EP0444123B1

EP0444123B1 - Method and apparatus for making a floor or walkway

Info

Publication number: EP0444123B1
Application number: EP90900236A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nicholas Peter Webster; Paul Anthony Gibbons; Matthew Charles Webster; Glen Stuart Holme
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-11-19
Filing date: 1989-11-20
Publication date: 1994-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 2009-11-20
Also published as: GB2242473A; DE68917476D1; ATE109854T1; AU4750290A; GB2242473B; GB8827100D0; WO1990005819A1; GB9107877D0; DE68917476T2; EP0444123A1

Abstract

A method and apparatus for making a floor or walkway for providing a temporary working surface for building or decorating or other purposes comprises providing support means for conventional building planks. The support means (16), (18), holds the planks in a generally T-shaped configuration so that the horizontal plank (12) provides the working surface and the vertical plank (22) provides vertical stiffness to support loads on the working surface. Embodiments include support structures in the form of a height-adjustable steel fabrication and a plastics moulding.

Description

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making a floor or walkway for providing a temporary working surface for building or decorating or other operations. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable for use by plasterers, painters and decorators for providing a "false floor" somewhat raised with respect to the normal floor of a room in a building, in order to facilitate work on the ceiling and/or upper portions of the walls of the room. The invention has many other applications, as disclosed herein.
There has been a requirement in the building industry for a long time for a means of providing secure false flooring to allow ceiling and wall treatment within a building at heights beyond the normal reach of a person, or otherwise at uncomfortable levels.
For working on ceilings, previous techniques adopted by painters and decorators, plasterers and the like include the use of beer crates or any other readily available movable structure which is strong enough for the purpose, with scaffolding planks extending between these supports to provide the "false floor".
Such a false floor is obviously unstable since the planks are supported at various heights, are not fixed, and are inclined to move during work. Moreover, the planks are unduly springy and flexible, which is disconcerting for the novice. A plasterer has to "set" a floor in accordance with his own usual working pattern and memorise this in order to avoid stumbling between the planks when working.
Other previously used systems include planks layed between chairs or between step ladders or stools. In all these cases working on a platform so-supported is a balancing act at best.
As regards support structures providing working surfaces for use in relation to external walls, previous proposals include the use of scaffolding constructed in stages with scaffolding planks used as the base floor before fabrication of the next stage. The headroom between successive stages must be sufficient to allow the free passage of persons of varying height, while still allowing enough of the working face of the wall to be accessible. The top (two or three feet) of the available surface of the wall in any one stage can only be treated or worked-on if the workman raises his arms above shoulder height or else uses unsecured ladders or stools which are potentially dangerous.
There is disclosed in GB-A-751,768 (Gerke) a method and apparatus as set forth in the pre-characterising portion of claims 1 and 4 hereof.
The apparatus or "trestle" disclosed in the Gerke specification is constructed to provide a clamping action between the spaced trestles and an associated single plank disposed in a generally horizontal plane. This is achieved by providing arms 3 fixed to the upper ends of the legs 1 of the trestle, and carrying cross-members 4 which serve as an abutment or clamping means. The single horizontal plank 5 is clamped between abutment 4 and a cross-member 2. The horizontal separation of these two members enables the clamping action to be achieved even with a single plank.
However, provision of this means for clamping a single plank has the result that while it is possible for this single plank to cooperate with additional planks as indicated in Fig 2, to provide additional vertical stiffness, such an arrangement is provided really only as a supplement to the natural stiffness (with respect to vertical loads) of the generally horizontally disposed plank. No real co-operative relationship of the planks is necessarily provided. It is entirely possible that the clamping of the upper horizontal plank could come into effect before the latter has actually come into engagement with the lower vertically disposed plank. Moreover, the provision of the arms 3 extending laterally of the legs 1 in a cantiliver fashion means that the trestles themselves are a 3-dimensional structure, not readily stacked in compact form for transport, and somewhat subject to damage in environments such as building sites where careless handling of equipment can often be the norm.
According to the invention there is provided a method of making a floor or walkway as defined in claim 1 hereof and apparatus for making such a floor or walkway as defined in claim 4 hereof.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as described below, said support means, including said structure above and below said plank means is constructed as a structure lying in one plane and so as to receive said two planks in edge-to-face contact and in a generally T-shaped relationship. As a result, the clamping action of the support means, on being inclined with respect to the plank means, has little or negligible clamping action with respect to the upper and generally horizontally disposed plank means, when the latter is present on its own, and thus the clamping action when the two plank means are disposed in the generally T-shaped arrangement is solely by virtue of their co-operative engagement. Accordingly, the rigidity of the assembly in use is a direct consequence of such co-operative engagement and there is no possibility of, for example, the clamping of the upper plank means to come into effect before that of the lower plank means, whereby reduced stability of the assembly might well result.
Also in the preferred embodiment, the two plank means inserted into the support means are of generally similar lateral widths, and thus the apparatus is suitable for use with any normal standard building planks to be found on a building site or like location, whereby no element of choice needs to be made. There is no need to provide the different size planks required by the prior art proposal, and to mount these in a particular sequence and relationship. Moreover, the simple single plane structure of the support means has the result that it occupies a minimum of space and is readily stackable and has a low susceptibility to damage by virtue of a minimum of projecting parts.
A further shortcoming of the Gerke arrangement in which the abutment 4 is cantilevered out from the leg 1, is that the abutment 4 itself necessarily gets in the way of transverse planks laid on the assembly in the manner shown in Fig 9, whereas this does not arise with the one-plane structure of the present invention. It is noteworthy moreover that the Gerke specification contains no suggestion that two or more planks could ever be used simultaneously in a clamping effect, as discussed above. The text concerns itself solely with the use of one plank at a time for load-bearing purposes, and merely proposes the simple laying (not clamping) of planks transverse thereto to form a work surface. This is also true of GB-A-626,199 (Davis), in which the structure of the individual trestles precludes altogether any possibility of a clamping interengagement of the planks even though they are in a generally T-shaped disposition. We have established that in the absence of clamping interengagement of the planks, serious instability of the assembly results during use.
A preferred embodiment further includes the step of making two such support structures and arranging same in generally parallel relationship and forming a floor or partial floor therewith by assembling a series of planks laterally across said two support structures in approximately mutually parallel relationship.
In the preferred embodiment of corresponding apparatus, the support structure is provided with support leg means and the arrangement is such that the support structure can adopt a working position in which the support structure is tilted with respect to the vertical whereby the part of said support structure above the plank means effects a clamping action between the two plank means forming the elements of the T-shaped structure. The support structure may be adapted to be height-adjustably received on the support leg means.
In the preferred embodiment, the individual separate plank means extend through a generally T-shaped hole in the support means, which is generally in the form of a cradle, and is a loose fit on the planks. The support means has legs and the assembly tends to lean inwards or outwards so as to tighten on the two planks. This inclination adds stability by increasing the clamping effect between the two planks while still resisting downward loads. The greater the loads, the tighter the clamping. Assembly is easily effected, and the size of the planks can vary considerably, variations being taken up by the variable inclination.
In this embodiment, the legs supporting the cradle-like support means are adjustable in height. This permits use of the assembly on stairs and uneven ground. The support means is formed as a metal casting or fabrication. The leg may be provided with wheel means to facilitate position adjustment.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-

Fig 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment;
Figs 2, 3 and 4 show elevation views of a support leg assembly and support means, and the two assembled together, respectively;
Figs 5 and 6 illustrate two alternative modes of use of the assembly of Fig 1, Fig 5 corresponding to the Fig 1 position and Fig 6 to an alternative position;
Fig 7 shows the assembly of Fig 1 used in association with another similar assembly and a series of planks to form a temporary working surface;

apparatus

walkway

surface

support structure

such support structure

The support structures 16 and 18 are adapted to receive the first plank means 20 in association with a further or second plank means 22, with which the first plank means 20 co-operates, in a generally T-shaped structure 24, best seen at the left hand end of Fig 1, and at the central portion of the plank means at which they have been shown, for illustration purposes, partly cut away. In this generally T-shaped structure the second or further plank 22 provides vertical stiffness to support loads, for example the weight of a person, placed on the first plank means 20, and thus carried on the surface 14.
The support means 16 and 18 are each in the form of a fabrication of mild steel defining a generally T-shaped slot means 26 to receive the plank means 20, 22. Each of the support structures 16 and 18 is adapted to be height-adjustably received on its own support leg means 28, which is likewise a fabrication of mild steel.
Looking now at the detailed form of the support structures 16 and 18, which are identically constructed, and their support leg means 28, likewise identically constructed, it will be seen from Figs 1 to 4 that these steel fabrications comprise an assembly in which tubular side members 30, 32 of the support structures are slidably received on the uprights 34, 36 of the support leg assembly, these side members being apertured at spaced positions 38 to receive pegs 40 retained by chains 42 for insertion through corresponding apertures 44 in side members 30, 32.
The T-shaped slot 26 is defined by a top bar 46, which is linear, and two side bars 48, 50, which are generally L-shaped and secured to a bottom bar 52. The whole assembly is secured together by welds 54 at all joints so as to form an extremely strong and rigid structure.
The uprights 34, 36 of the support leg means 28 have a linking base or foot 54, to which they are likewise welded to form a corresponding rigid structure. The base has the slightly upwardly-bowed shape seen in Figs 1, 2 and 4 in order to rest predominantly in the region of its ends on hard ground, while being able to readily sink somewhat in less firm ground, which promotes its mode of action, as described below.
The mode of use is illustrated in Figs 1 and 7. The plank means 20, 22 are in the form of conventional builders' wooden planks and are inserted into the slot 26 by simple endwise insertion, which is readily carried out. The two support structures 16 and 18 and their associated support legs 28 are provided, one at each end of the T-shaped plank assembly, as shown in Figs 1 and 7. As can be seen, the legs 28 slope or tilt inwardly as shown in Figs 1 and 5, but equally they may slope outwardly as indicated in Fig 6. In either mode of assembly, the more the downward loads indicated at 56 are applied to the assembly, the more the legs 28 tends to tilt inwards or outwards as indicated at 58, and thus the more that the structure defining the T-shaped slot 26 clamps the two planks together, particularly the structure constituted by the top bar 46 and the bottom bar 52.
Fig 7 shows the mode of constructing a temporary working surface 60 in which of the assemblies 62 shown in Fig 1 are provided (but shown in Fig 7 with their support leg structures 28 tilting outwardly). The floor or partial floor is formed thereon by assembling a series of planks 64 laterally across the assemblies 62 in mutually parallel relationship. Any suitable number of plank 64 may be employed to produce a complete floor 60 of any desired size within the limits permitted by the assemblies 62.
Interestingly, in the above embodiments, there has been disclosed apparatus whereby a floor or walkway can be readily constructed from readily available planking materialsusing simple and easily-assembled structures for mounting same. A floor or walkway, and a corresponding temporary working surface can be constructed at a variety of chosen working heights. The instability inherent in previously proposed arrangements is avoided. Transportation of the apparatus is relatively simple and the apparatus is not particularly space-consuming. Considerable advantages accrue for builders, painters, decorators and others.
Amongst other modifications which could be made in the above embodiments, while remaining within the scope of the invention are the following. The floor or walkway could be used as a temporary walkway extending between two temporary buildings for example. The support means 16 and 18 of Fig 1 could be used on their own, without the leg means 28, and resting on the ground, though of course without the height-adjustment facility. Considerable variation in the detailed design of the support means could be made, while still holding the plank means in the generally T-shaped arrangement. The tubular side members 30, 32 and the entire support leg means could, with advantage, be constructed from round section tube, and likewise the top bar 46 and the bottom bar 52, in the first embodiment. This modification may well assist the tilting and clamping action. Likewise, the pegs 40 could be arranged for insertion laterally rather than lengthwise of the plank means.

Claims

A method of making a floor or walkway (12) for providing a temporary working surface for building or decorating or other purposes, the method comprising :-
a) providing support means (16, 18) to support plank means (20) at spaced locations on said plank means (20); and

b) mounting at least one plank means (20) on said support means (16, 18) in a generally horizontal attitude to provide said working surface;

c) providing at least one further plank means (22) and mounting same below said one plank means (20) and generally in a plane at right angles thereto; and

d) said support means (16, 18) comprising clamping structure both above and below said plank means (20, 22) and capable of clamping same between said support means so as to provide vertical stiffness to support loads;

e) said support means (16, 18) being constructed so as to receive said two plank means in edge-to-edge contact and in a generally T-shaped relationship; and

f) said method further comprising the step of inclining said support means (16, 18) with respect to said plank means (20, 22) until said clamping structure effects said clamping to provide a rigid assembly of said support means and said plank means by virtue of the co-operative engagement of said plank means in said support means (16, 18);
characterised in that

g) said support means (16, 18) is constructed as a structure lying in one plane, whereby said step of inclining said support means to effect said clamping necessarily causes co-operative clamping engagement of each of said plank means with the other thereof; and

h) the method comprises the step of inserting two planks (20, 22) of generally similar lateral widths into said support means (16, 18), said planks (20, 22) forming said two plank means and said two planks (20, 22) being in edge-to-face contact and extending lengthwise generally at right angles to the plane of said support means (16, 18).
A method according to claim 1 characterised by the step of height adjusting said support means (16, 18) with respect to support leg means (28) therefor.
A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised by the step of making two such support structures (16, 18) and arranging same in generally parallel relationship and forming a floor or partial floor therewith by assembling a series of further planks laterally across said two support structures (16, 18) in approximately mutually parallel relationship.
Apparatus for use in accordance with the method of claim 1, for making a floor or walkway for providing a temporary working surface for building or decorating or other purposes, the apparatus comprising :-
a) a support means (16) for use with another such support means (18) to support plank means (20, 22) at spaced locations on said plank means, said support means being adapted to receive and support said plank means in association with further plank means to be mounted below said one plank means and generally in a plane at right angles thereto;

b) said support means comprising clamping structure which, in use, is positioned both above and below said plank means (20, 22) and is capable of clamping same between said support means so as to provide vertical stiffness to support loads;

c) said support means being constructed so as to receive said two plank means in edge-to-face contact and in a generally T-shaped relationship, said clamping structure comprising a top member (46), side members (48, 50) and a bottom member (52) defining plank-receiving means; and

d) said support means being adapted to receive two planks forming said plank means, of generally similar lateral widths, in edge-to-face contact and extending lengthwise generally at right angles to the plane of said support means;
and

e) the arrangement being such that said support means (16, 18) can, in use, be inclined with respect to said plank means (20, 22) until said clamping structure effects said clamping to provide a rigid assembly of said support means and said plank means by virtue of the co-operative engagement of said plank means in said support means;
characterised in that said support means (16, 18) is constructed as a structure lying in one plane, whereby said step of inclining said support means to effect said clamping necessarily causes co-operative clamping engagement of each of said planks (20, 22) with the other thereof.
Apparatus according to claim 4 characterised in that said support structure (20, 22) is adapted to be height-adjustably mounted on support leg means (28).