GB2263095A

GB2263095A - Labels for structural components

Info

Publication number: GB2263095A
Application number: GB9200383A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Gowland; William John Beckingham
Original assignee: SOLAR MICROFILM EQUIPMENT LIMI
Current assignee: SOLAR MICROFILM EQUIPMENT LIMI
Priority date: 1992-01-09
Filing date: 1992-01-09
Publication date: 1993-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 2012-01-09
Also published as: GB9200383D0; GB2263095B

Abstract

A label 2 for structural components comprises two parts 4, 6 attached to each other via a hinge 8, the second part 6 being pivotable about the hinge 8 so that it can occupy either limit position in which it overlies one or other face of the first part. Means (for example, resilient flaps 26 or tamper-proof ties through eye lets 24) are provided to restrain the second part in either limit position. One part 4 has in it an unbroken aperture 10 which is intended to have a structural component such as tubular scaffolding therethrough, the second part 6 may include a broken aperture 12 into which the structural component may be introduced along the plane of the second part. Information 18 may be displayed on either or both parts 4, 6. The label may be made of weather proof material. <IMAGE>

Description

'lABELS FOR STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS This invention relates to labels for attachment to structural components particularly to labels attached to scaffolding prior to the incorporation of that scaffolding into a scaffold.

Scaffolds are erected to enable builders, painters, and the like to access otherwise inaccessible places. Such scaffolds have to conform to various safety regulations.

These regulations include requirements relating to the construction of the scaffold, and the maintenance of the scaffold after construction.

Certain of the records generated in pursuance of these regulations have to be permanently attached to the scaffold after it has been erected, which is best done by way of provision of a label attached to the scaffold.

According to the present invention there is provided a two part label for fitting to a structural component, of which label the first part has in it an unbroken aperture intended to have a structural component therethrough and of which the second part is connected to the first part by means of a hinge and is pivotable about the hinge substantially through a circle so that the second part may be pivoted about the first part between a first limit position in which it overlies one face of the first part and a second limit position in which it overlies the other face of the first part, means being provided for retaining the second part in each of its limit positions.

The hinge may be integral with the first and second parts, or it may be a separate hinge member or e.g.

consituted by a set of perforations in each part jointed by link members such as plastics ties.

Preferably the second part of the label has in it an aperture extending to and intersecting one edge of the second part, wherein the aperture is so configured that the structural component may be introduced into the aperture via the aperture's intersection with the edge of the second part. The act of pivoting the second part into the first or second limit positions forces the structural component to be introduced into the aperture in the second part along the plane of the second part when the first part has a structural component extending through its aperture.

Pivoting the second part from the first or second limit position to the other limit position causes the structural component first to exit the aperture in the second part, and then to re-enter the aperture as the second part approaches the other limit position.

A preferable alternative to the second part having an aperture in it is that the second part is so configured that at no point in its rotation about the hinge does the second part interfere with or overlie the aperture in the first part.

A further preferred feature of the present invention is that when the second part is in either of its limit positions the faces exposed to view bear data pertaining to the structure. The two faces may either forbid the use of the structure and give details of safety measures to be taken prior to the structure's use, or may indicate that the structure is safe to use and display information regarding the inspection and construction of the structure. In use it is envisaged that the second part will normally be in one of the two limit positions, and will be retained in that position by one or more restraining means. Those restraining means may be integral with the aperture in the second part, a tamper proof security fastening of known type, or simply an elastically extensible band embracing both parts.

One of more of the faces of the parts will preferably bear a surface upon which inspection data or construction data or general comments with respect to the structure may be applied. Preferably the applicator used to apply the comments and the surface of the face are both of a weatherproof nature, and erasable e.g. a spirit-based marker pen which is applied to a plastics surface.

In use the structural component is partially passed through the aperture of the first part of the label before that component is incorporated into a structure.

The present invention will be further described and explained with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the present invention according to a first preferred embodiment with the first and second parts in a co-planar position, Figure 2 shows the present invention according to a first preferred embodiment whilst in use, Figure 3 shows the present invention according to a second preferred embodiment with the first and second parts in a co-planar position, Figure 4 shows the present invention according to a third preferred embodiment with the first and second parts in a co-planar position.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 a structural component label 2 of an extruded multi-cellular plastic sheet commercial lv available under trade names TWINFLUTE or

CORREXLcomprises a first and second part 4 and 6 respectively, both parts are connected to one another by means of an integral hinge 8. Hinge 8 is a plastics hinge formed of the material of label 2.

Passing through the first part 4 and being completely defined thereby is an aperture 10. The aperture 10 is of sufficient size to allow a structural component, in the present embodiment a piece of standard tubular scaffolding, 14 to be passed therethrough. Passing through the second part 6 is an aperture 12, aperture 12 is connected with an edge 16 of part 6, edge 16 is the edge remote from hinge 8. Aperture 12 is so configured that its width in the portion intersecting edge 16 is less than the diameter of the scaffolding 14, and the circular portion of aperture 12 remote from the edge 16 is of sufficient size to fit round a piece of tubular scaffolding 14.

Each face of parts 4 and 6 bears upon it printed or written information 18.

In use the piece of scaffolding 14 is passed through aperture 10 before its incorporation into a scaffold (not shown). While the scaffold is not safe for use, e.g.

during construction, the second part 6 is rotated about hinge 8 from a position substantially co-planar with the first part 4, the position in which it is anticipated that a label will be stored or supplied, into one of its limit positions so that the second part 6 overlies one face of the first part and the information 18 on the visible faces of the parts 4 and 6 displays notices prohibiting the use of the scaffold. Whilst the second part is being rotated into that limit position the piece of scaffolding 14 is forced into the aperture 12 passed a pair of resilient flaps26 that define the intersection of aperture 12 with edge 16.

In addition to the restraint provided by the resilient flaps 26 to the movement of the second part from its limit position it may be desirable to further sedure the two parts in position. This may be achieved by way of securing the two parts 4 and 6 with an elasticated band 20 placed around both parts 4 and 6, or by placing a tamper proof tie 22 of known type through an aperture 24 in both parts 4 and 6.

When the scaffolding becomes safe to use, the securing devices 20 and/or 22 are removed, the second part 6 is rotated about hinge 8 so that the scaffold 14 is moved past resilient flaps 26 and exits aperture 12. The second part 6 is then rotated substantially through the remainder of the circle and the scaffolding 14 is reintroduced into aperture 12 past the resilient flaps 26. The two pieces of information 18 now displayed indicate the scaffold is safe to use, and display inspection and construction data. The securing devices 20 and 22 may now be reapplied.

It will be appreciated that the configuration of the apertures 10 and 12 in the present embodiment may be altered to suit the various proprietary brands of scaffolding commercially available.

Referring to Figure 3 it may be seen that in a second preferred embodiment the configuration of the parts is essentially the same as in the first preferred embodiment with the exception that the hinge 8 is in a different relative position to the apertures in the first and second parts to that of the first preferred embodiment.

The second preferred embodiment is used in a similar fashion to the first preferred embodiment and is of the same material.

Referring to Figure 4, in the third preferred embodiment constructed of the same material as the previous embodiments there is no aperture 12 in the second part 6, and the second part 6 is so configured that in use when the second part 6 is rotated about the hinge 8 it does not interfere with the scaffolding 14 at any point during its rotation from its one limit position to its other limit position. The second part 6 is secured in one of its limit positions by way of an elastic band and/or a tamper proof tie.

Claims

1. A two-part label for fitting to a structural component, of which label the first part has in it an unbroken aperture intended to have a structural component therethrough and of which the second part is connected to the first part by means of a hinge and is pivotable about the hinge substantially through a circle so that the second part may be pivoted about the first part between a first limit position in which in which it overlies one face of the first part and a second limit position in which it overlies the other face of the first part, means being provided for retaining the second part in each of its limit positions.

2. A label according to claim 1, wherein the hinge is integral with the first and second parts.

3. A label according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the second part of the label has in it an aperture extending to and intersecting one edge of the second part, wherein the aperture is so configured that the structural component may be introduced into the aperture via the aperture's intersection with the edge of the second part.

4. A label according to claim 3, wherein the act of pivoting the second part into the first or second limit positions forces the structural component to be introduced into the aperture in the second part along the plane of the second part when the first part has a structural component extending through its aperture.

5. A label according to claim 4, wherein pivoting the second part from the first or second limit position to the other limit position causes the structural component first to exit the aperture in the second part, and then to re-enter the aperture as the second part approaches the other limit position.

6. A label according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the means provided for retaining the label in each of its limit positions comprises a pair of resilient flaps defining the intersection of the aperture in the second part with the edge of the second part, wherein the resilient flaps form an aperture at the intersection of lesser dimension than the dimension in the same plane as the edge of the second part of the structural component.

7. A label according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second part is so configured that at no point in its rotation about the hinge does the second part interfere with or overlie the aperture in the first part.

8. A label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the structural component is partially passed through the aperture of the first part of the label before that component is incorporated into a structure.

9. A label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means provided for retaining the label in each of its limit positions comprises a separate tamper-proof tie passing through a second aperture in the first and the second parts.

10. A label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means provided for retaining the label in each of its limit positions comprises an elastically extensible band embracing around both the first and second part.

11. A label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the structural component is tubular scaffolding.

12. A label according to claim 11, wherein each face of each part bears information, wherein the visible faces in the first or second limit positions display either information forbidding use of the scaffolding, or information detailing construction and inspection data for the scaffolding.

13. A label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the label is of a weatherproof material.

14. A label for a structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A label for a structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A label for a structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.