GB2267530A

GB2267530A - Scaffolding component assembly device

Info

Publication number: GB2267530A
Application number: GB9311354A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Obe Thomas Lafferty; John Lafferty
Original assignee: J & T Lafferty
Current assignee: J & T Lafferty
Priority date: 1992-06-05
Filing date: 1993-06-02
Publication date: 1993-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-02
Also published as: GB9211960D0; GB9311354D0; GB2267530B

Abstract

Flanks or boards (4), preferably of standardised dimensions of width and height (thickness) are secured to an assembly of scaffold struts or poles (2) by cable devices (6) having spring hooks (8) at each end thereof. A plank (4) is placed transversely of at least two parallel poles (2) and attachment means (10) are applied to the poles (2) at opposite sides of the plank (4). A cable device (6) is secured about the first plank with the cable (6) between the attachment means (10), and the operation is repeated using further cable devices which are fastened at an intermediate point on the first cable device (6) so as to fasten the planks (4) together to form a platform. <IMAGE>

Description

SCAFFOLDING COMPONENT ASSEMBLY DEVICE The invention relates to the assembly of scaffolding components, particularly but not exclusively to assembling cross members, for example boards or planks, to be laid upon a substrate of struts.

In examples of the various situations in which the invention may be used, planks or boards may be required to be secured to struts or poles of a scaffolding arrangement assembled at a building construction, so as to form a platform for use by construction personnel.

Conventionally, the planks or boards are tied down by wire rope or lashing. Where for safety's sake, the boards must be lashed at both ends, the exercise is particularly labour intensive. Moreover, such method of securing the planks or boards is not always successful as the wire loosens in use, or, indeed, the removal of a board to give access to the installation of pipes or valves means that boards neighbouring the removed board are loosened and readily become untied, thus rendering the platform unsafe.

The invention set out to minimise the above disadvantages.

The invention provides a method of securing scaffolding components in an assembly comprising the steps of (a) constructing a base comprising at. least one strut, (b) laying transversely upon said strut(s) at least one elongate component, (c) providing a pair of attachment points on the or each said strut at opposed sides of the or each of said elongate components, (d) procuring a plurality of cables each having a first engagement means at one end thereof and a second engagement means at an opposite end thereof, (e) securing said first engagement means to one of the pair of said attachment points, and (f) passing the cable around the elongate component and securing the second engagement means of the cable to the second of the pair of said attachment points.

It is advantageous to ensure that the length of the cable is selected to enable it to be secured tautly about the component.

Advantageously, the attachment points are provided by part-circular spring clips adapted to encircle the appropriate strut.

The method of the invention further comprises procuring a plurality of cables as described above, to which are additionally provided a further, third, attachment point at an intermediate location along each cable, and includes the further steps of (g) securing the first engagement means of a second one of said cables to the third attachment point of the first cable, (h) passing the second cable partially around the next adjacent elongate component and securing the second engagement means of the second cable to a strut of said base and repeating steps (g) and (h) for each successive elongate member to be secured.

In an example, the attachment points may be provided on the base at a location adjacent the first elongate member, which may comprise a board or plank of an array thereof intended for use as a platform to be assembled upon a base comprising at least two scaffolding poles.

The invention further provides a device for use with the method described in the seventh paragraph above, comprising a cable having at a first end thereof a first engagement means comprising a hook or clip member and at a second end thereof a second engagement means comprising a hook or clip member, each of said cables having at an intermediate location therealong one of said further attachment means, comprising a generally annular member adapted to receive one of said engagement means of a similar cable.

There will now be described two examples of the method and device according to the invention. It will be understood that the description which is to be read with reference to the drawings, is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings: Figures 1 is a perspective view of a first device used in accordance with a method of the invention, in an operative position; Figure 2 is an end view of the device as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an engagement means; Figure 4 shows the engagement means of Figure 3 secured to an attachment means; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second device; and Figure 6 is an end view of a plurality of elongate members secured together by devices of Figure 5; In an assembly of scaffolding components, a plurality of scaffolding poles, one of which is shown at 2 in Figures 1 and 2, are arranged in a horizontal orientation in order to form a base for a platform to be laid comprising a plurality of boards 4 lying side-by-side.

The boards must be secured at each end to the underlying poles. In the example, the boards are of current standard dimensions 9" wide (22.9 cm) by 1.5" thick (3.8 cm) and other dimensions given below are calculated on this basis. It will however be understood that safety regulations and building standards may vary from time to time and in different places.

In Figure 1, the board 4, shown in chain-dotted line, lies across a strut or pole 2. A cable 6 is provided which has a total length of 12" (30.5 cm) including a first engagement means at one end thereof in the form of a spring clip or catch device 8 (see Figure 3). This total length is calculated as the total of the width of the board plus the height of the two opposite sides thereof.

At the opposite end of the cable is provided a second similar engagement means 8 each of which is connected to an attachment point in the form of a part-annular clip 10 adapted to encircle the pole 2. A tapered wedge member 12 (see also Figure 4) secures each clip 10 firmly onto the pole through apertures 14.

Each spring catch device 8 comprises a hook portion 18 and a depressible spring portion 20 to enable engagement with the clip 10.

Figure 5 shows a device used to secure together a plurality of boards 4 so that they are fastened together by means of a plurality of cables 6, 6'. At an intermediate location along each cable 6' is provided an eyelet 16, in the present example at a distance of 1.5" (3.8cm) from the clip 10, i.e. the thickness of the board 4 and 9" from the outermost portion of the spring catch device 8 (i.e. the width of the board). Thus it will be observed that the eyelet 16 of each cable 6' is positioned at an edge of the associated board 4 so as to provide an attachment point for the spring catch device 8 of the neighbouring cable 6 or 6'.

Figure 5 also includes a cable 6 which in this example serves as a first cable to be put into position. The cable 6 therefore has a clip 10 provided at each end and has a length between the clips 10 of 12" (30.5 cm) so as to embrace the board 4 as shown. An eyelet 16' is provided on the cable 6' to act as an attachment point for the spring catch device 8 of the neighbouring cable 6 or 6'.

The method of securing the scaffolding components is as follows. In Figure 2, and in Figure 6 at the right-hand side, the first cable to be secured is the cable 6 with both clips 10 fastened to the pole 2 so that the cable 6 travels around three surfaces of the board 4.

With the next board 4 in position, the spring catch device 8 of a cable 6' (in broken line) is attached to the eyelet 16' of the cable 6' and the cable 6' is drawn round the board so that the clip 10 may be fastened, by means of its wedge member 12, about the pole 2. A further cable 6' is then attached to the attachment point 16 of the previous cable. This procedure is continued until all the boards are secured at both ends thereof with respect to the base.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of securing scaffolding components in an assembly comprising the steps of (a) constructing a base comprising at least one strut, (b) laying transversely upon said strut(s) at least one elongate component, (c) providing a pair of attachment points on the or each said strut at opposed sides of the or each of said elongate components, (d) procuring a plurality of cables each having a first engagement means at one end thereof and a second engagement means at an opposite end thereof, (e) securing said first engagement means to one of the pair of said attachment points, and (f) passing the cable around the elongate component and securing the second engagement means of the cable to the second of the pair of said attachment points.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of the cable is pre-selected to enable it to be secured tautly about the component.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of (g) securing the first engagement means of a second one of said cables to the third attachment point of the first cable, (h) passing the second cable partially around the next adjacent elongate component and securing the second engagement means of the second cable to a strut of said base and repeating steps (g) and (h) for each successive elongate member to be secured.

4. A device for use in the method of claim 3, comprising a cable having at a first end thereof a first engagement means comprising a hook or clip member and at a second end thereof a second engagement means comprising a hook or clip member, each of said cables having at an intermediate location therealong one of said further attachment means, comprising a generally annular member adapted to receive one of said engagement means of a similar cable.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said engagement means comprise a hook member.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said engagement means comprise a spring clip comprising a hook member and a depressible spring portion.

7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the attachment point comprises an attachment clip means in the form of a part annular spring clip adapted partially to surround said strut at the attachment point.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the spring clip has apertured end portions, fastening wedge members being provided to secure the clips at said attachment points.

9. A method of securing scaffolding components in an assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

10. A device for use in the method of claim 9, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.