GB2097086A

GB2097086A - Transverse connector for scaffold boards

Info

Publication number: GB2097086A
Application number: GB8209187A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-04-09
Filing date: 1982-03-29
Publication date: 1982-10-27
Also published as: FR2503775B1; GB2097086B; FR2503775A1

Abstract

A transverse connector is provided for joining together the boards required to form a scaffold arrangement between two cross members (13) which themselves connect two brackets or other scaffolding support members (10). The transverse connector has a base plate member (19) which is capable of being fixed between and to the cross members (13), and a holding plate member (20) which is capable of being removably fitted to the base plate member (19) to grip the boards concerned, at the ends thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Transverse connector for scaffold boards This invention relates to a transverse connector for scaffold boards such as those laid longitudinally between two cross members which themselves connect two scaffold brackets or other scaffold support members.

Usually, the walkway formed by such a scaffold boarding is formed by planks or boards which, being arranged parallel to each other, overlap other similar planks at their ends, in line with the scaffold support brackets or other members in question.

The raised projection which is thus formed by the overlapping ends of the planks makes it difficult for the people using the scaffolding to move along the scaffolding, and may even make such movement dangerous.

It is for this reason that in some countries at least there is a requirement that the planks used for forming scaffold boarding be disposed in an end to end butting arrangement, without any overlapping, in line with the scaffold support brackets or other members.

The result of this is that either it is necessary to use planks of a length which precisely corresponds to the distance between the scaffold support brackets or other members to be connected together, or the planks used have to be cut precisely to a length corresponding to such a distance.

In the first situation, it is necessary to have a substantial stock of planks or boards of different lengths, which is inevitably expensive and takes up a considerable amount of space, while in the second situation, whenever scaffold boarding is installed, there are inevitably considerable board losses gradually reducing the length of the boards available.

There is thus a need for a transverse connector which is capable of minimizing the foregoing disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a transverse connector for scaffold boards to be installed longitudinally between two cross members which themselves connect two brackets or other scaffold support members, which transverse connector includes a support element in the form of an elongated base plate memberforcarrying ends of abutting scaffold boards and provided with connecting members for connecting it transversely to the cross members, and includes a holding plate member for holding in position the boards supported bythe base plate member, the holding plate member being removably fixably fittable to the base plate member to grip the boards.

Such a transverse connector may advantageously be installed at any point on the cross members connecting two brackets or other scaffold support members, so that there is no longer any necessity for the connection between successive boards to fall precisely in line with the brackets or other scaffold support members.

In addition, there is also no necessityforthesuc- cessive boards or planks to be butt joined, within the distance provided by the width of the transverse connector of the invention and, more precisely, within the distance of half the width of the transverse connector, thereby avoiding the need to alterthe plank or board length.

Finally, in all situations, by means of the transverse connector according to the invention, successive longitudinal connection between the planks used is effected without overlapping thereof and therefore without any raised portion, on the scaffold boarding which is produced in that way, other than the raised portion which is formed by just the small thickness of the plate forming the cover of the transverse connector.

The features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly apparent from the following description given by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a transverse connector according to the invention and the cross members or struts to which it is to be connected, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view on a larger scale of just the transverse connector according to the invention, in partly broken-away form, Figure 3 is a perspective view from below showing use of the transverse connector for forming a scaffold boarding arrangement between two scaffold brackets; and Figure 4 is a view of the transverse connector on a larger scale in cross-section taken along line IV-IV in Figure 3.

As shown in the drawing, and more particularly Figure 3, a scaffold boarding arrangement 11 is to be installed longitudinally between two scaffold support members 10.

In the embodiment illustrated, the scaffold support members 10 are scaffold brackets which are designed in perse known mannerto be suspended from the construction on which work is to be carried out.

However, in an alternative form, they could equally well be scaffold members which bear directly on the ground.

Be that as it may, and in per se known manner, the scaffold support members 10 are connected together by a cradle 12 which is formed by two telescopic cross members or struts 13 which are provided at their ends with hooks 14 for permitting them to be engaged onto the scaffold support members 10; in their central portion, the cross members 13 are connected together by a transverse member 15.

Such a cradle 12 is not part of the present invention and as it is well known per se, it will not be described in greater detail herein.

The scaffold boarding 11 isto be installed longitudinally between the cross members 13 of the cradle 12.

For that purpose, it is formed by a walkway of parallel planks or boards 16.

According to the invention, a transverse connector 18 is used from one position to another for butt connecting such planks 16.

Such a transverse connector 18 which is shown separately in Figure 2 comprises, in combination, a base plate member 19 which is capable of being fixed to the cross members 13 of a cradle 12, from one of the cross members 13 to the other, and a plate 20 which is capable of being removably fitted to the base plate member 19, in the manner of a cover, in order to grip the planking forming the boarding 11 to be installed.

For the purposes of fitting it to the cross members 13 of the cradle 12,the base plate member 19, in the embodiment illustrated, is provided at each of its ends with two parallel side plates 22 and 23 which project with respectto its bottom surface. By virtue of the two parallel side plates 22 and 23, the base plate member can be engaged onto a cross member 13, in the manner of a sliderthereon.

In practice, in the embodiment illustrated, the plate 22 which, at the end of the base plate member 19 in question, is the outermost plate, is formed by simply bending the base plate member 19 over to form a right-angled configuration.

Parallel thereto, the associated plate 23 is for example, as illustrated, a simple flat member which is suitably fixed to the base plate member 19, for example by welding, parallel to the corresponding plate 22.

Preferably, and as illustrated, the plates 22 and 23 each have an opening 24 and 25, with the openings being aligned with each other, for receiving a keeper pin 27.

As illustrated, the keeper pin 27 may be a pin having a pivotal locking catch.

However, the keeper pin may also be a keeper pin which is held in place by a locking pin or peg.

As such keeper pins are known per se and are not part of the present invention, they will not be described in greater detail herein.

In the embodiment illustrated, at each of its ends, the base plate member 19 also comprises an abutment strip 29 projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the base plate member 19 and trans verselywith respect thereto, for laterally bracing against the planking forming the scaffold boarding 11 to be installed.

In practice, such an abutment strip extends at a small spacing from the corresponding end of the base plate member 19, and parallel to that end.

In addition, in the embodiment illustrated, the base plate member 19 also comprises a longitudinal abutment member 30 which extends from one end of the base plate member 19 to the other in the longitudinal direction thereof, and which projects upwardlyfrom its upper surface in the central region thereof, thereby to provide an end bracing effect for the planking forming the scaffold boarding 11 to be formed.

in practice, in the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal abutment member 30 extends from one of the abutment strips 29 to the other, level with the abutment strips 29, and for example, and as illustrated, may be formed by a simple flat member.

Alternatively however, it may also be a tubular member of square, rectangular or other section.

In the embodiment illustrated, the width of the plate 20 is less than that of the base plate member 19.

Itwill be appreciated however that alternatively the width of the plate 20 may be equal to or greater than that of the base plate member 19.

At any event, preferably, and as illustrated, it carries spikes or nail members 32 which project downwardly from its underneath surface at spaced positions thereon, for anchoring it to the planking forming the scaffold boarding 11 to be installed.

To be fitted to the base plate member 19, the plate 20 is provided at each of its ends with an opening 33 which is preferably elongated in a buttonhole-like configuration to permit tolerance in setting the plate 20 in position, while the base plate member 19 is provided at a corresponding position with a screwthreaded boss 34 co-operating at each end with a fixing key 35 which is intended to be screwed into the screwthreaded boss 34 on the base plate member 19 after having been passed through the corresponding opening 33 in the plate 20.

In the illustrated embodiment, the screwthreaded bosses 34 which are each attached for example by welding to the outward side surface of the abutment strips 29 are each formed by a ring 36 upon which a nut 37 is disposed, in the embodiment illustrated.

At the same time, preferably associated with each fixing key 35 is a stop washer 38 which is larger in size than the smallest dimension of the corresponding opening 33 in the plate 20, and such a washer38 may be permanently connected to such a fixing key 35.

In use, the transverse connector which is of the above-described configuration is simply engaged by means of the side plates 22 and 23 of the base plate member 19 thereof onto the cross members or struts of the cradle 12 in question, at any point thereon.

Keeper pins 27 are then set in position on the plates 22 and 23 for fixing the base plate member 19 to the cross members 13.

The planks or boards 16 for forming the scaffold boarding 11 required are then set in position longitudinally and parallel to each other from one such transverse connector 18 to another, or from such a transverse connector to a scaffold support member 10.

The planks 16 do not necessarily bear against the longitudinal abutment member 30 on the base plate member 19.

On the contary, within the limits of half the width of the base plate member 19, and taking into consideration a sufficient safety margin, there may be a certain clearance in the longitudinal direction between an abutment member 30 and one or other of the planks 16 used, so that the length thereof does not necessarily have to be adjusted in consequence.

The plate 20 is then fitted over the planks 16 after they have been set in place, with the spikes or nail members 32 thereof being anchored in the planks 16. The fixing keys 35 are then used to fix the plate 20 removably to the base plate member 19 with which it is associated.

As will be noted, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, the planks 16 when set in position are greater in height than the abutment strips 29 and the abutment member 30 of the base plate member 19.

However, this is not necessarily the case.

Taking into account the length of the spikes or nail members 32 of the plate 20, the thickness of the planks 16 may also be less, within certain limits, than the height of the abutment strips 29 and the abutment member 30 of the base plate 19.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, but covers any alternative embodiment.

Claims

1. atransverse connectorfQrscaffold boards to be installed longitudinally between two cross members which themselves connect two brackets or other scaffold support members, which transverse connector includes a support element in the form of an elongated base plate member for carrying ends of abutting scaffold boards and provided with connecting members for connecting it transversely to the cross members, and includes a holding plate member for holding in position the boards supported by the base plate member, the holding plate member being removably fixably fittable to the base plate memberto grip the boards.

2. Atransverse connector according to claim 1, in which the connecting members are two pairs of substantially parallel spaced side plates, which project from the under surface of the base plate member, one pair at each of its opposed ends for engagement on the cross members.

3. Atransverse connector according to claim 2, in which one of the side plates, which at each end of the base plate member is the outermost, is formed by a simple right-angled bent portion of the base plate member.

4. Atransverse connector according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which the side plates of each pair each have an opening therethrough, with the openings being aligned with each other, for removably receiving a keeper pin therein to retain the transverse connector on the cross members.

5. Atransverse connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which at each of its ends the base plate member is provided with an abutment strip which projects from its upper surface transversely with respect thereto and which is capable of laterally bracing against the boards when the latter are in place on the base plate member.

6. Atransverse connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the base plate member is provided with a longitudinal abutment member which extends from one end of the base plate member to the other in the longitudinal direction of the member and projects from the upper surface thereof in the central region thereof, the longitudinal abutment member being capable of bracing against the end of the boards when the latter are in place on the base plate member.

7. A transverse connector according to claim 6 when appended to claim 5, wherein the longitudinal abutment member extends from one of the abutment strips to the other and level therewith.

8. Atransverse connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the holding plate member carries spikes or nail members which project from its under surface at spaced positions thereon, for anchoring the holding plate member to the boards when the latter are in place on the base plate member.

9. Atransverse connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein for fitting the holding plate member to the base plate member, the holding plate member is provided with an opening through each of its ends, and the base plate member, at a corresponding position, carries a screwthreaded boss co-operable with a fixing key to be screwed into said screwthreaded boss after passing through the holding plate member opening.

10. A transverse connector for scaffold boards, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.