AU2010201982A1

AU2010201982A1 - A clamp

Info

Publication number: AU2010201982A1
Application number: AU2010201982A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Geogg Adshead
Original assignee: SCAFFOLD LOGISTICS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Smartscaff Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2009-05-27
Filing date: 2010-05-18
Publication date: 2010-12-16

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: A Clamp The invention is described in the following statement: {D1245875:1} Title A clamp Field of the invention 5 The present invention relates to scaffolding and more particularly to a clamp which is useful for interconnecting components of scaffolding. Background of the invention Scaffolding is a temporary structure which is used to support workers and material during 10 the construction or repair of buildings or other structures. It is usually a modular system of metal pipes or tubes. The customary components of scaffolding include standards, ledgers and transoms. The standards are vertical tubes that transfer the weight of the scaffolding structure to the 15 ground. Ledgers are horizontal tubes which connect between the standards. Transoms are horizontal tubes which run orthogonally to the standards and to the ledgers. It is known to provide ledgers with tongues which project radially adjacent each end of the ledger, and to provide standards with integral receptacles which project from the 20 standards. The ledgers are connected to the standards by the placement of the tongues of the ledgers in receptacles of opposed standards. Given the integral construction of the standard with the receptacles, it is possible to fit ledgers to a standard only at the pre determined positions of the integral receptacles. 25 Summary of the invention In contrast, embodiments of the present invention provide a clamp for readily detachably connecting a scaffolding ledger or the like to a scaffolding standard or the like, the clamp comprising a body and a retainer means, in which: the retainer means is attached to the body and is adapted to inter-operate with the 30 body so as to readily detachably retain the clamp on a scaffolding standard or the like; and the body is adapted to readably-detachably receive a scaffolding ledger or the like. It is preferred that the retainer means comprises a pivotal arm and a pivotal retainer, in {D1245875:11 - 1 which: the pivotal arm is pivotally mounted to the body proximate one end of the pivotal arm; the pivotal retainer is mounted to the body proximate one end of the pivotal 5 retainer; and the pivotal arm, the pivotal retainer and the body are adapted to inter-operate to readily detachably retain the clamp on the scaffolding standard or the like. It is preferred that each of the pivotal arm and the body comprise portions which 10 complement a surface of the scaffolding standard or the like. It is preferred that the portions of each of the pivotal arm and the body which complement a surface of the scaffolding standard or the like are substantially arcuate. 15 It is preferred that the pivotal arm carries an open-ended slot which is adapted to receive a portion of the pivotal retainer. It is preferred that the pivotal retainer is screw-threaded over at least a portion which extends from its end remote from the body towards the body. 20 It is preferred that the adaptation to the body to enable it to readably-detachably receive a scaffolding ledger or the like comprises a void in the body. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention allow for the connection of ledgers to 25 the standards at any desired position on the standards. Brief description of the drawings In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, preferred embodiments of it are described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 30 figure 1 is a perspective view of apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention; figure 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of figure 1; figure 3 is a plan view of the embodiment of figure 1; figure 4 is another plan view of the embodiment of figure 1, with the components {D1245875:1} of that embodiment in a different configuration; and figure 5 is an elevational view of the embodiment of figure 1 when in use. Description of preferred embodiments of the invention 5 Structure An embodiment of clamp 1 according to the present invention comprises a body 2 and a mounting mechanism which in turn comprises a pivotal arm 3 and a pivotal retainer 4. The pivotal arm 3 and the pivotal retainer 4 are mounted for pivotal movement on the body 2. 10 The body 2 in is shaped as a deep, narrow U-channel with cut-outs in each arm intermediate the ends of the U-channel. Each cut-out has a substantially V-shaped portion which is contiguous with a substantially arcuate portion 19 in each arm of the "U". A complementary V-channel component 13 is mounted in the V-shaped portion of the cut 15 outs to span the void between the arms of the U-channel. The pivotal arm 3 is mounted to the body 2 by means of a pivot pin 9 which passes through an aperture (which is not shown in the drawings) which is proximate one end of the pivotal arm 3. The pivot pin 9 also passes through the body 2 proximate the ends of 20 that body. The end of the pivot arm 3 which is remote from the pivot pin 9 carries an open-ended slot 6 which runs in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pivot arm 3. The pivotal retainer 4 is mounted to the body 2 by means of a pivot pin 11 which passes through an aperture (which is not shown in the drawings) which is proximate one end of 25 the pivotal retainer 4. The pivot pin 11 passes through the body 2 remote from the pivot pin 9. The pivotal retainer 4 is circular in cross-section and carries a thread 7. The thread 7 extends from the end of the pivotal retainer 4 which is remote from the pivot pin 11, part way along the length from the pivotal retainer 4. The face 18 of the pivotal arm 3 which is opposed to the body 2 is arcuate in plan view. 30 Clamps according to embodiments of the present invention may be manufactured in any suitable manner from any suitable material. The embodiment of the invention according to figures 1 to 5 is manufactured from formed steel and steel alloy casting. The body 2 according to that embodiment is folded from steel, the V-channel 12 is folded and welded {D1245875:1 -3 in to position, the pivotal arm 3 is a casting, and the pins 9 and 11 are welded or pressed. Operation To use the clamp 1, the pivotal arm 3 and the pivotal retainer 4 are pivoted away from the 5 body 2 generally as is illustrated in figure 4. The arcuate portion 19 of the clamp 1 is then placed in contact with the complementary cylindrical periphery of a standard 14 as is illustrated in figure 5. The pivotal arm 3 is then also pivoted into contact with the complementary cylindrical periphery of the standard 14. The pivotal retainer 4 is then pivoted into the position which is illustrated in figure 1, in which it is within the open 10 ended slot 6 in the pivot arm. The nut 8 is then screwed towards the pivot pin 11 until the pivotal arm 3 and the arcuate portion 19 of the clamp 1 form a tight interference fit with the periphery of the standard 14. The tongue 17 of a ledger 16 may then be placed within the V-channel 12 for retention of the ledger 16 in place. 15 While the present invention has been described with reference to a few specific embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 20 "Comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. 25 In the claims, each dependent claim is to be read as being within the scope of its parent claim or claims, in the sense that a dependent claim is not to be interpreted as infringed unless its parent claims are also infringed. {D1245875:1}

Claims

1. A clamp for readily detachably connecting a scaffolding ledger or the like to a scaffolding standard or the like, the clamp comprising a body and a retainer means, 5 in which: the retainer means is attached to the body and is adapted to inter-operate with the body so as to readily detachably retain the clamp on a scaffolding standard or the like; and the body is adapted to readably-detachably receive a scaffolding ledger or 10 the like.

2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, in which the retainer means comprises a pivotal arm and a pivotal retainer, in which: the pivotal arm is pivotally mounted to the body proximate one end of the 15 pivotal arm; the pivotal retainer is mounted to the body proximate one end of the pivotal retainer; and the pivotal arm, the pivotal retainer and the body are adapted to inter operate to readily detachably retain the clamp on the scaffolding standard 20 or the like.

3. A clamp as claimed in claim 2, in which each of the pivotal arm and the body comprise portions which complement a surface of the scaffolding standard or the like. 25

4. A clamp as claimed in claim 3, in which the portions of each of the pivotal arm and the body which complement a surface of the scaffolding standard or the like are substantially arcuate. 30

5. A clamp as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, in which the pivotal arm carries an open-ended slot which is adapted to receive a portion of the pivotal retainer.

6. A clamp as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, in which the pivotal retainer is screw-threaded over at least a portion which extends from its end remote from the {D1245875:1} body towards the body.

7. A clamp as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the adaptation to the body to enable it to readably-detachably receive a scaffolding ledger or the like 5 comprises a void in the body.

8. A clamp as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, substantially as described with reference to figures 1 to 4. 10

9. A clamp as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, substantially as described with reference to figures 1 to 5.

10. A clamp as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, when being used for detachably connecting a scaffolding ledger or the like to a scaffolding standard or 15 the like.

11. A kit of parts which are adapted to be assembled to form a clamp as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. {D1245875:1}