GB2098651A - Improvements in or relating to builders' staging - Google Patents

Abstract

A scaffolding frame comprises two uprights 20, 21, linked by crossmembers 22, 23; struts 25, 26, 27 are also provided. A ladder portion 32 is mounted on the lower member 23 by means of a pivot bar 38 extending between pieces 39, 40, which pieces are fixed to the member. This pivotal mounting allows the ladder portion to be capable of extending either to a frame mounted directly above or to a frame mounted directly below. The mounting of the ladder portion on the lower member can be slideable and interengaging means can be provided on an end of the ladder portion, capable of engaging with other ladder portions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to builders' staging This invention relates to builders' staging and frames for assembly into such staging. Such frames comprise uprights connected by cross-bars. A par ticular problem with such staging relates to Ladders for climbing up the staging. In such staging it is necessa ry to provide ladders fo r the wo rkmen to walk up one frame to the next. While it is possible for a workman to climb up the horizontal bars of the frames this is not desirable since these bars are usu ally spaced apart more than one foot e.g. fifteen to seventeen inches whereas it is generally considered necessary for ladders to have the axes of rungs spaced at nine or ten inches apart. It would not be economic to space the horizontal bars of the frames so close together.We have supplied vertical ladders as fixed parts of the frames in accordance with our Patent No. 1396602. These have been found to be very useful but because of the method of frame cbn struction it is difficu It to provide continuous access with regard to ladder rung diameter and equal spac ing. Moreoverthe present designs do not deter unlawful access.

According to the present invention we provide a builders' staging comprising a plurality of staging sections connected in vertical series, each section comprising frames spaced apart and connected together by connecting bars, a ladder made in verti cally separate portions, each ladder portion being permanently connected to the staging and movably mounted thereon so that the lowest portion is mov able to a position between the uprights of the lower section, and in line with the ladder portions of the upper staging sections to form a continuous ladder therewith.

The invention also includes a frame suitable for making such a staging comprising uprights con nected by cross-bars and a ladder movably mounted thereon whereby it can be moved either two a lowered upright position for use orto a raised position when not in use.

By the use of such frames a staging can be erected which has a ladderthe rungs of which are indepen dent of the cross-bars and if desirable when not in use there is no ladder portion available at or near ground level.

The invention further includes a cross-bar having a ladder portion permanently connected to it but mov able to a raised out-of-use position and to a lowered in-use position.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diag rammatic drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a frame made in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 2 is a side view thereof, FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail of the part A in Figure 2, FIGURE 4 shows a modified form of frame, FIGURE 5 shows a detail in plan view of the frame on the plane 5-5 on Figure 4, FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of a staging built from a series of frames showing the out-of-use position, FIGURE 7 is a similar view showing the in-use position, FIGURES 8 to 13 show various modifications.

The frame shown in Figures 1 to 3 comprises two uprights 20, 21 connected together by upper and lower cross-bars 22,23 and various struts 25,26,27.

These are all usually made of aluminium alloy tubes.

The uprights have sockets 29 at one end and spigots 30 at the other end whereby frames can be connected together in vertical series to build up a staging tower of any required height.

A ladder section 32 comprises normally spaced styles 33,34 and normally spaced rungs 36. One end of the ladder portion 32 is pivotally mounted on a pivot bar 38 carried by two horizontal brackets39,40 which are joined to the cross-bar 23. The ladder portion 32 is thus permanently attached to the frame. By "permanently" it is to be understood that it is permanent for normal use but the bar 38 may be fixed by nuts or pins so that it could be taken apart for repair. The ladder portion 32 can be swung down to the position shown in broken lines in Figure 2 so that it is between the uprights of a lower staging section.

The styles 33,34 carry slidable latches 40 (Figure 3) movable by pins 41 in slots 42 to engage in the stiles of adjacent ladder portions thereby constituting a continuous normal ladder. The two latches may be connected together if desired so that the operator can move them with one hand.

Figures 6 and 7 show a plurality of frames connected together in vertical series. It will be seen that when not in use at least the lower ladder portion can be raised and stored behind the next upper ladder portion or all of the ladder sections can be raised if desired. Thus the lower frame does not have a ladder portion attached to it.

The ladder portion is advantageously normally stored for transport within the frame dimensions but when the staging is not in use the lower staging section has no associated ladder section thereby deterring unlawful access. The ladder is used inside the tower and offset from the frames so that it serves as an independent normal ladder. The ladder has a constant uninterrupted spacing of ladder rungs and provides a continuous uninterrupted access between adjacent frames. The permanent attachment of the ladder portions minimisesthe possibility of theft.

The ladder deters the climbing of the tower on the outside which is of special importance for safety.

In the modified construction shown in Figures 4 and 5 the ladder portion 43 is slidable instead of pivotable. The portion 43 slides in guideways 44,45 carried by side plates 47,48 which are joined to the cross-bar 23. Suitable stops are provided to limit the movement of the ladder portion at its upper and lower positions.

Figure 6 shows one series of frames connected to form a tower. The lowest frame has no ladder. A similar series offrames also without ladders will be located behind and parallel to that shown and con nected to it by removable cross-bars to complete the tower. All the ladders are shown in their raised positions. However, it may be more practical to raise the ladder attached to the second section only to deter access. A platform 50 with access facility is provided at the lower part of the top frames.

Figure 7 shows the same series of frames with the ladders lowered for normal use.

In the modification shown in Figures 8 and 9 the ladder 32 has projections 51 which are pivoted on a pivot 52 that is horizontal and normal to the plane of the frame whereby the ladder can be swung to a horizontal out-of-use position shown in broken lines.

Figure 9 is a view in a direction of the arrow 9 on Figure 8. Figures 10 to 13 show alternative means of incorporating a ladder within the scope of the invention to other construction components.

Figure 10 shows a cross-bar 54 for connecting frames together parallel to each other for which purpose the cross-bar has a hook 55 at each end. The ladder 32 is connected to the cross-bar 54 by brack efts39,40 and pivot bar 38 as in Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a side view of Figure 10.

Figures 12 and 13 are similarto Figures 10 and 11 but showing the ladder 32 pivoted at 56 near one end of a pair of diagonal cross-bars 58,59 which is used obliquely in a tower. The ladder can be swung up parallel to the diagonal cross-bar when out of use.

Claims (11)

1. A builders' staging comprising a number of staging sections spaced apart and connected together by connecting members, each section including a plurality of staging frames connected in vertical series, at least one of said frames including a ladder portion mounted thereon, said ladder portion being capable, on the one hand of extending to a frame directly above said at least one frame, or on the other hand, of extending to a frame directly below said at least one frame.

2. A builders' staging according to Claim 1, wherein at least two vertical adjacent frames include a ladder portion such that a continuous ladder portion can be formed.

3. A builders' staging according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said ladder portion is pivotally mounted on to said at least one frame.

4. A builders' staging according to Claim 1 or2, wherein said ladder portion is slidably mounted on to said at least one frame.

5. A builders' staging according to any preceding claim wherein said ladder portion includes interengaging means capable of engaging with other ladder portions.

6. A staging frame suitable for use in a builders' staging comprises a number of uprights spaced apart and connected together by cross-members, at least one of said members having mounted thereon a ladder portion capable in use of extending on the one hand to a frame directly below, or on the other hand, of extending to a frame directly above.

7. A staging frame according to Claim 6, wherein said ladder portion is pivotally mounted to said cross-member.

8. A staging frame according to Claim 6, wherein said ladder portion is slideably mounted to said cross-member.

9. A staging frame according to any one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein said ladder portion includes interengaging means capable of engaging with other ladder portions.

10. At least one cross-member including a ladder portion pivotally mounted thereon.

77. AT least one cross-member including a ladder portion slideably mounted thereon.

12. At least one cross-member according to Claim 10 or Claim 11 wherein said ladder portion includes interengaging means capable of engaging other ladder portions.

13. A builders' staging substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

14. A staging frame substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

15. At least one cross-member substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 7 July 1982 Superseded claims 6, 10, 11 New or amended claims:

6. A staging frame suitable for use in a builders' staging according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the frame comprises a number of uprights spaced apart and connected together by crossmembers, at least one of said members having mounted thereon a ladder portion capable in use of extending on the one hand to a frame directly below, or on the other hand, of extending to a frame directly above.

10. At least one cross-member suitable for use in a builders' staging according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one cross-member includes a ladder portion pivotally mounted thereon.

11. At least one cross-member suitable for use in a builders' staging according to any one of claims 1' to 5,, wherein the at least one cross-member includes a ladder portion slideably mounted thereon..