AU2006200200A1

AU2006200200A1 - Hook-On Scaffold

Info

Publication number: AU2006200200A1
Application number: AU2006200200A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Robert Miles
Original assignee: AD HOC NSW Pty Ltd
Current assignee: AD HOC (NSW) Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-07-28
Filing date: 2006-01-18
Publication date: 2007-02-15
Also published as: US20080264725A1; AU2006201721B1

Description

18.Jan. 2006 14:26 Wallinston-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 3 0 P/00/009 Regulation 3 Regulation 3

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION invention Title: HOOK-ON SCAFFOLD The invention is described in the following statement, including the best method of performing it known to us: Our Ref: 052046 COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:26 Wallington-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 4 2 SHOOK-ON

SCAFFOLD

The present invention relates to safety devices for use in the construction of buildings and, more particularly 00 5 to support structures for personnel working above ground level.

o

BACKGROUND

o Safety of personnel involved in the building industry V. has increasingly become the subject of regulation. A C( 10 particularly dangerous aspect of work on construction sites is where personnel is required to work at some height above ground level, for example on two-storey buildings or where steeply sloping terrain is involved.

In at least some jurisdictions it is now a requirement that scaffolding be installed where personnel is required to work at a greater than a set height above ground level.

Scaffolding supported at ground level involves the erection of a large number of structural elements of frames with adjustable feet, cross bracing and fasteners etc, being expensive in both material and labour. Moreover, where sloping ground, projecting patios and other obstructions are encountered, the use of scaffolding becomes particularly awkward and time consuming.

It is an object of the present invention to address or ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.

I

COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:27 Wailinston-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 3

NOTE:

The term "comprising" (and grammatical variations e thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive Ssense of "having" or "including", and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of".

0g BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION SAccordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, o there is provided a scaffold assembly comprising at least C< 10 one pair of hook-on scaffold elements; said scaffold elements adapted for support of at least one builder's plank; each of said elements comprising a vertical main shaft provided with a hook structure at an upper end of said main shaft and a securing bracket at a lower end of said main shaft; each of said hook-on scaffold elements further comprising a braced hook-on arm; said hook structure adapted for engagement with a horizontal top plate of a building frame, and said securing bracket adapted for engagement with a vertical stud or a horizontal element of said building frame.

Preferably, said assembly further comprises a safety rail assembly for attachment to said pair of hook-on scaffold elements.

Preferably, said vertical main shaft comprises a length of metal rectangular hollow section; said main shaft COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:27 Wallinston-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 6 4 NO provided at intervals along its length with hooking eyes o projecting from said main shaft in a first outward

CA

p direction; said hooking eyes adapted for engagement with C' said braced hook-on arm.

00 Preferably, said hook structure comprises a metal horizontal plate projecting from said upper end of said Smain shaft in a second inward direction; said hook CO structure further comprising a mLeal verLical plate o depending from an outer end of said horizontal plate.

Preferably, said securing bracket comprises a generally U-shaped fabrication comprising a spaced apart pair of arms extending from a back plate in said second inward direction; said arms adapted to accept between them a said vertical stud or a horizontal element of said frame.

Preferably, said pair of arms are of a length so as to project past an inner face of said vertical stud or horizontal element; outer ends of said arms provided with apertures adapted to accept therethrough a securing element so as to secure said securing bracket to said vertical stud or said horizontal element.

Preferably, said securing element is a first wing bolt passing through a first of said apertures in a first of said arms and threadably engaging with a threaded one of said apertures in a second of said arms.

COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:27 Wa lington-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 7 Preferably, one of said arms is provided with a threaded aperture at a median position along said arm; said 1 qthreaded aperture adapted to accept a second wing bolt; said second wing bolt adapted for engagement with said 00 i vertical stud or said horizontal niember so as to prevent any movement of said bracket relative said vertical stud or C said horizontal element.

0 0 r Preferably, said first wing bolt and said second wing Sbolt are secured to said bracket by a length of chain.

Preferably, said securing bracket is rotatably attached to said main shaft; attachment of said securing bracket arranged so as to allow said bracket to rotate degrees between a first position for engagement with said vertical stud and a second position for engagement with said horizontal element.

Preferably, said hooking eyes comprise U-shaped elements projecting horizontally from said main shaft; arms of said U-shaped elements attached to opposing sides of said main shaft, and wherein separation between an outer face of said main shaft and inside faces of cross bars of said U-shaped elements is adapted to accept hooking lugs of said braced hook-on arm.

Preferably, said main shaft is provided with at least one pair of said hooking eyes.

COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:27 Wa inston-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 8 6 o Preferably, said main shaft is provided with two pairs D of said hooking eyes; said two pairs providing two levels p of attachment of said hook-on arm.

00 Preferably, one of each of said at least one pair of hooking eyes is provided with an aperture through said Scross bar of said U-shaped element; said aperture adapted o to receive a spring-loaded pin for securing one of said 4 hooking lugs inserted in said hooking eye.

Ci Preferably, said braced hook-on arm comprises a horizontal support member, an angled bracing member and at least one intermediate brace member extending between said horizontal supporting member and said angled bracing member.

Preferably, an inner end of each of said horizontal support member and said angled bracing member is provided with one of said hooking lugs; each respective one of said hooking lugs adapted for insertion into a corresponding one of said pair of hooking eyes.

Preferably, one of said hooking lugs for said horizontal support member is provided with an aperture adapted for passage therethrough of said spring-loaded pin; said spring-loaded pin passing through said aperture in a said hooking eye when said braced hook-on arm is assembled to said main shaft.

COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:27 Wallington-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 9 7 kN Preferably, said horizontal support member is of o length sufficient to support thereon two side-by-side said Sbuilder's planks.

00 Preferably, an inner end and an outer end of said horizontal support member are provided with retaining plank safety hook elements; said safety hook elements adapted to S retain respective outer edges of said side-by-side C builder's planks.

NO

(C Preferably, said horizontal support member is further provided at an outer end with a vertical safety rail support element.

Preferably, adjoining ones of said hook-on scaffold elements in use are adapted to each support a stanchion of said safety railing in a respective said safety rail support element; said safety railing extending between said adjoining hook-on scaffold elements; said safety rail comprising a pair of said stanchions and upper and lower horizontal rail elements.

Preferably, said stanchions and said horizontal rail elements are interconnected by snap-lock hooks.

Preferably, said horizontal rail elements comprise telescoping inner and outer tube members; said inner and COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:28 WalIi n ton-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 8 O^ outer tube members allowing adjustment of length of said o safety railing between adjoining said stanchions.

Preferably, said safety railing is further provided 00 with locking arms; said locking arms comprising a tubular member provided at a first inner end with a hook element o adapted for engagement with said top plate, a vertical stud o or a horizontal element of said frame; said tubular member \O provided at a second outer end with a snap-lock hook for o engagement with said upper rail element of said safety !0 railing.

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a builder' plank support system adapted for attachment to frame elements of a building; said system including a scaffold assembly provided with a hook plate at an upper end of said scaffold assembly and a securing bracket at a lower end; said securing bracket adapted for fastening to a vertical stud or a horizontal element of said frame.

In still a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method for supporting at least one builder's plank and safety railing at the side of a building; said method including the steps of: COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan, 2006 14:28 Wa linston-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 11 9 NO hooking a hook plate of at least one pair of hooko on scaffold assemblies over a horizontal top plate a of a frame of said building, 00 securing a bracket of each of said scaffold assemblies to a vertical stud or a horizontal 0 Selement of said frame, ci .0 o(c) positioning said at least one builder's plank over ci horizontal members of hook-on arms of said at CI least one pair of said scaffold assemblies.

Preferably, said method further includes the steps of; inserting stanchions of said safety railing into stanchion support elements of said scaffold assemblies, attaching horizontal railing elements to said stanchions, cross bracing said railings by locking arms extending between said railings and said frame.

In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a safety system for personnel engaged in construction of a building; said system including a scaffold assembly adapted for attachment to elements of a frame of said building; adjoining ones of said scaffold assembly adapted for support of at least one builder's COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:28 Wallinston-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 12 10 O plank and a safety railing, and wherein a lower end of said o scaffold assembly is secured by a bracket to a vertical p stud or a horizontal element of said frame.

00 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be g described with reference to the accompanying drawings o wherein: ci N Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a hook-on C- 10 scaffold assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a main vertical shaft and associated components of the scaffold assembly of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view of a hook-on arm of the scaffold assembly of Figure 1, Figure 3A is a side view of a spring-loaded pin mechanism, Figure 4 is a perspective detailed view of a securing bracket of the scaffold assembly of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 5 are representations of bolts for use with the scaffold assembly of Figures 1 to 4, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a safety railing for attachment to the scaffold assembly of Figure 1, Figure 7 is a perspective view of a pair of scaffold assemblys of Figure 1 attached to the frame of a building COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:28 Wallngton-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 13 11 I and supporting a pair of builder's planks and a safety o railing.

ci c' DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED

EMBODIMENTS

00 With reference to Figure 1, a scaffold assembly Saccording to a preferred embodiment of the invention, g comprises a vertical main shaft 12 and a braced hook-on arm o 14. Main shaft 12 includes a vertical length of rectangular Ssection tubing 16 to which is affixed at an upper end 18 a C( 10 hook structure. A securing bracket 22 is rotatably aLtached at a lower end 24 of tubing 16. Also attached at intervals along the lower portion of the length of tubing 16, are two pairs of hooking eyes 26 and 26A in the form of U-shaped brackets as best seen in Figure 2.

Braced hooking arm 14 comprises a horizontal support member 28, and an angled bracing member 30 formed of flat bars affixed one to the other towards their respective outer ends and provided with intermediate bracing elements 32. Both the inner end of horizontal support member 28 and angled bracing member 30 are provided with vertical hooking lugs 34 and 36 respectively (as best seen in Figure 3), adapted for insertion into the upper and lower ones of the pair of hooking eyes 26 and 26A.

Braced hooking arm 14 is further provided with a spring loaded pin mechanism 33 (shown in enlarged detail in Figure 3A) located on the underside and at the inner end of COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18-Jan. 2006 14:28 WaIlington-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 14 12 INO horizontal support member 28. Mechanism 33 comprises a u- 0 for slidingly retaining pin 38. Pin 38 is provided with a washer 39, welded to pin 38, and a coaxial compression spring 43 retained between washer 39 and the inside of S bracket 41. Pin 38 is further provided with an aperture 47 at an outer end of pin 38 for attachment of a split ring by which means pin 38 may be pulled into a retracted position relative to vertical hooking lug 34. Vertical (N 0 hooking lug 34 is provided with a hole 37 (as shown in Figure 3) coaxial with pin 38 of mechanism 33.

Sides of the U-shaped brackets 26 and 26A are affixed to opposite sides of tubing 16 such that a sufficient gap is left between the inside face of the base of the bracket and the outside face of tubing 16 for insertion of vertical hooking lugs 34 and 36.

Each of the upper ones 26 of the pairs of hooking eyes 26 and 26A is provided with a hole 27, the arrangement being such that when lug 36 is inserted into hooking eye 26, initially with pin 38 of spring-loaded mechanism 33 retracted, the pin 38 is driven by spring 43 through holes 37 and 27 in vertical hooking lug 34 and booking eye 26 respectively (as best seen in Figure 1) to secure braced hooking arm 14 to main shaft 12. Main shaft 12 may also be provided with an aperture 29 axially aligned with aperture 27 of hooking eye 26 such that with a sufficiently long pin COMS ID No: SSMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:29 Wailington-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. ]b -13 INO 38, the end of the pin passes through the wall of tubing The vertical hooking lug 34 of horizontal support member 28 is extended upwards to incorporate an inner end 00 safety hook element 40. An outer end safety hook element 42 S is provided near the outer end of horizontal support member 28. Half way between these safety hook elements 40 and 42 o is a divider lug 46. The length of horizonbal support o member 28 and the distances between the divider lug 46 and insides of safety hooks elements 40 and 42 is such as to provide support for two side by side builder's planks 44.

The outermost end of horizontal support member 28 is provided with a vertical safety rail support element 48, the function of which will be described below.

With reference now to Figures 1, 2 and 4, the securing bracket 22 rotatably attached to the lower end 24 of main shaft 12, comprises a back plate 50 and first and second side plates 51 and 52 to form a generally U-shaped structure. Back plate 50 is provided with an aperture 51 to allow bracket 22 to be attached by a bolt 53 to the lower end 24 of main shaft 12. For this purpose, main shaft 12 is provided with an aperture 54 and a threaded nut 55 welded to the inside wall of tubing 16 as can be seen in the section A-A of Figure 2.

First and second side plates 51 and 52 are respectively provided with an aperture 56 and an aperture COMS ID No: SBMI-2436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:29 Wal inston-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 16 14 and threaded nut 58 adapted to accept therethrough the wing bolt 60 shown in Figure 5A. The length of first and second c side plates 51 and 52 is such that a vertical stud, or a horizontal element of a building frame can be retained 00 between the side plates 51 and 52 and back plate 50 and wing bolt gc Side plate 51 is further provided with a second o aperture and threaded nut 62 at an intermediate position ci 0 along the length of side plate 51, adapted to accept the C( 10 shorter wing bolt 64 shown in Figure 5B. Wing bolt 64 may be driven through the aperture and threaded nut 62 to engage with the side of a vertical stud or horizontal member of a building frame to firmly secure the securing bracket 22 to the frame member. Preferably, wing bolts and 64 are attached to bracket 22 by short lengths of chain and 66.

In Use With reference to Figures 6 and 7, a pair of scaffold assemblys 10 and 10A are shown attached to the side of a building frame 70. Scaffold assemblys 10 and 10A are spaced apart to suit the length of two side by side builder's planks 44.

The portion of building frame 70 shown in Figure 7 includes vertical uprights or studs 72, a top plate 74 and an intermediate noggin or horizontal frame member 76. The hook structures 20 and 20A are hooked over top plate 74, COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:29 Wal inston-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 17 15 NO with the securing bracket 22 of scaffold assembly o secured to one of the studs 72 while the securing bracket Sof scaffold assembly 10A is rotated at 90 degrees and O secured to horizontal frame member 76.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 7, the braced hooko on arms 14 and 14A have been attached to the upper pair of S hooking eyes. At this higher level, in some jurisdictions p( at least, it may be a requirement that the scaffolding

NO

g arrangement of scaffold assemblys 10, 10A and planks 44 be provided with a safety railing.

Figure 6 shows a safety railing system 100 for use with scaffolding elements 10 and 10A. Safety railing 100 is comprised of stanchions 102 and horizontal top rail 104 and horizontal intermediate rail 106. Each of top rail 104 and 106 is made up of telescoping sections so that the length of the railings between adjoining stanchions may be readily adjusted.

Preferably, stanchions 102 and rails 104 and 106 are interconnected by snap-locks 108. The vertical safety rail support elements 48 and 48A of braced hook-on arms 14 and 14A are adapted to accept as inserts stanchions 102 and 102A of safety railing 100.

For added security, safety railing 100 is provided with a number of cross braces 110 connected at an outer end by a snap-lock fitting 112 to top rail 104. Cross brace 110 is provided at an inner end with a hook structure 114 COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:29 Wallinston-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 18 16 NO adapted for hooking over the top plate of a building frame.

o Hook structure 114 may be provided with an aperture for Ssecuring the hook to the building frame.

It will be understood that the scaffold assemblies of 00 the present invention may be used equally effectively on Stimber, steel or aluminium framing members. As well, the CA components making up the scaffolding elements and safety 0 railing may be fabricated out of steel, aluminium or a c o combination of these materials.

SUMMARY

The hook-on scaffold 180 is an adjustable apparatus which can be used by carpenters/builders who are installing truss roofs and also floor bearers on two storey buildings. The scaffold is used in a set of at least two.

It does not require tools when setting up. The scaffold, which can accommodate two side-by-side builder's planks, gives workers a bigger safety area to walk on. The work area width is enlarged from 95mm to 460mm. When set at correct working height, safety harnesses are not required. Provision is made for a detachable safety rail.

The components making up the hook-on scaffold are: 1. MAIN SHAFT WITH FOUR HOOKING EYES.

2. HOOK PLATE.

3. HOOK ON ARM.

4. SAFETY BRACKET.

5. LOCKING WING BOLT.

6. SPRING-LOADED MECHANISM 7. SAFETY RAIL 1. MAIN SHAFT WITH FOUR HOOKING EYES.

The Main Shaft (12) is preferably a square tubing 50mm by by 1.6mm and the average length is 1.3 metres. Hooking eyes (26) and (26A) are welded to the main shaft (12) at the required safety height with a 6mm gap from the main shaft Hooking eyes (26) are different to hooking eyes (26A) in that they have a hole to enable a spring-loaded COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan, 2006 14:30 WaI~iiiton-Duuuer Sydney No-3844 19 1 27 pin to lock the hook-on arm (14) to the main shaft (12).

o There is a nut (55) welded inside the bottom of the main o shaft (12) to which the safety bracket (22) is attached.

2. HOOK PLATE.

The Hook Plate (20) is welded to the main shaft (12) which 00 hangs over the top plates of timber/metal frame. The hook plate (20) is 100mm wide to suit 95mm to 100=1 top plates.

3. HOOK ON ARM.

o The hook on arm (14) is made fr om steel which consist5, of two bars, the first being a horizontal bar and the other bar is at an angle. It has a non adjustable hooking lug (34) and (36) at the end of the horizontal bar (28) and the V.0 end of the angle bar Hooking lug (34) has a hole in o it to enable a spring-loaded pin (38) to lock the hook on 0 arm (14) to the main shaft For extra strength braces (32) are welded between the horizontal bar (28) and the angle bar The hook on arm (14) hooks into the hooking eyes on the main shaft which are set at the appropriate working height conditions. At each end of the arm is a plank safety hook(40) (42) to hold the two planks in place and between each plank there is a divider lug On the outside of the hook on arm (14) a cylinder (48) is welded to hold the-safety rail (100).

4. SAFETY BRACKET.

The safety bracket (22) is bolted to the main shaft (12) and locks around the stud of timber/metal. The safety bracket (22) is a shaped frame of flat steel. It is held in place around the stud by a wing bolt (60) The safety bracket (22) can be rotated 90 'degrees to suit noggins on a frame. The safety bracket (22) consists of a back plate (50) which can be rotated and has a hole (51) to insert a bolt (53) to attach the safety bracket (22) to the main shaft Two side plates (51) (52) are attached to the back plate (50) Side plate (51) has two nuts welded to accommodate wing bolts (60) (64) and safety chain is also welded to it. Side plate (52) has a hole to accommodate wing bolt and the safety chain (66) is also welded to it.

LOCKING WING BOLT.

A wing bolt (60) is at the end of the safety bracket (22) and a locking wing bolt which bites into the stud, i~s half wealy along the safety bracket (22) The two wing bolts are on opposite sides of the safety bracket Attached to each wing bolt (60) (64) are safety chains (66) COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by P1 Australia: Time (I-tm) 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2066 14:36 Wall ington-Dummcr Sydney No.3844 P. 26 18 On each wing bolt (60) (64) there is a spacer o washer to control penetration of the wing bolts.

c-i 6. SPRING-LOADED MECHANISM The spring-loaded mechanism (33) Is a safety feature that secures the hook-on arm (14) to the main shaft The 00 spring-loaded mechanism (33) consists of a U-shaped bracket spring-loaded pin (38) and spring Pin (.38) extends through holes in bracket (41) and is5 provided with a hole (47) for attachment of a split ring Pin (38) 0 is further provided with a washer (39) welded to the shaft 0 of the pin.

Cl 7. SAFETY RAIL.

o The safety rail (100) consists of two horizontal rails Cl (104) (106) utilising telescopic aluminium. tubing. There are two upright posts (102), each having two snap lock hooks (108), one hook being at the top of the post and the other at the centre of the post. The bottom end of the upright post (102) is inserted into the cylinder (48) welded to the hook-on arm The Safety rail (100) is held in place by the snap lock hooks (108) to upright posts (102). A locking arm (110) locks the safety rail (104) to the frame with a snap lock on one end and a hook (114) on the other end. The hook has a hole so it can be fixed to the frame.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by P1 Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18

Claims

18.Jan. 2006 14:30 Wallinston-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 21 19 IN CLAIMS Cl 1. A scaffold assembly comprising at least one pair of Shook-on scaffold elements; said scaffold elements 00 adapted for support of at least one builder's plank; each of said elements comprising a vertical main shaft o provided with a hook structure at an upper end of said o main shaft and a securing bracket at a lower end of \0 said main shaft; each of said hook-on scaffold Selements further comprising a braced hook-on arm; said hook structure adapted for engagement with a horizontal top plate of a building frame, and said securing bracket adapted for engagement with a vertical stud or a horizontal element of said building frame. 2. The scaffold assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly further comprises a safety rail assembly for attachment to said pair of hook-on scaffold elements. 3. The scaffold assembly of claim 1 or 2 wherein said vertical main shaft comprises a length of metal rectangular hollow section; said main shaft provided at intervals along its length with hooking eyes projecting from said main shaft in a first outward direction; said hooking eyes adapted for engagement with said braced hook-on arm. COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:30 Wallinston-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 22 20 INO 4. The scaffold assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3 o wherein said hook structure comprises a metal Shorizontal plate projecting from said upper end of said main shaft in a second inward direction; said 00 hook structure further comprising a metal vertical Splate depending from an outer end of said horizontal C plate. \0 5. The scaffold assembly of claim 4 wherein said securing Sbracket comprises a generally U-shaped fabrication comprising a spaced apart pair of arms extending from a back plate in said second inward direction; said arms adapted to accept between them a said vertical stud or a horizontal element of said frame. 6. The scaffold assembly of claim 5 wherein said pair of arms are of a length so as to project past an inner face of said vertical stud or horizontal element; outer ends of said arms provided with apertures adapted to accept therethrough a securing element so as to secure said securing bracket to said vertical stud or said horizontal element. 7. The scaffold assembly of claim 6 wherein said securing element is a first wing bolt passing through a first of said apertures in a first of said arms and COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:31 Wallinston-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 23 21 O threadably engaging with a threaded one of said o apertures in a second of said arms. ci 8. The scaffold assembly of any one of claims 5 to 7 00 wherein one of said arms is provided with a threaded aperture at a median position along said arm; said Sthreaded aperture adapted to accept a second wing o bolt; said second wing bolt adapted for engagement with said vertical stud or said horizontal member so NO o as to prevent any movement of said bracket relative said vertical stud or said horizontal element. 9. The scaffold assembly of claim 8 wherein each said first wing bolt and said second wing bolt are secured to said bracket by a length of chain. The scaffold assembly of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said securing bracket is rotatably attached to said main shaft; attachment of said securing bracket arranged so as to allow said bracket to rotate degrees between a first position for engagement with said vertical stud and a second position for engagement with said horizontal element. 11. The scaffold assembly of any one of claims 3 to wherein said hooking eyes comprise U-shaped elements projecting horizontally from said main shaft; arms of said U-shaped elements attached to opposing sides of COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:31 Wallington-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 24 22 \O said main shaft, and wherein separation between an o outer face of said main shaft and inside faces of Scross bars of said U-shaped elements is adapted to accept hooking lugs of said braced hook-on arm. 12. The scaffold assembly of any one of claims 3 to 11 o wherein said main shaft is provided with at least one Spair of said hooking eyes. \O o 13. The scaffold assembly of any one of claims 3 to 12 CA wherein said main shaft is provided with two pairs of said hooking eyes; said two pairs providing two levels of attachment of said hook-on arm. 14. The scaffold assembly of claim 12 or 13 wherein one of each of said at least one pair of hooking eyes is provided with an aperture through said cross bar of said U-shaped element; said aperture adapLed to receive a spring-loaded pin for securing one of said hooking lugs inserted in said hooking eye. The scaffold assembly of any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein said braced hook-on arm comprises a horizontal support member, an angled bracing member and at least one intermediate brace member extending between said horizontal supporting member and said angled bracing member. COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:31 Wal lington-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 23 16. The scaffold assembly of claim 15 wherein an inner end o of each of said horizontal support member and said Sangled bracing member is provided with one of said c' hooking lugs; each respective one of said hooking lugs 00 adapted for insertion into a corresponding one of said Spair of hooking eyes. S17. The scaffold assembly of claim 15 or 16 wherein one of 0 asaid hooking lugs for said horizontal support member 0 0 is provided with an aperture adapted for passage C] therethrough of said spring-loaded pin; said spring- loaded pin passing through said aperture in a said hooking eye when said braced hook-on arm is assembled to said main shaft. 18. The scaffold assembly of any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein said horizontal support member is of length sufficient to support thereon two side-by-side said builder's planks.

19. The scaffold assembly of claim 18 wherein an inner end and an outer end of said horizontal support member are provided with retaining plank safety hook elements; said safety hook elements adapted to retain respective outer edges of said side-by-side builder's planks. The scaffold assembly of any one of claims 15 to 19 wherein said horizontal support member is further COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:31 WaIlinston-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 26 24 INO provided at an outer end with a vertical safety rail o support element. ci

21. The scaffold assembly of claim 19 wherein adjoining 00 ones of said hook-on scaffold elements in use are adapted to each support a stanchion of said safety o railing in a respective said safety rail support element; said safety railing extending between said ^O adjoining hook-on scaffold elements; said safety rail Scomprising a pair of said stanchions and upper and lower horizontal rail elements.

22. The scaffold assembly of claim 21 wherein said stanchions and said horizontal rail elements are interconnected by snap-lock hooks.

23. The scaffold assembly of claim 21 or 22 wherein said horizontal rail elements comprise telescoping inner and outer tube members; said inner and outer tube members allowing adjustment of length of said safety railing between adjoining said stanchions.

24. The scaffold assembly of any one of claims 21 to 23 wherein said safety railing is further provided with locking arms; said locking arms comprising a tubular member provided at a first inner end with a hook element adapted for engagement with said top plate, a vertical stud or a horizontal element of said frame; COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:31 Wallinston-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 27 25 said tubular member provided at a second outer end \N O with a snap-lock hook for engagement with said upper ci Srail element of said safety railing. 00

25. A builder' plank support system adapted for attachment to frame elements of a building; said system including Sa scaffold assembly provided with a hook plate at an Supper end of said scaffold assembly and a securing IQ bracket at a lower end; said securing bracket adapted o for fastening to a vertical stud or a horizontal element of said frame.

26. A method for supporting at least one builder's plank and safety railing at the side of a building; said method including the steps of: hooking a hook plate of at least one pair of hook-on scaffold assemblies over a horizontal top plate of a frame of said building, securing a bracket of each of said scaffold assemblies to a vertical stud or a horizontal element of said frame, positioning said at least one builder's plank over horizontal members of hook-on arms of said at least one pair of said scaffold assemblies. COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18 18.Jan. 2006 14:32 Wallinston-Dummer Sydney No.3844 P. 28 26

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said method further 0 O includes the steps of; S(a) inserting stanchions of said safety railing 0 0 into stanchion support elements of said scaffold assemblies, 0 0< attaching horizontal railing elements to said 0 o stanchions, C<O S(c) cross bracing said railings by locking arms extending between said railings and said frame.

28. A safety system for personnel engaged in construction of a building; said system including a scaffold assembly adapted for attachment to elements of a frame of said building; adjoining ones of said scaffold assembly adapted for support of at least one builder's plank and a safety railing, and wherein a lower end of said scaffold assembly is secured by a bracket to a vertical stud or a horizontal element of said frame.

29. A scaffold assembly as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED: 18 January 2006 AD HOC (NSW) PTY LTD by their Patent Attorneys; WALLINGTON-DUMMER COMS ID No: SBMI-02436025 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:36 Date 2006-01-18