GB2170853A

GB2170853A - A cladding unit for scaffolding

Info

Publication number: GB2170853A
Application number: GB08503393A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Walden; Stephen Briggs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-02-09
Filing date: 1985-02-09
Publication date: 1986-08-13
Also published as: GB8503393D0

Abstract

A cladding unit for use on a scaffold comprises a substantially rigid plate (10) and a plurality of hook-shaped elements in the form of hooks (11) for receiving scaffolding poles of the scaffold to hold the cladding units on the scaffold. A number of the cladding units can be used to form a cladding wall with the cladding units in overlapping relation with one another. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A cladding unit This invention relates to a cladding unit for use on a scaffold.

Scaffolds of the kind which are erected on the outside of a building provide exposed work locations which are above ground level.

Work locations are usually provided with a guard rail for the protection of workmen but such a safety measure is frequently not an adequate protection against the danger of articles of equipment being dislodged from the scaffold. A further disadvantage of the exposed work locations on scaffolds is that they are open to inclement weather.

It is a known practice to tie sheets of tarpaulin or polyethylene onto a scaffold. The sheets are partially effective in shielding workmen from inclement weather but it has been found that such a protection is not sufficient to keep the worst of the wind and rain from a work location.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cladding unit for use on a scaffold, the cladding unit comprising a plate and a plurality of hook-shaped elements for receiving scaffolding poles of the scaffold.

When the cladding unit has been mounted on a scaffold, the plate prevents articles being dislodged from the scaffold. The plate also provides an effective barrier against inclement weather. The cladding unit can be rapidly and easily mounted on the scaffold by means of the hook-shaped elements.

A plurality of the cladding units can be mounted on a scaffold to form a cladding wall. The cladding units can be mounted with free edges of the plates in abutment, but it is preferred that the units be mounted so that peripheral portions of the plates of adjacent cladding units overlap. By this means, there is no danger of articles slipping between adjacent units. To facilitate overlapping, the plate of each cladding unit may comprise a peripheral recessed portion for receiving a peripheral portion of the plate of an adjacent cladding unit. The dimensions of the plate of each cladding unit are, suitably, such that a plurality of the cladding units can be mounted on a conventional scaffold with the plates of adjacent cladding units in overlapping relation.

The plate of each cladding unit is advantageously, formed of a plastics material, it being preferred that the cladding unit is formed as an integral unit by injedtion moulding so that the hook-shaped elements are integral with the plate. Advantageously, each hook-shaped element comprises a resiliently deformable marginal portion for positive retention of the element on a scaffolding pole.

Preferably, upper and lower hook-shaped elements are disposed for receiving vertically spaced apart, generally horizontally extending scaffolding poles. The upper and lower elements are, suitably, disposed to facilitate stacking of a plurality of cladding units in an alternating fashion with the upper element of one cladding unit adjacent to, but not interfering with, the lower element of an adjacent cladding unit.

The cladding unit preferably comprises at least one handle to facilitate man-handling of the unit.

With reference to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cladding unit in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the cladding unit; and Figure 3 shows a cladding wall formed of a number of cladding units.

The cladding unit comprises a substantially planar plate 10 and three hook-shaped elements in the form of hooks 11 on one side of the plate projecting from the plane of the plate. The unit further comprises a pair of handles 12 (one of the handles being visible in Fig. 2) which project from the plate on the opposite side of the plate from the hooks.

The unit is a one-piece, plastics moulding being formed by injection moulding. The thickness of the plate is suitably greater than 0.012" (3 mm) and is preferably approximately 0.024" (6 mm). The plate is generally square, measuring approximately 39"X39" (1mX 1m).

Two of the hooks 11 are disposed adjacent to a lower edge of the plate 10 and the third of the hooks is spaced vertically from the first two, adjacent to an upper edge of the plate.

The upper hook is disposed approximately mid-way between the side edges of the plate and the lower hooks are offset in opposite directions from a position mid-way between the side edges. This arrangement enables cladding units to be mounted on a scaffold with upper and lower peripheral portions of vertically adjacent units overlapping, an upper hook of one unit being disposed between, and hooked over the same scaffolding pole as, the two lower hooks of the adjacent unit. In one embodiment of cladding unit, the lower hooks define a wider space than the upper hook to facilitate an arrangement in which the lower hooks receive a scaffolding pole and a peripheral portion of a vertically adjacent plate. The arrangement of hooks also facilitates stacking of the cladding units.

The hooks are generally elongate in a horizontal direction and are disposed for receiving horizontally extending scaffolding poles. The hooks are shaped to be retained on scaffolding poles of a standard diameter, each hook holding a plate in engagement with the scaffolding pole. A marginal portion of each hook is resiliently deformed as a scaffolding pole is received by the hook, and snaps back into shape when the pole is fully received by the hook.

The handles 12 are approximately mid-way between upper and lower edges of the plate 10 and are spaced apart horizontally. Lugs 19 of the handles extend downwardly. It will be appreciated that, in various alternative embodiments, one or more handles can be disposed at various positions on the plate. In one particular embodiment, the cladding unit comprises a single handle which is positioned adjacent to and spaced downwardly from the upper edge of the plate and which comprises a horizontally extending lug.

The plate 10 comprises a major portion 13 and a peripheral recessed side portion 14 for receiving the peripheral side portion of a horizontally adjacent cladding unit. The recessed portion is recessed relative to the main portion by approximately, the thickness of the plate, being recessed on the side of the plate from which the hooks protrude. The recessed portion comprises a number of vertically extending ridges which when the cladding unit is in overlapping engagement with an adjacent unit, spaces the overlapping peripheral portions apart to prevent water rising due to capillary attraction. A peripheral lower portion which overlaps a vertically adjacent cladding unit when the cladding unit is in a cladding wali, also comprises ridges.

Various alternative cladding unit with differing forms of recessed portions can be provided. Upper and/or lower peripheral portions can be recessed, and overlapping cladding units can have cooperating recessed portions so that a cladding wall formed of the units has generally smooth surfaces. Recessed portions can be rebated relative to the main portion, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, or can comprise a portion of the plate which is thinner than the main portion.

Fig. 3 shows a conventional scaffold 16 which comprises vertically extending scaffolding poles 17 spaced at 6'0" (184 cm) intervals and horizontally extending scaffolding poles 18 spaced at 3'0" (92 cm) intervals. A number of cladding units have been mounted on the scaffold to form a cladding wall. Each of the cladding units overlaps adjacent ciadding units at a lower and a side peripheral portion and is overlapped at an upper peripheral portion and the other side peripheral portion.

The units overlap by approximately 3" (7.5 cm).

The cladding units can be used for other purposes besides forming cladding walls. For example, where additional protection is required on a building site such as for welding operations, the cladding units can be used to form an enclosure on at least three sides. The cladding units can be used to form a temporary fence, for example a security fence, on a suitable scaffold. In this application the scaffold may be constructed so that at least one of the hooks on each cladding unit is trapped between two horizontally extending scaffolding poles to prevent removal of the cladding unit.

Claims

1. A cladding unit for use on a scaffold, the cladding unit comprising a plate and a plurality of hook-shaped elements for receiving scaffolding poles of the scaffold.

2. A cladding unit according to Claim 1, wherein each hook-shaped element comprises a resiliently deformable marginal portion for positive retention of the element on a scaffolding pole.

3. A claddidng unit according to either preceding claim, wherein the plate is formed of a plastics material.

4. A cladding unit according to Claim 3, wherein the cladding unit is an integral unit.

5. A cladding unit according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the cladding unit is injection moulded.

6. A cladding unit according to any preceding claim, wherein upper and lower hookshaped elements are disposed for receiving vertically spaced apart, generally horizontally extending scaffolding poles.

7. A cladding unit according to Claim 6, wherein the upper and lower elements are disposed to facilitate stacking of a plurality of cladding units in a alternating fashion with the upper element of one cladding unit adjacent to, but not interfering with, the lower element of an adjacent cladding unit.

8. A cladding unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the plate comprises a peripheral recessed portion for receiving a peripheral portion of an adjacent cladding unit on a scaffold.

9. A cladding unit according to any preceding claim, which cladding unit further comprises at least one handle.

10. A cladding unit substantially as herein described with reference to or as shown in the drawings.