AU1471702A - Building scaffold - Google Patents

Description

1

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 5*

S

Name of Applicant Actual Inventor Address for Service: Invention Title: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Alan Herwig Alan Herwig CULLEN CO Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street Brisbane QId 4000 Australian Building Scaffold a Details of Associated Provisional Applications PR2803 filed 31 January 2001 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it, known to us: 2 BUILDING SCAFFOLD FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a portable scaffold for buildings and is particularly concerned with providing an elevated work platform to enable work to be carried out on the fascia guttering of a building which has a metal roof.

10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION oooo Difficulties are frequently encountered in providing an adequate working platform during the construction, maintenance or renovation of fascia guttering. As a consequence, relatively expensive scaffolding is normally required, which is supported by, and extends upwardly from the ground. This can be time consuming and difficult to erect if the ground is uneven and falls away from the building, particularly when the guttering is a significant distance from the ground.

o0 o• OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present *invention to provide an elevated work platform for metal roofed buildings which is relatively inexpensive and easier to erect than existing arrangements, or which at least provides the public with a useful alternative.

SUMMARIES OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a portable scaffold for buildings comprising an essentially C-shaped bracket with one end adapted for bearing vertically downward onto the top of a metal roof through an intermediary arrangement connected to the roof, and the other end having an extendable portion which is adapted to bear horizontally against the wall of the building.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided scaffolding comprising two or more scaffolds of the type previously defined, at least one roof bearing arrangement to which the C-shaped brackets are connected, a support platform extending between adjacent scaffolds, and at least one handrail supported at a mid region of the C-shaped bracket and extending between adjacent scaffolds.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for lifting a portable scaffold of the type previously defined to construct a scaffolding, said lifting device comprising an "A"frame adapted for contact with the intermediary roof connecting arrangement, a boom supported by the frame and adapted to connect to the roof and extend out over the roof edge, and an associated pulley and wire for S. lifting the portable scaffold.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The C-shaped scaffold bracket preferably comprises a vertical upright with horizontal arms projecting from each end thereof in the same direction.

The uppermost horizontal arm has a downwardly projecting portion on its outermost end, which, in turn, has a first cleat to enable attachment to the intermediary arrangement, which is connected to the roof. A second cleat is located on the upper facing side of the uppermost horizontal arm, at a balance point from the vertical upright, to enable the C-shaped scaffold bracket to be raised or lowered by the aforementioned lifting device.

The lowermost horizontal arm comprises a hollow section in which an adjustable length-sliding element is located. The sliding element is extended against the wall of the building by an amount to ensure that the upright is maintained in a substantially vertical orientation during use. This can be set by inserting a bolt in appropriately aligned holes extending through the walls of the arm and the sliding element.

Handrail sleeves with associated lock bolts are preferably located at intermediate spaced positions on the vertical upright. Two such sleeves are suitably provided to enable tabular handrails to be inserted therein and to connect with an adjacent scaffold bracket.

Handrail sleeves are also provided on a post extending from a position adjacent to the free end of the lowermost horizontal arm. These handrail sleeves are suitably located at the same height as the lower of the aforementioned sleeves on the vertical upright.

The intermediary arrangement, which is fitted to the roof for connecting to the projecting portion of the scaffold bracket arm, preferably comprises a pair of profiled plates with sleeves and a support bar. The plates are suitably shaped to form an intimate contact with separate spaced ridges of the roof cladding and to extend along such ridges for a predetermined distance to enable adequate attachment to the roof support battens when the roof fixing screws are withdrawn and replaced by longer screws. The sleeve on each plate is oriented to extend transversely of the ridges and to be aligned so that the support bar can be projected therethrough in a direction, which is substantially parallel to the fascia guttering. An upwardly projecting cleat is located on the support bar to enable connection with the cleat on the downwardly projecting portion of the upper arm of the scaffold bracket by means of a bolt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an end elevation of a portable scaffold fitted to a building in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of an intermediate arrangement for connecting the scaffold to a building, Figure 3 is an end elevation of a lifting device for lifting the scaffold, Figure 4 is a front elevation of a portion of the lifting device shown in Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a perspective view of scaffolding incorporating the scaffold of Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying S. drawings, in all of which like reference numerals refer to like parts.

S 20 Referring firstly to Figure 1, the portable scaffold 10 comprises a substantially C-shaped bracket fabricated from RH Steel. The C-shaped bracket has a **.vertical upright 1 approximately 2100mm in length and two horizontally projecting arms, 2, 3 which respectively project approximately 1200mm and 950mm.

Arm 2 has a downwardly projecting portion 4 with a cleat 14 at its terminal end. A second cleat 5 is located on the upper surface of the arm to enable the bracket to be hoisted into position by a lifting device as described below.

Arm 3 is hollow and has an open end 15 through which a sliding element 6 extends. The sliding element 6 has holes 7 which can be aligned with openings 9 in arm 3, so that a bolt can be inserted through aligned openings to maintain the sliding element at the desired relative extension. The desired relative extension is that which maintains the upright 1 substantially vertical when the end 20 of the sliding element presses against the wall of a building 21.

A post 11 projects upwardly from a position adjacent to the open end 15 of arm 3. Sleeves 12, 13 are provided to enable tubular handrails to be inserted therein and to connect with an adjacent scaffold bracket.

Lock bolts 16, 17 retain the handrails in situ.

Upright 1 also has two handrail sleeves 8, 18 which are welded to an inner facing side of the upright.

Lock bolts 28, 19 extend into the sleeves to lock onto handrails when inserted therein.

ooooo Reference is now made to Figure 2 which shows an arrangement which enables the C-shaped bracket 10 to be fitted to and supported by, a corrugated sheet metal roof 22 of a building. The arrangement comprises two 20 plates 23, 24 fabricated from tempered steel of approximately 1300mm in length. The plates are curved so as to fit over the ridges of the corrugations and form a *snug contact therewith when the roof screws have been removed. Long fixing screws 25 attach the plates through the sheet metal cladding to the underlying roof battens.

Each plate 23, 24 has a sleeve 26, 27 welded thereto at right angles for accommodating a transverse support bar 29. A locking bolt 30, 31 is threaded to each sleeve to lock the support bar 29 in position. The support bar 29 includes a cleat 32 (see Figure 1 also) to enable connection to the cleat 14 in arm 2 of the bracket when a bolt is aligned therein.

Reference is now made to Figures 3 and 4 showing a lifting device. The lifting device consists of an frame 33; a boom 34; a winch 35; and lifting wire 36. The "A"frame 33 is wedged against the roof connecting arrangement and supports the boom 34 in bracket 37. A RHS plate 38 connects the end of the boom 34 to the roof.

The boom 34 extends out over the roof of the building to enable the scaffold to be raised or lowered by connecting cleat 14 (see figure 1) with eye 39 by means of a bolt, and driving the winch 35 to withdraw or retract the wire 36 into its housing.

Reference is now made to Figure 5 which shows 10 two scaffolds 10, 10a of the type previously described, erected on a building to form a scaffolding.

-oeeo The scaffolds 10, 10a are connected by support 0o o planks 40, 40a and handrails 41, 42 which are retained by handrail sleeves 8, 18, 45, 46 on the inner side of the vertical uprights l,la, and by handrail sleeves 12, 12a on posts 11, lla.

It will be observed that the scaffolding will 20 elevate a person to a preferred working height relative to a fascia gutter 47. Furthermore, the height of the vertical uprights, eg 2100mm, enables a person of average height to walk beneath the upper arms 2, 2a and to work to maximum effect.

The invention meets the objects of the invention by providing a useful, inexpensive and easy to erect platform for working on the fascia guttering of a building, and by providing the public with a most useful alternative.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated that modifications and additions thereto may be made without departing from the scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (12)

1. A portable scaffold for buildings comprising an essentially C-shaped bracket with one end adapted for bearing vertically downward onto the top of a metal roof through an intermediary arrangement connected to the roof, and the other end having an extendable portion which is adapted to bear horizontally against the wall of the building.

2. A portable scaffold as claimed in claim 1, wherein the C-shaped bracket comprises a vertical upright with horizontal arms projecting from each end thereof. oo

3. A portable scaffold as claimed in claim 2, wherein the uppermost horizontal arm has a downwardly *00 projecting portion on its outermost end which, in turn, has a first cleat to enable attachment to the 20 intermediary arrangement which is connected to the roof. 0

4. A portable scaffold as claimed in claim 3, wherein a second cleat is located on the upper facing side of the uppermost horizontal arm, at a balance point from the vertical upright, to enable the scaffold bracket to be raised or lowered by the aforementioned lifting device. A portable scaffold as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the extendable portion comprises an element which slides within a hollow section of the C-shaped bracket.

6. A portable scaffold as claimed in any one of the claims and wherein a post extends upwardly from a position adjacent to the other or lower end of the C- shaped bracket; said post having means to enable connection of a handrail thereto.

7. A portable scaffold as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein an intermediate section of the C-shaped bracket includes means to enable connection of a handrail thereto.

8. A portable scaffold as claimed in claim i, wherein the intermediary arrangement comprises a pair of profiled plates with sleeves and a support bar.

9. A portable scaffold as claimed in claim 8, wherein the plates are shaped to form an intimate contact S" with separate spaced ridges of roof cladding and to 0o00 extend along such ridges for a predetermined distance to enable adequate attachment to roof support battens when o0o the roof fixing screws are withdrawn and replaced by longer screws. e• 00 o A portable scaffold as claimed in claim 9, wherein an upwardly projecting cleat is located on the support bar to enable connection with the cleat on a downwardly projecting portion of an upper arm of the 0000 scaffold bracket. 00.0

11. Scaffolding comprising two or more scaffolds as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, at least one roof bearing arrangement to which the C-shaped brackets are connected, and a support platform and handrails extending between adjacent scaffolds.

12. A device for lifting a portable scaffold as claimed in any one of claims 1-10 comprising an frame adapted for contact with the intermediary roof connecting arrangement, a boom supported by the frame and adapted to connect to the roof and extend out over the roof edge, and an associated pulley and wire for lifting the portable scaffold.

13. A portable scaffold substantially as herein described with reference to figures 1, 2 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

14. Scaffolding substantially as herein described with reference to figures 1, 2 and 5 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this 30 th Day of January 2002 Alan Herwig By his Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO C g