from the safety rail such that it lies in a generally vertical plane.

According to the invention there is provided a guard for use in scaffolding, the guard including: a screen member having a plurality of openings therein; at least one hook from which the screen member may be hung; and a base member mounted on a lower part of the screen member, the base member comprising a substantially continuous material for preventing objects passing therethrough.

Preferably the base member is substantially planar. The base member may be made from sheet material, preferably sheet metal. The sheet material may be between 0.7mm and 1.2mm in thickness and is preferably about 0.9mm in thickness.

The base member may comprise a solid material, having no openings therein. Alternatively the base member may comprise a fine mesh material, having openings of less than 20mm in diameter.

Preferably the base member has a height of between 100mm and 200mm and most preferably about 150mm. Preferably the length of the base member corresponds substantially to the length of the scaffolding guard.

When used in this specification, the term "height" in relation to the

scaffolding guard refers to its vertical dimension when hung from a horizontal safety rail in normal task. The "length" of the scaffolding guard refers to its generally horizontal dimension when so hung.

Preferably the base member overlies a base portion of the screen member. Preferably the base member also extends below the screen member in use. The base member may overlie between 50mm and lOOmm of the height of the screen member. The base member may extend between 50mm and lOOmm below the screen member in use.

Preferably the scaffolding guard further includes at least one location member which extends downwardly in use from the screen member to locate behind a horizontal scaffolding pole in use. Preferably the location member extends below the base member.

Preferably the scaffolding guard includes at least two location members, which may each comprise a loop of elongate material which preferably has no exposed ends. The elongate material may comprise a metal wire.

Preferably the hook of the scaffolding guard is so shaped and sized that it could not penetrate and engage the openings in the screen member. This ensures that when a number of scaffolding guards are stacked, the hooks of one guard cannot penetrate and engage the openings in the screen member of an adjacent guard.

Preferably the hook is mounted on the screen member. The hook may be rigidly attached to the screen member.

Preferably the hook includes a protruding portion which extends out of a general plane of the screen member. Preferably this portion is shaped such that it would be unable to penetrate and engage the openings in the screen member.

Preferably the protruding portion has a width in a dimension parallel to

the general plane of the screen member which is greater than the width of the openings in the screen member.

Preferably the hook includes a loop of elongate material, having no exposed ends. The protruding portion of the hook is preferably formed from the loop of material. The loop may include two side elements which may lie in a plane which is angled to the general plane of the screen member. The side elements may lie at an angle of between 20 and 60 to the general plane of the screen member. Alternatively each side element may be approximately semicircular in shape. A lateral element preferably connects the side elements.

The lateral element may lie substantially parallel to the general plane of the screen member.

Preferably the screen member includes a mesh of elongate members defining the openings therebetween.

Preferably the elongate members form a mesh defining a plurality of substantially similar sized openings, which may be rectangular. Preferably the mesh is generally rectangular, including longitudinal and transverse elongate members. Preferably the longitudinal members are substantially vertical in use and the transverse members are substantially horizontal in use. Preferably the elongate hook members represent longitudinal members of the mesh.

Preferably the longitudinal members are located approximately lOOmm apart. Preferably the transverse members are located approximately lOOmm apart. Preferably the loop of elongate material connects two elongate hook members which form part of the mesh Preferably the two elongate hook members are spaced at least as far apart as the width of the openings in the mesh. Preferably the elongate hook members represent two elongate members of the mesh, and preferably there is at least one further elongate member located between the two elongate hook members.

Preferably the hook extends beyond an outer edge of the mesh.

Preferably in use the hook extends above an upper edge of the mesh. The elongate hook members may extend upwardly in use beyond an upper edge of the mesh, and be connected together by the loop of elongate material thus forming the hook.

Preferably the elongate hook members are between 3mm and lOmm in diameter, and preferably about Gmm in diameter.

The other longitudinal and transverse members may be between lmm and 8mm in diameter, and preferably about 4mm in diameter.

The mesh is preferably generally planar. However, the mesh may be curved. Where the 'general plane of mesh" is referred to, this is intended to include the general profile of a curved mesh.

Preferably the overall size of the mesh is between 0.2m and 1.5m in the longitudinal direction and 0.5m to 3m in the transverse direction. The preferred size is about 0.8m in the longitudinal direction and about 1.3m in the transverse direction.

According to the invention there is further provided a guard for use in scaffolding, the guard including a screen member having a plurality of openings therein and at least one hook member including a hook portion from which the screen may be hung, the hook member being adjustable between a hooking position in which the hook portion extends transversely of the screen and a resting position in which the hook portion lies generally parallel to or in the plane of the screen and wherein the hook member is also adjustable between a raised position in which the hook portion is outside an area defined by a perimeter of the screen and a louvered position in which the hook portion lies within the area defined by the perimeter of the screen.

Preferably when the hook member is in the raised position, the hook portion is located above an upper edge of the screen member in use. Preferably

when the hook member is in the lowered position, the hook portion is located below an upper edge of the screen member in use.

Preferably the hook member is mounted on the screen such that adjustment of the hook member between the various positions is effected by movement of the hook member relative to the screen.

Preferably the hook member comprises the hook portion and an elongate leg mounted on the screen so as to lie generally in the plane of the screen and extend substantially vertically in use. Preferably the leg defines an axis of rotation for the hook member. Preferably the hook member may be rotated about this axis to adjust it between the hooking position and the resting position. Preferably the hook member is mounted on the screen such that it is also moveable along the axis defined by the leg. Preferably the hook member may be moved along this axis to adjust it between the raised position and the lowered position. Preferably the guard includes means for preventing alteration of the position of the hook member. The guard may include means for preventing the hook member moving into its hooking position, when it is in its lowered position. The guard member may include means for preventing the hook member moving into its resting position, when it is in its raised position. An end of the leg remote from the hook portion may be bent off the main axis of the leg, the bent portion being adapted to hook into engagement with the screen member, thereby preventing movement of the hook member.

Preferably the screen member includes a mesh of elongate members defining the openings therebetween. Preferably the elongate members form a mesh defining a plurality of substantially similar sized openings, which may be rectangular. Preferably the mesh is generally rectangular, including longitudinal and transverse elongate members. Preferably the longitudinal members are substantially vertical in use the transverse members are

substantially horizontal in use. The legs of the hook members may represent longitudinal members of the mesh.

Preferably the longitudinal members are located approximately lOOmm apart. Preferably the transverse members are located approximately lOOmm apart. Preferably the legs of the hook members are between 3mm and lOmm in diameter, and preferably about Gmm in diameter.

The mesh is preferably generally planar. However, the mesh may be curved. Where the "general plane of mesh" is referred to, this is intended to include the general profile of a curved mesh.

Preferably the guard further includes a base member mounted on a lower part of the screen member, the base member comprising a substantially continuous material for preventing objects passing therethrough.

Preferably the base member is substantially planar. The base member may be made from sheet material, preferably sheet metal. The sheet material may be between 0.7 and 1.2mm in thickness and is preferably about O.9mm in thickness. The base member may comprise a solid material, having no openings therein. Alternatively the base member may comprise a fine mesh material, having openings of less than 2mm in diameter.

Preferably the base member has a height of between 100 and 200mm and most preferably about 1 50mm. Preferably the length of the base mealier corresponds substantially to the length of the scaffolding guard.

Preferably the base member overlies a base portion of the screen member. Preferably the base member also extends below the screen member in use. The base member may overlie between 50mm and lOOmm of the height of the screen member. The base member may extend between 50mm and 100mm below the screen member in use.

Embodiments of the invention will be described for the purpose of illustration only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a scaffolding guard according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. is a diagrammatic end view of the scaffolding guard of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a scaffolding guard according to a second embodiment of the invention in use, the mid-part of the scaffolding guard being omitted for clarity; Fig. 4 is a more detailed diagrammatic perspective view of the scaffolding guard of Fig. 3, viewed from the inside; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a scaffolding guard according to a third embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a part of a hook member of the scaffolding

guard of Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a scaffolding guard 10 includes a generally planar rectangular mesh screen consisting of elongate longitudinal wires 12 and elongate transverse wires 14. The longitudinal wires 12 extend generally vertically in use and the transverse wires 14 extend generally horizontally in use. The wires 12 and 14 are preferably of steel and are about 2 to 4mm in diameter. 2.5m n steel or ten gauge steel of 3.2mm diameter is suitable. The wires 12 and 14 are arranged to form a grid, defining openings 16 of about 50mm square.

The longitudinal wires 12 lie generally in a first plane and the transverse wires 14 lie generally in an adjacent plane. The longitudinal 12 and transverse 14 wires are attached to one another, for example by welding, where they cross over one another, thus giving the mesh screen structural stability.

The size of the guard 10 is about 0.8m in the longitudinal direction and 1.3m in the transverse direction.

The guard 10 is provided with two hook members 18, for suspending the guard 10 from a pole 20 of the scaffolding structure, see Fig. 3, which illustrates a second embodiment of the invention in use. Each hook member 1X of the Figs. 1 and 2 embodiment is formed from a single elongate shire which is approximately 4 to 5mm in diameter. The hook member 18 includes two leg portions 22 which are connected by a loop of material forming a hook portion 24. The leg portions 22 of each hook member take the place of two of the longitudinal wires 12 of the mesh screen. The leg portions 22 are spaced approximately 100mm apart and take the place of two longitudinal wires which would be adjacent lout one to each other.

The leg portions 22 of each hook member 16 extend upwardly in use about lOOmm beyond the uppermost transverse wire 14A of the mesh and beyond the top of the longitudinal wires 12. The hook portion 24 is curved so as to extend transversely to the general plane of the mesh screen. The hook

portion includes approximately semi-circular side elements 26 and an elongate lateral element 2 8 which extends between the side elements, substantially parallel to the transverse wires 14.

In use, the hook portion 24 is able to hoof: over a scaffolding pole 20 (the guard 10 would be positioned as shown with reference to the second embodiment of the invention in Fig. 3). This holds the guard 10 in place, suspended in a substantially vertical plane.

A base member in the form of a toe-board 30 is provided on the scaffolding guard. The base member consists of a generally planar sheet metal element having a thickness of about 0.9mm. The toe-board is mounted on the mesh screen so as to extend downwardly in use therefrom. The toe- board is about 230mm high and is mounted such that approximately half of its height is provided below a bottom transverse wire 14B of the mesh screen.

The leg portions 22 of each hook member 16 extend downwardly in use below the lowermost transverse wire 14B of the mesh and below a bottom of the toe-board 30. The bottoms of the leg portions 22 of each hook member 16 are joined by a transverse base wire 32. This defines a location member 33 in the form of a loop of wire extending below the mesh screen and below the toe-

board and lying generally in the plane of the mesh screen.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the invention in which corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1.

The scaffolding guard of the Figs. 3 and 4 embodiment is similar to that of the Figs. 1 and 2 embodiment. However in place of the hook members 18, a number of simple hooks 40 are provided by bent ends of a selected number of the longitudinal wires 12.

In use, the hook portions 24 or hooks 40 of the scaffolding guard 10 hook over the scaffolding pole 20, with the location members 33 slotting behind

a lower scaffolding pole 34, generally at the level of a platform 36 provided by wooden boards 38. When the guard is in such position, the integral toe-board is positioned such that it extends upwardly frond the platform 36 thus preventing small tools from falling off the platform.

Referring to Fig. 5, there is illustrated a further embodiment of the invention. Again, the scaffolding guard l O includes a generally planar rectangular mesh screen consisting of elongate longitudinal wires 12 and elongate transverse wires 14. The screen is generally as described with reference to the previous drawings.

The scaffolding guard to includes a toe-board 30 and location members 33, which are also substantially as described previously.

The scaffolding guard JO further includes a number of hook members 50, each including approximately semi-circular hook portions 5 2 and generally straight, elongate legs Sal extending downwardly in use from the hook portions 52. The legs 54 of the hook members 50 are mounted on the scaffolding guard so as to extend generally parallel to the longitudinal members 12. The legs 54 are mounted on the mesh screen such that they are able to swivel about their own longitudinal axes. The legs 54 are also mounted such that they are able to move along their own axes.

Each hook member 50 may swivel about the axis of its leg 54 between a hooking position in which the hook member 50 extends out of a general plane of the mesh screen of the scaffolding guard and a resting position in which the hook portion 52 lies generally within that plane.

Each hook member 50 is also moveable along its axis (up/down as viewed in Fig. 5). The hook member 50 is moveable between a lowered position in which the hook portion 52 lies generally within an area defined by an outer perimeter of the mesh screen of the scaffolding guard (i.e. the hook portion 52

lies below the upper transverse member 14A of the mesh screen) and a raised position in which the hook portion 52 lies outside the area defined by the perimeter of the mesh screen (i.e. above the upper transverse member 14A).

When the scaffolding guard 10 is in use, the hook members 50 may be twisted about the axes of their legs 54 to bring their hook portions 52 into the hooking position. The hook members 50 may also be drawn upwardly along the axes of the their legs 54 such that the hook portions lie in their raised positions. The hook portions 52 may then be used to suspend the scaffolding guard 10 from a scaffolding pole 20, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

When the scaffolding guard 10 is not in use, the hook members 50 may be moved into their lowered positions and twisted into their resting positions where the hook portions 52 lie generally within the plane of the mesh screen.

In this position, a plurality of scaffolding guards may be stacked on top of one another without their hook portions 52 becoming entangled.

Means may be provided for ensuring that the hook members 50 do not move from their resting to their hooking positions when in the lowered position and that they do not move from their hooking to their resting positions ashen in the raised position. These means include a bent portion 56 provided at a lower end of each leg 54. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a lower part 56 of a leg of one of the hook members 50. It may be seen that the lower part of the leg is bent into a number of "V" shapes. The bent end of the leg may be tucked into engagement with the mesh of the scaffolding guard, to prevent the hook member from moving out of its correct position.

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 guard for use in scaffolding, the guard including: a screen member having a plurality of openings therein; at least one hook from which the screen member may be hung; and a base member mounted on a lower part of the screen member, the base member comprising a substantially continuous material for preventing objects passing therethrough.

2. A guard according to Claim 1 where the base member is substantially planar.

3. A guard according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the base member comprises a solid material, having no openings therein.

4. A guard according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the base member comprises a fine mesh material, having openings of less than 20mm in diameter.

5. A guard according to any preceding claim wherein the length of the base member corresponds substantially to the length of the scaffolding guard.

6. A guard according to any preceding claim wherein the base member overlies a base portion of the screen member.

7. A guard according to Claim 6 vvherein the base member also extends below the screen member in use.

8. A guard according to any preceding claim wherein the scaffolding guard further includes at least one location member which extends downwardly in use from the screen member to locate behind a horizontal scaffolding pole in use.

9. A guard according to Claim 8 wherein the scaffolding guard includes at

least two location members, which each comprise a loop of elongate material which has no exposed ends.

10. A guard according to any preceding claim wherein the hook of the scaffolding guard is so shaped and sized that it could not penetrate and engage the openings in the screen member.

11. A guard according to Claim 10 wherein the hook is mounted on and rigidly attached to the screen member.

12. A guard according to Claim 11 wherein the hook includes a protruding portion which extends out of a general plane of the screen member, this portion being shaped such that it would be unable to penetrate and engage the openings in the screen member.

13. A guard according to any preceding claim wherein the screen member includes a mesh of elongate members defining the openings therebetween.

14. A guard according to Claim 13 wherein the elongate members form a mesh defining a plurality of substantially similar sized rectangular openings and the mesh is generally rectangular, including longitudinal and transverse elongate members, the longitudinal members being substantially vertical in use and the transverse members being substantially horizontal in use.

15. A guard according to Claim 14 wherein the longitudinal members are located approximately 100mm apart and the transverse members are located approximately 100mm apart.

16. A guard according to any of Claims 13 to 15 wherein the mesh is generally planar, and the overall size of the mesh is between 0.2m and 1. 5m in the longitudinal direction and 0.5m to 3m in the transverse direction.

17. A guard for use in scaffolding, the guard including a screen member

having a plurality of openings therein and at least one hook member including a hook portion from which the screen member may be hung, the hook member being adjustable between a hooking position in which the hook portion extends transversely of the screen and a resting position in which the hook portion lies generally parallel to or in the plane of the screen and wherein the hook member is also adjustable between a raised position in which the hook portion is outside an area defined by a perimeter of the screen and a lowered position in which the hook portion lies within the area defined by the perimeter of the screen.

18. A guard according to Claim 17 wherein when the hook member is in the raised position, the hook portion is located above an upper edge of the screen member in use and when the hook member is in the lowered position, the hook portion is located below an upper edge of the screen member in use.

19. A guard according to Claim 17 or Claim 18 wherein the hook member is mounted on the screen such that adjustment of the hook member between the various positions is effected by movement of the hook member relative to the screen.

20. A guard according to any of Claims 1/ to 19 wherein the hook member comprises the hook portion and an elongate leg mounted on the screen so as to lie generally in the plane of the screen and extend substantially vertically in use, the leg defining an axis of rotation for the hook member so that the hook member may be rotated about this axis to adjust it between the hooking position and the resting position.

21. A guard according to Claim 20 wherein the hook member is mounted on the screen such that it is also moveable along the axis defined by the leg, to adjust it between the raised position and the lowered position.

22. A guard according to any of Claims 20 or 21 wherein the guard includes means for preventing alteration of the position of the hook member.

23. A guard according to Claim 22 wherein the guard includes means for preventing the hook member moving into its hooking position when it is in its lowered position and means for preventing the hook member mo\ing into its resting position when it is in its raised position.

24. A guard according to Claim 23 wherein an end of the leg remote from the hook portion is bent off the main axis of the leg, the bent portion being adapted to hook into engagement with the screen member, thereby preventing movement of the hook member.

25. A guard according to any of Claims 17 to 24 wherein the guard further includes a base member mounted on a lower part of the screen member, the base member comprising a substantially continuous material for preventing objects passing therethrough.

26. A scaffolding guard substantially as herein described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

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