GB2183281A

GB2183281A - Improvements in supports

Info

Publication number: GB2183281A
Application number: GB08526950A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Keith Fuller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-11-01
Filing date: 1985-11-01
Publication date: 1987-06-03
Also published as: GB8526950D0

Abstract

A support (10) for supporting a plank or similar elongate member comprises a pair of elongate elements (11, 12) spaced apart and parallel along at least a portion of their length. Rungs (13) extend between the elements (11, 12), the spacing between the elements (11, 12) allowing a plank to be supported to slide therebetween but to be retained in a plane lying substantially normal to a plane containing the elongate elements (11, 12). The spacing between adjacent rungs (13) is such that a plank located in use between the elongate elements (11, 12) and between adjacent rungs (13) is held with the longitudinal axis of the plank at an acute angle to the plane containing the elongate elements (11, 12). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in supports The- invention relates to supports for platforms, planksand'the fike.

According to the. invention, there is provided a supportforsupportinga plankorsimilarelongate member, which support comprises a pair of elongate elements spaced apart and parallel along at least a portion of their length and a plurality of rungs extending between the elongate elements in said portion, the spacing between the elongate elements in said portion allowing a plankto be supported to slide therebetween butto be retained in a plane lying substantially normal to a plane containing the elongate elements, and the spacing between adjacent rungs being such that a plank located in use between said elongate elements and between the adjacent rungs is heldthereby with the longitudinal axis of the plank at an acute angle to the plane containing the elongate elements.

The support preferably includes a foot portion for contacting in use a surface on which the support is to stand, the foot portion contacting the surface at locations spaced wider apartthanthe elongate elements where parallel.

Thefootportion may be provided bysplaying the elongateelementsatthefootend,oralternatively by attaching foot means to the elongate elements. The foot means may comprise a pair of detachable feet or a detachable foot assembly.

There is preferably a multiplicity of rungs.

The elongate elements, where parallel, are preferably spaced apart by a distance in the range 1.5 inches (3.81cm) to 1.65 inches (4.19cm, and the rungs are preferably spaced apart by a distance in the range 10.2 inches (25.91 centimeters) to 10.7 inches (27.13 centimeters).

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a structure comprising at least four supports according to the invention, the supports being arranged in pairs and at least one plank engaging the supports of each pair, the plank and support assemblies being spaced apart and deck means extending between adjacent planks to provide a platform.

Byway of example, embodiments of a support according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is afrontview of a first embodiment of a support; Figure 2 is a side view offigure T; Figure3 is a side view of a structure including supports according to figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a frontview of a second embodiment of a supportaccordingtothe invention; Figure 5 is a front view of a tJ;tird embodiment of a supportaccordingtotheinveation.;;; Figure 6 is afront--view- of a fourth embodiment of a support according to the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 show a firstembodiment of a support 10 according to the invention. Support 10 has a pairof spaced apart elongate elements 11,12 between which elements 11,12 extend a mulitiplicity of rungs 13. The elongate elements 11,12 are conveniently of metal intubularform but it will be appreciated that the elements 11,12 might be of other material such as wood. Likewise, the rungs are of metal although wooden rungs could be used as an alternative. Securement of the rungs 13 to the elements 11,12 can be by metal spinningorwelding, depending on the types of material involved. If wood is employed conventional fixing methods could be used.

The elements 11,12 are spaced apart by a distance the range 1.5 inches (3.81 centimeters) 1.65 inches (4.19 centimeters), the purpose ofthis range of spacings being to accommodate standard scaffolding planks which are generally 1.5 inches (3.81 centimeters) thick, allowing such planksto be slid between the elongate elements 1 1,l2thus maintaining the plane of such planks substantially normal to a plane in which the elongate elements 11,12 lie.

The rungs 13are spaced apart by a distance in the range 10.2 inches (25.91 centimeters) to 10.7 inches (27.13 centimeters) and the purpose ofthis spacing is illustrated with reference to Figure 3 where it can be seenthata plank 14 engageswithopposing edges adjacent rungs 13 so that the support can lie atan angle of between 25 degrees and 30 degrees to the vertical in the assembled structure. The multiplicity of rungs 13 means that the planks can be located at a variety of different heights.

It will be appreciated that the dimension specified above may be varied if planks of different dimensions are to be accommodated.

Figure 3 is a side view of a structure in which there are at leastfoursupports 10,two planks 14 lying in vertical planes, the planks 14supporting scaffolding planks l5ortrestles.

Figures 4,5 and 6 illustrate three further embodiments of supports according to the invention.

In Figure 4, the support 10Of Figures land 2 is modified by securement of a pair offeeti 5,16 thereto to provide a more stable foot portion for the support.

The feet 15,6 are secured at three points by bolting to thesupportlO.

In Figure 5, a support 20 includes a detachabiefoot assembly 21 bolted thereto, thefoot portion 21 including rungs 22 and being secured by bolt 23tothe support 20.

In Figure 6, a support 30 has elongate elements 31,32 in substantially the same form as those of Figure 1 but end portions 33,34 of the elongate elements 31,32 are curved to provide a foot portion splaying outwardly with respecttothe remainder of the support. In this way, greater stability is provided with an u ncomplicatedstructu re.

The advantages of these embodiments of supports according to the invention are thatthe supports are simply constructed using conventional ladder-making techniques butthat, using standard scaffolding planks, a stable structure can be easily assembled and dismantled and that there is versatility in the struc tureswhich can be achieved.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing description is by waxy 6fexample only, and that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Asupportforsupporting a plankorsimilar elongate member, which support comprises a pair of elongate elements spaced apart and parallel along at least a portion of their length and a plurality of rungs extending between the elongate elements in said portion, the spacing between the elongate elements in said portion allowing a plankto be supported to slide therebetween but to be retained in a plane lying substantially normal to a plane containing the elongate elements, andthe spacing between adjacent rungs being such thata plank located in use between said elongate elements and between the adjacent rungs is held thereby withthe longitudinal axis ofthe plank at an acute angle to the plane containing the elongate elements.

2. A support as claimed in claim 1 including afoot portion for contacting in use a surface on which the support isto stand, thefoot portion contactingthe surface at locations spaced wider apartthan the elongate elements where parallel.

3. Asupportasclaimed in Claim 2wherein the foot portion is provided by splaying the elongate elements at the foot end.

4. A support as claimed in Claim Zwherein thefoot portion is provided by attaching foot means to the elongate elements.

5. A support as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the foot means comprise a pair of detachable feet.

6. Asupport as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the foot means comprises a detachable foot assembly.

7. Asupportasclaimed on any preceding claim comprising a multiplicity of rungs.

8. A support as claimed in anypreceding claim wherein the elongate elements, where parallel, are spaced apartbya distanceinthe range 1.5inches (3.81 cm)to1.65inches(4.19cm).

9. A support as claimed in any preceding claim whereinthe rungs are spaced apart by a distance in the range 10.2 inches (25.91 centimetersyto 10.7 inches 127.13 centimeters}.

10. A support substantially as herein before described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or Figure4 or Figure5 or Figure 6 ofthe accompanying drawings.

11. Structure comprising at leastfoursupports asclaimed in any preceding claim, the supports being arranged in pairsandat least one plank engaging the supports of each pair, the plank and support assemb lies being spaced apart and deck means extending between adjacent planks to provide a platform.

12. A structure substantially as hereinbefore de scribedwith referenceto and as shown in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.