GB2103273A - Scaffolding fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

In a scaffolding fitting either the pivoted bolt (15), or the pivoted cover member (12) or each of these components, is provided with a separately formed friction element (24) which is inserted between the pivoted end of the associated component and an adjacent portion of the part on which it is pivoted. Said friction element (24) is adapted frictionally to engage a portion of the surface of said associated component (12 or 15) as the latter is pivoted in order to inhibit free pivotal movement thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Scaffolding fitting This invention relates to a scaffolding fitting of the kind which comprises a body having at least one seating for an elongate scaffolding member and a cover member also providing a seating for said scaffolding member, said cover member being at one pivotally connected to said body and being adapted as its other end to be releasably connected to the body by releasable fastening means, after the scaffolding member has been located in the body seating, to clamp said scaffolding member between the aforesaid two seatings, said releasable fastening means comprising a pivoted bolt and nut.Usually, in a scaffolding fitting of this kind, the bolt is pivotally connected to the body of the fitting, said other end of the cover member having a slot which is adapted to receive the shank of the bolt as the latter is swung into its operative position, whereafter the nut will be screwed down to secure the cover and tightly clamp the scaffolding member.

In using a scaffolding fitting of the abovedescribed kind it is necessary to arrange that both the cover member and the pivoted bolt are in an "open" position when an elongate scaffolding member is to be presented to the fitting, or vice-versa, by a relative movement between them in a direction which is generally transverse to the length of the scaffolding fitting. It sometimes happens however that one or both of the two components represented by the bolt and the cover member "fall" into a closed position aftere being set in the open position and this necessitates the scaffolding erector in re-setting either or both components into the open position.This can represent a time-consuming and awkward operation especially when a length of scaffolding member is being carried prior to assembly in a partially completed scaffolding structure and the present invention has as one of its objects the provision of means which act to inhibit free pivotal movement of either bolt or cover member.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a scaffolding fitting of the kind specified wherein there is provided in association with either the pivoted bolt, or the pivoted cover member, or each of these components, a separately formed friction element which is inserted between the pivoted end of the associated component and an adjacent portion of the part of which it is pivoted, said friction element being arranged frictionally to engage a portion of the surface of said associated component as the latter is pivoted in order to inhibit free pivotal movement thereof and permit the component to be set in any desired angular orientation relative to the part in which it is pivoted.

Conveniently, the or each friction element comprises a resilient element which may be formed for example of spring steel and preferably the element is shaped so that it can be pressed or snapped into its operative position so that it will be located in said position unless it is forcibly removed therefrom.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a side view of one example of a scaffolding fitting in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is an "exploded" perspective view showing one end of the fitting body seen in Fig. 1 together with a friction element for use in said body end, and Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the friction element assembled in position between the pivoted end of a bolt and the adjacent portion of said body end.

Referring now to the drawing Fig. 1 shows a scaffolding fitting having a pressed steel body 10 which is provided with at least one seating indicated in Fig. 1 by reference numeral 11 for an elongate scaffolding member such as a length of tubing of circular cross-section. The body 10 as shown in Fig. 2 however has two such seatings, the other one being formed on that side of the body opposite to the seating 11. In association with each seating there is provided a cover member 1 2 which is also formed on its inner side with a seating indicated by reference numeral 1 3 for the scaffolding member.Said cover is pivotally connected at one end by means of pivot 14 to the body 10 and the other end of said cover member is adapted to be releasably connected to said body by means of releasable fastening means which comprise a bolt 1 5 and a nut 16. The bolt 15 is in the form of an eye bolt which is pivotally connected by means of a pivot 1 7 to the body 10 so that it can pivot between a pair of ears 18 formed on the body, said ears having aligned apertures 1 9 through which the pivot 1 7 will project.

Said other end of the cover member 12, namely that end opposite to the pivoted end 14 is provided with a slot such as indicated by reference numeral 20 in relation to the other cover member 21 which is similar to the cover member 12, said cover member 21 being releasably connected to the body 10 by means of a bolt 22 and nut 23 similar to the bolt 15 and nut 16. Thus the two cover members 12 and 21, together with the body 10, provide means for clamping a pair of elongate scaffolding members in a mutually perpendicular relationship, each of such scaffolding members being located between a pair of seatings which are provided respectively on the body and on one of said cover members.

In using a scaffolding fitting as above described each cover member would be set into an open position relative to the body 10 after the relevant nut and bolt fastening has been loosened whilst the bolt of such fastening would also be moved to an open position providing free access to the co-acting body seating so that an elongate scaffolding member can be located on such seating without having to thread the scaffolding member through a gap formed between said body seating and the adjacent cover member.It sometimes happens however, as previously explained, that either a cover member, or a bolt, or both of these components will inadvertently fall back into the relatively closed position after it or they have been set in the open position and the scaffolding erector then has the task of again resetting the aforementioned components in their open positions and of endeavouring to ensure that they remain in such open positions until the scaffolding member is in place. In accordance with the present invention therefore there is provided a separately formed friction element which in the example described comprises a piece of spring steel indicated by reference numeral 24 in the drawing. Said friction element comprises a slightly bowed portion 25 which is integrally formed at one end with an upturned flange 26 and which is formed at the other end with a laterally projecting rib 27.Said friction element 24 is thus adapted to be inserted, in the example shown in the drawing, between the outer end of each of said eyebolts 1 5 or 22 and the adjacent portion of the body 10 between the ears or wings 1 8 (or in the case of bolt 22 ears or wings 28) on which the bolts are pivoted.

Thus each of said friction elements 24 can be pushed into position by inserting first that end of the element containing the rib 27 and pushing with the thumb or a finger on the flange 26 until said rib 27 reaches the position seen in Figs. 1 and 3 in which it snaps over the outer end of the body so as to retain the friction element in place.In this position the slightly bowed portion 25 of the friction element engages the outer end of the bolt as will be seen in Fig. 3 and will therefore exert a frictional force thereon as the bolt 1 5 is turned on its pivot 1 7. Such frictional force is so arranged in fact as to inhibit free pivotal movement of the bolt and therefore the bolt can be set in any desired open position relative to the body 10 and will be held there by the frictional engagement between said portion 25 and the end of the bolt. The frictional force developed between the friction element 24 and the or each bolt is not however sufficient to prevent the erector from pushing the bolt back into position when it is desired to clamp the reievant scaffolding member after it has been inserted in the correct position. A friction element in accordance with the present invention can obviously be formed in any suitable material and such friction elements can of course be used in conjunction with existing scaffolding fittings of the above described type. Furthermore if it is desired to inhibit free pivotal movement of the cover members such as cover member 1 2 then a friction element could also be used between the pivoted end of the cover member and the adjacent part of the body surface so that again a frictional force will be developed when pivotal movement occurs between the cover member and the body.

Claims (5)

1. A scaffolding fitting of the kind specified wherein there is provided in association with either the pivoted bolt, or the pivoted cover member, or each of these components, a separately formed friction element which is inserted between the pivoted end of the associated component and an adjacent portion of the part on which it is pivoted, said friction element being arranged frictionally to engage a portion of the surface of said associated component as the latter is pivoted in order to inhibit free pivotal movement thereof and permit the component to be set in any desired angular orientation relative to the part in which it is pivoted.

2. A scaffolding fitting as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the or each friction element comprises a resilient element which is shaped so that it is capable of being pressed or snapped into its operative position.

3. A scaffolding fitting as claimed in Claim 2 2 wherein said resilient element is formed at one end with a projecting rib which is arranged, in the operative position of the resilient element, to engage an end of the part on which the association component is pivoted, said resilient element being formed at its other end with a laterally projecting flange which can be used to push or press the friction element into its operative position.

4. A scaffolding fitting as claimed in Claim 2 2 or Claim 3 wherein said resilient element is made from spring steel.

5. A scaffolding fitting of the kind specified substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.