AU6362801A

AU6362801A - Scaffold

Info

Publication number: AU6362801A
Application number: AU63628/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Andrew John Dunlop
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-04-18
Filing date: 2001-08-20
Publication date: 2002-10-24
Also published as: WO2002084049A1

Description

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TITLE: SCAFFOLD FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns scaffolds and especially ground supported single pole systems intended for several storeys.

')Sandercock Cowie 2001-08-I 7,A:\345dunlop.complcte.wpd. I -2- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Scaffolds are commonly hired during the construction repair and refurbishment of buildings. The two pole system presents problems for tradesmen in that the pole which is adjacent the building prevents complete access to the face of the building and these are an impediment to the installation of large framing components such as windows and the application of surface finishes which involve a wet edge such as stucco and paint. For such use a one pole system is preferred but those proposed in the prior art are usually not ground supported but are suspended from the roofing timbers during the course of construction. If the building has been completed the only alternative is to suspend the system from the face of the building but then the original problem reappears, namely that complete access to the face of the building is denied. Additionally building regulations concerning the safety of tradesmen are subject to continual improvement and the systems must allow for the secure position of handrails and kickboards and other safety features 15 together with a sense of reliability and stability for the tradesmen who are using the scaffold.

oe S SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 20 One apparatus aspect of the invention provides a ground supported single pole type •scaffold comprising two or more vertical supports, intended to stand on an axis spaced from each end substantially parallel to a structure to be serviced, means to support a horizontal walkway between the supports and tie means capable of connecting the upper end of a vertical support to an upper part of the structure, whereby access to the structure 25 is unimpeded by the scaffold.

The means to connect the scaffold to the structure may be a plate which is temporarily securable to the structure and a tie, one end of which is linked to the plate, the opposite end of which is intended for attachment to the vertical support.

The plate may have slots for the reception of fasteners, typically screws or bolts which may enter the roof timbers, studs, trusses or the roof plate which joins the top of the wall Copyright. All rights reserved.

Sandercock Cowie 2001-08-17,A:\345dunop.completc.wpd,2 studs. The plate may have a protective layer underlying the plate, such as rubber for prevention of marring metal roofing. When the roof is tiled, a few tiles may be removed to allow the plate to lie on the roofing timbers. When the roof is metal, the roof screws are removed, the plate is laid on top of the roof and the screws replaced thereby fixing the plate. When the building has a parapet, the plate is fixed to the parapet crown.

The plate is versatile in that it is connectable to the fascia, the gutter or other face of the structure, eg. siding.

The tie may be linked to the plate through a hinge, ball joint or mechanical equivalent.

Thus the inclination thereof is not an obstacle to fixing the scaffold securely.

The means to support the walkway may be of two types. The first means to support the planks of the walkway may be a bracket which is adapted to extend from the vertical 15 support towards the structure without obstructing access to the structure. Thus the bracket may be the width of two planks and strengthened by a diagonal strut. This is suitable for supporting the plank between its ends.

The second means supports the end of the planks so that they butt and preclude overlap 20 plank overlapping is not permitted by regulation.

The second means may comprise a platform capable of accommodating the ends of two pairs of side by side planks and means for attaching the platform to a vertical support.

S 25 Kickboards are required by regulation to prevent objects such as tools and components "falling on persons below. The kickboard support may comprise a channel section body capable of embracing the edge of the plank, a channel section kickboard holder fixed at to the body, and means to clamp the body to the plank edge.

The invention also provides a kit of parts for a ground supported single pole type scaffold comprising vertical supports, tie members capable of connecting the upper end of the vertical support to an upper part of the structure to be surfaced and a means to support Copyright. All rights reserved.

SSandercock Cowie 2001-08-17,A:A345dunIop.compctc.wpd,3 -4- S

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a horizontal walkway between the vertical supports and the structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front view of the scaffold adjacent a house.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the scaffold of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the scaffold connection to a house roof.

Figure 4 is a side view of the scaffold in position on a building showing connection to 15 the house roof similar to Figure 3.

The vertical supports may be braced against racking by a strut having means at the upper end to removably engage the vertical support and means at the lower end to engage a ground anchor.

The end of the walkway may be protected by a substantially L-shaped sliding gate, which in the open position is partly accommodated in a sleeve, mountable on a vertical support which functions as a ladder rest.

Figure 5 is a perspective of the bracket for supporting the centres of walkway planks.

Figure 6 is a perspective of a bracket for supporting the ends of four planks.

Figure 7 is a perspective of a brace to limit racking.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a kickboard clamp.

Sandercock Cowie 200 1 -08- 1,A:\345dunlop. complete. wpd4 Figure 9 is a perspective of a ladder rest and a walkway gate which slides open and shut.

Figure 10 is a side view of a tie connected to a roof timber using a nailed bracket.

Figure 11 is a side view of a tie connected to a roof timber using a nailed plate.

The tubes and ties are made of 3mm DURAGALTM tube.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, a pair of square section steel tubes 2 each stand in a base plate 4 spaced apart by about the length of a builders plank 6 and about 800mm from the building 8. Two vertical tubes 2 extend 8m that is above the second storey gutter 10. A handrail 12 joins the vertical tubes and a kickboard 14 is mounted at 900 to the plank 6.

15 Referring now to Figure 3 the vertical tube carries a collar 16 with a clamp screw 18.

Hinge 20 is welded to the collar face and the side of a tie collar 22. A square tube tie 24 slides adjustably through the collar 22 and is arrested by a collar bolt 24 passing through bores in the tie 26. The tie position is adjusted to cause the roof end of the tie to rest close to the gutter 10. Access to this position is arranged by a ladder and the nearest roof 20 nails are extracted. The roof end of the tie 26 carries a steel slotted plate 800 x 150mm 28, with an end bolt keeper 30A and mid bolt keeper 30B. One end of tie 26 has a corresponding bolt tube 32. The opposite end is received by fitting 34 which has a channel 36 or clamping the tie 26 and a collar 38 for clamping the vertical tube 2. Collar 38 is joined to channel 36 by hinge 40. Plate 28 is nailed to the roof timbers using the 25 removed nails.

Figure 4 shows how the hinge opens to permit the plate 28 to fix to a hipped roof. The plate 28 has a layer of closed cell foam 41 adhered to the underside, enabling it to sit on corrugated or long run COLOURBONDTM steel roof.

In Figure 5 and 6 the plank brackets are suspended from the vertical tubes 2. A channel 36 embraces the tube and is retained at a desired height by a pin. Channel 36 is welded Copyright. All rights reserved.

(y Sandercock Cowie 2001-08.17,A:\345dunlop.completc.wpd,5 angle member platform 42 which is supported by a triangular strut 44.

The platform allows generous overlap and two pairs of butted plank ends are accommodated. The plank ends at the end of the walkway rest on right angle bracket arm 46.

Tubes 2 are braced against racking by arm 48 which ends in plate 50. Ground spike 52 projects through a bore punched in plate In Figures 8 and 9 the outer planks support kickboard 14 through fitting 56 which has a C-shaped body 58 for embracing the edge of the plank and an upright channel 60 into which the board drops.

A double collar fitting 62 clamps handrail 64 to the tubes 2 and a separate fitting 66 15 carries an outer fixed tube 68 about 500mm long which acts as a ladder rest and a sliding inner tube 70 formed into a simple barrier to the walkway. Stop 72 prevents the ladder S: (not shown) sliding off the rest.

.o In Figures 10 and 11 the tie 26 extends from the vertical tube 2 as in Figure 4. During 20 construction the roof timbers 74 are accessible for securing the system. In Figure 10 the roof end of the tie has a channel bracket 76 which circulates with a rafter bracket 78 nailed to the rafter.

In Figure 11 the roof end of the tie has bolt tube 32 which allows the plate 28 to connect 25 to the keeper 30A. The plate is simply nailed to the rafter side.

0* Multi storey structures can be worked on if the ties are connected to the structure and disengaged storeywise as the work moves to the lower storey.

(0 Sandercock Cowie 2001-08.17,A:\345dunlop.complcec.wpd,6 We have found the advantages of the embodiment to be as follows:- 1. The scaffold is ground supported and gives full access to the vertical exterior of the building.

2. The construction of the roof is not an impediment to fixing as a variety of roof slopes can be accommodated.

3. Overall satisfaction of current safety regulations is possible.

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Claims

1. Ground supported single pole type scaffold comprising two or more mutually spaced vertical supports, intended to stand on an axis substantially parallel to a structure to be serviced, means to support a horizontal walkway between the supports and tie means capable of connecting the upper end of a vertical support to an upper part of the structure, whereby access to the structure is unimpeded by the scaffold.

2. A scaffold as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the means to connect the scaffold to the structure may be a plate which is temporarily securable to the structure and a tie, one end of which is linked to the plate, the opposite end of which is intended for attachment to the vertical support. 15 3. A scaffold as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the plate has apertures for the reception of fasteners intended to engage roof timbers or of a substantial structural member. S 4. A scaffold as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the tie is linked to the plate through a hinge or ball joint.

5. A scaffold as claimed in Claim 2 or 3 wherein the plate is elongated and coupled to the tie by a hinge at the end of both plate and tie.

7. A scaffold as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the walkway is a bracket adapted to extend from the vertical support towards the structure without obstructing access to the structure.

8. A scaffold as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the bracket is a platform capable of supporting on a common plane the abutting ends of two pairs of side by side Copyright. All rights reserved. Sandercock Cowie

2001-08- 17,A:\345dunlop.complete.wpd,8 -9- planks and means for attaching the platform to a vertical support. 9. A scaffold as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the walkway has a kickboard support comprising a channel section body capable of embracing the edge of the plank, a channel section kickboard holder fixed at 900 to the body, and means to clamp the body to the plank edge. A scaffold as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9 wherein the vertical supports are braced against racking by a strut having a means at the upper end to removably engage the vertical support and means at the lower end to engage a ground anchor. 11. A scaffold as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the end of the walkway is protected by a substantially L-shaped sliding gate which in the open 15 position is partially accommodated in a sleeve mounted on a vertical support which functions as a ladder rest. 12. A kit of parts for constructing a ground supported, single-pole type scaffold comprising vertical supports, tie means capable of connecting the upper end of 20 the vertical support to an upper part of the structure to be serviced and means to support a horizontal walkway between the vertical supports and the structure. 13. A kit of parts claimed in Claim 12 additionally containing the plate and tie as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 6. 14. A kit of parts as claimed in Claim 12 or 13 additionally containing the kick board support as claimed in Claim 9. A kit of parts as claimed in Claim 12, 13 or 14 additionally containing the brace as claimed in Claim 16. A kit of parts as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 15 additionally containing Copyright. All rights reserved. Sandercock Cowie 2001.08-17,A:\345dunlop.complete.wpd,9 the gate and ladder support as claimed in Claim 11. 17. A scaffold substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 11I of the accompanying drawings. Dated this 17 7 h day of August, 2001. SANDERCOCK COWIE PATENT ATTORNEYS FOR ANDREW JOHN DUNLOP 9~ Copyright. All ights reserved. (,)Sandercock Cowie20 I7A\Sdmpcpet.v.O 2001-08-17A: U45dunlop.complete. wpd,