AU2006203261A1 - A Safety Handrail System for Scaffolding Planks - Google Patents

Description

A Safety Handrail System for Scaffolding Planks _Field of the Invention.

This invention is directed to a hand rail system that can be attached to scaffolding IND planks to provide safety to people working on the planks.

Background Art.

Scaffolding systems are very well known in the marketplace and are widely used in the building trade.

One type of scaffolding system is supported by the ground and comprises upright posts, horizontal bearers and the like which are all attached together to form a scaffolding system. Planks can then be positioned to support a worker. A disadvantage with this type of scaffolding system is the complexity in putting up and taking down of the assembly.

Another type of scaffolding system is attached directly or indirectly to the building itself. For instance, the scaffolding system can be bolted or clamped to the wall of the building, or to the roof, or somewhere else to provide stability and strength. An obvious disadvantage with this type of scaffolding is that it is not really portable.

For many types of "small" jobs such as painting the exterior of the house, it is wellknown to use trestles. The trestles typically comprise "A-frame" type trestles which can be made of steel or aluminium. Planks can then be placed to span between a pair of spaced apart trestles. A person can then stand on the planks.

The planks themselves are commonly made of aluminium and can have a length of between 2-8 m. A typical span between trestles is between 2-8 m and anything more can cause undesirable "bounce" on the planks.

Because the planks are relatively narrow (typically between 20-40 cm in width), it is known to place two planks next to each other to increase the width of the platform comprising the planks. These planks can be clamped together by a mechanical clamp which is well known.

One of the advantages, but also causing one of the disadvantages, with this type of IN trestle arrangement is that it is very portable and can be easily moved from one place to another place around the building. However, this also causes one of the C, disadvantages which is that the planks to not offer any handrail support or safety against a person falling off the planks.

For very lower heights (typically 1.2 m or less), this does not create a real problem, but if the planks are elevated to more than 1.5 m, falling off the planks can cause serious injury or death.

Thus, it is known to place the trestles and the planks very close to the wall of the building and to lean against the building for support. That is, the person on the planks can lean against the building to provide a degree of safety, or can hold something on the wall, grip on the windowsill and the like. The problem with this arrangement is that it is not often convenient to be at a very close proximity to the wall as it is sometimes desirable to have some distance between the wall and the person. Another problem with this arrangement is that if the wall has been painted, it is not often possible to lean against the wall because of the wet paint.

Therefore, some workers resort back to the more complicated scaffolding system to provide a degree of safety but the scaffolding system is quite time-consuming to erect, pull down, move to a different position, erect and the like.

Therefore, there would be an advantage if it were possible to provide some sort of safety scaffolding or handrail to people working on scaffolding planks and where the scaffolding can be attached to the planks. In this manner, a level of safety is provided and it is found that the system is still quite portable.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this (reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Object of the Invention.

INO It is an object of the invention to provide a safety handrail system which can be attached to scaffolding planks and which may overcome at least some of the abovementioned disadvantages or provide a useful or commercial choice.

In one form, the invention resides in a safety handrail assembly which can be attached to a scaffolding plank or planks, the assembly comprising a post support member adapted to extend underneath a scaffolding plank and which has an inner plank retaining member adapted to hold a longitudinal edge of a plank and an outer plank retaining member adapted to hold a longitudinal edge of a plank, a post member adapted to extend generally upwardly from the plank(s) and which is attached directly or indirectly to the post support member, and a rail retaining member which is supported directly or indirectly by the post member and which is adapted to retain a rail member.

One advantage of the present invention is that the safety assembly can be attached to the planks and therefore does not need to be attached to the building, or supported directly by the ground. Thus, if the height of the planks is adjusted, the safety assembly will simply move with the planks and it is generally not necessary to adjust the height of the safety assembly every time the planks are adjusted.

Horizontal handrails can be quite easily attached to the posts via the rail retaining members to provide a level of security and safety to a person on the planks.

Generally, a pair of planks will be provided and it is envisaged that the safely assembly will also clamp these planks to each other which means that a separate clamp is not required.

The post support member may comprise an elongate member. The member will typically have a length sufficient to allow one or two planks to be supported thereby.

Therefore, the post support member will typically have a length of between 30-100 cm. If desired, the post support member may be length adjustable and this can be achieved by any suitable manner including the use of telescopic lengths, and the like.

The post support member may be made of tubular material which may comprise box steel or something similar. If desired, a number of post support members may be provided.

The inner plank retaining member may include the retaining member which will ultimately be closest to the work surface the wall of a building to be painted).

The retaining member may comprise any suitable size or shape to prevent a plank from sliding over the edge of the post support member. Thus, the retaining member may comprise an abutment, a shoulder, a flange, and the like. It is preferred that the retaining member comprises a channel shaped member into which the longitudinal edge of a plank can fit to securely hold plank in place. Another advantage of a channel shaped member is that the plank may be able to slide relative to the safety handrail assembly which allows the safety handrail assembly to be adjusted on the planks if required. The plank retaining member may be made of metal such as steel, plastic material, composite materials and the like. The plank retaining member may be permanently or removably attached to or relative to the post support member.

The assembly includes an outer plank retaining member. The outer plank retaining member will typically retain the opposed longitudinal edge of a plank. The outer plank retaining member may be the same or substantially the same as the inner plank retaining member as described above.

The spacing between the inner and the outer plank retaining member may be fixed or may be adjustable. It is considered better for the spacing to be adjustable such that the spacing can be made larger to allow planks to be positioned and then the retaining members can be brought together to lock the planks between the retaining members.

Typically, one of the retaining members will be fixed and the other one will be adjustable. For instance, the adjustable retaining member may slide on or relative to the post support member. In an embodiment, the post support member may be provided with a longitudinal slot and the retaining member may be provided with a pin that slides along a slot. Some form of locking means may be provided to lock the retaining member in a desired place. Another locking means may be provided to lock the planks to each other and to the system.

A post member is provided as part of the safety handrail system. The post member

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can be attached to or relative to the post support member or somewhere else and will generally extend upwardly and typically substantially at right angles to the post support member. The post member may have any convenient length but it is considered that a suitable length will be between 1.0 -2 m. The post member may be made of any suitable material such as tubular metal box steel), solid material, plastics, fibreglass, laminate materials wood and the like.

A rail retaining member is provided and will typically be attached to the post member.

If the post member is quite long, more than one rail retaining member may be provided to enable a plurality of horizontal rails to be fitted to provide increased safety. The rail retaining member may comprise anything that can lock a rail to or relative to the post member. In an embodiment, the rail retaining member comprises a tubular member into which a rail can pass. Locking means may be provided to lock the rail into position against sliding movement.

The position of the rail retaining member on the post member may be fixed or adjustable. Thus, the rail retaining member may be fastened to the post member by any suitable means such as welding or the use of separate fasteners, or the rail retaining member may be adjustable along the post member and able to be clamped or locked into a desirable position.

The rail members will typically comprise tubular members such as box steel, but may also comprise solid members, plastic members, wooden members and the like.

The rail members can be locked to the rail retaining members by any suitable means and preferably in a releasable manner.

A safety handrail assembly will typically comprise at least two spaced apart post support members, post members etc which are spaced apart on the building plank and interconnected by at least one horizontal rail member.

INO To provide improved safety, a framework may be provided which extends across and Cc above the planks to prevent a person from walking further along the planks. The ,,framework may be attached to a post member and will typically be used adjacent the Slongitudinal ends of the planks. It is envisaged that this additional framework may comprise one or more elongate members which can be removably attached to the post for instance as illustrated in figure 7.

The system preferably includes a securement means to secure the system relative to a trestle or something similar to prevent the planks and the safety handrail system from falling off a trestle or other type of support platform for the planks. To explain, if a person leans heavily against the rails of the safety handrail system, it is possible for the planks to fall off the trestle. Thus, some form of securement means is preferably provided to prevent this from occurring.

The securement means may clamp at least one plank to or relative to the supporting platform (for instance a trestle). Thus, the securement means may comprise a separate clamping assembly which can be fitted to clamp at least one plank to the trestle.

Alternatively, the securement means may form part of the safety handrail system and be clamped to the trestle. However, it is considered most convenient to have the securement means as a separate item as this allows the safety handrail system to be spaced from the trestle etc.

The securement means may be as illustrated in figure 5, and may comprise a plank engaging part which engages with a plank, and a trestle (or other type of support platform) engaging part. Typically, the trestle engaging part will comprise an adjustable clamp arrangement.

Of course, other types of securement devices or means may be provided but some of this may be more cumbersome to use and adjust.

_It is also envisaged that part of the safety handrail assembly may comprise more than one post support member. Thus, the assembly may comprise two or more post support members at right angles or other angles relative to each other to support planks at IN different angles relative to each other.

In another version of the invention, there is provided an improved plank locking device to lock a pair of planks together. While plank locking devices are known, they suffer from some disadvantages. One disadvantage is that known plank locking devices have relatively simple end members that can clamp against the longitudinal edge of a plank but it is generally not possible to loosen the locking device and to slide the locking device along the plank. Instead, as soon as the locking device is loosened, it falls away from the plank and needs to be reattached. This can be quite fiddly and there would be an advantage if it were possible to loosen the locking device and enable it to slide along the planks to a desired position. Another disadvantage with known plank locking devices is that the locking mechanism is quite fiddly and generally comprises a threaded rod which extends through the locking device and a handle which is rotated at one end of the threaded rod to lock the planks together.

There would be an advantage if it were possible to provide a simpler system which could lock the planks together more quickly.

Therefore, in a form of the invention. There is provided a plank locking device which comprises an elongate member which is adapted to extend below at least a pair of planks and onto which the planks can be supported, the elongate member having one end formed with an angled member which is adapted to extend over the top wall of a plank, the elongate member having another end formed with a similar angled member which is also adapted to extend over the top wall of a plank, this angled member also able to move towards and away from the other angled member, and a hinged locking member to lock this angled member in the locking position, the locking member able to move between a free position where this angled member can move, and a locking position where this angled member is held.

Thus, rather than a complicated threaded rod arrangement, a simple hinged locking member can be flicked open to allow the distance between the angled members to be adjusted and then flicked shut to lock the angled members in position. By having properly shaped members, these extend over the top of the planks which means that the device can be loosened without the device immediately falling off the planks.

Additional clamping can be provided by the use of threaded rods extending through nuts etc.

The angled member may comprise a substantially U-shaped channel member which can extend over the top wall and the bottom wall of a plank, or may comprise a simpler L shaped member which can extend only over the top wall and side wall of a plank.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which:.

Figure 1.

trestle.

Figure 2.

Figure 3.

system.

Figure 4.

system.

Figure 5.

Figure 6.

Figure 7.

in figure 6.

Figure 8.

Figures 9 a-d.

Figure 10.

Illustrates the handrail safety system in use and secured to the top of a Illustrates a particular configuration of the handrail safety system.

Illustrates another particular configuration of the handrail safety Illustrates another particular configuration of the handrail safety Illustrates a preferred type of securement means.

Illustrates a side view of part of the handrail safety system.

Illustrates how certain parts can be removed from the system illustrated Illustrates in close-up detail the outer plank retaining member.

Illustrate the operation of the outer plank retaining member.

Illustrates a trestle stabilising arm and its attachment to the trestle.

Best Mode.

Referring to the illustrations and initially to figure 1, there is illustrated a pair of components that form part of the invention. Each component contains a bottom horizontal post support member 10 which comprises a length of box steel. One end ION (called the inner end for convenience) contains a fixed inner plank retaining member

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11 which is made of U-shaped steel channel. The channel is sized to accept the O longitudinal edge of a plank 12 the plank being best illustrated in figure 2.

The other end of post support member 10 contains an "outer" plank retaining member 13 which is also formed from U-shaped steel channel and can also accept the longitudinal edge of a plank 14.

The spacing between member 11 and member 13 is such that two planks 12,14 can be placed side by side between the members.

Best illustrated in figure 8, is that outer plank retaining member 13 is not fixed rigidly to post support member 10. Instead, post support member 10 contains a slot 15 and outer plank retaining member 13 contains a pin or something similar (not illustrated) which extends in the slot thereby making member 13 adjustable to make the spacing between member 13 and member 11 adjustable.

Thus, member 13 can be positioned such that a pair of planks 12, 14 will be properly held between the members. However, when member 13 is retracted the distance between the members 11 and 13 is increased and a pair of planks can be placed on top of post support member 10 with little difficulty. Once the planks are in place, member 13 can be pushed forwardly to "lock" the planks in place, or put differently to lock the scaffolding to the planks.

The embodiment of the invention as illustrated shows a very simple locking arrangement see for instance figure 8) to lock member 13 in place. The locking arrangement comprises a small hinged member 16. In the unlocking position the hinged member 16 is retracted and allows member 13 to slide along the slot.

SHowever, when the member 13 has been pushed against the planks, hinged member 16 can be returned to the closed position where it abuts against the back of member 13 _and prevents member 13 from retracting.

This particular arrangement is quite simple and is particularly suitable if the width of ION the planks is known. However, in a variation of the invention, member 13 might be locked at any suitable position relative to slot 15 to accommodate planks of different widths.

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Member 13 and/or 16 are provided with a nut 31 or something similar which can be welded to the member and which accommodates a threaded rod 30 which can be bent into an L-shaped configuration such that it can be more easily rotated. Rotation of rod will cause the planks to be tightly clamped together and against the scaffolding assembly.

A post member 17 is provided. Post member 17 is made of steel box section and has a length of between 1-2 m. The lower end of post member 17 is welded to one end of post support member 10 (see for instance figure 1) A number of rail retaining members 18 is provided on post member 17. The rail retaining members 18 comprise lengths of box section of a larger cross-section into which rails 19 of smaller cross-section can be fitted. The post member may have two or three (or other numbers) of rail retaining members 18. In the particular embodiment, the post members are shown as having two rail retaining members.

The rails 19 can be locked to the rail retaining members using a threaded rod 20 which passes through an attached to welded nut. This particular locking mechanism is quite well known.

One of the components can be modified to have a frame assembly 22 attached to post member 17 to act as a guard against a person falling off the end of the planks. This is perhaps best illustrated in figure 7, where the frame assembly comprises elongate horizontal assembly members 22 which can be lifted out of a socket 32 in the post member when not required.

In use, planks 12, 14 can be positioned on an A-frame trestle in a desired manner.

Then, the safety handrail system can be attached. Alternatively, the handrail system can be attached before the planks are rested on the A-frame trestle.

The safety system can be quite easily removed if desired.

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By slightly loosening the outer plank retaining member 13, the system can be slid along the planks 12, 14 to a desired place and then clamped (some scaffolding planks are provided with rubber edge strips and it may be somewhat difficult to easily slide the safety system along the plank members so the alternative may be to remove the system).

The safety system also functions to clamp planks 12, 14 together so a separate clamp is not required.

Another advantage of the safety system is that it can clamp the planks to the trestle or other support to prevent the entire arrangement from falling off the trestle or tipping over. To do this, a securement means in the form of a clamping assembly 40 is provided and the clamping assembly 40 is illustrated in figure 5 separately and is illustrated in various other figures (for instance figure 1, 2, 4, etc). Briefly, clamping assembly 40 in the particular embodiment clamps one of the planks to a support.

Referring initially to figure 5, the clamping assembly 40 contains a somewhat Ushaped main member 41 having a pair of spaced apart legs portions 42, the free end of which contain an L-shaped plank engaging part 43. Figure 1 and figure 4 show the clamping assembly 40 in place and illustrate particularly the position of the plank engaging part 43. Slidingly attached to the somewhat U-shaped main member 41 is a clamping bar 44. The arrangement is such that a support (for instance the rung on a scaffold (figure or the edge of an adjacent plank (figure is positioned between the clamping bar 44 and the plank engaging part 43. Clamping bar 44 can then be moved to tightly clamp the support between the clamping bar and the plank engaging part. The movement can be done using a pair of threaded rods 45 (see for instance Sfigure Figure 1 illustrates the safety handrail system attached to a pair of planks with the securement means 40 clamping one plank to a trestle 46.

IDFigure 2 illustrates how the safety handrail system can be supported on one side by a Cc tall trestle 47 and on the other side by a short trestle 48 with a securement means ,Iclamping a plank to each trestle 47 and 48.

Figure 3 illustrates how the safety handrail system can be used around the corner of a building.

Figure 4 illustrates how the securement means 40 can be used to clamp two sets of planks which are at right angles to each other in a safe and secure manner.

Figure 10 illustrates a trestle stabilising leg 50 which can be attached to a trestle 51 using a simple locking arrangement 52.

Throughout the specification and the claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to apply the inclusion of the stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Throughout the specification and claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about" will be understood to not be limited to the value for the range qualified by the terms.

Any embodiment of the invention is meant to be illustrative only and is not meant to be limiting to the invention Therefore, it should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to any embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (13)

1. 2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the post support member comprises an elongate tubular member having a length of between 20-100 cm.
2. 3. The assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner plank retaining member comprises a substantially U-shaped channel member which is attached adjacent one end of the post support member.
3. 4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the inner plank retaining member is fixed to the post support member. The assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer plank retaining member comprises a substantially U-shaped channel member.
4. 6. The assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the outer plank retaining member is adjustable on the post support member.
5. 7. The assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the post support member contains an elongate slot and the outer plank retaining member contains a pin which can travel in the slot. The assembly as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the outer plank 1 (retaining member can be locked to the post support member.
6. 9. The assembly as claimed in claim 8, comprising a hinged member ¢€3 which can move between an open position to enable the outer plank retaining member to be adjusted, and a closed position to prevent the outer plank retaining member from IDfurther retraction. The assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the post member comprises an elongate member having a length of between 1-2 m.
7. 11. The assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the rail retaining member comprises a tubular member which is attached to the post member.
8. 12. The assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a plurality of rail retaining members on each post member.
9. 13. The assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including locking means on at least some of the rail retaining members to lock the rails to the rail retaining members.
10. 14. The assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including at least one rail member.
11. 15. The assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims attached to a pair of scaffolding planks.
12. 16. The assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a securement means to secure the planks to a support (such as a trestle).
13. 17. The assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a stabilising leg attached to a trestle. ,O O c 18. A safety handrail assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. cn DATED this 31 s day of July 2006 Brent Dowling D By his Patent Attorneys gC CULLEN CO. (O