GB2223262A - Staging joints - Google Patents

Abstract

In staging of the kind comprising rearwardly inclined truss members 1 and a number of decking members 2 supported from the truss members in a stepped configuration, a depending tongue on a decking member is received in a respective channel member 7 secured to a truss member. Either transversely projecting pins 35, 36 on the ends of the tongue engage a pair of hook members 12, 17, one of which (17) is resiliently biassed towards the other (Fig 1) or hook 42 engages within channel 30 and pin 42 engages within slot 44 (Fig 6). <IMAGE>

Description

STAGING This invention relates specifically to staging of the kind comprising rearwardly inclined truss members and a plurality of decking members supported from the truss members in a stepped configuration. In particular, it is concerned with an arrangement for quickly and reliably securing the decking members to the trusses.

According to the present invention, in staging of the kind specified in the opening sentence, an end of each decking member is seated upon a support portion associated with a truss member, location means being provided for limiting lateral movement of the decking member when seated upon the support portion, and a hook member being associated with one of the decking member and the support portion including a limb projecting transversely of the decking member, and an engaging portion being associated with the other of the support portion and the decking member whereby the engaging portion engages the said limb of the hook member to limit lifting of the decking rember normal to the support portion.

Preferably there are two hook portions spaced transversely of the decking member and each associated with a respective engaging portion.

The end of the decking member preferably has a depending tongue and the support portion comprises an upwardly open channel member for receiving the tongue.

The invention will now be exemplified in the following description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a deck locking assembly of staging in accordance with the invention, with the deck shown in a freed position, Figure 2 is a sectional view through a hook member for retaining the deck, taken longitudinally of the deck, Figure 3 is an underside view of the deck, Figure 4 is a sectional view of the assembly with the deck in place and seen in end view, Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of two decks coupled to the assembly, and Figure 6 is a perspective view of another possible deck locking assembly in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a truss member 1 of staging which comprises a number of such truss members which are supported in a rearwardly inclined position by any suitable supporting structure, but preferably as disclosed in co-pending UK Patent Applications No.s 88. 08 303 and 88. 07 257. The staging also includes a number of deck members 2 supported from the trusses 1 in a stepped configuration. The upper surface of each truss carries a number of similar brackets 3, each capable of supporting two decking members extending in opposite directions transverse to the truss.

The brackets 3 each comprise a rectangular base plate 4 which carries a short rear strut 5 and a longer, forwardly inclined front strut 6. These struts in turn support a substantially horizontal channel member 7 which includes a support platform 8 and upstanding side walls 9, 10 extending along its longer edges. At the front edge of the platform 8 there is an upstanding hook member 11 including a rearwardly projecting limb 12, which is secured to the front strut 6 by screws 13.

There is also a second hook member 15 upstanding from the rear edge of the platform. This is formed of sheet metal and includes an upright limb 16 with a limb 17 projecting forwardly from its upper edge. This second hook member 15 is pivotally and resiliently connected to the rear strut 5, as will now be explained.

Refering to Fig.s 1 and 2, the second hook member 15 includes a pair of parallel arms 18, 19 projecting forwardly and downwardly from the side edges of the upright limb 16 either side of the rear strut 5. A resilient mounting bush 23 is inserted tightly through the strut 5. This bush comprises inner and outer tubes 24, 25 and these are bonded together by a resilient rubber annulus 26. A bolt 28 inserted through the inner tube 24 and arms 18, 19 clamps the arms to the ends of the inner tube. Thus, if the hook member 15 is pivoted in a rearward direction about the axis of the bolt 28 the rubber annulus is subjected to a shearing deformation which tends to resiliently return the hook member to the original forward position.

As shown in Fig. 1, the end of the deck member is undercut at 30 and a transverse tongue 31 depends from its extreme end. The lower face 32 of the tongue is convexly curved transverse to its length, and the ends of the tongue are provided with lower recesses 33, 34.

A pair of axially aligned locking pins 35, 36 project from each end of the tongue into the respective recesses 33, 34. As shown in Fig. 3, a pivot abutment 38 is secured to the inner face of the tongue 31 half way along its length, and its inner end 39 is rounded for reasons which will be explained below.

To couple the deck 2 to the support bracket 3 the deck is inclined slightly in a forward direction and the rearmost retaining pin 35 is located beneath the limb 17 of pivoted hook member 15. The deck is then moved rearwardly to rotate the hook member 15 against the resilience of the annulus 26 until the front pin 36 is rearward of the fixed hook member 11. The front edge of the deck is then lowered until the tongue rests upon the platform 8. The deck is then moved forwardly so that the pin 36 engages beneath the limb 12 of the fixed hook member and the pivoted hook member returns to the starting position, as shown in Fig. 4. The pins 35, 36 are thus engaged by the hook members 11, 15 to prevent the deck from being lifted out of the channel member 7.The hook members also locate the deck in a lateral direction, and the deck is located in a longitudinal direction by the side wall 10 of the channel member which is received between the abutment 38 and the end of the decking member.

Although the deck is securely attached to the support bracket it is still capable of plus or minus 15 degrees or so of angular movement in a horizontal plane about an axis which is substantially coincident with the axis of pins 35, 36. Moreover, the channel member 8 is wide enough to permit the deck plus or minus 7 degrees or so of angular movement in a horizontal plane about the abutment 38, the rounded inner end of which rolls on the inner surface of side wall 10. In fact, as mentioned above, the channel member can receive the tongues of two such decking members extending in opposite directions, as shown in Fig. 5.

The decks are removed in the reverse sequence to that in which they are fitted.

The resilient bush 23 could be replaced by other resilient means such as a rubber block located between the upright limb 16 and the strut 5, or by a suitably arranged torsion, compression or tension spring.

The assembly of Fig. 6 is similar to that of Fig.s 1 to 5 except that the fixed hook member 11 is replaced by a short upstanding end wall 41 and the pivoted hook member 15 is replaced by a fixed hook member 42. A cross pin 43 bridges the side walls 9 and 10 about half way along their length. The locating pins 35 and 36 are omitted and an inverted-L shaped notch 44 is cut in the tongue 31 to form a further rearwardly directed hook member 45 on the tongue.

The action of engaging this deck member with the bracket 3 is essentially the same as that described above except that the rear edge of the deck is engaged beneath the hodk member 42, and at the same time the hook member 45 is engaged beneath the cross pin 43.

Both hook members 42 and 45 again serve to prevent lifting of the deck in use. The tongue is again located laterally and longitudinally of the deck within the channel member, and the deck is similarly capable of angular movement in the horizontal and vertical planes.

Claims (8)

1. Staging comprising; a pair of mutually spaced truss members; means for supporting said truss members with a rearward inclination, upwardly; a plurality of decking support members secured to each of said truss members at spaced positions along the length thereof; a plurality of decking members bridging said truss members in a stepped configuration, each decking member having opposite end portions, and each of said end portions being seated upon one of said decking support members;; connection means positively connecting said end portion of said decking member with said support portion, said connection means comprising a hook member secured to one of said end portion and said support portion, said hook member including a limb projecting transversely of said decking member, and an engaging portion associated with the other of said support portion and said end portion, the arrangement being such that said engaging portion engages said limb of said hook member to limit lifting of the decking member in an upward direction.

2. Staging as claimed in Claim 1 wherein: said connection means comprises two such hook portions spaced transversely of said respective decking member, and two such engaging portions for cooperation with said hook portions.

3. Staging as claimed in Claim 2 wherein: said engaging portions comprise pins projecting in opposite directions transversely of said decking member, and said hook portions are secured to said support portion with said limbs of said hook portions projecting towards each other.

4. Staging as claimed in Claim 3 wherein: one of said hook portions is resiliently biassed towards the other of said hook portions by resilient bias means.

5. Staging as claimed in Claim 4 wherein: said resilient bias means comprises a resilient annular bush which is bonded to inner and outer tubes, the outer tube being fast with the respective support member and the inner tube being fast with the resiliently biassed hook portion.

6. Staging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein: said end portion of said decking member comprises a depending tongue, and said support portion comprises an upwardly open channel member for receiving said tongue.

7. Staging as claimed in Claim 6 wherein: said tongue is provided with an abutment on the inner face of said depending tongue which rocks on a side wall of the respective channel member.

8. Staging substantially as described with reference to the drawings.