GB2133453A

GB2133453A - Scaffolding connection

Info

Publication number: GB2133453A
Application number: GB08301109A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Leslie Crook
Original assignee: Martin Thomas Ltd
Current assignee: Martin Thomas Ltd
Priority date: 1983-01-15
Filing date: 1983-01-15
Publication date: 1984-07-25
Also published as: GB8301109D0; GB2133453B

Abstract

A connector (1) for connecting together scaffolding members (3, 5) in such a manner as to prevent relative movement of the members in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the members. The connector includes a body (4) having a hook shaped projection (2) which rests on the upper surface of one of the members to be connected and a locking arrangement (6). The locking arrangement is mounted on the body by means of a slot 9, in the form of a figure-of-eight, which can slide on a pin 7 on the body between unlocked and locked positions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Scaffolding connection This invention relates to connectors capable of connecting together adjacent scaffolding members.

A scaffolding frame structure can comprise a number of support members having mounted thereon a frame member, for example a platform support. A connector employed in mounting the frame member on the support member is required to connect the two members in a manner whereby disconnection requires relative movement therebetween. It is however desirable that such disconnection is prevented in particular accidental circumstances, for example platform supports can be lifted vertically by the wind producing a potentially hazardous situation. Consequently it is preferable that a connector locks the two members together sufficiently to resist such vertical movement and prevent accidental disconnection.

British Patent Application No. 2058189A discloses connectors including a locking arrangement intended to resist relative vertical movement between two connected scaffold members. However, the connectors disclosed require precise location of the locking projection within the arrangement in order to achieve the required locking action.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a simple and robust connector capable of resisting the above mentioned vertical movement.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a connector, adapted to be received by a scaffolding frame member, and capable of connecting said member to a tubular support member in a manner to resist relative movement between the members in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the connected members; the connector comprising a hookshaped projection capable of resting on an upper surface of said tubular member and further comprising a locking arrangement itself comprising side pieces and a base projection, the side pieces being mounted on the connector body by a slide means permitting movement of the locking arrangement along a path substantially parallel to said home member to assume at one end ot the path a locked position wherein said relative movement is resisted by the base projection engaging a lower surface of the support member, and to assume at the other end of the path an unlocked position wherein said relative movement is not resisted.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to illustrate how it may be carried into effect reference is made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings, in which: Flgure 1 illustrates a connector in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a locking arrangement of the connector.

Referring to the drawings, a connector 1 comprises a connector body 4 and extending therefrom a hook shaped projection 2 arranged in use to rest on a tubular support member 3. The connector body includes a shank portion formed integrally, as an extension, with the projection.

The shank is shaped to be received in a scaffolding frame member 5, which may comprise a further tubular support member or a member suitable for bearing a platform.

To resist relative vertical movement between the connected members 3 and 5, that is to say movement in a direction X substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the connected members, to an extent sufficient to prevent the accidental disconnection of said members, the connector includes a locking arrangement 6. This arrangement is mounted on the connector by a slide means comprising a pin 7 inserted through the connector body joining the shank and projection 2. The pin is received in a "figure-eight" shaped aperture 9 within the arrangement which itself comprises a base plate 8 and two substantially parallel side peices 10 and 11 upstanding therefrom, each including an aperture 9. The connector is typically made from aluminium alloy, although clearly other suitable materials (for example plastics materials) could be employed for all or for parts thereof.

The slots 9 are shaped to allow the pin 7 to travel to either extreme of the "eight" shape such that the locking arrangement has two equilibrium positions. Indeed, the slot may be formed such that movement of the arrangement from the one extreme to the other includes a 'snap action' of the pin through the waist of the "eight" shape. At one extreme, as illustrated in figure 1, movement of the connector in direction X is resisted by base plate 8 engaging the lower surface of the support member 3. Therefore in this locked position vertical movement in direction X is resisted and accidental disconnection in this direction is prevented.When the locking arrangement is shifted to the other extreme (not shown), the base plate no longer engages the support member when vertical movement is attempted and therefore in this unlocked position movement of the connector in direction X is not restricted and hence disconnection is not prevented. Clearly more than one pin or slot could be employed for the slide means and the orientation of the "figureeight" shaped slots relative to the base plate could be altered to an extent to allow a bias towards a locked or unlocked position to be achieved.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the invention provides a simple and robust connector capable of resisting relative vertical movement between the connected members to an extent sufficient to prevent accidental disconnection of the members. It will be understood that the embodiment illustrated shows an application of the invention in one form only for example it is not essential that the slots in the locking arrangement are "eight" shaped and slots that enable the required movement from the locked to unlocked position are suitable. It will also be apparent that the locking arrangement can alternatively include projections on each side piece arranged to be capable of engaging the support member in the locked position; and the connector can be adapted for non-tubular scaffold member. Therefore in practice the invention may be applied to many different configurations, the detailed embodiments being straightforward for those skilled in the art to implement.

Claims

1. A connector, adapted to be received by a scaffolding frame member, and capable of connecting said member to a tubular support member in a manner to resist relative movement between the members in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the connected members; the connector comprising a hookshaped projection capable of resting on an upper surface of said tubular member and further comprising a locking arrangement itself comprising side pieces and a base projection, the side pieces being mounted on the connector body by a slide means permitting movement of the locking arrangement along a path substantially parallel to said home member to assume at one end of the path a locked position wherein said relative movement is resisted by the base projection engaging a lower surface of the support member, and to assume at the other end of the path an unlocked position wherein said relative movement is not resisted.

2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said base projection joins together said side pieces and said side pieces are disposed substantially parallel to one another.

3. A connector according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said slide means comprises at least one slot in each side piece, the slot having a "figureeight" shape, and at least one pin provided on said connector body and arranged to locate with said slots.

4. A connector according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said slide means comprises at least one pin provided in each of said side pieces and includes at least two slots in said connector body arranged to receive said pins, the slots having a "figure eight" shape.

5. A connector substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.