AU5399899A - Scaffold barrier systems - Google Patents

Description

Plo/00/1l Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 *6 0* S S at

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ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "SCAFFOLD BARRI ER SYSTEMS" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:

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2 "SCAFFOLD BARRIER SYSTEMS" FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION is concerned with mobile scaffolding frames incorporating safety barriers.

Current Australian Workplace Health and Safety regulations require that tradespersons working on the outside of a building at a position elevated above ground level be protected by a safety barrier surrounding their working platform.

Similarly, when working on a roof structure to fix roofing or the like, 0: t0 there is a requirement for a safety barrier extending above the perimeter of the lower edge of the roof.

While conventional demountable scaffolding can be constructed to meet these safety requirements, the cost of hiring, erecting and demounting the scaffolding is a disincentive to builders, roofers and rainwater guttering fixers who tend to work independently of each other.

Moreover, the time taken to erect and dismount the scaffolding system can far exceed the time taken to say, fix fascia and guttering.

Before the introduction of increased safety standards for working in elevated positions, it was the practice for fascia and guttering fixers in particular to utilize planks supported by trestles as a quick and inexpensive method of providing an elevated work platform.

Accordingly, there exists a need for an inexpensive, rapidly erectable and dismountable scaffold system incorporating proscribed 3 safety barriers and which meets the particular needs of a wide range of tradespersons.

Australian Patent No. 640103 provides a scaffold plank support in the from of a rigid frame having an upright member with a hook-like mounting member which secures over a top plate of a building frame and an outwardly extending arm to support scaffold planks, the arm and the hook-like mounting member extending in the same direction.

At the outer end of the arm is a socket to receive a removable handrail mast support.

While generally effective for its intended purpose, its rigid frame

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makes it cumbersome to transport and store and its lack of adjustability imposes severe limitations on its use requiring a plurality of different frames to suit different working heights.

Of more recent times, it has been proposed to adapt the scaffold is plank support frame of Patent No. 640103 to permit the scaffold plank support arm to be adjusted to a specific position on the upright member to S"permit at least two predetermined platform working elevations.

Adjustability is achieved by rigidly mounting the plank support arm and its associated brace on a hollow sleeve which is captively slidable along the upright member to permit alignment of drilled apertures through which a pin may be inserted.

Australian Design Registrations 134174 and 134175 illustrate variations in the above described scaffold frame but suffer the same disadvantages associated with a rigid frame structure.

Australian Patent No. 694909 describes a barrier system for mounting about the periphery of a roof to provide a safety barrier for workers on the roof.

While each of the abovementioned prior art systems is generally effective for its intended purpose, none satisfies the need for a single system which is readily adjustable to meet the varying requirements of differing tradespersons and yet which is inexpensive to construct and is convenient to store and transport.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a scaffold support frame comprising:an upright support member; mounting means adjacent an upper end of said upright support S•member; and 15 a plank support arm slidably mountable on said upright support member, said plank support arm including an arm support carriage adapted to slidingly engage said upright support member; and, locking means associated with said arm support carriage, said locking means being adapted, in use, for single handed actuation to selectively engage or disengage said locking means at predetermined positions on said upright support member.

Suitably, said plank support arm is pivotable about a transverse axis between an extended position substantially normal to said upright support member and a retracted position substantially parallel to said upright support member, said plank support arm being selectively lockable to said upright support member, at least in an extended position.

If required, said plank support arm may include bracing means extending between a position intermediate the ends of said plank support arm and said upright support member.

Preferably, the plank support arm is pivotally attached to said arm support carriage slidably mountable on said upright support member.

Suitably said plank support arm includes an upstanding rib 1: io extending longitudinally thereof parallel to a longitudinal axis of said plank *l support arm.

0 Suitably, said bracing means comprises a brace element pivotally mounted adjacent one end to said plank support arm.

The brace element may be pivotally mounted adjacent an opposite 15 end to a brace element support carriage slidably mountable on said upright support member.

Suitably, said arm support carriage and said brace element support carriage are comprised in a single load support carriage.

Preferably, said brace element is pivotally mounted to said plank support arm via a sleeve element slidably associated with said plank support arm.

The brace element support carriage and/or the sleeve element may include locking means for respective locking engagement with said 6 upright support member and said plank support arm.

Suitably the locking means for said brace element support carriage and/or said sleeve element are adapted, in use, for single handed actuation to selectively engage or disengage said locking means at predetermined positions on a respective said upright support means and plank support arm.

In an alternative embodiment, the plank support arm may be slidably and pivotally mounted to said upright support member by spaced support surfaces associated with one end of said support arm, said io spaced support surfaces, in use, providing a cantilevered connection between said support arm and said upright support member.

If required, the scaffold frame may include mechanical jacking means to selectively move said support arm relative to said upright support member.

15 Suitably, said safety barrier support post is removably attached to said support arm.

Preferably, said support arm includes a support post bracket securable to said support arm at a selected position intermediate the ends of said support arm.

If required, said support post bracket may be slidably mounted to said support arm.

Suitably, the upright support member comprises a hollow tubular member of any suitable material and/or of any suitable cross-sectional shape.

The upright support member may include a base member adjacent a lower end of said upright support member.

The mounting means may comprise any suitable means for securely mounting the scaffold frame support to a structure.

If required, the mounting means may comprise a bracket member for securing to a transverse structural frame member.

Suitably, the mounting means comprises a hook-like member.

If required, the hook-like member may be adjustable to accommodate structural frame members of differing width and/or thickness.

The hook-like member may extend in the same direction as said plank support arm or it may extend oppositely thereto.

If required, the mounting means may include clamp means.

15 The base member suitably comprises, in use, a transversely extending element adapted to rest against an upright surface of a building structure.

If required, the base member may be removably attachable to said upright support member.

Preferably, said base member is pivotally attached to said upright support member for movement between an extended transverse position and a retracted upright position.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a lockable bracket for use with a first aspect of the invention, said bracket comprising:a body having a tubular aperture extending therethrough, said body, in use, being adapted to slidingly engage a tubular member along a sliding axis; a socket or spigot member extending from said body in a direction orthogonal to said sliding axis intermediate the ends of said body; and, a locking member associated with said body, said locking member, in use, being moveable between an extended locking position and a retracted position by single handed actuation.

10io Suitably said locking member comprises a pin member biassed to o• 0: an extended locking position by a biassing means.

Preferably said locking member includes latch means pivotally associated with said pin member and actuable by single handed actuation **.between an extended locking position and a retracted position whereat 15 said pin member is retained in said retracted position against the biassing influence of said biassing means by said latch means.

If required said socket or spigot member may be adapted for pivotal connection to a tubular member.

Preferably said bracket is adapted for sue as an arm support carriage, a brace element support carriage, a sleeve element or a support post bracket.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided an adjustable scaffold system attachable to a building structure, said scaffold system comprising, in use, a plurality of spaced scaffold support frames according to the first aspect of the invention, each said scaffold support frame being attached to a building structure with scaffold planks extending therebetween to provide a working platform.

Preferably, said scaffold system includes a safety barrier supported by said safety barrier support posts.

Suitably, a locking means may be associated with the upright support member to releasably lock a lower portion of the support member to a building structure.

o* o• a SO: 10o In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practice, preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- 0 FIG 1 shows schematically a side elevational view of a scaffold frame; 15 FIG 2 shows schematically a side elevational view of a scaffold frame employed as a roof perimeter safety barrier; *aoo..

SFIG 3 shows schematically the movement of the scaffold frame support arm between an extended and retracted position; FIG 4 shows schematically one form of locking mechanism; FIG 5 shows schematically another from of locking mechanism; FIG 6 shows yet another embodiment of a locking mechanism; and FIG 7 shows plan view of a lower support member clamp.

FIG 8 shows an alternative to the arrangement of FIG 3.

FIG 9 shows an enlarged end elevation of a lockable bracket for use with the invention.

FIG 10 shows a perspective view of the arm support carriage of FIG 9.

FIG 11 shows a modified form of the arm support carriage of FIG FIG 12 shows a further modified form of the lockable bracket of FIG 9.

In FIG 1, there is shown one embodiment of the invention attached 9 to a building frame 1.

The scaffold frame 2 comprises an upright support member 3, a mounting means in the form of a bracket 4 at the upper end of member 3 and a base member 5 at the lower end.

15 A plank support arm 6 is cantilevered from a carriage 7 slidably mounted on support member 3 with a brace 8 connected adjacent an 9..

upper end to a support arm 6 and connected adjacent a lower end to carriage 7.

At the outer end of support arm 6 is a bracket 9 which locates a safety rail support post 10 with a lower bracket 11 to locate a kick plate (not shown) and intermediate and upper brackets 12 locating safety rails 13.

Bracket 4 includes a telescopically slidable arm 14 having an angle 11 bracket 15 secured thereto to securely mount the frame 2 over the top plate 16 of the building frame. A plurality of apertures 19 are provided in arm 14 to permit locking by a pin or the like (not shown) extendable through aperture 18 thereby to accommodate mounting on top plate members or the like of varying widths.

At the lower end of support member 3, base member 5 is mounted on a tubular extension member 19 telescopically slidable within the body of tubular support member 3 and again securable by a pin 20 extending through aligned apertures.

10 Carriage 7 is slidably mounted on support member 3 and is do 0* securable at predetermined positions by a pin (not shown) through aligned apertures 21 and/or 22 in carriage 7 and support member 3 respectively.

In the embodiment shown, support arm 6 is pivotally attached at :d"i 15 pivot 23 to carriage 7 and brace 8 is pivotally attached to carriage 7 at its lower end at pivot 24. At its upper end, brace 8 is pivotally attached at 000000 pivot 25 to a bracket 26 slidable along support arm 6. Bracket 26 is securable to support arm 6 in the extended position shown by a pin or the like (not shown) extending through aperture 27 and an aligned aperture in support arm 6.

With support post 10 or bracket 9 removed from support arm 6, support arm 6 may be pivoted from the extended position shown to a retracted position lying substantially parallel to support member 3 to facilitate easier handling, storage and transportation.

12 In use, a pair (or more) of spaced scaffold frame members 2 are supported from a building frame as shown and scaffold planks (not shown) extend between adjacent frames to provide a secure work platform. As shown, the position of the support arm 6 permits convenient attachment of a fascia 28 and gutter 29.

When working at a lower position on the building frame, the scaffold planks may be removed and the scaffold frames lowered one at a time by a single operator.

Suitably, the scaffold frame is constructed from light weight tubular

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Oe C g members such as aluminium, thin wall steel or stainless steel or even composite materials such as pultruded synthetic resin/carbon fibre materials.

The advantage of such a light weight structure is that an operator may readily adjust the height of support arm 3 by supporting it with one sea* 15 hand and operating a single handed locking mechanism with the other hand.

SFIG 2 shows an alternative application of the scaffold frame system of FIG 1 elevated to a height to act as a perimeter safety barrier for persons working on the roof.

When used as a safety barrier scaffold planks are not required, however the safety rail support posts are slidably located and locked into position adjacent the roof edge or gutter.

FIG 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the scaffold frame of 13 FIG's 1 and 2 and like numerals are employed for like features (where present).

In this embodiment support member 3, bracket 14, base member brace 8, support arm 6 and post 10 are all constructed from tubular members of circular cross section.

Top mounting bracket is formed as an adjustable width tapered jaw to accommodate varying top plate widths and to wedgingly engage the top plate under load.

Instead of a single slidable carriage 7 as shown in FIG's 1 and 2, 10 support arm 6 and brace 8 are pivotally connected to respective carriages 7a and 7b securable by pins or the like extending through aligned apertures 21 and 21a therein and spaced apertures 22 in support member 3.

FIG 3 shows progressive movement of support arm 6 between an 15 extended and a retracted position.

FIG 4 shows schematically an alternative form of locking system suitable for use with the scaffold frame according to the invention.

Carriage 30 in the form of a T-shaped tubular member is slidably mounted for movement along tubular member 31.

In a locked position as shown, a pin 32 extends through aligned apertures 33, 34 in carriage 30 and tubular member 31 respectively.

Pin 32 is retained under the biassing influence of a spring member urging against a lever arm 36 pivotally mounted to a bracket 37.

14 One handed operation is achieved by squeezing the free end of lever arm 36 to withdraw pin 32 whereupon the carriage may be slid to a desired position on tubular member 31 to engage in a further aperture (not shown).

FIG 5 shows schematically a locking mechanism associated with a pivotal support arm 6.

A tubular carriage 40 is slidably located on tubular upright support member 41 and a pair of spaced lugs 42 are provided on carriage 40 to support arm 6 about pivot 43.

Mounted on the end of support arm 6 is a bearing plate 44 and a locking pin 45 extending through aligned apertures 46, 47 in carriage and tubular member 41 respectively.

With support arm 6 in the extended working position as shown, carriage 40 is securely locked against movement on upright support 15 member 41.

As arm 6 is pivoted towards a retracted position pin 45 is withdrawn to release carriage 40 for slidable movement along support member 41.

It will be readily apparent to a skilled addressee that such a locking mechanism permits safe and secure operation by a single operator with one hand being employed to pivot the support arm 6 while the other hand may be employed to support or guide carriage If respective apertures in carriage 40 and support member 41 are not aligned, it is immediately apparent to an operator as arm 6 will not be in a horizontal position.

FIG 6 shows schematically yet another embodiment of the invention.

In this embodiment, the slidable carriage comprises a cantilever mechanism 50 having opposed offset bearing members 51, 52 connected by at least one arm 53 (shown in phantom) located on one side of upright support member 54.

Either or both of bearing members 51, 52 may have associated 10 therewith a locking pin 55 engageable in an aperture in the wall of support member 54 to provide an additional margin of safety in excess of the cam locking action of the cantilever mechanism 50 when loaded.

The arrangement shown generally in FIG 6 can, for example, be i employed to support a plank support arm 56 which may be pivotally 15 connected to bracket 58 about pivot 57 or it may be rigidly attached tlll•: thereto.

Where the mechanism 50 includes only one connecting arm 53 between bearing members 51, 52, the support arm 56 may be readily detached from support member 54 for storage or transportation by pivoting arm 56 upwards until the or each pin 55 disengages from a respective aperture, then moving mechanism 50 transversely of member 54.

In a modification of this embodiment, a second connecting arm may be pivotally attached at one end and latchable at the other to form a 16 selectively releasable gate operable by one hand.

FIG 7 shows a plan view of a clamp member to releasably lock a lower portion of the scaffold support frame to a building structure.

With the frame base member 5 resting against spaced upright s studs 59, a curved yoke 60, attached to base member 5 or upright support member 3 by a tensionable threaded bolt 61, may be rotated from an upright position towards a horizontal position.

As the yoke 60 engages studs 59, the outwardly diverging ends thereof wedgingly engage the studs as rotation is continued.

:10 A wingnut or the like 62 permits adjustment of yoke clamping pressure and also permits accommodation of studs of varying widths.

a. a° In the absence of base member 5, upright support member 3 rests against bottom plate 63 of the building structure.

i FIG 8 shows a modified form of the arrangement of FIG 3 and for 15 the sake of simplicity, like reference numerals have been employed for a like features.

In this embodiment, support member 3, bracket 14, base member support arm 6 and post 10 are all fabricated from square or rectangular cross section steel tubing.

Slidable bracket or sleeve element 26, arm support carriage 7a and brace element support carriage 7b are all formed from lockable brackets as described later with reference to FIG 11.

Similarly, support post bracket 9 is a further adapted form of lockable bracket as described later with reference to FIG 12.

17 In this arrangement, plank arm 6 has an upstanding fin 6a extending along its upper surface parallel to the longitudinal axis of arm 6.

To accommodate fin 6a, bracket 26 has a parallel sided slot (not shown) extending along the upper surface of the transverse tubular body portion of bracket 26 while bracket 9 has aligned slotted apertures extending from the transverse body portion into the upright walls of tubular socket 9a.

~The purpose of the fin 6a is to provide an even support surface for 0:0. planks resting on the plank support arm 6, notwithstanding the captively o10 located slidable mounting of slidable bracket 26 thereon.

FIGS 9 and 10 respectively show an enlarged end view of a ockable bracket 70 and a perspective view of bracket Bracket 70 comprises a tubular body portion 71 and a socket ":00 member 72 extending orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of tubular body portion 71. Suitably the bracket is fabricated from a cast aluminium alloy.

SThe aperture 73 in the body portion 71 and the aperture 74 in the socket member 72 are adapted to receive a standard rolled hollow section steel tube having external dimensions of about 50mm by As shown in FIG 9, a tubular steel member 75 is located in aperture 73 and recessed channels 73a are formed at the corners of aperture 73 to collect dirt or other debris which may interfere with the free sliding engagement between tubular member 75 and bracket A slotted aperture 76 extends along the upper wall of body portion 71 to accommodate a fin 77 extending along the tubular member 75. In 18 use this fin provides an even support surface for a plank support arm to support planks thereon.

Bracket 70 is formed with protruding bosses 78 on each side of body portion 71 to locate a locking member 79 in a threaded aperture in a selected boss 78.

Locking member 79 comprises a hollow screw threaded body 81 with a hexagonal head 82 with a locking pin 83 slidably located therein.

Locking pin 83 is biassed to an extended position as shown in FIG 9 by a helical spring (not shown) to locate the locking pin in one of a series of spaced apertures 84 in tubular member A latch member 85 is pivotally mounted on pin 83 and is adapted for single handed actuation by flipping latch member 85 between a locking position as shown in FIG 9 and a retracted position as shown in FIG Latch member 85 is shaped to form a cam element 86 having a 15 first side 87 which engages against head 82 in a locked position and a 44*e44 S"second side 88 which engages against head 82 in an "over centre" position, in both cases against the biassing influence of the spring which urges the pin 83 to an extended position.

A similar one handed actuation flips latching member 85 from a retracted, unlocked position as shown in FIG 10 to the locked position as shown in FIG 9.

An aperture 89 in socket member 72 enables secured location of a tubular member in aperture 74 by means of a grub screw, through bolts or the like (not shown).

19 FIG 11 shows a modification of the bracket of FIGS 9 and 10 for use with a scaffold support frame having a pivotally mounted plank support arm as shown in FIG 8.

In FIG 11, bracket 70 is modified by removal of a side wall from socket member 72 whereby a bracing member 90, for example, may be pivotally attached to bracket 70 by a bolt 91 extending through opposed side walls 92 of the socket member 72.

Brackets of the type shown in FIG 11 may be employed in lieu of brackets 7a, 7b and 26 in the assembly shown in FIG 8 to enable pivotal retraction of plank support arm 6. In the assembly shown in FIG 8, only bracket 7a and either of brackets 7b or 26 require a locking assembly 79 to facilitate single handed actuation to move plank support arm from an extended to a retracted position.

FIG 12 shows yet another modification of a bracket to function as a 15 mount for a safety rail support post as shown generally as bracket 9 in S"FIG 8.

In this embodiment a slotted aperture 93 is formed in the lower wall of tubular body portion 71. The slot extends part way into the opposed side walls 94 of socket member 72 to accommodate the upstanding fin of a plank support arm (not shown) whereby the bracket can slide longitudinally of the plank support arm for location at a desired position.

As with previously described bracket locking mechanisms, the mechanism shown in FIGS 8 to 12 permits safe and secure erection and adjustment of scaffolding systems by a single operator whereby only a single handed motion is required to lock or unlock the locking mechanism while the operator's other hand may be employed to steady or support a scaffold component.

Throughout this specification and claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

It will be readily apparent to a skilled addressee that many modifications and variations may be made to the various embodiments of the invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

For example, the slidable carriage members may be engageable with the upright support member by mechanical jacking or elevating mechanism such as a cam locking friction jack mechanism, a ratchet and 15 pawl mechanism, a rack and pinion gear mechanism or any suitable •gaol S"mechanism adapted for relative movement along the upright support mechanism whilst providing a secure load bearing support.

Claims (22)

1. A scaffold support frame comprising:- an upright support member; mounting means adjacent an upper end of said upright support member; and a plank support arm slidably mountable on said upright support member, said plank support arm including an arm support carriage adapted to slidingly engage said upright support member; and, So locking means associated with said arm support carriage, said ~10 locking means being adapted, in use, for single handed actuation to selectively engage or disengage said locking means at predetermined positions on said upright support member.

2. A frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plank support arm is pivotable about a transverse axis between an extended position 15 substantially normal to said upright support member and a retracted .9000 S"position substantially parallel to said upright support member, said plank support arm being selectively lockable to said upright support member, at least in an extended position.

3. A frame as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said plank support arm includes bracing means extending between a position intermediate the ends of said plank support arm and said upright support member.

4. A frame as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the plank support arm is pivotally attached to said arm support carriage slidably mountable on said upright support member. 22 A frame as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said plank support arm includes an upstanding rib extending longitudinally thereof parallel to a longitudinal axis of said plank support arm.

6. A frame as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein said bracing means comprises a brace element pivotally mounted adjacent one end to said plank support arm.

7. A frame as claimed in claim 6 wherein the brace element is pivotally mounted adjacent an opposite end to a brace element support S:carriage slidably mountable on said upright support member. **ie* l

8. A frame as claimed in claim 7 wherein said arm support carriage and said brace element support carriage are comprised in a single load support carriage.

9. A frame as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein said brace •element is pivotally mounted to said plank support arm via a sleeve 1 element slidably associated with said plank support arm. lllll= S• 10. A frame as claimed in claim 9 wherein the brace element support carriage and/or the sleeve element may include locking means for respective locking engagement with said upright support member and said plank support arm.

11. A frame as claimed in claim 10 wherein the locking means for said brace element support carriage and/or said sleeve element are adapted, in use, for single handed actuation to selectively engage or disengage said locking means at predetermined positions on a respective said upright support means and plank support arm. 23

12. A frame as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a safety barrier support post is removably attached to said support arm.

13. A frame as claimed in claim 12 wherein said support post bracket is slidably mounted to said support arm.

14. A frame as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the upright support member includes a base member adjacent a lower end of said upright support member. A frame as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mounting means comprises a bracket member for securing to a transverse structural frame member.

16. A frame as claimed in claim 15 wherein the bracket is adjustable to accommodate structural frame members of differing width and/or thickness.

17. A lockable bracket for use with a scaffold frame according to any 15 preceding claim, wherein bracket comprising:- a body having a tubular aperture extending therethrough, said body, in use, being adapted to slidingly engage a tubular member along a sliding axis; a socket or spigot member extending from said body in a direction orthogonal to said sliding axis intermediate the ends of said body; and, a locking member associated with said body, said locking member, in use, being moveable between an extended locking position and a retracted position by single handed actuation.

18. A bracket as claimed in claim 17 wherein said locking member 24 comprises a pin member biassed to an extended locking position by a biassing means.

19. A bracket as claimed in claim 18 wherein said locking member includes latch means pivotally associated with said pin member and actuable by single handed actuation between an extended locking position and a retracted position whereat said pin member is retained in said retracted position against the biassing influence of said biassing means by said latch means.

20. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein said *10 socket or spigot member is adapted for pivotal connection to a tubular member. 9.•

21. A bracket as claimed in any one of claim 17 to 20 wherein said bracket is adapted for sue as an arm support carriage, a brace element •support carriage, a sleeve element or a support post bracket. 15 22. An adjustable scaffold system attachable to a building structure, said scaffold system comprising, in use, a plurality of spaced scaffold support frames according to any one of claims 1 to 16, each said scaffold support frame being attached to a building structure with scaffold planks extending therebetween to provide a working platform.

23. A system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said scaffold system includes a safety barrier supported by said safety barrier support posts.

24. A system as claimed in claim 22 or claim 23 wherein a locking means is associated with the upright support member to releasably lock a lower portion of the support member to a building structure. A scaffold frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

26. A bracket for a scaffold frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIG 9-12 of the accompanying drawings.

27. An adjustable scaffold system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this Thirteenth day of October 1999 SINERO PTY LTD 10 By their Patent Attorney FISHER ADAMS KELLY C IOl Oql