AU784389B2 - Scaffolding apparatus - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Access COLcad IJnle, Name of Applicant: RJVERW ERN PTY LTD Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention title: DAVID KENNETH DART JOHN R. G. GARDNER SUITE 398 ALBERT AVENUE BROADBEACH QLD 4218 SCAFFOLDING APPARATUS Details of Associated Provisional Applications No: PQ8951 FILED 24 JULY 2000 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it know to me:- This invention relates to scaffolding apparatus particularly designed for use during the erection of domestic dwellings or other buildings.

There are now in force regulations designed to prevent injury to persons engaged in working on roofs of buildings. For this purpose, so called "edge protection" is required around the periphery of a roof so that roof tilers, roof fixers or other roof workers can be prevented from falling from a roof. Edge protection in one form requires the erection of upstanding posts on the roof frame and connecting wires or rails extending between the posts. Such an arrangement is not suitable for many situations. Whilst a conventional scaffolding structure can be used around the periphery of a building, such structures are expensive and time consuming to erect. Some systems have been proposed for attachment to the walls of a building to form a walkway and handrail system around the roof of the building to protect tradesman installing fascia and gutter to the homes or for working on walls. Such systems however are suitable only for application to existing walls and are not suitable for use during erection of a "15 building.

In our Australian patent application No. 65428/99, we describe scaffolding apparatus comprising elongated post means, means at opposite ends of the post means for releasably securing the post means to the wall frame of a building on the inner side thereof, and scaffolding arm means detachably securable to said post means at a selected one of a set of positions along the post means for supporting a walkway and the scaffolding arm means also may support an upright guard post or the like. Whilst this arrangement is suitable for attachment to wall frames along the side of a building, there is a need to provide apparatus for use at the corners of a building to provide support for the walkway around sides of a building on opposite sides of the corner.

The present invention thus provides in one aspect, corner scaffolding apparatus comprising elongated post means, means at opposite ends of said post means for releasably securing said post means to a wall frame of a building on the inner side thereof adjacent a corner of said building, scaffolding arm means, and means for pivotally mounting said scaffolding arm means to said post means for movement about a substantially vertical axis so as to be pivotal to a position extending outwardly of said building corner. Preferably, the axis of pivotal movement of the scaffolding arm means is located externally of the building frame.

Preferably, an intermediate bracket assembly is releasably secured to the post means at a selected position or one of a set of positions along the post means, the intermediate bracket assembly defining the pivotal mounting for the scaffolding arm means. The intermediate bracket assembly suitably includes a first part securable to the post means and a second part pivotally mounted to the first part and defining the pivotal axis of the scaffolding arm means. The pivotal mounting may be defined by an aperture in one of the parts and a pin or axle on the other part receivable in the aperture.

Suitably a pair of spaced apertures is provided in the first bracket part and corresponding pins or axles are provided on the second part for receipt in the apertures in the first part. The pins may be of different lengths to facilitate mounting.

Preferably, the length of the upper pin is longer than the lower pin whereby the upper pin may be initially located in its pivot aperture to locate the second bracket part relative to the first bracket part after which the lower pin may be located in its pivot aperture.

The scaffolding arm means is adapted to be connected to the second part of the bracket assembly preferably through by pinning the arm means to second part of 15 the bracket assembly. The first part of the bracket assembly is also adapted to be :i connected to the post means also by pinning. The pinned connections suitably comprise apertures in the respective parts to be connected which are aligned to receive a securing pin or the like. The scaffolding arm means suitably includes spaced end brackets which ooeeo may cooperate with the second part of the intermediate bracket assembly. The end brackets may be of channel-sectioned form to locate neatly about a post of the second part of the intermediate bracket assembly. Suitably, the brackets are provided with apertures for alignment with spaced apertures in the post of the second part of the bracket assembly to receive securing pins therethrough to secure the scaffolding arm means to the second part of the bracket assembly.

Detachable bracing means are also suitably provide between the scaffolding arm means and post means to support the scaffolding arm means. Means are suitably provided for pivotally mounting the bracing means to the post means. The pivot axis of the bracing means is suitably substantially vertically aligned with the pivotal axis of the scaffolding arm means and thus arranged externally of the building frame. The mounting means for mounting the bracing means to the post means suitably includes a first part adapted to be mounted to the post means and a second part pivotally mounted to the first part, and the bracing means is adapted to be attached to the second part of the mounting means. The bracing means suitably comprises a member provided with channels at opposite end for cooperation with the second part of the mounting means and scaffolding arm means respectively. The channel members are suitably apertured to receive pins for passing through aligned apertures in the second part of the mounting means and scaffolding arm means respectively.

Suitably, the scaffolding arm means including means for supporting an upright guard post or the like. The guard post may be pivotally mounted to a channel engageable with the arm means to permit the post to be rotated about a substantially vertical axis for alignment with other guard posts.

Preferably, the elongated post means is of telescopic form to enable adjustment of the length thereof to suit different applications. Preferably for this purpose, the post means includes a main post member and a foot telescopically extendable from the main post member. Preferably, the foot may be set at one of a series of set extension positions relative to the main post member to set the required length of the post means. For this purpose, the foot may be provided with a series of 15 spaced apertures which may be aligned with one or more apertures in the main post member to receive a pin therethrough to positively position the foot relative to the main post member.

Means are provided at the opposite ends of the post means for securing .:oo.i the post means to the building frame preferably to the upper and lower plates of the building frame. Preferably, the securing means are provided on the free ends of the main post member and the foot. The securing means in one form may comprise Lshaped members which are threaded at one end to pass through openings in opposite ends of the post means for engagement with nuts which when tightened enable the post .eo.oi means to be clamped to the respective plates, free legs of the L-shaped members locating on the side of the plates opposite the post means. The securing means however may be of many different forms.

Suitably the scaffolding arm means defines in use a horizontal support for scaffolding planks, walkway or the like to permit a user to move about the building.

In a further aspect, the present invention provided a bracket assembly for mounting a scaffolding arm to a elongated supporting post secured or mounted in an upright position to the inside of a wall frame of a building adjacent a corner thereof, said bracket assembly having a first part adapted to be mounted to said supporting post to extend in use to a position externally of said building frame, and a second part pivotally mounted to said first part for movement in use about a substantially vertical axis, said second part defining mounting means for said scaffolding arm whereby said scaffolding arm means may be pivoted about said substantially vertical axis. Pins or axles on one part receivable in apertures in the other part may define the pivotal mounting between the first and second parts. Preferably, a pair of spaced apart aligned pins is provided on one part for receipt in respective aligned apertures in the other part.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides corner scaffolding apparatus comprising elongated post means adapted to be supported in an upright position on the inside of a wall frame of a building adjacent a corner thereof, scaffolding arm means, and means for pivotally mounting said scaffolding arm means to said post means such that said arm means extends substantially horizontally from said elongated post means and is pivotal about a substantially vertical axis to a position extending outwardly of said building corner.

Preferably, an intermediate bracket assembly is releasably secured to the post means at a selected position or one position of a set of positions along the post means, the intermediate bracket assembly defining the pivotal mounting for the scaffolding arm means. The intermediate bracket assembly suitably includes a first part securable to the post means and a second part pivotally mounted to the first part, the scaffolding arm means being releasably connected to the second part of the bracket 20 assembly.

Preferably detachable bracing means are provided between the scaffolding arm means and post means to support the scaffolding arm means, and means are provided S•for pivotally mounting the bracing means to the post means, the pivot axis of the bracing means being substantially vertically aligned with the axis of pivotal movement of the scaffolding arm means.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:- Fig. 1 illustrates in side elevational view the corner scaffolding apparatus of the invention applied to a building frame; Fig. 2 illustrates in side elevational view, the upper corner bracket; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the lower corner bracket; Fig. 4 is a sectional view along line A-A of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the corner scaffolding apparatus and side scaffolding apparatus applied to a building frame.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1, there is illustrated a corner scaffolding apparatus 10 according to the present invention including an elongated post 11 comprising a main post member 12 and a foot or extension member 13 telescopically engageable with the main post member 12. The main post member 12 and extension member 13 have openings 14 and 15 respectively therethrough such that the extension member 13 can be set at a required position relative to the post member 12 and set in that position by means of a locking pin passed through aligned openings 14 and in the post member 12 and extension member 13.

The post member 12 includes at its upper end an aperture 16 to receive an L-shaped clamping member 17 which has a threaded end 18 which is passed through the aperture 16 for engagement with a nut 19 which when tightened enables the upper end of the post 12 to be clamped to the top plate 20 of a building frame 21 adjacent a 15 building corner. A bracket 22 secured to the upper end of the post member 12 may be nailed to the top plate 20 for holding the post member 12 in place during tightening of the clamping memberl7. A similar arrangement employing L-shaped clamping i members 23 of the type described above are employed for clamping the extension member 13 of the post 11 to the bottom plate 24 of the building frame 21. The above S arrangement is substantially the same as that described in our aforesaid patent application No. 65428/99.

Adapted for mounting to the main post 11 is an upper corner bracket for supporting a scaffolding arm 26 and a lower corner bracket 27 for supporting a brace 28 for the scaffolding arm 26. The upper corner bracket 25 as shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 4 includes a first part 29 which is adapted to be mounted to the post member 12 to extend in use to the outer side of the wall frame 21 and a second part pivotally mounted to the first part 29 for movement in use about a substantially vertical axis. The first part 29 includes a post 31 which lies in use against the post member 12, the post 31 having at its upper and lower ends pairs of parallel plates 32 and 33 fixed to opposite sides of the post 31 and defining on one side of the post 31 Ushaped brackets 34 for receipt of the main post member 12. On the opposite side of the post 31, pivot blocks 35 are secured between the plates 32 and 33, the pivot blocks which are of RHS form defining aligned pivot apertures 36 which extend substantially 15 parallel to the post 31.

o"--The second part 30 of the upper corner bracket 25 includes a further post 37 having upper and lower arms 38 and 39 which extend at right angles from the post 37 and which support upper and lower pivot pins or axles 40 and 41 which extend .oo..i S"substantially parallel to the post 37 and which are adapted to be received in the apertures 36 of the upper and lower blocks 35 respectively so that the first and second •parts 29 and 30 of the corner bracket 25 are pivotally interconnectable. Preferably, the upper pin or axle 40 is longer than the lower pin or axle 41 to facilitate assembly. The post 37 includes spaced apertures 42 for cooperation with the scaffolding arm 26 and the free ends of the plates 32 and 33 include aligned apertures 43 for alignment with correspondingly spaced apertures 44 in the main post 12 members to receive securing pins therethrough to fix the first bracket part 29 to the post 12.

The lower corner bracket 27 is of similar form to half of the upper corner bracket 25 including a first part 45 which extends in use to the outer side of the wall frame 21, the first part 45 having one set of plates 46 which are connected at one end to an apertured pivot block 47 and define with a spacer 48 at their opposite ends a U-shaped channel 49 for engagement about the main post memberl2, the spacer 48 extending below the plates 46 and lying in use against the main post member 12. The second part 50 includes a post 51 having an outwardly extending arm 52 supporting a pivot pin or axle 53 which extends substantially parallel to the post 51 and which is adapted to be pivotally received in an aperture 54 in the pivot block 47.

The scaffolding arm 26 includes upper and lower joined arm members each of which is provided with U-or channel shaped brackets 56 which are aligned with each other and which are substantially complementary to the post 37. The side flanges of the respective brackets 56 are apertured to enable pins to be passed therethrough into sets of apertures 42 in the post member 37 whereby the arm 26 is secured to the post 37 so as to be movable therewith.

The upper arm member 55 is adapted to support a guardrail post 57 which is pivotally mounted on a channel 58 at its lower end, the channel 58 locating in use over the arm member 55 and being alignable with one of a sets of apertures 59 to secure the post 57 in an upright attitude at a set position along the arm member 55 but also allow its rotation about its longitudinal axis. The post 57 may include suitably spaced apertures 60 for the securing of suitable guard rails or wires 61.

15 For providing support for the scaffolding arm 26, the brace 28 is provided, the brace 28 including a bracing arm 62 having channel or U-shaped members 63 and 64 at its opposite ends and arranged at right angles to each other. The upper channel member 63 may receive the lower member 55 of the scaffolding arm 26 whilst oo...i the lower member 64 is adapted to locate about post 51 of bracket 27. The channels 63 and 64 are apertured at 65 and 66 respectively to receive pins for passing through respective apertures 67 and 68 in the arm 55 and post member 51 respectively to lock the brace 28 in position but permit rotational movement of the brace 28 with the arm as permitted by the bracket 27 with the respective pivotal axes of the bracing member ooe••• 28 and scaffolding arm 26 being substantially aligned and arranged externally of the ooooi wall frame 21.

The pins for retaining the components of the scaffolding apparatus together may be of any form such as bolts however suitably the pins include enlarge heads and shanks of slightly smaller diameter than the openings in the components and are apertured at their free end to receive a retaining clips or pins.

In use and as shown also in Figs. 5, the corner scaffolding apparatus is arranged to be mounted adjacent to the corner 70 of a building where respective building frames 21 meet at right angles, the frames 21 being of conventional form and including upright studs extending between top and bottom plates 20 and 24. To erect the scaffolding apparatus 10, the main post 11 is located on the inside of one of the frames 21 and set in its required length by extension of the leg 13 depending upon the distance between top and bottom plates 20 and 24. The L-shaped members 17 and 23 may then be positioned over the top plates 20 and over the bottom plate 24 and tightened to clamp the upper and lower ends of the post 11 to the top and bottom plates and 24.

The upper and lower corner brackets 25 and 27 may then be attached to the post 12 in the manner described above and thereafter, the scaffolding arm 26 is mounted to the bracket part 30 and brace 28 mounted between the arm 26 and bracket part 50. Alternatively, the scaffolding arm 26 may be mounted to the first bracket part prior to its connection to the second bracket part 29 (which is initially mounted to the post member 12), and the brace 28 mounted to the bracket part 50 prior to connection of the bracket part 50 to the bracket part 45 (which is initially mounted to the post member 12). When mounted as above, the scaffolding arm 26 with attached brace 28 may be pivoted about a vertical axis as permitted by the pivot pin connections to a desired attitude so as to lie at substantially 1350 to each building frame 21 at the corner S:22.

At the corner 70 of a building as shown in Fig. 5, a series of scaffolding oeeee: apparatii 71 of the type described in our aforesaid patent application No. 65428/99 are erected at spaced positions along adjacent wall frames 21 whilst the apparatus 10 is erected at the corner 70. Scaffolding planks 72 may be then supported on the respective outwardly extending scaffolding arms and at the corner 70, the planks 72 may simply overlap each other. Guardrail posts of the respective scaffolding apparatii are eooe• positioned along their supporting scaffolding arms so that they are in alignment and connecting rails 61 secured to the guardrail posts. The corner guardrail post 57 is simply rotated to align its faces with the corresponding faces of the guardrail posts supported by the apparatii 71.

Workers can then walk along the supported scaffolding planks 72 to work on the roof of the building or alternatively on soffit or guttering placement. At the cessation of the work, the apparatus may simply and effectively be disassembled in the reverse manner.

The components of the scaffolding apparatus are suitably formed of metal with the scaffolding arms of aluminium and the posts of galvanized steel however 9 all components may be galvanized steel, aluminium or other material. The components of the scaffolding apparatus may also be of square cross section or of any other cross section. As the apparatus is in modular form, it may be easily stored, transported and erected for use and simply disassembled.

The pivotal mounting of the scaffolding arm 26 and brace 28 may of course be of other forms than that illustrated and described and of course, the connections between the respective components may be other than illustrated and described Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such variations and modifications thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

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Claims (15)

1. Corner scaffolding apparatus comprising elongated post means, means at opposite ends of said post means for releasably securing said post means to a wall frame of a building on the inner side thereof adjacent a corner of said building, scaffolding arm means, and means for pivotally mounting said scaffolding arm means to said post means for movement about a substantially vertical axis so as to be pivotal to a position extending outwardly of said building corner.

2. Scaffolding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the axis of pivotal movement of the scaffolding arm means is located externally of the building frame.

3. Scaffolding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein an intermediate bracket assembly is releasably secured to the post means at a selected position or one of a set of positions along the post means, the intermediate bracket assembly defining the pivotal mounting for the scaffolding arm means. i.."a

4. Scaffolding apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said intermediate bracket oooo• assembly includes a first part securable to the post means and a second part pivotally mounted to the first part and defining the pivotal axis of the scaffolding arm means. Scaffolding apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the pivotal mounting is defined by an aperture in one of the parts and a pin or axle on the other part receivable S•in the aperture.

6. Scaffolding apparatus according to claim 5 wherein a pair of spaced apertures is provided in the first bracket part and corresponding pins or axles are provided on the second part for receipt in the apertures in the first part.

7. Scaffolding apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said scaffolding arm means is adapted to be connected to the second part of the bracket assembly.

8. Scaffolding apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the scaffolding arm means includes spaced end brackets for cooperation with the second part of the intermediate bracket assembly.

9. Scaffolding apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including detachable bracing means between the scaffolding arm means and post means to support the scaffolding arm means. Scaffolding apparatus according to claim 9 and including means for pivotally mounting the bracing means to the post means, the pivot axis of the bracing means being substantially vertically aligned with the pivotal axis of the scaffolding arm means.

11. Scaffolding apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the mounting means for mounting the bracing means to the post means includes a first part adapted to be mounted to the post means and a second part pivotally mounted to the first part, the 15 bracing means being adapted to be attached to the second part of the mounting means.

12. A bracket assembly for mounting a scaffolding arm to a elongated supporting post secured or mounted in an upright position to the inside of a wall frame of a building adjacent a corner thereof, said bracket assembly having a first part adapted to be mounted to said supporting post to extend in use to a position externally of said building frame, and a second part pivotally mounted to said first part for movement in use about a substantially vertical axis, said second part defining mounting means for said scaffolding arm whereby said scaffolding arm means may be pivoted about said eoeee S"substantially vertical axis. oee f

13. A bracket assembly according to claim 12 wherein pins or axles on one said part are receivable in apertures in the other part to define the pivotal mounting between the first and second parts.

14. A bracket assembly according to claim 13 wherein a pair of spaced apart aligned pins are provided on one part for receipt in respective aligned apertures in the other part. 12 Corner scaffolding apparatus comprising elongated post means adapted to be supported in an upright position on the inside of a wall frame of a building adjacent a corner thereof, scaffolding arm means, and means for pivotally mounting said scaffolding arm means to said post means such that said arm means extends substantially horizontally from said elongated post means and is pivotal about a substantially vertical axis to a position extending outwardly of said building corner.

16. Scaffolding apparatus according to claim 15 wherein an intermediate bracket assembly is releasably secured to the post means at a selected position or one position of a set of positions along the post means, the intermediate bracket assembly defining the pivotal mounting for the scaffolding arm means.

17. Scaffolding apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said intermediate bracket assembly includes a first part securable to the post means and a second part pivotally mounted to the first part, said scaffolding arm means being releasably connected to said second part of the bracket assembly.

18. Scaffolding apparatus according to any one of claims 15 to 17 and including detachable bracing means between the scaffolding arm means and post means to support S 20 the scaffolding arm means, and means for pivotally mounting the bracing means to the post means, the pivot axis of the bracing means being substantially vertically aligned with the axis of pivotal movement of the scaffolding arm means. S19. Corner scaffolding apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A bracket assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Date this 9th day of December 2005 ACCESS GUARD INTERIM PTY LTD