AU599144B2

AU599144B2 - Scaffold base clamp

Info

Publication number: AU599144B2
Application number: AU78632/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Harry Penkeyman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-09-25
Filing date: 1987-09-17
Publication date: 1990-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2007-09-17
Also published as: AU7863287A

Description

59 9 1 44 I'is kdocuinui contlins tle amend iikentls niade under Sectil on 4) aind is co rc.t for COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA The Patents Act 1952-1969 Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: HARRY PENKEYMAN 10 Shirland Street, MACGREGOR QLD 1109 HARRY PENKEYMAN G.R. CULLEN COMPANY PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS DALGETY HOUSE 79 EAGLE STREET BRISBANE QLD 4000

AUSTRALIA

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED: SCAFFOLD BASE CLAMP The following statement is a full description of the invention including the best method of performing it known to us: -afir P-

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The invention relates to an improved scaffolding base.

It is the practice in construction work to erect a mobile scaffolding around or adjacent the exterior of the building under construction to provide one or more work platforms on which workmen may be stationed. Such scaffolding consists of a base upon which several layers of scaffolding may be erected. It is usual for the base to rest on a plurality of wheels. Specifications laid by authorities which govern the construction of such scaffolding require that no more than four wheels be present for mobile scaffolding.

The authorities have also set down a requirement restricting the maximum permissible height to which mobile scaffolding may be erected. This heignt is expressed as a function of the area encompassed by the base of the scaffolding when viewed in plan. The requirement set by the authorities for the height states that the height at which the work platform is located should not be greater than 3 times the width of the scaffolding. Thus, for scaffolding erected on a 4 x 8 foot base, the height of the work platform should not exceed 12 feet.

In view of these requirements, it has become the practice to initially erect scaffolding having a 4 x 8 foot base which presents a work platform at 12 feet. The base normally projects across part of a footpath or walkway when it is erected above such a location. Thus, the base -3partially obstructs passage along that location. Once a work platform at 12 feet is no longer adequate and a higher platform is required, it was the practice to completely disassemble the scaffolding and then reassemble the scaffolding on a larger base so that a scaffolding of the desired and permitted height for that base may then be achieved. To obtain such a height for the work platform, the base would then project substantially or complete ly across the footpath or walkway and thus, the footpath or walkway would be completely obstructed. With this technique, at least when the 12 foot high work platform scaffolding was in place, the scaffolding would not completely obstruct the thoroughfare. However, it did require disassembly and subsequent erection of a scaffolding having a larger base so that the work platform presented by that scaffolding would be at the correct height.

An alternative to that suggested above employed the use of a scaffolding having a base commensurate with a permitted height greater than 12 feet but to initially construct the scaffolding to present a work platform at 12 feet or less. Thus, when a platform at a height greater than 12 feet was required, all that was necessary, was that the height of the scaffolding was extended to that permissible by the authorities for such a large base.

However, with such an alternative, the thoroughfare was substantially obstructed both whilst the scaffolding provided a low level work platform and also after it was L -4extended to provide a high level work platform. However, with such an arrangement it was not necessary to disassemble and reconstruct the scaffolding to achieve the higher position for the work platform.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a base for a mobile scaffolding and a base assembly for use with such a base which at least minimise the disadvantages referred to above.

According to the invention there is provided a scaffold base assembly for supporting a vertically extendible scaffold, said base assembly including two pairs of vertically spaced, horizonal, parallel elongate frame members, the frame members of each pair being interconnected by vertically disposed members to form a pair of rigid, similarly dimensioned, vertically disposed substantially rectilinear frames with the lower frame member of each pair being interconnected by elongate members to form a rigid substantially rectilinear horizontal frame, a pair of rectilinear scaffold base extension frames each including an upper and lower parallel, horizontally extending elongate frame extension members, said frame extension members being substantially longer than said frame members, connection means attachable to each of said frame members and said frame extension members for releasably interconnecting the upper and lower frame members of each pair of frame members to a respective upper and lower frame extension member of a

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respective scaffold base extension frame to releasably and rigidly retain each extension frame against a respective one of said pair of frame members with said extension frames extending from a common end of said scaffold base whereby the turning moment of a scaffold erected on said scaffold base assembly is reduced thus enabling the height of said scaffold to be increased.

The members comprising the base assembly are preferably tubular although, if desired they may be made from solid material. Aluminium or alloys thereof or other metallic material is preferred.

Bridging members may extend between the frame extension members of a pair located intermediate the free ends of the frame extension members of a pair.

The scaffolding base assembly may also include inclined brace members. Where such inclined brace members are present, those members may extend between a location adjacent the free end of the upper most frame extension member of a pair of frame extension members and an elevated location on the scaffolding to which the base assembly may be secured. Preferably, such an inclined brace member is located on each side of the scaffolding base assembly. The inclined brace member may be coupled to the relevant frame extension member and to the scaffolding at the elevated located employing a coupling or the like. The coupling may be an elbow or angle joint.

0/ -6- A suitable clamp assembly comprises an apertured body portion which may receive a base frame member of the scaffolding base. The body portion terminates in a receiving portion relative to which the frame extension members may be located. The receiving portion is preferably contoured to conform to the outer periphery of part of the frame extension member which is located relative thereto. In one embodiment, tne receiving portion is inwardly curved to receive part of a circular periphery of a frame extension member.

A saddle is receivable against the frame extension member and the clamping means ensures that the saddle is held against the frame extension member to hold that member relative to the receiving portion. The saddle preferably is configured to have an internal profile conforming to the external profile of a frame extension member. In one embodiment, the saddle is inwardly curved.

The clamping means may comprise one or more fasteners. Preferably, two fasteners are arranged extending between the receiving portion and the saddle. The fasteners may comprise screw fasteners such as bolts or the like extending at spaced location along the receiving portions whereby the frame extension member may locate between them such that the saddle, once the fasteners are tightened, may be fixed relative to the receiving portion to clamp the frame extension member between the saddle and the receiving portion.

A particular preferred form of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a scaffolding having a scaffolding base assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention mounted relative thereto; Figure 2 is a side view of a pair of frame extension members which form part of the base assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a partial v~ew of i portion of the scaffolding shown in figure 1; an(., Figure 4 is an end view of clamps according to an embodiment of the invention for securing the frame extension members of figure 2 to the scaffolding shown in figure 1.

As shown in figure 1, the scaffolding 10 consists of a plurality of upright frame members 11. Members 11 may be formed of a plurality of discrete lengths or alternatively each upright 11 may be made of one piece. The scaffold 10 has a work platform 12 adjacent its upper end.

At desired intervals along the height of the scaffold cross brace members 13 are arranged to extend between opposed sides of the scaffold. The base of the scaffold consists of two opposed pairs of frame members 14, 15. Only one member 15 is visible in this figure. A scaffolding base assembly 16 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown secured to the base of scaffold 10. Wheel- or casters 17 are shown coupled to the assembly 16 and/or the base of the scaffold and at corners thereof.

The assembly 16 consists of two pairs of opposed frame extension members 18 between which extend vertically extending bridging members 19. Transversely extending frame members or braces 20 are arranged extending between the opposed pairs of frame extension members 18. Inclined brace members 21 ctend from each of the upper most of the frame extension members 18 and are coupled between those members and an elevated position along uprights 11.

As shown in figure 2, the pairsof' frame extension members 18 haxe vertically extending bridging members 19 extending between them and coupled at ends thereof by elbow connectors 22 to form a perimeter frame. Two such perimeter frames are included in each scaffolding base assembly.

Figure 3 of the drawings shows a detailed view of a lower corner of the scaffold 10 to which the scaffolding base assembly is secured. Upright member 11 of the scaffold extends through a joint 23 having a through bore or other suitable coupling enabling horizontal frame member 24 to be fixed thereto. The upright 11 continues through joint 23 and terminates in a lower joint 25. Joint 25 serves to connect the upright 11 to a lower most horizontal frame member 15. Members 24, 15 form part of the periphery over which the work platform 12 extends. Clamp assemblies 27, 28 are secured on members 24, 15 respectively and spaced inwardly of the corner defined by upright 11 shown in figure 3. Vertical brace 26 extends between members 24, L7 Figure 4 shows an end view of the components shown in figure 3. The clamp assemblies 27, 28 each consist of a body portion 29 through which horizontal frame members 24, may extend as shown in the figure. These clamp assemblies are permanently secured to a part of the frame members 24, 15. The clamp assemblies each have a receiving portion 30 having an arcuate internal contour 31 which complements part of the outer peripheral contour of frame extension member 18. Each clamp has a saddle 32 which also has an arcuate internal contour 31a which conforms to part of the external periphery of member 18. Clamping means is shown in the form of two fasteners 33 located at spaced locations relative to the receiving portion 30. The clamping means further includes two nuts 34. In use, member 18 is located between receiving portion 30 and the saddle 32 and by tensioning the fasteners 33 once nuts 34 are secured, member 18 may be held fixed relative to the clamp 27 or 28.

In use, the base of the scaffold 10 would normally be defined by members 14 and 15 and wheels 17 would be normally arranged to project downwardly from the scaffold at corners defined by uprights 11. In view of the base width to height restriction set by the authorities, a scaffold of this configuration would be able to present the work platform 12 at a particular defined height. Once the construction at the building site exceeds a height convenient for the location of platform 12, the scaffolding base assembly of the invention is then secured to the base of the scaffold 10. This assembly includes two perimeter frames like that illustrated in figure 2 and these frames are arranged at opposed sides of the scaffold base and adjacent members 15 of that scaffold. The perimeter frames are clamped relative to clamp assemblies 27, 28 two of which are located at spaced intervals along the frame members 24, at the sides of the scaffold. Once the perimeter frames are secured in this way transverse brace members 20 are then secured to extend between the perimeter frames. Subsequent to this, inclined brace members 21 are then secured to extend between the uppermost of members 18 and an elevated losated on the scaffold. Finally, the wheels 17 which would normally have been at the position indicated by the letter A in figure 1 are then removed and secured to those ends of the scaffolding base assembly from which inclined members 21 extend towards the elevated position.

In this way, the width of the base for the scaffold may be increased without the need for disassembling the scaffold and constructing another scaffold with another appropriately sized base. Once the base of the scaffold has been enlarged in this way it is then permissible to extend the height of the scaffold and still remain within the base to height restrictions set by the authorities. In addition, whilst the scaffold 10 is used with the platform 12 at the height shown in figure 1, the original base of the scaffold defined by members 14, 15 is sufficiently small in area to not unduly restrict passage on a footpath or the like. Once 11a scaffold having a platform 12 at a height higher than that shown in figure 1 is required, the base may be extended with the scaffolding base assembly of the invention. Thus, the enlarged base is only present whenever a scaffold of suitable height is necessary and disassembly and reassembly of the scaffold is necessary to achieve a work plat form at the desired height.

Claims

1. A scaffold base assembly for supporting a vertically extendible scaffold, said base assembly including two pairs of vertically spaced, horizonal, parallel elongate frame members, the frame members of each pair being interconnected by vertically disposed members to form a pair of rigid, si.:larly dimensioned, vertically disposed substantially rectilinear zrames with the lower frame member of each pair being interconnected by elongate members to form a rigid substantially rectilinear horizontal frame, a pair of rectilinear scaffold base extension frames each including an upper and lower parallel, horizontally extending elongate frame extension members, said frame extension members being substantially longer than said frame members, connection means attachable to each of said frame members and said frame extension members for releasably 'nterconnecting the upper and lower frame members of each pair of frame members to a respective upper and lower frame extension member of a respective scaffold base extension frame to releasably and rigidly retain each extension frame against a respective one of said pair of frame members with said extension frames extending from a common end of said scaffold base whereby the turning moment of a scaffold erected on said scaffold base assembly is reduced thus enabling the height of said scaffold to be increased. -13-

2. A scaffold base assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connection means comprises means each including a body having an aperture therethrough through which a frame member or a frame extension member is located, a receiving portion against which a frame extension member or a frame member respectively is located, a saddle member receivable over said respective; frame extension or frame member and said receiving portion and fastening means to fasten said saddle member against said receiving portion.

3. A scaffold base assembly as claimed in either preceding claim wherein said base assembly and said extension frame include means for attaching wheels or castors to the lower side of said base frame and said e tension frame.

4. A scaffold base assembly4w'ierein said frame members and said vertically disposed members of each said pair of frame members are tubular members interconnected at their ends by elbow joints.

A scaffold base assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each extension frame comprises tubular frame extension members interconnected at their ends by elbow joints to tubular elongate members to form said extension frames.

6. A scaffold base assembly as claimed in claim wherein each said extension frame includes one or more tubular members each interconnecting the said upper and lower frame extension members intermediate the ends of said upper 0I 1 0 I -14- and lower frame extension members.

7. A scaffold base assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this Fourth day of April, 1990. HARRY PENKEYMAN by their Patent Attorneys G.R. CULLEN CO.