AU2015210455B1

AU2015210455B1 - Deck for scaffold

Info

Publication number: AU2015210455B1
Application number: AU2015210455A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Justin Maher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-08-07
Filing date: 2015-08-07
Publication date: 2015-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 2035-08-07

Abstract

H:\jzc\Interwoven\NRPortbI\DCC\JZC\8002490_I.docx-7/08/2015 A deck for attachment to scaffold, the deck having a frame that extends between ledgers of the scaffold, a platform carried by the frame and locking devices to fix the frame relative to 5 standards of the scaffold.

Description

H:\jzc\Interwoven\NRPortbI\DCC\JZC\8002490_I.docx-7/08/2015 DECK FOR SCAFFOLD Field The present invention relates to a deck for temporary use on scaffold. 5 Background The key elements of a scaffold are standards, ledgers and transoms which are generally assembled as interconnected scaffold bays. The standards, also called uprights, are the vertical components along an inside and outside of each of the scaffold bays. Ledgers are 10 horizontal components which connect between the standards. Transoms connect the standards at right angles to the ledgers while providing a supporting structure for scaffold boards which run lengthwise of the bay between the inner and outer standards. The boards form a working platform and are traditionally secured to the supporting 15 structure using tie-wire or strapping, if secured at all. Safety regulations require ledger handrails be provided at a height of 1 metre above any adjacent working platform. The ledger handrails need to be installed before the working platform. A working platform elevated by an additional 2 metres will firstly need 3 metre 20 high ledger handrails to be installed. The higher ledger handrails are installed by firstly adding intermediate 2 metre high ledger handrails and then constructing a temporary 1 metre deck lift above the working platform. The temporary deck is constructed in the same manner as the working platform directly 25 over the platform, using similar transoms and steel boards. Normal working operations along the working platform are interrupted and are unable to be resumed until the temporary deck is disassembled and removed. Object 30 The present invention seeks to provide an alternative form of temporary deck.

H:\jzc\lntr ovn\NRPortbl\DCC\JZC\8002490_I.docx-1/12/2015 -2 Summary In accordance with the invention, there is provided a deck for temporary attachment to scaffold, the deck having a frame that extends across ledgers of the scaffold and only part way along the length of the ledgers from adjacent standards, a platform carried by the 5 frame and locking devices to fix the frame onto the ledgers and to anchor the frame directly to the standards to prevent the deck sliding along the ledgers and away from the standards, wherein the deck further includes a ladder mounted to a carrier beneath the platform and arranged to slide out from a stored position in the carrier to a deployed condition. 10 In one embodiment, the deck includes flanges along lateral underside portions of the deck to engage sides of the ledgers to locate the deck between the ledgers. In one embodiment, the locking devices include a clamp at either side of the deck to fix on 15 to the ledgers. In one embodiment, the locking devices include a catch at either side of the deck to secure to adjacent standards. 20 In one embodiment, the catch includes a hook attached to a bolt and the deck has guides for the bolt to slide through and then rotate to pivot the hook into an engaged position. In one embodiment, the clamps are outwardly biased to fit under the ledgers to resist the deck lifting off the ledgers. 25 In one embodiment, the clamps include biased rods that extend between the sides of the deck. In one embodiment, the rods include handles that project through a top side of the deck to 30 allow the clamps to be engaged and disengaged from above the deck. In one embodiment, the carrier includes side brackets and a retaining pin that engages in a corresponding track either side of the ladder.

H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCCJZC\8002490_l.docx-7/08/2015 -3 In one embodiment, the deck includes a rail adapted to form a side barrier at an elevated position above the deck. In one embodiment, the rail is hinged relative to the frame to move between a collapsed 5 position and an upright position to form the side barrier. In one embodiment, the rail is in the form of a midrail connected relative to the frame by a quick release/locking ratchet hinge. 10 In one embodiment, the deck includes a second midrail adapted to form a sider barrier on an opposite side of the deck. In one embodiment, the midrails are collapsible to be juxtaposed over the platform. 15 Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a front view of a deck; Figure 2 is a section view of the deck along the line A-A shown in Figure 1; 20 Figure 3 is a side view of the deck; Figure 4 is a plan view of the deck; 25 Figure 5 is a section view of the deck along the line B-B show in Figure 4; Figure 6 is an underside view of the deck; Figure 7 is an image of the deck in use; 30 Figure 8 is an image of the deck showing a catch in an engaged condition; H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortb\DCCJZC\8002490_l.docx-7/08/2015 -4 Figure 9 is an image showing an underside of the deck; Figure 10 is a side view of another deck; 5 Figure 11 is a front view of the deck of Figure 10; and Figure 12 is a side view of the deck of Figure 10 fitted to scaffold. 10 Detailed Description Figure 1 shows a deck 1 with a frame 2 that supports a platform 3. The frame 2 is arranged to be fixed with locking devices 4, 5 onto scaffold 6 that includes ledgers 7 and standards 8. 15 The deck 1 includes downwardly depending flanges 9 along lateral underside portions 10 down both sides 11 of the deck 1. The flanges 9 engage sides of the ledgers 7 to locate the deck 1 in place. 20 The locking devices 4 are in the form of clamps 12 that fit under the ledgers 7 to resist the deck 1 lifting up. The clamps 12 are provided at the end of rods 13 that extend between the sides 11 of the deck 1. The locking devices 5 are in the form of catches 14 that each include a hook 15 attached to 25 a bolt 16 to loop over the associated standard 8. The deck 1 also includes a ladder 17 with side rails 18 and rungs 19. The ladder 17 is shown in the deployed condition where the rungs 19 allow a person to step up onto the platform 3. 30 Figure 2 shows a top end 20 of the ladder 17 abutting an underside 21 of the deck 1 so that H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortb\DCCJZC\8002490_l.docx-7/08/2015 -5 the ladder 17 is angled relative to the platform 3 when in the deployed condition. The deck 1 has a carrier 22 with brackets 23 and a pin 24 that supports the ladder 17. The pin 24 is received in a track 25 formed in the side rails 18 of the ladder 17 so that ladder 17 can be pivoted about the pin 24 and lifted into a stored position. 5 Figure 3 shows the bolt 16 of the locking device 5 supported in a guide 26 that projects above the platform 3. The bolt 16 has a handle 27 at one end to allow the hook 15 of the locking device 5 to be engaged with the standard 8 using a bolt action, where the bolt 16 is pushed forward and then rotated into an engaged position. 10 Figure 4 shows the bolts 16, after rotation, having been pulled backward to a position where the hook 15 is secured around the standard 8. Figure 5 shows the rods 13 of the locking devices 4 in a disengaged condition. The rods 13 15 are biased into an engaged condition, as indicated by dashed lines 28, such as by springs or the like. A handle 29 is connected to each rod 13. The handles 29 project through to a top side 30 of the platform 3 so that the clamps 12 can be engaged and disengaged from above the deck 1. 20 Figure 6 shows the rods 13 in an extended position, where the clamps 12 are in the engaged condition. Figure 7 shows the deck 1 in position on the scaffold 6, where the flanges 9 locate the deck 1 relative to the ledgers 7 and the clamps 12 are engaged to lock the deck 1 in place. The 25 ladder 17 is shown removed from the carrier 22 into a deployed condition to allow easy access to the deck 1 from a working platform 31 beneath the deck 1. Figure 8 shows one of the locking devices 5 that is also in an engaged condition, where the bolt 16 has been positioned so that the hook 15 is engaged with the standard 8 to further 30 lock the deck 1 in place.

H:\jzc\Interwoven\NRPortbI\DCC\JZC\8002490_I.docx-7/08/2015 -6 As may be appreciated from the above, the deck 1 is able to be readily positioned on the ledgers 7 by separately locking onto both the standards 8 and ledgers 7, to allow quick installation of the deck 1 for working above the platform 31. 5 The ledger 7 shown in Figure 8 is preferably a handrail ledger 32 at a regulation height of 1 metre. Another handrail ledger 33 can then be installed at a height of 2 metres, as shown in Figure 9, at which time the ladder 17 can be used to gain access to the platform 3 which is elevated by 1 metre to install handrail ledgers (not shown) at a higher level of 3 metres, without needing to deck out an entire temporary platform above the working platform, as is 10 the case with the prior art. Once the overhead work is completed, the ladder 17 can be returned to a stored position and locking devices 4, 5 can be readily disengaged to quickly remove or reposition the deck 1, as required, with minimal interruption to normal working operations. 15 Another example of a deck 1 is shown in Figures 10 to 12, where like parts of the deck described with reference to Figures 1 to 9 are indicated by like reference numerals. The deck 1 of Figures 10 to 12 is the same as the deck of Figures 1 to 9 but with the 20 addition of mid rails 34 that are connected relative to the frame 2. The mid rails 34 are illustrated in an upright or elevated position where they form side barriers 35, along either side 11 of the deck 1. The mid rails 34 are preferably coupled to the frame 2 by a quick release/locking ratchet 25 hinge 36 for efficiency in installation. The hinged connection to the frame 2 allows the mid rails 34 to be collapsed down into a juxtaposed position over the platform 3, as shown in Figure 11. The mid rails 35 are collapsed on top of each other in Figure 11, however, for a wider 30 sized platform 3, the mid rails 35 may instead lay down evenly on the platform 3.

H:\jzc\Interwoven\NRPortbI\DCC\JZC\8002490_I.docx-7/08/2015 -7 As shown in Figure 12, when the deck 1 is installed on scaffold 6, the mid rails 34 provide side barriers 35 intermediate the platform 3 and the overhead handrail ledger 33 for enhanced safety for a person working on the deck 1. 5 The deck 1 has been described by way of non-limiting example only and many modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described. 10 H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortb\DCCJZC\8002490_l.docx-7/08/2015 List of Parts 1. Deck 2. Frame 5 3. Platform 4. Locking device 5. Locking device 6. Scaffold 7. Ledger 10 8. Standard 9. Flange 10. Underside portion 11. Side 12. Clamp 15 13. Rod 14. Catch 15. Hook 16. Bolt 17. Ladder 20 18. Rail 19. Rung 20. End 21. Underside 22. Carrier 25 23. Bracket 24. Pin 25. Track 26. Guide 27. Handle 30 28. Dashed line 29. Handle H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortb\DCCUZC\8002490_l.docx-7/08/2015 -9 30. Top side 31. Platform 32. Handrail ledger 33. Handrail ledger 5

Claims

1. A deck for temporary attachment to scaffold, the deck having a frame that extends across ledgers of the scaffold and only part way along the length of the ledgers from 5 adjacent standards, a platform carried by the frame and locking devices to fix the frame onto the ledgers and to anchor the frame directly to the standards to prevent the deck sliding along the ledgers and away from the standards, wherein the deck further includes a ladder mounted to a carrier beneath the platform and arranged to slide out from a stored position in the carrier to a deployed condition. 10

2. The deck of claim 1, further including flanges along lateral underside portions of the deck to engage sides of the ledgers to locate the deck between the ledgers.

3. The deck of claim 1, wherein the locking devices include a clamp at either side of 15 the deck to fix on to the ledgers.

4. The deck of claim 3, wherein the clamps are outwardly biased to fit under the ledgers to resist the deck lifting off the ledgers. 20

5. The deck of claim 4, wherein the clamps include biased rods that extend between the sides of the deck.

6. The deck of claim 5, wherein handles are connected to the rods and the handles project through a top side of the deck to allow the clamps to be engaged and disengaged 25 from above the deck.

7. The deck of claim 1, wherein the locking devices include a catch at either side of the deck to secure to the adjacent standards. 30

8. The deck of claim 7, wherein the catch includes a hook attached to a bolt and the deck has guides for the bolt to slide through and then rotate to pivot the hook into an engaged position. - 11

9. The deck of claim 1, wherein the carrier includes side brackets and a retaining pin that engages in a corresponding track either side of the ladder.

10. The deck of any one of claims 1 to 9, further including a rail adapted to form a side 5 barrier at an elevated position above the deck.

11. The deck of claim 10, wherein the rail is hinged relative to the frame to move between a collapsed position and an upright position to form the side barrier. 10

12. The deck of claim 11, wherein the rail is in the form of a midrail connected relative to the frame by a quick release/locking ratchet hinge.

13. The deck of any one of claims 10 to 12, further including a second midrail adapted to form a sider barrier on an opposite side of the deck. 15

14. The deck of claim 14, wherein the midrails are collapsible to be juxtaposed over the platform.