S&F Ref: 964075 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address PCG Systems Australia Pty Ltd, of Applicant: ACN 7011 0343096, of 1/11 Newton Road, Wetherill Park, New South Wales, 2164, Australia Actual Inventor(s): Paul Corner Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: A retention device Associated Provisional Application Details: [33] Country: [31] Appl'n No(s): [32] Application Date: AU 2009904210 01 Sep 2009 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5845c(2902925_1) A RETENTION DEVICE Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a retention device, and in particular, to a retention device for scaffolding. 5 Background of the Invention Scaffolding is a temporary platform used to support workers at various heights during building maintenance and construction. Scaffolding typically includes a frame which supports a base. The base provides a safe working surface for the workers. The base is typically made from wood, steel, or aluminium planks, or boards. 10 The frame includes standards, ledgers, and transoms. The standards are upright, or vertical portions of the frame and the ledgers are horizontal portions which connect between the standards, or vertical portions. The transoms connect to the standards at right angles to the ledgers. The transoms hold the standards in place and provide support for the planks. A plank typically rests between two transoms. However, the plank may also is simply rest between two ledgers or other combinations. Typically the planks are not secured to the transforms. Consequently, there is a danger that one or more of the planks will slide off the transform. Additionally, since the scaffolding is exposed to the elements of the weather, if the planks are lightweight material, they are vulnerable to gusts of wind which may lift one or more of the planks 20 from the transom. This creates an unsafe environment for both the workers on the scaffolding and any persons near the scaffolding. Additionally, since the planks are not secured to the transform, there is nothing to prevent untrained or unlicensed workers from removing them. Therefore, there is a need for a retention device to secure and lock planks or the 25 like to the transoms or other parts of a scaffolding assembly. It is also desirable for the retention device to be as flat and shallow as possible to avoid a head height problem between scaffold decks. Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of 30 the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.
2 Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a retention device to secure together a plurality of scaffolding boards, the device including: an elongated base having a longitudinal axis; 5 a first and second set of engaging members attached to the base and extending away from the base, wherein the sets are attached to the base to provide for relative movement between the sets in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, the movement providing for location of the set in a closed position and an open position; the members being arranged in pairs, each pair including a member of the first 1o set and a member of the second set, the members of each pair being operatively associated to engage adjacent boards to secure the adjacent boards together upon relative movement between the sets in said direction to the closed position. Preferably, the members within each set are attached so that the members within each set move in unison. is Preferably, the base includes a first sub base and a second sub base, the first sub base having the first set of engaging members and the second sub base having the second set of engaging members. Preferably, the first sub base and the second sub base are slidably connected to provide the relative movement between the first and second sets. 20 Preferably, the relative movement is linear. Preferably, the linear relative movement is parallel to the longitudinal axis. Preferably, including a limiting means to limit the relative movement of the first and second sub bases over a predetermined range. Preferably, the limiting means includes a longitudinally extending slot being 25 provided by one sub base and a corresponding tab being provided by the other sub base. Preferably, including an operable locking means to secure the engaging members in the closed position. Preferably, the locking means includes at least one aperture through the base and a threaded bolt. 30 Preferably, the base includes a handle. Preferably, the engaging members include a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being spaced apart from the base and extending generally perpendicular to the first portion.
3 Preferably, the engaging members are generally normal to the base and each pair extends generally parallel to each other. Preferably, each pair of members diverges away from the base. Brief Description of the Drawings 5 Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a retention device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the retention device 1o in an open position; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the retention device of Figure 2 in a closed position; Figure 4 is an end elevation view of the retention device of Figure 2; Figure 5 is an end elevation view of a stacking arrangement of the retention 15 device of Figure 2; Figure 6 is an end elevation view of the retention device of Figure 1; and Figure 7 is an end elevation view of a stacking arrangement of the retention device of Figure 1. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments 20 There is disclosed in the drawings herein a retention device 10 for securing together a plurality of scaffolding boards 11. Referring to Figure 1, the retention device 10 includes an elongated base 12 having a longitudinal axis x-x. The device 10 includes two sets of engaging members 16, 20 attached to the base 12. The base 12 and engaging members 16, 20 are formed from 25 pre-galvanized folded plates or sheets. It will be appreciated by the skilled addressee that other suitable material such as plastic or aluminium may be used. The base 12 includes a first sub base 14 having a first set of engaging members 16 and a second sub base 18 having a second set of engaging members 20. The sets 16, 20 extend away from each respective sub base 14, 18. The engaging members 16, 20 are pressed from the plate or 30 sheet material, from which the sub bases 14, 18 are formed. Preferably, the sub bases 14, 18 are flat. As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, the first and second set of engaging members 16, 20 are arranged in pairs 22, each pair 22 including a member of the first set 16 and a member of the second set 20. The first sub base 14 and the second sub base 18 are 4 connected by inserting a tab 24 located on one of the sub bases 14, 18 through a corresponding slot 26 located on the other sub base 14, 18. The tab 24 is folded adjacent to the sub base 14, 18. This provides for relative linear sliding movement between an open position shown in Figure 2 and a closed position shown in Figure 3 between the sets 5 12, 14. The first sub base 14 and the second sub base 18 each include a handle 34 to allow a user to move the sets 16, 20 between the open and closed positions. Referring to Figure 4, the retention device 10 secures the scaffolding boards 11 to a transom 13. The device is secured in the closed position using a threaded bolt 28 and a nut 30 welded to the second sub base 18. The base 12 includes an aperture 32 to receive io the bolt 28. The device 10 is secured in the closed position by tightening the bolt 28. The retention device 10 may be stacked for storage. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the U-shape allows multiple retention devices 10 to nest within one another for compact storage. This also minimizes any damage to the device 10 during transportation and handling. is Referring to Figure 6, retention device 10 according to another embodiment secures scaffolding boards 11 to a ledger 15. One advantage of the preferred embodiment is that the retention device 10 is installed underneath the scaffolding boards, eliminating any trip hazard for the worker. Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it 20 will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.