GB2227785A - Scaffolding component - Google Patents

Abstract

The component for use in assembling a scaffolding structure comprises two clamps 3, 4, each adapted to encircle a scaffold pole, the clips being connected together, rigidly or pivotally about pin 5 at a point lying on a line between the radial centres of the two clamps 3, 4; each clamp 3, 4, comprises two parts 6, 7, hinged together at one end and adapted to be connected together at their other ends by means of a toggle joint, which comprises a lever 12 and hook 15 (Figure 1) or levers 28 and spring 30 (Figure 3). In the embodiment of Figures 1, 2, parts 6, 7, of clamp 3 are hinged together about hinge pin 8 and lever 12 is mounted on pivot pin 13 extending between flanges 10 (11, Figure 2). Lever 12 carries pivot 14 upon which is pivoted locking hook 15 which may be fitted into one of a series of slots 16 at free end of part 6. In Figures 3, 4, clamps 21, 22, are secured together by part 25. Locking levers 28, extend between flanges 26a of parts 26 the levers being swung and acting with toggle action to apply tension to spring 30. A spring pin 33 engages a shaped socket in lever 28 to prevent inadvertent release. <IMAGE>

Description

Scaffolding Component The present invention is a oomponent for use in assembling a scaffolding structure.

In the conventional building of a scaffolding structure from steel tubing, adjacent lengths of tubing are connected together at their ends and/or crossing points by means of steel brackets.

Each bracket is bolted to two tubes and the individual bolts must be tightened sufficiently to impart stability to the overall structure but not so much as to damage the screw thread. Thus building a scaffolding structure is a skilled job, often carried out under difficult conditions, and a time-consuming operation.

In addition, a variety of different brackets must be made available to cope with the requirements of different tubing intersections.

Clearly there is scope for improvment in the task of assembling scaffolding but to date there appears to be no available bracket or the like which satisfactorily reconciles the needs of safety on the one hand and improved rate of assembly on the other. It is an object of the present invention to provide a scaffolding component which is able to meet those needs.

The scaffolding component according to the present invention comprises two clips, each adapted to encircle a scaffolding tube, the clips being connected together at a point lying on a line extending substantially between the radial centres of the two clips, each said clip comprising tWD parts, hinged together at one end thereof and adapted for connecting together at their other ends by means of a toggle joint.

The method of use of the novel scaffolding oPPpOnent will be readily understood. At points in the scaffolding structure there two lengths of tubing are to be connected together, each of the clips is opened about its hinge, placed around one of the tubes and then closed by means of the toggle joint. Because the dinensions of the clips are correctly matched to the dimensions of the tubes, the tubes are thus held tightly together, the angle between the two clips being whatever is required by the relative positions of the tubes.

By virtue of the fact that each clip is designed to encircle a tube, the clips are essentially circular when viewed in the direction of the length of the tube. Their depth parallel to the axis of the tube is preferably substantially less than the tube diameter, such that each clip resembles a relatively narrow band around the associated tube. As described above, the two clips are connected together at a point on a line extending substantially between the radial centres of the clips.The connection between the clips may be a fixed connection, in which case the clips are preferably fixed at right angles to each other, or a pivotal connection, to enable the clips to swivel to aocattnote an angle between adjacent tubes other than a right angle0 In the case where the clips are held together in fixed relative positions, the mutual connection may be made by forming adjacent parts of the respective clips in a unitary piece.

Each clip may be made wholly of rigid parts, in which case the facility for forming a tight grip around a tube may lie in any play in the structure of the hinge and of the toggle switch, but preferably at least one of the clip parts or a part of the toggle joint is of a resilient material, by means of which the clip may be tightened around the tube.

The toggle joint may take several different forms but in general it will normally include a lever hinged upon one of the clip parts and, hinged upon the lever, a hook or loop adapted to engage the other clip part, whereby operation of the lever tightens the clip parts together. The hook or loop may be of a resilient naterial, for example of spring steel. In one form of the invention, the joint osmprises a hook, adapted to engage any of a plurality of sockets, for example apertures, in the other clip part. This form of the scaffolding component is suitable for use with tubing of a range of possible diameters and is also able to 03mpensate for variations in diameter of non-uniform tubing.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example only, two alternative preferred embodiments of the scaffolding component according to the present invention and wherein: Fig. 1 is a plan view of one clip forming a part of a first embodiment of the scaffolding component, shown in position about a scaffolding tube (the latter being shown in horizontal section); Fig. 2 is an elevation in the direction of the arrow II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of a second embodiment of the scaffolding component, shown in its position of use about two adjacent scaffolding tubes; and Fig. 4 illustrates a detail of the scaffolding component of Fig. 3r partly in section.

The scaffolding component illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 corrses two identical clips 3, 4, secured together by means of a pin 5. Each clip is formed in two parts, identified by the numerals 6, 7 in the case of clip 3, these parts being hinged together about a hinge pin 8. The parts 6, 7 may thus swing apart sufficiently for them to pass on the opposite sides of a scaffolding tube 9 and, in the illustrated closed position, to fit closely against the outer circumference of the tube.

?ran the free end of the clip part 7 a pair of parallel flanges 10, 11 extend outwardly and an operating lever 12 is mounted upon a pivot pin 13 extending between the flanges. The lever 12 carries a pivot 14, upon which is pivoted a locking hook 15. The free end of the clip part 6 has a series of parallel slots 16, into any one of which the hook 15 is able to fit, depending upon the distance apart of the ends of the clip parts 6 and 7. The e illustrated scaffolding oomponent is made aDmDst wholly of mild steel, except that the hook 15 is of spring steel.

In building a scaffolding structure using the component according to the invention, the component is deployed at each place in the structure where adjacent tubes are to be connected.

Thus, in the case of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, with the hook 15 disengaged from the slots 16 and the lever 12 pivoted away from the part 7, the clip 3 is placed to encircle the tube 9. The hook 15 is now engaged in one of the slots 16 and the lever 12 is pivoted into the illustrated position, thus tightening the clip about the tube, against the resistance afforded by the resilience of the hook. The second clip 4 is now fitted around a second tube 17 in a similar manner.

The two clips 3, 4 nay be fitted rigidly together at right angles as illustrated, by means of the pin 5 or by welding or by forming the two adjacent parts of the respective clips in a single piece, or may be pivotally connected together about the pin 5 as pivot. In the latter case, the component may be used in a range of relative positions of adjacent scaffolding tubes. Whichever of these forms the component takes, it is much are readily fitted than a conventional bolted scaffolding bracket.

The scaffolding component illustrated in Fig. 3 is formed of two identical clips 21, 22, shown secured in use around scaffolding tubes 23 and 24 respectively. A cramrxl part 25, by virtue of which the two clips are secured together at right angles, is formed as a steel pressing lt ma, alternatively be formed by casting or forging. Each clip 21, 22 comprises a second clip part 26, pivoted to the part 25 about a pivot 27 such that the clip can be swung open to allow it to admit the respective scaffolding tube 23, 24 and then closed to fit closely around the tube.

A pair of locking levers 28, pivoted about pivots 29 which extend between upstanding flanges 26a of the clip parts 26, in turn each carry one end of a shaped spring 30, pivoted to the respective lever on a pivot 31. The free end of the spring 30 is shaped to engage around a retaining bar 32. As can be seen, wben the locking lever 28 is swung in a clockwise direction (in the case of clip 21 as illustrated) about the pivot 29, the tension in the spring 30 is released and the free end of the spring can disengage from the retaining bar 32 and allow the clip to open about the pivot 27.When the clip is to be closed around a scaffolding tube, the spring is again engaged around the retaining bar and the lever 28 is swung in an anticlockwise direction, acting with a toggle action to apply tension to the spring 30 and lock the clip in the closed position. In this position, a sprung pin 33(see Fig. 4) engages a shaped socket in the lever 28 and prevents its inadvertent release.

Thus the scaffolding component of Fig. 3 may be used as readily as that of Figs. 1 and 2, and in a similar manner, to hold to adjacent scaffolding tubes securely together at right angles. The design of the component may readily be modified to a form in which the tWD clips 21 and 22, instead of being constructed in rigid relationship by virtue of the common part 25, may be pitted together about a line joining their centres, so that the component may be used for securing tWD scaffolding tubes together at an angle other than right angles.

Claims (12)

CLSS

1. A scaffolding component carprising two clips, each adapted to encircle a scaffolding tube, the clips being connected together at a point lying on a line extending substantially between the radial centres of the two clips, each said clip comprising two parts, hinged together at one end thereof and adapted for cccnecting together at their other ends by roans of a toggle joint.

2. A scaffolding component as claimed in claim 1, therein each said clip is substantially shorter in the direction of its axis than in the direction of its diameter,

3. A scaffolding component as claimed in either of the preceding claims, wherein the two said clips are secured together at a fixed angle.

4. A scaffolding component as claimed in claim 3, wherein the two said clips are secured together at right angles.

5. A scaffolding component as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the two said clips are pivotally connected together.

6. A scaffolding component as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the clip parts or a part of the toggle joint is of a resilient material.

7. A scaffolding component as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the toggle joint includes a lever hinged upon one of the clip parts and, hinged upon the lever, a hook or loop adapted to engage the other clip part.

8. A scaffolding component as claimed in claim 7, wherein the hook or loop is of spring steel.

9. A scaffolding component as claimed in either of claims 7 and 8, wherein the toggle joint comprises a hook, adapted to engage any of a plurality of sockets in said other clip part.

10. A scaffolding component as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9, including a sprung pin, adapted to engage said lever in the closed position of the clip to prevent inadvertent release of said lever.

11. A scaffolding coMponent substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A scaffolding component substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the acccttpanying drawings.