GB2454191A - Storage and stacking apparatus for scaffolding braces - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for use in storing and transporting elongate scaffolding members, comprises a pair of support members 2, each having along opposed first and second sides, a plurality of recesses 3 configured to receive and retain a scaffolding member (15), and along opposed third and fourth sides configurations adapted to interlock with the corresponding configurations on an adjacent one of said support members. The third and fourth sides have interlocking teeth 1a and slots 1b. The apparatus provides a means for safely and practically storing, transporting and carrying aluminium scaffolding braces.

Description

Storage & Stacking Apparatus for Scaffolding Braces

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a means for safely and practically storing, trans-porting and carrying scaffolding braces for scaffolding towers.

Background to the Invention

A scaffolding tower includes a number of scaffolding braces. These are typically aluminium, which although relatively lightweight are difficult to carry, transport and store due to their awkward and bulky shape.

At present there is no means to safely or practically carry scaffolding braces. The common method for carrying scaffolding braces is for an individual to simply carry several braces loose, balancing the braces across one shoulder and supporting the front of the braces with their hands. There are a number of practical and safety issues associated with this present method, the main one of which is lack of stability. The length of the elongate scaffolding members makes them difficult to carry, and stability can often be an issue particularly when carrying several braces at a time. In an attempt to save time it is common practice for an individual to carry a bundle of scaffolding braces. With several braces, there are several points of balance, and it is easy for the braces to tilt back and forth.

It is common as work progresses for the scaffolding tower to frequently require moving; this often requires taking down, moving and re-building the tower.

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended) do not set any specific requirements as to weight limits. Instead, an ergonomic as-sessment based on a range of relevant factors is used to determine the risk of injury. The regulations establish a clear hierarchy of control measures. The first control measure is to avoid hazardous manual handling operations so far as is reasonably practicable. This may be done by redesigning the task to avoid moving the load or by automating or mechanising the process.

Therefore what is required is a method of safely and securely storing, carrying and transporting scaffolding braces.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for use in storing and transporting elongate scaf- folding members, comprising a pair of support members, each having along op-posed first and second sides a plurality of recesses configured to receive and retain a scaffolding member, and along opposed third and fourth sides configu- rations adapted to interlock with the corresponding configurations on an adja-cent one of said support members.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for use in storing and transporting elongate scaffolding tower compo-nents of the type consisting of a pole having a hook formation at each end thereof, the apparatus comprising a pair of support members, each having at least one transverse pole onto which hook formations of the tower components may be engaged, and means for holding the support members together when stacked one upon another.

In this alternative embodiment, an individual section of the apparatus is constructed of a pair of bars joined together by welding. Alternatively, the bars may be made of a plastics material and moulded together.

In this embodiment the self-locking sprung braces open and lock around the apparatus thereby holding the braces securely in place. The apparatus may be extended horizontally by interlocking each neighbouring segments. Each segment is of smaller diameter, enabling each bar to slide inside the previous bar and then fixed together by a screw.

This embodiment may carry up to a maximum of 10 aluminium braces.

This embodiment is provided with a carrying handle, thereby enabling the appa-ratus to be carried.

Both embodiments are designed for use with aluminium braces, as op-posed to general purpose scaffolding poles which, typically being made from steel, are much heavier. As a general guidance, current health and safety re-quirements recommend a maximum weight of 25kg that any individual should lift at any one time. It would therefore not be practical for the apparatus to be used with steel scaffolding poles, or at least not to its full extent.

Ten aluminium braces is the maximum number of braces an individual would be permitted to lift at any one time due to current Health and Safety guidelines relating to weight, and so the final design will typically be determined by this limit.

In use, the apparatus can be stacked one upon another. Such a system provides a stable system to store and transport scaffolding braces. It also en-sures that there is only one centre of balance, as opposed to several individual points of balance, making the braces safer to transport in this way. In terms of storage the apparatus is more practical since it reduces the storage area re-quired, and increases the number of braces which can be stored in an allocated area.

In both embodiments, ideally the support members will be constructed of a plastics material. Alternatively other materials, such as aluminium, may also be used.

The present invention provides a means for safely and practically storing, transporting and carrying aluminium scaffolding braces, in accordance with cur-rent Health and Safety Regulations.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 illustrates a top plan view of a single support member in the pre-ferred embodiment.

Figure 2 illustrates a top plan view of four support members, when hori-zontally and vertically linked.

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the alternative embodiment.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a single sup-port member 2. The support member 2 is made of a plastics material such as polyethylene. The support member 2 has along each of the opposed first 4 and second side 5 five recesses 3, each configured to receive and retain a scaffold- ing brace. It must be appreciated that this figure illustrates the preferred em-bodiment, and that each support member 2 may be adapted to accommodate any different number of scaffolding braces. As illustrated in this figure, the re- cesses 3 are circular, with openings just smaller than the diameter of the scaf-folding brace, to allow the scaffolding brace to be securely fitted into the recess 3 without too much difficulty, whilst remaining sufficiently tight in order to retain the pole securely within the recess 3. The size of the recess 3 is a critical fea-ture of the support member 2, since if it is too small, it will be difficult to insert the scaffolding pole into the recess 3, and equally if the recess 3 is too large, the recess 3 will not hold the scaffolding braces securely in place. It must also be taken into account that over time and through use, the resilient nature of the support member 2 will result in the recesses 3 becoming slightly distorted and larger through use. The size of each recess 3 combined with the selected resil-ient material for the support member 2 ensures that the fit is just right to ensure that the scaffolding pole can be inserted into the resilient recess 3, but once in-serted deform around the scaffolding brace to hold it securely in place. The sprung lock heads of the scaffolding braces do not slot into the recesses 3 within the support member 2, but extend beyond the support members 2.

The opposed third and fourth sides of each support member 2 are re-spectively provided with teeth 1 a and slots 1 b (not apparent from this figure but indicated by the dashed lines) adapted to interlock with the corresponding con-figurations on an adjacent support member 2. The interlocking teeth la and slots 1 b allow the support members 2 to be horizontally linked. The slots 1 b are not apparent from this figure since they are located internally within the support member 2. The fourth side of each support member 2 has a straight edge ap-pearance from a top plan view as illustrated in this figure. However, the slots 1 b, into which the teeth 1 a of the third side are inserted, would be visible from a side view of the fourth side.

The first side 4 of each support member is convex and the second side 5 is a corresponding concave, so as to allow the support members 2 to be stacked one on another in a single position. The first side 4 of each support member consists of a raised ridge 6. The underside of each support member 2 consists of receiving slots 7 into which the upper ridge 6 is inserted, thereby al-lowing the support members to be stacked vertically during storage.

It is the combination of the convex first side 4 and the raised ridge 6, with the concave second side 5 and receiving slot 7 which enables the support members 2 to be stacked vertically.

Figure 2 illustrates the means by which a support member 2 interacts with adjacent support members 2 for storage purposes, by interlocking the teeth la on the third side of one support member 2 with the slots lb (indicated by dashed lines) located on the fourth side of the corresponding adjacent support member. This figure illustrates four individual support members 2 stacked two support members 2 wide and two support members 2 high are shown by way of example, but it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to these num- bers. The convex first sides and concave second sides allow the support mem-bers 2 to be neatly and securely stacked.

As previously described the support members 2 are stacked by way of the upper ridge 5 on the first side of one support member 2, interlocking with the receiving slots 6 on the second side of another support member 2, stacked ver-tically above it.

The support members 2 are stacked horizontally by way of the teeth 1 a on the third side of each support member 2, interlocking with the slots lb lo-cated on the fourth side of an adjacent support member 2.

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the alternative embodiment.

This embodiment consists of a first pole 8 and a second pole 9 that are secured together by joining segments 10 to form one unit. This embodiment is extended horizontally by interlocking segments 11 of smaller diameter, thereby enabling them to slide within the neighbouring bars. The interlocking segments are Se- cured into place by bolts 12. The first pole 8 is provided with a handle 13, ena-bling the user to carry the apparatus. The handle also enables the apparatus to be stacked vertically, as the handle is received into a receiving slot 14 on the second pole 9 of the apparatus directly above it. The receiving slot 14 of the second pole 9 is not visible from a perspective view of this embodiment, but is indicated by the dashed line as seen in Figure 3.

In this embodiment the scaffolding brace 15 (indicated by the dashed line), does not slot into recesses within the support member 2 as they do in the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2. The self-locking brace head clips onto the second pole 9 as shown in figure 3. This figure simply illustrates how the scaffolding brace attaches onto this embodiment, and it must be appre-ciated that this figure can hold varying number of braces.

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus for use in storing and transporting elongate scaffolding members, comprising a pair of support members, each having along opposed first and second sides a plurality of recesses configured to receive and retain a scaffolding member, and along opposed third and fourth sides configurations adapted to interlock with the corresponding configurations on an adjacent one of said support members.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the first and second sides are shaped so that the support members are stackable one on another in a single position.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the first side is con-vex and the second side is a corresponding concave.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the re-cesses are circular with openings just smaller than the pole diameter.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the support members are made of a plastics material.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the third and fourth sides have interlocking teeth and slots.

7. Apparatus for use in storing and transporting elongate scaffolding tower components of the type consisting of a pole having a hook formation at each end thereof, the apparatus comprising a pair of support members, each having at least one transverse pole onto which hook formations of the tower components may be engaged, and means for holding the support members to-gether when stacked one upon another.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein the means for holding a support member comprises a projection extending upwardly therefrom and is engageable in a slot in an adjacent support member located thereon.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the projection is config-ured as a carrying handle.

10. Apparatus for use in storing and transporting elongate scaffolding members, substantially as described with reference to, and/or as shown in, the drawings.