GB2035421A - Scaffolding tube sleeve - Google Patents

Abstract

A jacket for slipping onto scaffolding intruding into thoroughfares comprises a sleeve made up of alternate fluorescent orange and white bands of material. The internal diameter of the sleeve is slightly greater than the external diameter of the scaffolding pole over which it is to be fitted and tabs are provided to enable the sleeve to be pulled over the pole. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A jacket The present invention relates to a jacket for emphasizing the presence of an intrusion into a thoroughfare.

The invention is particularly applicable to scaffolding poles which are often erected adjacent buildings in such a position as to intrude into a pathway running along side the buildings. Such intrusions provide obstacles for pedestrians which can lead to accidents and injury particularly when lighting conditions are bad. Indeed at least in some localities of the United Kingdom this danger is recognised in the byelaws which require such scaffolding structures to be painted white. This is an expensive and time consuming solution to the problem and can cause further problems for the unsuspecting pedestrian.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a jacket for pulling onto an intrusion into athoroughfare in order to visibly emphasize the existence of that intrusion to people using that thoroughfare comprising an open ended sleeve consisting of light reflective flexible hardwearing material.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of visibly emphasizing the existence of an intrusion into a thoroughfare by covering a part of that intrusion with an open ended sleeve consisting of light reflective hardwearing material.

A preferred embodiment of the invention may comprise any one or more of the following preferred features: (a) The sleeve comprises alternative sections of differently coloured material.

(b) The material is fluorescent.

(c) The sleeve is made of polyurethane coated nylon fabric.

(d) The internal diameter of the sleeve is slightly greaterthan the external diameter of a standard scaffolding pole.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a segmentewsleeve for a scaffolding pole, and Figure 2 shows the sleeve of Figure 1 in use on the pole.

Referring to the drawing, the sleeve, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, comprises six bands of material, three 2 of white material and three 3 of high visibility or fluorescent orange material.

The bands of material are stitched together in an open condition and then the resultant structure is curled round into an elongate cylinder and seamed at 4. Alternatively, individual bands can be seamed first and then stitched together to form the elongate sleeve. The material of the sleeve is polyurethane coated nylon, but other suitable material may also be used. Tabs 5 are provided for a purpose to be described later.

It is intended that the sleeve should be slipped onto an appropriate scaffolding tube 6 before the scaffolding is erected. The tabs 5 can be used to facilitate drawing on the sleeve if desired. The internal diameter of the sleeve is chosen to be just slightly greater than the external diameter of the tube so that the sleeve is a substantially tight fit on the tube and cannot be easily tampered with. (The bands of the sleeve are a notional 1 50mm wide). In practice several sleeves would be employed on appropriate poles of a scaffolding structure. When the scaffolding is dissassembled, the sleeves can be removed and recessed. If desired the sleeve may be attached to the pole by rivets clips or wire ties.

Using the above described arrangement, any part of a structure intruding into a thoroughfare which is likely to constitute a potential danger to vehicle or person using the thoroughfare can be quite clearly marked.

1. A jacket for pulling onto an intrusion into a thoroughfare in order to visibly emphasize the existence of that intrusion to people using that thoroughfare comprising an open ended sleeve consisting of light reflective flexible hardwearing material.

2. A jacket as claimed in Claim 1, in which the sleeve comprises alternate sections of differently coloured material.

3. A jacket as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the material is fluorescent.

4. A jacket as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the sleeve is made of polyurethane coated nylon fabric.

5. A jacket as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the internal diameter of the sleeve is slightly greater than the external diameter of a standard scaffolding pole.

6. A method of visibly emphasizing the existence of an intrusion into a thoroughfare by covering a part of that intrusion with an open ended sleeve consisting of light reflective hardwearing material.

7. A jacket for pulling onto an intrusion into a thoroughfare substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of visibly emphasizing the existence of an intrusion into a thoroughfare substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A jacket The present invention relates to a jacket for emphasizing the presence of an intrusion into a thoroughfare. The invention is particularly applicable to scaffolding poles which are often erected adjacent buildings in such a position as to intrude into a pathway running along side the buildings. Such intrusions provide obstacles for pedestrians which can lead to accidents and injury particularly when lighting conditions are bad. Indeed at least in some localities of the United Kingdom this danger is recognised in the byelaws which require such scaffolding structures to be painted white. This is an expensive and time consuming solution to the problem and can cause further problems for the unsuspecting pedestrian. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a jacket for pulling onto an intrusion into athoroughfare in order to visibly emphasize the existence of that intrusion to people using that thoroughfare comprising an open ended sleeve consisting of light reflective flexible hardwearing material. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of visibly emphasizing the existence of an intrusion into a thoroughfare by covering a part of that intrusion with an open ended sleeve consisting of light reflective hardwearing material. A preferred embodiment of the invention may comprise any one or more of the following preferred features: (a) The sleeve comprises alternative sections of differently coloured material. (b) The material is fluorescent. (c) The sleeve is made of polyurethane coated nylon fabric. (d) The internal diameter of the sleeve is slightly greaterthan the external diameter of a standard scaffolding pole. In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a segmentewsleeve for a scaffolding pole, and Figure 2 shows the sleeve of Figure 1 in use on the pole. Referring to the drawing, the sleeve, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, comprises six bands of material, three 2 of white material and three 3 of high visibility or fluorescent orange material. The bands of material are stitched together in an open condition and then the resultant structure is curled round into an elongate cylinder and seamed at 4. Alternatively, individual bands can be seamed first and then stitched together to form the elongate sleeve. The material of the sleeve is polyurethane coated nylon, but other suitable material may also be used. Tabs 5 are provided for a purpose to be described later. It is intended that the sleeve should be slipped onto an appropriate scaffolding tube 6 before the scaffolding is erected. The tabs 5 can be used to facilitate drawing on the sleeve if desired. The internal diameter of the sleeve is chosen to be just slightly greater than the external diameter of the tube so that the sleeve is a substantially tight fit on the tube and cannot be easily tampered with. (The bands of the sleeve are a notional 1 50mm wide). In practice several sleeves would be employed on appropriate poles of a scaffolding structure. When the scaffolding is dissassembled, the sleeves can be removed and recessed. If desired the sleeve may be attached to the pole by rivets clips or wire ties. Using the above described arrangement, any part of a structure intruding into a thoroughfare which is likely to constitute a potential danger to vehicle or person using the thoroughfare can be quite clearly marked. CLAIMS

1. A jacket for pulling onto an intrusion into a thoroughfare in order to visibly emphasize the existence of that intrusion to people using that thoroughfare comprising an open ended sleeve consisting of light reflective flexible hardwearing material.

2. A jacket as claimed in Claim 1, in which the sleeve comprises alternate sections of differently coloured material.

3. A jacket as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the material is fluorescent.

4. A jacket as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the sleeve is made of polyurethane coated nylon fabric.

5. A jacket as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the internal diameter of the sleeve is slightly greater than the external diameter of a standard scaffolding pole.

6. A method of visibly emphasizing the existence of an intrusion into a thoroughfare by covering a part of that intrusion with an open ended sleeve consisting of light reflective hardwearing material.

7. A jacket for pulling onto an intrusion into a thoroughfare substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of visibly emphasizing the existence of an intrusion into a thoroughfare substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.