GB2078288A

GB2078288A - A trestle structure for staircases or the like

Info

Publication number: GB2078288A
Application number: GB8020229A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Schliephacke Heinrich
Priority date: 1980-06-20
Filing date: 1980-06-20
Publication date: 1982-01-06

Abstract

A trestle structure for working on staircases having vertical supports (1) with a working platform located therebetween. The working platform has a step construction having two parallel side pieces (2) with individual treads (3) located therebetween, the treads being arranged in parallel, staggered relation to each other. One or more reinforcement members (7) are provided to hold the trestle structure rigid. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Trestle-structure for staircases or the like The present invention relates to a trestle structure for working on staircases or comparable structures, comprising laterally positioned supports, ladders or frames, a working platform positioned therebetween and reinforcement members.

In known trestle structures of this type, a working platform is secured so that it lies horizontally between the lateral supports. Since, very often with staircases, the ceiling extends at the same incline as the stairs below, there is the disadvantage with a horizontally positioned working platform that the working height to the ceiling and to the lateral walls varies and favourable working conditions are only provided in a small region of the working platform.

Indeed, there is the possibility of a slight adaptation to the ratios on staircases, but only through more or less improvised measures which do not guarantee the rigidity and safety which are required today for working trestle structures.

An object of the invention is to provide a stable and safe trestle structure which is distinguished in that it has a high adaptabiiity to the most varied ratios of rise and tread and working heights on staircases and in similar areas of use.

According to the invention there is provided a trestle structure for working on staircases or comparable structures, comprising vertical supports, with a working platform located therebetween and at least one reinforcement member, wherein the working platform has a step construction, comprising two parallel side pieces, and individual treads which are in parallel, staggered relation to each other.

Thus, the known horizontal continuous working platforms are replaced by ladder shaped, versatile working platforms which may be varied in the extent of their incline. In this instance, for example, the kinematics of a parallelogram having hinged corners may be used.

Embodiments of the invention, have the working platform as a step construction comprising two side pieces with individual treads which are built in between the side pieces in a fixed manner or so that they may pivot, in a parallel, but staggered relation to each other and which is set up so that the trestle structure may itself pivot. As a result of this, a trestle structure for staircases or the like is obtained, the working platform of which is designed and may be adjusted such that the same desired working height above the standing area may be achieved for any step shape and size.

Embodiments of a trestle work according to the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a lateral view of a trestle structure according to a first embodiment for staircases; Figure 2 shows a partial view of a modified embodiment of the trestle structure shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows sections of the working platform of the trestle structure shown in Figures 1 and 2 having arched treads, whereby the working platform provides various inclinations to the horizontal; Figure 4 shows a lateral view of another embodiment of the trestle structure according to the invention on a flight of stairs having a curved lower region; Figure 5 shows a front view of the trestle structure shown in Figure 4;; Figure 6 shows a partial view of the trestle structure shown in Figures 4 and 5, in which the connection of a peripheral beam to a vertical component can be seen at the steepest and flattest incline; Figure 7 shows a lateral view of the trestle structure shown in Figure 4, but with a horizontally positioned working platform; Figure 8 shows a partial view of a trestle structure which is a slightly modified embodiment of that shown in Figure 4, Figure 9 shows a cross section through the working platform of the trestle structure of Figure 4; Figure 10 shows a cross section through the working platform of another embodiment of the trestle structure, and Figure 11 shows a lateral view of a tread with a tread covering for a trestle structure of the type shown in Figure 4.

A trestle structure for staircases shown in Figure 1 has a working platform located between supports 1 positioned at the ends of the platform. The working platform comprises two parallel side pieces 2 and ladder-like treads 3 built-in between the side pieces.

This working platform is hinged to the supports 1 by means of link pins 4. Another connection between the supports 1 is produced by a rod 5 which runs parallel to the side pieces 2 and is hinged to the supports 1 by means of link pins 6. The link pins 4 and 6 form the corner points of a parallelogram. The necessary rigidity of this construction is achieved by a length-adjustable reinforcement member 7 which is connected to one of the supports 1 by means of a link pin 8 and to one of the side pieces 2 by means of a link pin 9.

In this embodiment, the length-adjustable reinforcement member is a tension lock. By changing the length of this reinforcement member, the angle between the supports 1 and the side pieces 2 changes so that the trestle structure may be adapted in this manner to the most varied of stair inclines.

In order to broaden the possible uses of the trestle structure, it may be worthwhile to provide the supports 1, which may consist of single components, ladders or frames, with insertion tubes 10 in their lower ends which may be locked in a known manner at different extracted lengths, for example, by means of a hole catch and a socket pin 11.

Another improvement is achieved when one or more insertion tubes 10 also contain a height adjustable spindle foot 12.

In this embodiment of the trestle structure, the connecting rod 5 may also take on the function of a back rest.

According to Figure 2, there is a reinforcement member 13 between the support 1 and the side piece 2, which is connected to the support 1 by a hinge 15.

In order to be able to vary the inclination between the support 1 and the side piece 2, the side piece 2 has a hole catch 16, so that the reinforcement member 13 may be connected to the side piece 2 at different points.

In this embodiment, it is unimportant whether the hole catch 16 is in the side piece 2, in the support 1 or even in the reinforcement member 13.

For trestle structures of this type, the reinforcement member 5 may be omitted when a reinforcement member 13 is positioned between the side piece 2 and support 1 at both ends of the working platform.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment with curved treads 17. Here, the side piece 2 is shown in one diagram at a very steep incline and in another diagram ata very shallow incline. As a result of the convexity of the treads 17, it is possible for a region with a horizontal or practically horizontal tread to be produced for all inclines. In order to clarify this, the horizontal lines marked by triangles in Figure 3 are entered beside the side pieces 2. Their extensions merge con tinuouslywith the surface of the treads 17.

It can also be seen from Figure 3 that the treads 17 may be provided with an resilient or textured surface in order to increase the standing safety of a person standing on the working platform.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 11, side pieces 22 and props 23 which extend parallel to the side pieces are linked between the vertical supports 21. The supports 21 may be individual stays or parts of a frame construction. In Figure 5, the supports 21 are interconnected to the front of the trestle structure by means of cross beams 24.

A reinforcement member 25 does not only give the trestle structure the necessary rigidity, but as a result of holes 26 arranged in a row, enables the selective use of a connection element 27 on to the side piece 22 and thereby enables any inclination of the working platform.

The side pieces 22 and props 23 are connected together by means of several braces 28, which are positioned parallel to each other, via the hinges 29 and 30. The connection lines of respective two hinges 29 and 30 extend parallel to the connection lines of the connection hinges 31 and 32 of the side pieces 22 and the props 23 to the vertical supports 21.

The trestle may also be provided with a hand rail 33.

The individual supports 21 are provided with extractable stands 34, which in this embodiment may be adjusted in height in a known manner using a hole catch and a socket pin 35. Figures 4 and 5 show how it is also possible with a curved flight of stairs to gain an exact adaptation of the trestle structure to the ground. This adaptability is increased by spindle-like foot pieces 36 on the lower ends of the stand 34.

The construction of the braces 28 and the attachment of the tread coverings 37 may vary. According to Figure 9, the braces 28 have an angular transverse arm 38 on their upper end, to which arm one end of the tread covering 37 is attached.

In order to give the working platform greater rigidity, it may be advisable to connect each of two opposite braces 39 by means of a support-like bridge 40 which then supports the tread covering 37, as is shown in Figure 10.

The tread covering may also be supported as is shown in Figure 6. In this case, the braces 41 are also provided with transverse arms 42 upon which the tread covering 37 is attached.

Another embodiment is shown in Figure 8. In this embodiment, the stability of the parallelogram and the adjustment of inclination are achieved by means of a threaded rod 43 which is mounted on the side piece 22 and the prop 23 and has a crank 44 on its end to facilitate operation. This threaded rod 43 may have a left thread on one end and a right thread on the other end and is mounted in corresponding nut members having an internal thread, which are hinged onto the side piece 22 or the prop 23 respectively.

Another solution is also conceivable using a threaded rod which is only introduced on one side into a nut part having an internal thread and merely has a guide on the other end which prevents longitudinal displacement. Instead of a threaded rod of this type, a tension lock of the conventional form may, of course be used.

For an economical construction for a trestle structure of this type, it is advisable to dimension the side piece 22 and the prop 23 to different degrees. In such a case, one of the two parts of the peripheral beam of the working platform would be designed so that it would have flexural strength to take up the prevailing loads, while the other part forms the rest of the parallelogram construction merely as a supporting arm.

In the drawings, hinges and other connecting means are merely indicated by symbols for the purpose of simplification.

Claims

1. A trestle structure for working on staircases or comparable structures, comprising vertical supports, with a working platform located therebetween and at least one reinforcement member, wherein the working platform has a step construction, comprising two parallel side pieces, and individual treads which are in parallel, staggered relation to each other.

2. A trestle structure according to Claim 1, wherein the side pieces.are hinged to the supports and at least one reinforcement member is hinged to one of the side pieces.

3. A trestle structure according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each reinforcement is hinged to one of the side pieces and also to one of the supports.

4. A trestle structure according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the or each reinforcement member is connected by means of a hole catch so that different inclines between the side pieces and the supports can be achieved by adjustment.

5. A trestle structure according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the length of the or each reinforcement member is adjustable.

6. A trestle structure according to any preceding claim, wherein parallel to one side piece a connect ing rod is connected to the vertical supports, the connection points of which rod with the supports together with the support connection points with the side pieces forming the corner points of a parallel gram.

7. A trestle structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the treads are attached between both side pieces.

8. Atrestle structure according to Claim 7, wherein the treads have an arched surface.

9. Atrestle structure according to any preceding claim wherein a prop is connected parallel to each side piece and the individual treads are hinged to each side piece as well as to each prop.

10. A trestle structure according to Claim 9, wherein each tread comprises two opposite braces which together support a tread covering.

11. Atrestle structure according to Claim 9, wherein each tread comprises two opposite braces and a cross girder which connects these and supports a tread covering.

12. A trestle structure according to Claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein th side piece and the prop associated therewith are connected together by means of a threaded rod such that the axis of the threaded rod crosses the axes of the side piece and the prop at an angle and at least the side piece or the prop comprises a hinged reception member with an internal thread for receiving the threaded rod.

13. Atrestle structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the treads have a textured surface.

14. A trestle structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the treads are of a perforated material.

15. A trestle structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the treads are of a light weight material such as light metal.

16. A trestle structure according to Claim 15, wherein the material is light metal.

17. Atrestle structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the treads have an upper layer consisting of a resilient material.

18. Atrestle structure according to any preceding claims wherein the vertical supports have extractable stands which are lockable at different heights and have foot pieces.

19. A trestle structure according to Claim 18, wherein the foot pieces of the stands are spindles which are adjustable in their height.

20. Atrestle structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the connections between the various vertical components, the working platform and the various bracings are easily separable.

21. A trestle structure for working on staircases or comparable structures, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 with or without reference to any of Figures 2 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.