GB2621106A

GB2621106A - Scaffold fitting

Info

Publication number: GB2621106A
Application number: GB2208102.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Alexander Waller Jonathan
Original assignee: Charles Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Charles Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2022-06-01
Filing date: 2022-06-01
Publication date: 2024-02-07
Also published as: GB202208102D0

Abstract

A fitting 10 suitable for use on scaffold tubes and the like comprises of a first and second jaw 12, 16 respectively, in a hinged arrangement, and adapted to fit around the circumference of a scaffold tube, with a captive bolt 36 used to secure the second jaw to the first jaw and to allow it to be tightened to a scaffold tube, the first jaw 12 further comprising a compartment 28, into which an electronic communications module is fitted. The first and second jaws are made from a plastic material, such as polypropylene. The module allows communication with e.g. smartphones, mobile computers, or remote computers, and may further comprise a display, a sounder or speaker or other electronic devices. The communications module may have a radio link, such as Bluetooth (RTM), Wi-Fi (RTM), Zigbee (RTM), and may comprise an Internet of Things device, and/or it may be a wired link.

Description

Intellectual Property Office Application No G132208102.0 RTM Date:5 December 2023 The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document:

WIFI ZIGBEE

Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk/ipo

SCAFFOLD FITTING

1. INTRODUCTION

The present invention relates to clamps, fastenings and fittings, and more particularly to such clamps, fastenings and fittings as may be used on scaffold tubes or the like.

BACKGROUND

Metal scaffold tubes are in very common usage in building construction and repair work. The tubes are typically made from steel or aluminium, and are fastened to each other using scaffold fittings or fixed junction preset on the scaffold tube, which are again generally made from steel or aluminum. The fittings come in various different configurations, for fastening tubes to each other in various ways, or for attaching tubes to other things, like brickwork or timber etc. or for attaching things to the tube.

The clamps described above are generally made to be able to cope with a variety of different mechanical loads, and so they must be made to be strong enough to cope with these differing uses. As such, they tend to be relatively heavy and expensive.

Various fixings are also used in scaffolding to fix such items as signs to erected scaffold. These vary in form but in general those of the clamp type adhere to the themes set out in the preceding paragraph.

Embodiments of the invention have the object of providing an alternative fitting.

3 SUMMARY

According to the present invention there is provided a device for mounting onto a scaffold, the device comprising of a jaw for attaching the device to a scaffold tube, and an electronic 30 communications module integral therewith, wherein the jaw comprises of a first and a second jaw member connected using a hinge allowing the jaw members to adopt a first, open position allowing the jaw members to receive a scaffold tube, and a second, closed position where the jaw members retain a received scaffold tube, and further comprising a fastening means for releasably retaining the jaw members in a closed position with the fastening means and jaw maintaining, in use, the device in a user-selected orientation through friction with a received tube, wherein the first jaw member is further formed to provide a compartment in which the communications module resides, and wherein the first and second jaw members are made from a plastic material.

Embodiments of the invention thus provide a convenient, low cost and lightweight means for holding a communications module in a user-selected orientation onto a scaffold tube. The use of a plastics material for the jaw members, and hence for the compartment receiving the communications module, allows low-cost manufacturing techniques and materials to be used. The plastics material referred to may be an alkene polymer such as polyethylene, normally high density polyethylene (HDPE), or a propylene homopolymer or copolymer.

Polyamide may also be used. Polypropylene is preferred and may be used as a blend with one or more other polymeric materials. The use of polymer materials enables the device of the invention to be fabricated with adequate strength but at the same time being of light weight, enabling ease of operational use e.g. in transportation (for example, when carried about a person), deployment, and demounting from a scaffold and general handling such as cleaning and storage.

The use of plastics materials also provides a good environment for radio frequency (RF) devices to be used as part of the communications module, with no screening provided by metallic cases.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fastening means comprises a captured bolt held in the first jaw member and able to rotate between a first position where it is able to engage with a retaining component on the second jaw member, and a second position where it is disengaged from the second jaw member. The fastening means may be made from a plastics material, or may be made from a metallic. For example, it may be made from aluminium or steel (for example, mild steel or stainless steel alloy), or alternatively from polypropylene, a polypropylene blend with one or more other polymer materials or any of the other plastics materials referred to earlier in connection with the jaw members.

In such an embodiment, when in the first position, the fastening means may be arranged to 5 retain the second jaw member by means of a nut sitting on the captured bolt, and against the retaining component.

In such an embodiment, rotation of the nut with respect to the captured bolt, in a direction drawing the nut towards the first jaw member, may be arranged to cause the second jaw 10 member to be drawn towards the first jaw member.

In an embodiment, the communications module may comprise circuitry arranged to communicate with a smart card, or other short range communication system brought within the vicinity of the device. The short-range communications system may comprise circuitry in the module arranged to provide a Near-Field Communications (NFC) connection to a proximate device, and to use magnetic, or electromagnetic coupling between it, and the proximate device.

The communications module may comprise a battery, and a transceiver, for communicating with electronic equipment remote thereto. The transceiver may be arranged to communicate via NFC communications, or may be arranged to communicate over a longer range. The module may comprise communications system arranged to communicate via a Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, or any other protocol.

In a particular embodiment, the device may further comprise a light. The light may be switchable. It may be switchable using a switch on the fitting, or it may be switchable via a remote connection using the communications module.

In an embodiment the device may further comprise a display. The display may be controllable 30 by display circuitry within or alongside the communications module, and may be configurable by means of communication from the display circuitry, and/or from a device connected via the communication means, or through some other electronic connection.

In a more elaborate form of the invention, the communications module is arranged to connect 5 to a door, gate, or other barrier entry system, and to provide instructions thereto, dependent upon communication with a user-operated device.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and second jaw members are formed from an injection moulded plastics material, for example polypropylene or a blend of polypropylene with one 10 or more other polymeric materials.

In another embodiment of the invention, each jaw member may have a bearing side having a circular section profile for contact with a scaffold tube, and having a radius arranged to match that of a scaffold tube to which it is to be attached. The bearing side may, in some embodiments, be provided with a textured, grooved, or otherwise non-smooth finish, to aid with grip onto a scaffold tube.

In an embodiment the compartment for holding the communications module on the first jaw member may have a generally planar side facing away from the bearing side of the jaw member. Thus, it may provide a natural region for interfacing with other devices, such as NFC devices, smart cards, or other communications systems. It may also provide a region for conveniently displaying information to a user etc.

4 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a 30 scaffold fitting with an integral communications module; Figure 2 diagrammatically illustrates a second embodiment, showing a scaffold fitting similar to the first embodiment, but with an additional light fitting; Figure 3 shows another view of the second embodiment, but with the fitting partially 5 disassembled; and Figure 4 diagrammatically illustrates a further embodiment of the invention, showing a fitting with no electronics module installed, so providing a view of a housing into which a module may be fitted.

Shown in Figure 1 is a scaffold fitting, being an embodiment of the present invention. The fitting 10 comprises a first jaw 12, connected using hinge 14 to a second jaw 16. The first jaw 12 has a bearing region 18 of circular section profile 18, adapted to bear against a curved region of a scaffolding tube. The circular section 18 has a radius of a similar value to that of common scaffold tubes. The second jaw 16 has a bearing region 20, generally in an opposed aspect to that of the first jaw, that again comprises a circular section profile. The bearing region of the second jaw comprises a plurality of webs 22 extending from a circular profiled backing plate 24, the backing plate having a radius greater than that of a scaffold tube to which the fitting is adapted to be connected thereto. Each of the webs 22 provide a bearing surface, distal to the backing plate, which together provide multiple contact regions on a scaffold tube. The bearing region 18 of the first jaw comprises a curved plate. A housing 26 is formed as part of, and integrally with, the first jaw 12, with the curved plate bearing surface providing a base of the housing, and with further walls 28, 30, 32 extending from the edges of the curved plate 18. A top plate 34 of the enclosed region 28 sits on the further walls, to provide the housing 26 in which electronic circuitry (not shown) is located. The housing may further comprise various webs to partition it internally as required, and to provide structural support and strengthening to the first jaw 12 and the housing. The electronic circuitry provides a communications function, arranged to communicate with external devices or systems.

The hinge 14 allows the respective first 12 and second 16 jaws to be rotationally positionable between a fully closed position, in which the first and second jaws are brought near to each other, and a fully open position in which they may allow admittance of a scaffold tube, or similar object there between. The first jaw has a captive bolt 36 that is held therein. The captive bolt is partially rotatable about the point at which it is held in the first jaw 12, the rotation allowing a distal end thereof away from, or towards the second jaw, to respectively permit access to a scaffold tube or the like, or to lock the fitting to the tube.

The second jaw has a pair of parallel prongs 38, between which is a recess 40. The recess allows the captive bolt to sit between the prongs 38 by rotating the captive bolt towards the second jaw. In this position the second jaw may be forced closer to the first jaw by means of a nut 42 attached to the captive bolt, along with an associated washer 44, and tightening the nut by rotating it in a manner to draw it along the captive bolt towards the first jaw, such that the nut 42 is pressing against washer 44, which then presses against the prongs 38 as the nut rotates and tightens. Conversely, if the nut is rotated in an opposing sense, then the second jaw 16 is free to move away from the first jaw. The second jaw may also be moved away from the first jaw by removing the captive bolt from within the recess between the prongs, provided that the prongs are not pushed up tight against the bolt 36, as will occur when the fitting is attached to a scaffold tube for example.

Thus, attaching the fitting to a tube may be done as follows. Firstly, the nut 42 is rotated so as to bring it to a distal end of the captive bolt 36, and the bolt rotated away from the prongs of the second jaw. The first and second jaws may then be opened sufficiently widely to allow them to fit around a scaffold tube. The first and second jaws may then be pushed together, so that the bearing surfaces of each are in contact with the tube. The captive bolt may then be rotated so that it sits within the recess 40 of the prongs 38 in the second jaw, and the nut rotated to draw it along the bolt towards the first jaw 12. The fitting should be rotated around, or slid along the tube to get it into a desired position and orientation on the tube. At some point in the travel of the nut along the bolt it will start to bear on the prongs 38 of the second jaw, and further rotation thereof will tighten the jaws onto the tube. A spanner or the like may be used to tighten the nut 42 further if required.

Removal of the fitting is a reversal of the fitting process. Of course, it will be apparent that the fitting may be loosened, without removal thereof, to allow it to be reoriented or repositioned by being slid along the tube, as desired.

The first 12 and second 16 jaws are made from polypropylene although any other plastics material may also be used. The bolt 36 is a galvanized steel bolt, as is the nut 42. Other materials may be used in other embodiments.

The electronics module and a battery sit within the housing 28, below the top plate 34. The top plate may be printed or labelled with instructions or information pertinent to a user of the electronics. For example, it may have indications that smart cards, or other near-field communications devices and system may be brought to the vicinity of the plate. The housing may have one or more interface ports (not shown) allowing electrical connectors to be plugged into it.

The electronics module may further comprise an indication means, such as a sounder, buzzer, loudspeaker or the like, or a light, such as a light emitting diode (LED), that may be used to acknowledge to a user that an action or communication performed by the user has been registered. The electronics module may further be in communication with devices, such as gate locks, doorways, barriers etc. such that, when a user communicates with the module, and the user meets some approval criteria, the module sends a message to the lock, doorway, or barrier etc. to open it, or allow it to be opened. The communication may be by radio, optical data link, cable, or any other means.

The electronics module may further comprise a display on the top plate 34. The display may be, for example, a LED display, and organic LED (OLED) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), or any other type of display, which may be controlled by the electronics module, and may react to communications initiated by a user with the module, or by the module to a user. The display may be used to indicate the status of any communications that may have taken place, such as whether a door etc. has been opened, or may provide instructions, such as written instructions or signage to a user. The signage may comprise, for example, entry, or no-entry signs, directional arrows indicating which a user is to go, or other information pertinent to the area where the device is mounted.

The display may be arranged to display a "OR" code, this being a machine-readable two-5 dimensional bar code. The QR code may be generated in response to previous communication between a user with a user-operated device, such as a smart phone or mobile computer, and the electronic communications module, such that the OR code provides information specific to the user. The code may be read by the user-operated device, and may be used to convey instructions that may appear on the user-operated device, such as job 10 numbers or details.

Such details may be provided to the user-operated device in other forms, such as via a Bluetooth ® link, a Wi-Fi link, or some other radio, or optical data link, or other data link, or a cable etc. The device may also comprise an Internet of Things (loT) device, wherein it may connect into the Internet, or to some other wide area network. It may thus be controllable from some remote computer system.

The display may be sized to fit on the first jaw, within the confines of the housing. Of course, the display may be larger than that shown in Figure 1, to provide a greater viewing area. The display may be larger than the housing for the electronics module as shown in the figure, and may thus sit on top, in an oversize, or overlapping fashion on the first jaw of the fitting.

Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the invention. This embodiment comprises of a scaffold fitting 50 that connects to a scaffold tube in similar fashion to that of the first embodiment, and has a first jaw connected to a second jaw with a hinge, and a captive bolt attached to the first jaw, all as described in relation to the first embodiment. These elements will not therefore be described further. A housing 52 is again formed integrally with the first jaw, this housing having a raised cover 54, that increases the volume thereof. The raised cover 54 is made from a clear polymeric material, and transparent polypropylene is preferred (although polypropylene is in general opaque, it can be produced as a transparent material). The housing contains electronics and an LED light source, the electronics comprising drive electronics to drive the LED, along with a battery, as well as communications electronics to allow communications to take place with one or more external devices. The communications module may be generally similar to that described in relation to Figure 1, and the different variations mentioned there. It may thus be arranged to communicate with user-controlled devices such as mobile phones or computers etc, and/or with infrastructure in the region of use, such as gates, doorways, barriers, locks, or other computer systems, and may comprise an loT device.

As well as providing a communications link, the device incorporates the light source, that may be used for providing additional lighting where required, for example for safety purposes, or for any other purpose. The light source may be switchable by a remote device, using, for example, one of the communications links mentioned above, and/or it may have a switch to allow it to be switched on and off at the point of use by a user. The light may be a colour-controllable light, and may be arranged to change colour, for example to indicate a status or warning level. Thus it may be switchable to red, to act as a "STOP" indication, or may be arranged to dynamically change colour or brightness, for example by flashing on and off The polypropylene cover 54 is held on to the housing 52 by means of a releasable hinge 56, on one side of the housing, and on an opposing side by a nut 58 arranged to screw onto a split bolt 60. The split bolt 60 comprises of two posts, 52, 64, each of semi-circular cross-section. One post 64 is mounted on the housing 52, while the other post 62 is mounted on the polypropylene cover 54. The releasable hinge 56 allows the cover 54 to be completely separated from the housing 52, by, assuming its currently in a coupled arrangement and the cover 54 is located on the housing 52, rotating the cover away from the housing about the hinge. When the rotation has gone far enough -in this embodiment around 45° to 60° -the hinge 56 allows the cover to come free of the housing. When the hinge is coupled and the cover 54 rotated towards the housing 52, the two posts 62 64 that comprise the split bolt 60 are brought together. In this position they form a split cylindrical post. Each of the curved surfaces of the posts are threaded, such that when brought together in this fashion they form a single thread able to accept nut 58. Attaching the nut 58 to the split bolt 60 therefore couples the two parts of the bolt together, preventing the cover from being lifted up. Conversely, unscrewing and removing the nut from the split bolt allows the cover to then be rotated as previously explained, and removed as required. This may be removed to provide access to the lighting unit, or to the communications module etc. for example to carry out repairs.

The nut 58 is made from polypropylene (although it could be made from HDPE), so that it does not damage the posts forming the split bolt 60, which are made also from a plastics material. The size of the nut 58 is the same as that of the nut used to fasten the device to a scaffold tube, e.g., nut 42 in Figure 1. This allows the same tools as would be used by a scaffold fitter on site to be used to remove the cover to carry out repairs etc. Figure 3 shows the embodiment SO of Figure 2, but with the cover 54 removed. The removal 15 process has been described above. The hinge 54 can been seen in more detail, and comprises of two parts. Mounted on the housing 52 is a tab 66 coming from a narrow side of the housing 52, the tab 66 having a slot 68 mounted therein.

On the cover 54 is a curved tongue 70 adapted to fit into the slot 68. The tongue 70 may only be inserted into slot 68 when held at the correct orientation, that being at an angle of no less than about 450 to the top of the housing 52. When inserted at this angle the cover 54 may then be rotated about the point where the tongue sits in the slot, and brought against a receiving part of the housing. A rubber seal (not shown) may be used to give a watertight seal between the cover and housing. The curvature present on the tongue prevents the hinge from separating once the cover has been at least partially rotated towards the housing.

Other electronic circuitry may be present in other embodiments. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a scaffold fitting 71 into which a communications module may be fitted to create an embodiment of the invention. The fitting 71 comprises of a first 72 and second 74 jaw, and a captive bolt 76 with nut 78 and washer 80 as described in relation to the embodiment of Figure 1, and so, as these features function in similar manner to that embodiment, will not be described further. The first jaw 72 has a housing 82 formed integrally with it, the housing being made from an injection moulded plastic similar to that of the first and second jaw material. The housing has four sides, forming a rectangular aperture and a compartment 86 for containment of a communication module, along with any other electronics. The housing 82 may, in other embodiments, be shaped or sized differently to accommodate electronics modules of different sizes as required, or to accommodate displays, electrical connectors, antennas, sounders, speakers, light fittings, or other elements.

Shown in dotted lines 88, within the compartment 86 are various webs used to strengthen the fitting and to provide additional compartmentalization within the housing 82. Also shown in dotted lines are bosses 90 for reception of screws for mounting the electronic module(s), or additional elements, such as the electronic modules etc. as mentioned above, or for holding additional structural elements that themselves may be used to hold electronic modules, displays or the like.

Other embodiments may have other arrangements of bosses, webs, slots or compartments within the housing, dependent upon the modules to be installed.

The functions described herein as provided by individual components could, where appropriate, be provided by a combination of components instead. Similarly, functions 20 described as provided by a combination of components could, where appropriate, be provided by a single component.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of them mean "including but not limited to", and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics, or compounds, described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A device for mounting onto a scaffold, the device comprising of a jaw for attaching the device to a scaffold tube, and an electronic communications module integral therewith, 5 wherein the jaw comprises of a first and a second jaw member connected using a hinge allowing the jaw members to adopt a first, open position allowing the jaw members to receive a scaffold tube, and a second, closed position where the jaw members retain a received scaffold tube, and further comprising a fastening means for releasably retaining the jaw members in a closed position with the fastening means and jaw maintaining, in use, the 10 device in a user-selected orientation through friction with a received tube, wherein the first jaw member is further formed to provide a compartment in which the communications module resides, and wherein the first and second jaw members are made from a plastic material.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fastening means comprises a captured bolt held in the first jaw member and able to rotate between a first position where it is able to engage with a retaining component on the second jaw member, and a second position where it is disengaged from the second jaw member.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein, when in the first position, the fastening means retains the second jaw member, by means of a nut sitting on the captured bolt, and against the retaining component.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein rotation of the nut with respect to the captured 25 bolt, in a direction drawing the nut towards the first jaw member, causes the second jaw member to be drawn towards the first jaw member.
5. A device as claimed in any of the above claims wherein the communications module comprises circuitry arranged to communicate with a smart card brought within the vicinity of 30 the device.
6. A device as claimed in any of the above claims wherein the communications module comprises a battery, and a transceiver, for communicating with electronic equipment remote thereto.
7. A device as claimed in any of the above claims wherein the device further comprises a light.
8. A device as claimed in any of the above claims wherein the device further comprises a display.
9 A device as claimed in any of the above claims wherein the communications module is arranged to connect to a door, gate, or barrier entry system, and to provide instructions thereto, dependent upon communication with a user-operated device.
10. A device as claimed in any of the above claims wherein the first and second jaw members are formed from an injection moulded plastics material.
11. A device as claimed in any of the above claims wherein each jaw member has a bearing side having a circular section profile for contact with a scaffold tube, and having a radius 20 arranged to match that of a scaffold tube to which it is to be attached.
12. A device as claimed in any of the above claims wherein the compartment for holding the communications module on the first jaw member has a generally planar side facing away from the bearing side of the jaw member.
13. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the generally planar side has attachment means allowing modules to be attached thereto, the modules comprising of other electronic devices.