GB2433958A

GB2433958A - Locking apparatus for scaffolding component

Info

Publication number: GB2433958A
Application number: GB0600235A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Francis Travers; Adam Rossi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-07
Filing date: 2006-01-07
Publication date: 2007-07-11
Also published as: GB0600235D0

Abstract

A locking apparatus 6,7, for use with a first scaffolding component 1 comprising a releasable latch 4 operable between a first position in which the first scaffolding component may capture a second scaffolding component (not shown), and a second position in which it may release a captured component. The locking apparatus 6,7 is formed separately from the scaffolding component and comprises a fastener 7 to fasten it to the scaffolding component so that it physically prevents operation of the latch, to prevent release of a second scaffolding component captured by the first scaffolding component. The fastener 7 to fasten the locking apparatus to a scaffolding component may comprise a key operable lock (Fig 6). The locking apparatus may comprise a collar 6 formed two or more components connected by a pivot. Each component may have a lug (10, Fig. 4), the lugs being arranged to cooperate with each other to prevent separation of the components and prevent movement of the latch 4.

Description

LOCKING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH SCAFFOLDING

The present invention relates to locking apparatus for use with scaffolding.

Scaffolding is generally constructed from a number of poles or tubes. In one known arrangement claws with releasable latches are fastened to the ends of the poles or tubes. The claws are arranged to capture a pole or tube. They enable one pole or tube to be quickly latched onto, and released from, another. This facilitates rapid assembly and disassembly of scaffolding but also leads to problems.

Scaffolding components are expensive. They are often made from aluminium and have a readily realisable scrap value. As such they are vulnerable to theft.

In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, regulations require that scaffolding be erected by a competent person. At present, however, once erected by a component person there is nothing to stop an unauthorised non-competent person removing or rearranging unlocked scaffolding components and thereby potentially compromising safety.

Another problem, particularly with mass market products, is that where different parties on the same site are using a similar scaffolding system and components of each party's scaffolding are easily interchanged a conflict of ownership can arise.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the abovementioned problems.

According to the present invention there is provided locking apparatus for use with a scaffolding component, the scaffolding component comprising a releasable latch means operable between a first position in which the scaffolding component may capture another scaffolding component and a second position in which it may release a captured component, the locking means being separately formed from the scaffolding component and comprising means to fasten it to the scaffolding component so that it physically prevents operation of the latch, to prevent release of a scaffolding component captured by the scaffolding component.

A separate locking means can be used with conventional scaffolding components, particularly claws. This obviates the need for replacement of existing scaffolding components.

Preferably the means to fasten the locking means to the scaffolding component comprises a key operable locking means, such that the locking means cannot be removed from a scaffolding component without use of a key.

As used herein "key" is to be understood to mean another separate component or information, such as a code, necessary to permit the locking means to be unfastened from a scaffolding component.

The locking means may comprise a lug which serves to physically prevent movement of a latch, particularly a manually operable latch, of a scaffolding component.

In one embodiment the locking means comprises a collar arranged to fit around a scaffolding component. The collar may be of any suitable shape and preferably conforms to the outside shape of a scaffolding component. For example the collar may be generally circular. The collar may be formed from two or more components. The components may be shaped to fit together. Alternatively the components may be connected by a hinge or pivot. A one piece collar including an integral hinge could also be used. The collar could be wholly or partially flexible. In one arrangement a circular collar is formed from two components. The components may be substantially identical. Each component forms half or more of an arc of a circle. At one end the components are provided with lugs which are arranged to cooperate with each other to prevent separation of the components and to physically prevent movement of a latch of a scaffolding claw when the collar is fitted to the claw. At the opposite end the components are configured to cooperate with a lock, to enable the components to be locked together. The components may define apertures through which a barrel lock can be inserted thereby to lock the components together.

The barrel lock may be key operable.

The locking means is preferably formed of metal, but could be formed of any other suitable material, including plastics materials.

A locking means according to the invention may be produced at relatively low cost, particularly as compared to scaffolding components, and enables the advantages of a key lockable component to be obtained with existing scaffolding components.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a side view of a conventional scaffolding claw; Figure 2 is a perspective view from the side of the scaffolding claw of Figure 1 with a locking apparatus according to the invention fitted; Figure 3 is another view of the arrangement of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the two collar pieces of the locking apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a further view of a single collar piece; and Figure 6 is a view of the barrel lock and key of Figure 2.

The illustrated embodiment is intended for use with conventional claw type scaffolding components. One existing type of claw 1 is shown in Figure 1, fastened (by welding) to a scaffolding tube 2.

The claw is intended, in use, to capture and latch on to another scaffolding tube introduced into the claw at region 3. The claw comprises a manually operable latch 4. The latch 4 is operable between a first position (shown in solid lines) in which the claw is able to capture a tube, and a second position (shown in broken lines) in which it can release a captured tube. The latch 4 is pivotally mounted to the remainder of the claw, and moves in slot 5. Scaffolding claws such as this are well known and will therefore not be described in further detail.

The invention serves to lock the latch 4 of a scaffolding claw in its first position, so as to physically prevent movement of the latch to its second position without the use of an appropriate key, or equivalent.

Referring to Figures 2 to 5 the illustrated embodiment comprises a two piece collar formed from two substantially identical aluminium collar pieces 6, and a barrel lock 7 with key 8.

Each collar piece 6 forms at least half an arc of a circle. At one end of the collar piece, a portion of half (or less) of the thickness of the collar piece, and displaced to one side of the collar piece forms a substantially circular aperture or loop 9, the aperture lying substantially in the plane of the arc of the collar piece. At the opposite end of the collar piece the thickness of the collar piece is also reduced to half or less of its thickness, but is displaced to the opposite side of the collar piece to the portion of reduced thickness defining the aperture. At the free end of this end of the collar piece a lug 10 is formed. The lug 10 extends radially inwardly of the arc of the collar piece, across the full thickness of the collar piece.

The collar pieces 6 are arranged so that can be locked together to form a generally circular collar. To achieve this one collar piece is inverted with respect to the other and the two collar pieces are placed together so that the apertures 9 are aligned and the lugs 10 overlap.

In use two collar pieces are placed around a claw 1 to form a collar, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The collar pieces are arranged so that lugs 10 overlap and extend into the slot 5 in which the latch 4 of the claw 1 moves, thereby to physically prevent movement of the latch into its second position. The collar pieces are held in place by the barrel lock 7 which is inserted through the apertures 9 of both collar pieces, fastening the two pieces together.

The barrel lock 7 comprises a substantially cylindrical barrel with a flange 11 at one end and a protrusion 12 at the opposite end, which may be radially extended and retracted by means of a key 8. The barrel lock 7 and apertures 9 of the collar pieces 6 are sized so that when the lock barrel is inserted through the apertures of both collar pieces the protrusion 12 can be extended to prevent removal of the barrel lock from the collar pieces, thereby preventing removal of the collar pieces from a claw without the use of the key 8.

Thus, the invention provides a convenient, low cost, means for locking conventional scaffolding claws.

The above embodiment is described by way of example only. Many modifications are possible without departing from the invention. In particular it is envisaged that several different forms of separated locking means may be applied to scaffolding components, and such means need not necessarily take the form of a collar.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. Locking apparatus for use with a scaffolding component, the scaffolding component comprising a releasable latch means operable between a first position in which the scaffolding component may capture another scaffolding component and a second position in which it may release a captured component, the locking apparatus being separately formed from the scaffolding component and comprising means to fasten it to the scaffolding component so that it physically prevents operation of the latch means, to prevent release of a scaffolding component captured by the scaffolding component.

2. Locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means to fasten the locking apparatus to the scaffolding component comprises a key operable locking means.

3. Locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking apparatus comprises a lug which serves to physically prevent movement of a latch means of the scaffolding component.

4. Locking apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a collar arranged to fit around the scaffolding component.

5. Locking apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the collar is formed from two or more components shaped to fit together.

6. Locking apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the collar is formed from two or more components connected by a hinge or pivot.

7. Locking apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the collar includes an integral hinge.

8. Locking apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the collar is wholly or partly flexible.

9. Locking apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the collar is formed from two substantially identical components.

10. Locking apparatus as claimed in claim 9 where each component forming the collar has a lug at one end, the lugs being arranged to cooperate with each other to prevent separation of the components and to physically prevent movement of the latch means of the scaffolding component.

11. Locking apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the two components of the collar are configured at the opposite end to the lug to cooperate together with the means to fasten the locking apparatus to the scaffolding component.

12. Locking apparatus for a scaffolding component substantially as herein described with reference to any of Figures 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.