GB2128285A - Scaffolding fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

A scaffolding fitting for use in clamping a pair of elongate scaffolding members in a transverse relationship comprises a pressed metal body on which is pivotally mounted a pair of cover members and a pair of threaded bolts. Each of the cover members is mounted between a pair of parallel spaced lugs (such as lugs 22 and 23) which are bent from a blank which is used to form the body pressing, the two pairs of lugs thus provided projecting respectively from opposite sides of the body. Each of the threaded bolts 13 and 14 are pivotally mounted in an apertured cradle 26 or 27 which is formed in the metal pressing, each apertured cradle receiving and locating the head of the associated threaded bolt with the stem of such bolt extending through the aperture in the cradle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Scaffolding fitting This invention relates to a scaffolding.fitting and has as its object the provision of such a fitting in an improved form.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a scaffolding fitting of the kind comprising a body formed as a metal pressing to provide means for pivotally mounting a pair of cover members and means for pivotally mounting a pair of threaded bolts for use respectively in releasably securing said pair of cover members in positions in which they co-act with the body to clamp a pair of elongate scaffolding members in a predetermined transverse relationship, characterised in that the means for pivotally mounting each of said cover members comprises a pair of generally parallel lugs which are bent to project from the body, one pair of such lugs projecting from one side of the body whereas the other pair of lugs project from the other side of the body, and in that the means for pivotally mounting each of said threaded bolts comprises an apertured cradle which is formed in said metal pressing so as to receive and locate the head of the associated threaded bolt with the stem of such bolt projecting through the aperture in the cradle.

Preferably, each of said threaded bolts has a T-shaped head, the associated cradle being formed so that the bolt is capable of swinging in a plane which contains the longitudinal axis of the bolt and which is perpendicular to the axis of the arms of the head of the bolt.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of one example of a scaffolding fitting in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is a plan view of a flat metal plate before it is bent and formed to provide the body seen in Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing there is shown in Figure 1 a scaffolding fitting which has a body 10 formed as a metal pressing. The fitting is also provided with a pair of cover members 11 and 12 also formed as metal pressings and a pair of T-headed bolts 13 and 14.

The aforesaid body 10 is formed so as to provide a pivotal mounting for each of said cover members 11 and 12 and a pivotal mounting for each of said bolts 13 and 14. To this end the body 10 is initially formed as a flat metal blank 11 generally shaped as shown in Figure 2, said blank being formed with four circular holes 1 5 and a pair of elongated apertures 1 6 which may each comprise a straight portion connected at one end to an enlarged generally circular portion. Four slits 17 are also formed in the blank to provide between adjacent pairs of slits generally triangular portions 18, 19, 20 and 21.The portions 18 and 21 are bent about a pair of spaced parallel fold lines so as to form in each of said portions a pair of generally parallel lugs which each contain one of the apertures 1 5, one pair of such lugs being indicated by reference numerals 22 and 23 in Figure 1. Furthermore one pair of lugs are bent so that they project from one side of the body 10 whilst the other pair of lugs are bent to project from the opposite side of said body. The apertures 1 5 in each pair of parallel lugs are adapted to receive a pivot pin 24 or 25 (see Figure 1) whereby the cover members 11 and 12 can be pivotally connected to the body 1 0.

The other generally triangular portions 19 and 20 are drawn to form a cradle 26 or 27 (see Figure 1) and the concave sides of the two cradles thus formed are disposed respectively on opposite sides of the body 10, each of said cradles having in its base one of said elongated apertures 1 6.

Each cradle serves to locate and support the head of one of said T-headed bolts 1 3 or 14 with the stem of the bolt extending through the associated apertures 1 6 as will be seen in Figure 1 and on each bolt is mounted a nut 28 and a washer 29, the end of each cover member 11 or 1 2 opposite to the pivoted end being formed with a slot which is adapted to receive the stem of the associated bolt.

Conveniently the diameter of the enlarged end of each of said apertures 1 6 is slightly larger than the maximum diameter of each of said bolts whereas the straight portion of each aperture may have a width which is slightly less than the maximum diameter of the bolt. The stem portion of each bolt however adjacent to its head is then cut away to form a pair of oppositely disposed flats which are separated by a width somewhat less than the width of the straight portion of each elongated aperture 1 6. In this way the bolt can be assembled to the cradle by passing the threaded end of the stem of the bolt through the enlarged portion of the associated aperture 1 6 until the head of the bolt engages the cradle whereafter the bolt can be pushed along the straight portion of the aperture with the aforesaid pair of flats lying within said straight portion of the aperture. In this way the possibility of inadvertent separation of the bolts from the body when the fitting is not in use is lessened. In any case the arrangement is such that the engagement of the head of the T-headed bolt with the associated cradle will enable the bolt to swing in a plane which contains the axis of the stem of the bolt but which is perpendicular to the axis of the arms of the head of the bolt. Each bolt will therefore be securely located whilst at the same time it will be possible to swing the bolt into a position in which it enters into the slotted end of the associated cover member after an elongate scaffolding member has been inserted between the body and the cover member so as to engage with the respective seatings that will be formed on one side of the cover member and on the adjacent part of the body in the pressing operation which forms the aforementioned cradles. The nut 28 can then be tightened on the bolts to bring the washers 29 into clamping engagement with the slotted ends of the cover members 11 or 1 2 and thus two elongate scaffolding members in the form of a pair of scaffolding tubes (not shown) can be securely clamped in position on the body 10 in a mutually transverse relationship.

Claims (5)

1. A scaffolding fitting of the kind comprising a body formed as a metal pressing to provide means for pivotally mounting a pair of cover members and means for pivotally mounting a pair of threaded bolts for use respectively in releasably securing said pair of cover members in positions in which they co-act with the body to clamp a pair of elongate scaffolding members in a predetermined transverse relationship, characterised in that the means for pivotally mounting each of said cover members comprises a pair of generally parallel lugs which are bent to project from the body, one pair of such lugs projecting from one side of the body whereas the other pair of lugs project from the other side of the body, and in that the means for pivotally mounting each of said threaded bolts comprises an apertured cradle which is formed in said metal pressing so as to receive and locate the head of the associated threaded bolt with the stem of such bolt projecting through the aperture in the cradle.

2. A scaffolding fitting as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each of said threaded bolts has a T-shaped head, the associated cradle being formed so that the bolt is capable of swinging in a plane which contains the longitudinal axis of the bolt and which is perpendicular to the axis of the arms of the head of the bolt.

3. A scaffolding fitting as claimed in either of the preceding claims wherein each of said lugs is formed by means of a bending operation and each of said apertured cradles is formed by a drawing operation.

4. A scaffolding fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the aperture of each of said apertured cradles comprises a straight portion connected at one end to an enlarged generally circular portion, the diameter of the latter being slightly larger than the maximum diameter of each of said bolts, and the width of said straight portion being slightly less than the maximum diameter of the bolt, the stem portion of each bolt adjacent to its head being cut away to form a pair of oppositely disposed flats which are separated by a distance somewhat less than said width of the straight portion of each cradle aperture.

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