GB1565658A - Scaffolding structure such as stays scaffoldings and similar supports - Google Patents

Description

(54) SCAFFOLDING STRUCTURE SUCH AS STAYS, SCAFFOLDINGS AND SIMILAR SUPPORTS (71) We, SOCIETE FRANCAISE DES ECHAFAUDAGES SELF-LOCK, a company organised under the laws of France, of 11 rue Nicolas Robert, 93601 Aulnay-Sous-Bois, France, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a new scaffolding structure enabling the construction of stays, scaffoldings, supports and other like apparatus. Such structures are of particular use in the construction of buildings. The invention also relates, in its broader aspect, to a tubular upright member forming part of such a structure.

It has already been proposed in the art to make structures of this type by means of uprights formed by lengths of tubes provided, at their ends, with plates to permit assembling the one above the other a plurality of tube lengths. The tubes are generally provided, in the vicinity of said end plates, with fixing components enabling the uprights to be connected to secondary tubes functioning as crossbars.

Besides, these known scaffoldings also comprise slides which are constituted by tubes bored with holes for the passage of pins, these slides permitting the assembling together of two uprights in aligned spaced-apart relationship.

Still further, these scaffoldings are often provided with bottom jacks or head jacks, and sometimes with both of these jacks.

Assembling the tubes constituting the uprights, by means of end plates is prima facie satisfactory but, in use, it causes problems.

Thus, in manufacture, these end plates must be fixed to the tubes by welding, which is a long and difficult work; also, said plates make the uprights heavier making their handling difficult upon erection of a scaffolding, and this erection is made the more difficult as it is necessary to place the plates with a great accuracy to enable fixing bolts to be passed through aligned apertures in the plates. Usually, each such plate has four apertures.

Another disadvantage of this known construction comes from the fact that it is frequent on a building worksite that pieces of cement or other products will stick to the end plates and this frequently results in a poor alignment of the uprights, and thus the tendency to bending of said uprights is increased and the assembling is in anyway complicated. Also very often the slides are provided, at one end, with a plate to be fixed to an end plate of the uprights. It is thus also necessary to make use of relatively costly parts.

The use of said slides is necessary to make possible adjustments in height of the constructed scaffoldings to enable them to be adapted to very various types of building construction.

The present invention provides a new structure which is of an extreme simplicity and which can, consequently, be manufactured in a far more economic way. Besides, the elements constituting it are comparatively lighter than those of the above mentioned known scaffoldings.

In certain embodiments of the invention the disadvantage of the connecting end plates is entirely cancelled and, in addition also, the construction of scaffoldings according to the invention permits the use, as connecting parts, of ordinary scaffolding tubes of the type with tubes and collars making further possible the assembly of these tubes in very various different ways, whereby both the form and the arrangement of the scaffolding uprights can vary widely as well as their manner of connection thus making it possible to construct scaffoldings as desired, although they are constructed of standard elements.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a tubular upright member, for a tubular structural assembly of a stay, scaffolding or other vertical-load supporting structure, said member being open at each end and provided near each end with a collar-type clamp capable of making a clamping connection with another structural element of said supporting structure extending substantially at a right angle with respect to said member, the two clamps being aligned with each other on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said member.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a tubular structural assembly, for a stay, scaffolding or other vertical-load supporting structure, in which two, similar tubular upright members are provided; a tubular adjustment member has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the two upright members and interconnects the two upright members by entering into an end of each upright member; each upright member is open at each end and is provided near each end with a collar-type clamp capable of making a clamping connection with another structural element extending substantially at a right angle with respect to said member and is also provided near each end with a pair of diametrically-opposed holes, the two clamps being aligned with each other on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the upright member, the adjustment member is provided on its outer surface towards one end thereof with an annular abutment which is in load-supporting contact with an end surface of one of the two upright members and is also provided with a plurality of pairs of holes spaced at intervals along its length, the holes of each pair being diametrically-opposed; and an end of the other one of the two upright members is in load-supporting engagement with the adjustment member by a removable elongate member which passes through the pair of holes at said end of the other upright member and through a selected pair of holes in the adjustment member.

Various other features of the invention are moreover shown in the following detailed description.

Embodiments of the present invention are shown, by way of non-restrictive examples, in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1-5 are partly exploded elevation views of the individual elements in the construction of scaffolding structure according to the invention such as stays and scaffolding; Figure 6 is a cross sectional elevation view showing the construction of a stay or of a scaffolding upright making use of the elements shown in the preceding Figures 1 to 4; Figure 7 is a cross sectional elevation view similar to Figure 6 showing a construction in which is used the element of Figure 5; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a scaffolding tower according to the invention; Figure 9 is a perspective view similar to Figure 8 showing another embodiment and Figure 10 is an enlarged elevation view of the scaffolding uprights shown in Figure 9.

The element shown in Figure 1 is constituted by a tube A hereinbelow called an "upright".

This upright is open at each end and is provided near the ends with collar-type clamps 2, 3 fixed thereto, for example, by welding. The collartype clamps 2, 3 are similar to the clamps used in so called tube and clamp scaffoldings.

In the element shown in Figure 1, half of each clamp, forming a cradle 4, is welded to the upright, and this cradle is connected by a pin 5 to a swivelling portion 6, or grip, teminated by a forked end cover 6a for placing around a locking bolt 7 which is hinged on a pin 8 supported by the cradle. A nut 9 ensures the tightening action so to enable a connection tube 10, which may be a tube of any kind, to be locked in the clamp. It is advantageous that the bolt 7 be removably mounted in the cradle to be able to be changed as desired.

The upright is further provided with spaced pair of holes 11 and 12 passing therethrough along diameters oriented such that the holes open perpendicularly to the clamps 2, 3.

Figure 2 shows a second element B which is also constituted by a tube and is hereinbelow called a "connector". The outside diameter of the connector B corresponds to the inner diameter of the upright A. This connector has two pairs of holes 14 and 15 respectively, bored at a right angle to each other, the distance between the axes of the pairs of holes 14, 15 being twice the distance separating the axes of the holes 11 and 12 from the ends of the upright A.

Figure 3 shows a third element C hereinbelow called a "slide". This slide, which serves as an adjustment member, is constituted by a tube of the same diameter as that of the connector B and is provided, on the whole length thereof, with regularly spaced pairs of holes 16. The slide is rigidly connected, as for example by weld 17, to a ring 18 delimiting ajointing portion 19 at one end. A transverse pair of holes 20 is provided in the jointing portion 19 at one end. A transverse pair of holes 20 is provided in the jointing portion 19; the distance separating said pair of holes from the bottom of the ring 18 corresponds to the distance separating the holes 11 and 12 from the ends of the upright A.

Fig. 4 shows a fourth element D, herein below called a "supporting element". This supporting element is constituted by a tube 21 of the same diameter as that of the slide C so to be introduced in an upright A. At one end, the tube 21 is surrounded by a tube portion 22 fixed thereto by welds 23, said portion 22 being of the same diameter as the upright A. The portion 22 supports a plate 24 bored with holes 25. Diametral holes 26 are bored in the tube 21 at such a position that they are aligned with the holes 11 or 12 of an upright A, when the end of the portion 22 bears on an end of an upright.

Figure 5 shows a fifth element E which comprises a threaded rod 27 provided at one end with an abutment plate 28. The rod 27 is screwed into a nut 29 fixed to a plate 30 corresponding in size to the plate 24 of element D and similarly bored with holes 31.

A second plate 32 similar to the plate 30, and bored as said plate with holes 33, bears on the plate 28, but is not fixed thereto. A retaining part/34 fixed to the plate 32 and having a hole 35 for receiving the rod 27 extends beneath the abutment plate 28 to prevent removal of the plate 32. A hole 36 in the threaded rod permits passage of a pin or other means to rotate the threaded rod 27 which cannot be removed from the nut 29 due to the presence of a stop lug 37. It is noted that in rotating the rod 27, the plates 30, 32 come close to each other or apart from each other, if the plate 30 is held angularly fixed.

Figure 6 shows a stay which can constitute one of the uprights of a scaffolding and which is made by using some of the elements as above described.

A first element D is put on the ground, then an upright A is slipped on the element D with which it is locked by passing a pin, or preferably a bolt 38, through the holes 12 in the upright and holes 26 in the supporting element D.

Although not shown, for the sake of simplicity of illustration, the upright A bears directly on the portion 22, whereby the loads are vertically transmitted. A nut 38a is, for example, screwed on the bolt 38 to tighten the element D to the upright A. A connector B is then placed at the top of the upright A, and locked by means of a pin or of a second bolt 38 passed through the holes 11 of the upright and 15 of the connector. The clamps 2 and 3 of the upright A can face in any direction desired by the user, which enables him to put the clamps in the position which is the most suitable for the construction he has to make.

A second upright Al is then jointed on the connector and consequently bears directly on the first upright A (although here again, for the sake of simplicity, this has not been shown).

As previously, a pin or a bolt 38 is passed through the holes of the second upright Al and through the holes 14 of the connector B. The clamps 2, 3 of the second upright Al are then placed at 900 to the clamps 2, 3 of the first upright A. Said angular offsetting could be made different, by providing the connector B with a plurality of pairs of holes 15 and of holes 14 for permitting all the angular offsettings desired by a user. It should be noted that the connector B has only a connecting function and does not support the vertical loads.

Yet, it constitutes a very appreciable reinforce ment at the level ofthejoint between successive uprights, which prevents the risks of bending.

The construction can then be continued as above described by placing new connectors and new uprights.

It is also possible, as shown, instead of using a connector B to use a slide C whose ring 18 bears on the top of upright Awl . A pin or a bolt is then passed through the upper holes 11 of the upright Al and through the holes 20 of the slide. A third upright A2 is then again positioned at any selected place on the slide C, this upright being held by a pin or a bolt passed through the lower pair of holes 12 of the upright and through one of the pairs of holes 16 of the slide.

It is also possible that the slide supports a device 39 permitting shortening the length of the stay by a small amount while it is assembled to facilitate removal of the stay from shuttering.

Said device comprises a cam 40 and a washer 41 carried by the slide C and onto which bears the upright A2. Such a device is described in specification of Patent Application (Serial No. 1565659) No. 37052/76. Lastly, the upright A2 supports, on its upper portion, an element D1 similar to the element D.

What has been so described is one example, and it is obvious that one element of a scaffolding or stay, such that which has just been described, can comprise a far greater number of uprights A and slides C. Also the element D placed on the ground can be replaced by a screw-jack, a wheel or other accessory common in the art.

The clamps of the uprights A, Al, A2 can, if desired, be used for positioning tubes 10 which are ordinary scaffolding tubes, these tubes enabling the stay to be connected to other components if desired.

Figure 7 shows the use with stay of the elements E described with reference to Figure 5.

This stay comprises, as previously, a supporting element D at the lower portion thereof, an upright A slipped on the supporting element, a slide C, a second upright Al and a second supporting element D1. An element E is connected to the supporting element D by connecting, by means of bolts 42 and nuts 42a, the plate 24 of the supporting element D to the plate 30 of the element E. Thus the plate 32 of the element E bears on the ground and the threaded rod 27 is used as a bottom-jack.

The element D1 which is placed at the upper portion of the stay, similarly supports an element Eel, but the element El is placed in a way opposite to that described above: i.e. the plate 30 is at the lower portion of the element E1 and the plate 32 then supports a clamp 43 or another accessory enabling, for example, a girder 44 to be supported. Thus the element E constitutes a head-jack.

Figure 8 shows application of the invention to the construction of a scaffolding tower. A first scaffolding level is constituted by four uprights A and the clamps 2, 3 of these uprights are used for the securing of tubes 10, forming horizontal crossbars. The tubes 10 can be connected together by means of angle-clamps found in the trade and shown at 45, with other tubes 101 exactly in the same manner as in tube and clamp scaffoldings.

A second scaffolding level is constituted by uprights Al which are themselves connected by crossbar forming tubes 10, and these tubes 10 are in turn connected by angle-clamps 45 to other tubes 102 constituting inclined struts. A third scaffolding level is constituted by slides C which support, in turn, uprights A2 by means of pins 46.

As previously, the clamps 2, 3 of the uprights A2 are used for connection to tubes 10 which can be connected by tubes 101 by means of angle-clamps 45 as well as to tubes 102 then forming inclined struts. It can thus be noted that at all the levels, the scaffolding so constructed can be braced and reinforced by crossbars, inclined struts or diagonal bars, wnich permit the scaffolding to be adapted to particular work to be performed by the user.

In Figure 8, and in the preceding description, the clamps 2 and 3 have been represented and described as being located outside the scaffolding tower to facilitate the illustration.

Yet, the clamps are advantageously turned towards the inside of the tower, i.e. that they are turned by 1800 with respect to the construction illustrated. It is possible in a general way, to direct the clamps in any direction, said direction depending only on the arrangement of the construction desired by the user.

In Figures 9-10 the upright portions A are each constituted by a tube 101 of large diameter to the ends of which are fixed, typically welded, plates 102 having for example a square shape and being provided, on one hand, with a central hole 103 (Figure 9) whose diameter corresponds to the inner diameter of the tube 101 and, on the other hand with apertures 104 (Figure 9) for passage of connecting bolts.

The tubes 101 are each provided with a first set of two clamps 106, lea lined up one with the other and fixed at some distance from the end plates 102 and also with a second set of two clamps 1061, 106al which are also lined up one with the other but shifted or offset by 900 to the first set of clamps 106, 106a.

The second set of clamps 1061, 106al is placed between the respective end plates 102 and the clamps 106, lea of the first set. As previously, the above clamps each comprise a fixed cradle 107 which is welded onto the tube 101 and which supports, by one end, a pin 108 on which is hinged a casting 109. A bolt 110 is placed on the other end of each cradle 107 to pivot and to be engaged with forked end of the casting 109. Preferably, the bolts 110 are designed to be easily removable to enable them to be changed if their screw threading is damaged.

The adjustable slides C and C1 respectively are constituted as previously by tubes 112 in which are provided pairs of holes 113 enabling passage of pins of the type of those shown at 114.

A plate 115 similar to end plates 102, is fixed at one end of each adjustable slide.

The above described elements enable scaffoldings to be erected in the shape of towers or having other forms and particularly scaffolding stays which can support very high loads by using, in combination therewith, ordinary scaffolding tubes of the type of those which are used in the tubular scaffoldings with assembling clamps. The drawing shows that tube lengths 119, 1 19a tightened in clamps 1061, 106al can connect together two upright portions Al, A2, and that two other tube lengths 1 19a tightened in the clamps 106, 106a can connect together the upright portions Al, A3, .. There is thus made a first storey F of a tower.

The floor storey F can be reinforced, and particularly wind-braced by means of windbracing tube lengths 1 19b connected to tubes 1 19a or 119 by means of clamps found in the trade.

To continue erecting the scaffolding, there is fixed on each of the upper end plates 102 of the upright portions A, a slide C adjustable by means of bolts: there are then engaged new upright portions A on said slides C, these new upright portions A being supported by means ofpins 114. Clamps 106, lea and 1061, 106at are then used for placing new lengths of tube 119, 119a respectively, and possibly 119b.

The above described construction can also be reinforced, if desired, by diagonal bars 119c also fixed by clamps found in the trade.

It can be noted from the above disclosure that any number of storeys F, F1 etc. . . can be constructed, these storeys being separated from each other by any distance depending on the amount by which the adjustable slides C are protruding.

Two successive storeys, such as F and F1 constituted by upright portions Al and their connection tube lengths 119, 119a, can also and that is the most frequent case - be contiguous to each other, and in that case no adjustable slides C are used between the two successive storeys F, F1, the lower end plates 102 of the upright portions of storey F1 being then directly fixed on the upper end plates 102 of the upright portions of the lower storey F.

In addition to the fact that the above described scaffolding enables the use of existing lengths of tubes, it also enables the use of prefabricated scaffolding frames of any kind, for example that shown at G, which comprises two uprights 122 connected by two crossbars 123.

It has been shown in Figures 6 and 7 that foot-jacks and head-jacks and also lengthshortening devices 39, usually used in the art, can be embodied with the scaffolding structure of the invention.

It should also be noticed that the various levels of the scaffolding are locked together by pins or bolts, whereby a scaffolding tower can easily be removed with a crane without having to be completely disassembled, and it is of course also possible to add to a scaffolding tower other types ofjacks, wheels, etc.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described in detail, for various modifications thereof can moreover be applied thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as delimited in the following claims. Especially some uprights A can comprise connectors B fixed thereto by welding, and slides C without the rings 18 can also be used.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A tubular upright member, for a tubular structural assembly of a stay, scaffolding or other vertical-load supporting structure, said member being open at each end and provided near each end with a collar-type clamp capable of making a clamping connection with another structural element of said supporting structure extending substantially at a right angle with respect to said member, the two clamps being aligned with each other on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said member.

2. An upright member, according to Claim 1, provided with a second pair of said clamps, said second pair being situated between said first-mentioned pair and aligned with each other on an axis offset by 90 from the axis of alignment of said first-mentioned pair.

3. An upright member, according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which each clamp comprises a cradle secured to the upright member and a swivelling portion connected by a hinge to the cradle, the free end of the swivelling portion being formed as a fork for receiving a bolt or similar means attached to the cradle whereby the swivelling portion can be urged towards the cradle to make a clamping connection with said another structural element.

4. An upright member, according to any preceding claim, provided at each end with a connecting plate to enable connection of said member to an adjacent component of said assembly.

5. An upright member, according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, provided near each end with a pair of diametrically-opposed holes, the two pairs of holes serving, in use of said member, to enable connection of said member to an adjacent component of said assembly.

6. A tubular upright member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

7. A tubular structural assembly, for a stay, scaffolding or other vertical-load supporting structure, in which two, similar, tubular upright members are provided, a tubular adjustment member has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the two upright members and interconnects the two upright members by entering into an end of each upright member, each upright member is open at each end and is provided near each adjustment member is provided on its outer surface towards one end thereof with an annular abutment which is in load-supporting contact with an end surface of one of the two upright members and is also provided with a plurality of pairs of holes spaced at intervals along its length, the holes of each pair being diametrically-opposed; and an end of the other one of the two upright members is in load-supporting engagement with the adjustment member by a removable elongate member which passes through the pair of holes at said end of the other upright member and through a selected pair of holes in the adjustment member.

8. An assembly, according to Claim 7, including a further said tubular upright member and a tubular connector, said connector having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of said upright members and being provided in the vicinity of each end with a pair of diametrically-opposed holes, the distance between the axes of the two pairs of holes being equal to twice the distance between the axis of each pair of said holes of each upright member and the adjacent end of said member, said connector entering into an end of said further tubular upright member and into an end of said one of the two first-mentioned upright members which is remote from the end engaged by said annular abutment whereby said further tubular upright member and said one of the two first-mentioned upright members can be connected together in end-to-end abutting relationship by removable pins or bolts passing through aligned holes in said tubular connector and said upright members.

9. An assembly, according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, including a supporting element comprising a plate, a first tubular portion secured at one end to the plate and having an outer diameter corresponding to that of said upright members, and a second tubular portion secured within said first tubular portion and having an outer diameter corresponding to that of said adjustment member, said second portion extending beyond said first portion in a direction away from said plate and provided with a pair of diametrically-opposed holes in this extension, whereby said supporting element can be connected to a tubular upright member in end-to-end abutting relation

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (12)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. existing lengths of tubes, it also enables the use of prefabricated scaffolding frames of any kind, for example that shown at G, which comprises two uprights 122 connected by two crossbars 123. It has been shown in Figures 6 and 7 that foot-jacks and head-jacks and also lengthshortening devices 39, usually used in the art, can be embodied with the scaffolding structure of the invention. It should also be noticed that the various levels of the scaffolding are locked together by pins or bolts, whereby a scaffolding tower can easily be removed with a crane without having to be completely disassembled, and it is of course also possible to add to a scaffolding tower other types ofjacks, wheels, etc. The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described in detail, for various modifications thereof can moreover be applied thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as delimited in the following claims. Especially some uprights A can comprise connectors B fixed thereto by welding, and slides C without the rings 18 can also be used. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A tubular upright member, for a tubular structural assembly of a stay, scaffolding or other vertical-load supporting structure, said member being open at each end and provided near each end with a collar-type clamp capable of making a clamping connection with another structural element of said supporting structure extending substantially at a right angle with respect to said member, the two clamps being aligned with each other on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said member.

2. An upright member, according to Claim 1, provided with a second pair of said clamps, said second pair being situated between said first-mentioned pair and aligned with each other on an axis offset by 90 from the axis of alignment of said first-mentioned pair.

3. An upright member, according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which each clamp comprises a cradle secured to the upright member and a swivelling portion connected by a hinge to the cradle, the free end of the swivelling portion being formed as a fork for receiving a bolt or similar means attached to the cradle whereby the swivelling portion can be urged towards the cradle to make a clamping connection with said another structural element.

4. An upright member, according to any preceding claim, provided at each end with a connecting plate to enable connection of said member to an adjacent component of said assembly.

5. An upright member, according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, provided near each end with a pair of diametrically-opposed holes, the two pairs of holes serving, in use of said member, to enable connection of said member to an adjacent component of said assembly.

6. A tubular upright member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

7. A tubular structural assembly, for a stay, scaffolding or other vertical-load supporting structure, in which two, similar, tubular upright members are provided, a tubular adjustment member has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the two upright members and interconnects the two upright members by entering into an end of each upright member, each upright member is open at each end and is provided near each adjustment member is provided on its outer surface towards one end thereof with an annular abutment which is in load-supporting contact with an end surface of one of the two upright members and is also provided with a plurality of pairs of holes spaced at intervals along its length, the holes of each pair being diametrically-opposed; and an end of the other one of the two upright members is in load-supporting engagement with the adjustment member by a removable elongate member which passes through the pair of holes at said end of the other upright member and through a selected pair of holes in the adjustment member.

8. An assembly, according to Claim 7, including a further said tubular upright member and a tubular connector, said connector having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of said upright members and being provided in the vicinity of each end with a pair of diametrically-opposed holes, the distance between the axes of the two pairs of holes being equal to twice the distance between the axis of each pair of said holes of each upright member and the adjacent end of said member, said connector entering into an end of said further tubular upright member and into an end of said one of the two first-mentioned upright members which is remote from the end engaged by said annular abutment whereby said further tubular upright member and said one of the two first-mentioned upright members can be connected together in end-to-end abutting relationship by removable pins or bolts passing through aligned holes in said tubular connector and said upright members.

9. An assembly, according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, including a supporting element comprising a plate, a first tubular portion secured at one end to the plate and having an outer diameter corresponding to that of said upright members, and a second tubular portion secured within said first tubular portion and having an outer diameter corresponding to that of said adjustment member, said second portion extending beyond said first portion in a direction away from said plate and provided with a pair of diametrically-opposed holes in this extension, whereby said supporting element can be connected to a tubular upright member in end-to-end abutting relation

ship, by entering said extension of said second tubular portion into an end of the upright member, aligning the holes in the extension with the pair of holes at that end of the upright member and passing a pin or bolt through the aligned holes.

10. An assembly, according to Claim 9, including an adjustable sub-assembly comprising a first plate provided with a threaded bore, a threaded rod engaged at one end with the bore and having an abutment at the other end of larger cross-section than the rod, and a second plate facing said first plate and having means retaining said second plate on said rod whilst permitting rotation of said rod relative to said second plate, the sub-assembly, in use, being arranged such that said first plate abuts said plate of the supporting element and said abutment on the threaded rod abuts said second plate.

11. An assembly, according to any one of Claims 8 to 10, in which the axes of said two end with a collar-type clamp capable of making a clamping connection with another structural element extending substantially at a right angle with respect to said member and is also provided near each end with a pair of diametricallyopposed holes, the two clamps being aligned with each other on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the upright member, the pairs of holes in said tubular connector are offset from each other by 90 .

12. A tubular structural assembly or a scaffolding structure including one or more tubular structural assemblies substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.