GB2305457A

GB2305457A - Scaffold platform

Info

Publication number: GB2305457A
Application number: GB9519177A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Robert Earl Cornish
Original assignee: SGB Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: SGB Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1995-09-20
Filing date: 1995-09-20
Publication date: 1997-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 2015-09-20
Also published as: GB9519177D0; GB2305457B

Abstract

A scaffolding platform comprises: a deck plate 9 having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces, two parallel side edges and two parallel end edges ; two side supports 8 fixed to the lower surface of the deck plate at opposite side edges of the deck to provide structural support along the deck plate; and two end elements 11, one fixed at either end of the platform to interconnect the side supports and the deck plate and to provide support therebetween, each end element having at least one flange 17 fixed to the deck plate, at least one flange 13 at either side fixed to a respective side support and a hook 19 projecting from the respective end of the platform for engagement with a scaffolding frame cross-member.

Description

"A scaffolding platform" THIS INVENTION relates to a scaffolding platform for securing to a scaffolding structure.

Once a scaffolding structure has been erected, it is necessary to provide a platform of some description upon which workmen can stand and walk to carry out their work.

Typically, wooden planks have been used for this purpose and are simply laid down upon the assembled scaffolding structure resting, unsecured, upon cross-members of the scaffolding frame. The wooden planks are not easily fixed to the cross-members and, in many cases, the planks are left unsecured. The planks are, therefore, easily dislodged from their resting place upon the cross-members and may eventually fall from the scaffolding structure.

Additionally, the planks can be pushed apart from one another to cause dangerous gaps between planks through which tools may be dropped or workmen fall.

To improve upon this situation, metal platforms have been used. However, these platforms are very heavy, become weak when bent and are susceptible to rusting. They do not, therefore, provide a solution to the provision of a lightweight platform which is securely mountable to a scaffolding structure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lightweight scaffolding platform which may be secured to a scaffolding structure which does not suffer from the problems associated with the known scaffolding platforms.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a scaffolding platform which comprises: a deck plate having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces, two parallel side edges and two parallel end edges; two side supports fixed to the lower surface of the deck plate at opposite side edges of the deck to provide structural support along the deck plate; and two end elements, one fixed at either end of the platform to interconnect the side supports and the deck plate and to provide support therebetween, each end element having at least one flange fixed to the deck plate, at least one flange at either side fixed to a respective side support and a hook projecting from the respective end of the platform for engagement with a scaffolding frame cross-member.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of scaffolding frames for use with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of one end of a scaffolding platform embodying the present invention, a bracket and side flanges thereof being shown in phantom; Figure 3 is a top view of the end of the scaffolding platform of Figure 2, the side flanges and bracket being shown in phantom; Figure 4 is a detailed side view of an end portion for use with the scaffolding platform shown in Figures 2 and 3; Figure 5 is a top view of the end portion of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a scaffolding frame to which two scaffolding platforms embodying the present invention are secured.

A scaffolding structure 1 upon which a scaffolding platform 2 according to the present invention may be fixed is shown in Figure 1. The scaffolding structure 1 includes, in its simplest form, two frames 3. Each frame 3 is supported by two feet 4 held in the frame 3 and has upright standards 5 extending upwardly from each foot 4.

The standards of a frame 3 are connected together by crossmembers 6 of U-shaped cross-section. Each cross-member 6 defines two upwardly extending side walls 7 which are load bearing.

A scaffolding platform 2 embodying the present invention is to be secured between the two cross-members 6 of the two frames 3 to provide a strong and secure platform upon which workmen may walk.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a scaffolding platform 2 embodying the present invention includes two elongate parallel timber stiles 8. The timber stiles 8 are spaced apart from one another and bridged by a flat deck plate 9 which comprises a rectangular sheet of plywood or the like. The upper surface 10 of the deck is provided with an anti-slip surface. Each timber stile 8 is rivetted or spot stapled to a respective longitudinal edge 10 of the deck 9. The stiles 8 provide structural support for the platform 2 along the length of the deck 9.

Each end of the platform 2 is provided with an end element 11 upon which is fitted the means by which the scaffolding platform 2 is securable to a cross-member 6 of a scaffolding frame 3. The end element 11 comprises a rectangular elongate end plate 12, the ends of which are bent normal to the surface of the end plate 12 to form two side flanges 13, one at either side of the end plate 12.

A pair of holes 14 are drilled in each side flange 13 so that each side flange 13 may be bolted to a respective stile 8. The distance between the side flanges 13, i.e.

the width of the end plate 12 is, therefore, equivalent to the spacing between the timber stiles.

A bracket 15 is provided which comprises an elongate rectangular steel sheet which is folded into an Lshaped cross-section. One half 16 of the bracket 15 is welded or rivetted to the end plate 12. The other half 17 of the bracket 15 is normal to the end plate 12 and projects from the end plate 12 to form a top flange 17.

The top flange 17 projects away from the end plate 12 in the same direction as the side flanges 13. The top flange 17 is drilled with one hole 18 at either end thereof so that the top flange 17 can be rivetted to the deck 9.

The end element 11 acts to interconnect and reinforce the structure comprising the timber stiles 8 and the flat deck 9 and also provides a strong mounting surface to which a pair of hooks 19 are fixed. Preferably, each hook 19 comprises a forged claw 19 as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

Referring to Figure 5, the hooks 19 are fixed at the extreme ends of the end plate 12 and preferably extend beyond the side flanges 13 formed by the bent ends of the end plate 12 so that each abuts a portion of the end of a respective timber stile 8. The two hooks 19 define two downwardly extending slots 20 as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The slots 20, in use, hook onto and receive the upwardly extending side walls 7 of the cross-member 6 of the scaffolding frame 3 as shown in Figure 6.

Preferably the slots 20 in the hooks 19 are provided with two opposed tapered guide surfaces 21,22 to provide a means for guiding a slot 20 of a hook 19 onto the upwardly extending side wall 7 of the cross-member 6.

Additionally, the slot 20 within each hook 19 narrows from its opening toward the end so that, when in position, the upwardly extending side wall 7 of the cross-member 6 is tightly jammed in the downwardly extending slot 20 of the hook 19.

The above described scaffolding platform 2 provides a lightweight yet strong product which is easily connected to and engaged with a cross-member 6 of a scaffolding frame 3 to provide a strong and secure platform.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A scaffolding platform comprises: a deck plate having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces, two parallel side edges and two parallel end edges; two side supports fixed to the lower surface of the deck plate at opposite side edges of the deck to provide structural support along the deck plate; and two end elements, one fixed at either end of the platform to interconnect the side supports and the deck plate and to provide support therebetween, each end element having at least one flange fixed to the deck plate, at least one flange at either side fixed to a respective side support and a hook projecting from the respective end of the platform for engagement with a scaffolding frame cross-member.

2. A scaffolding platform according to Claim 1, wherein the end element comprises an end plate.

3. A scaffolding platform according to Claim 2, wherein the end plate has a side flange formed at either end for fixing to the side supports.

4. A scaffolding platform according to Claim 3, wherein the ends of the end plate are bent normal to the main surface of the end plate to form side flanges.

5. A scaffolding platform according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the, or each, flange fixed to the deck plate is formed from a top bracket fixed to a part of the end element.

6. A scaffolding platform according to any preceding claim, wherein a hook is provided at the extreme of each end element and each hook extends beyond the end element to abut an end of a side support.

7. A scaffolding platform according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper surface of the deck plate is provided with an anti-slip surface.

8. A scaffolding platform according to any preceding claim, wherein each hook is formed with a tapered opening to provide a guide surface.

9. A scaffolding assembly comprising a pair of frames in combination with a scaffolding platform according to any preceding claim, each hook of the scaffolding platform engaging with a scaffolding frame cross-member.

10. A scaffolding assembly according to Claim 9, wherein each scaffolding frame cross-members comprise cross-members of U-shaped cross-section having upwardly extending load bearing side walls received in the hooks.

11. A scaffolding platform substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. A scaffolding assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

13. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS: 1. A scaffolding platform comprises: a deck plate having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces, two parallel side edges and two parallel end edges; two side supports comprising timber stiles fixed to the lower surface of the deck plate at opposite side edges of the deck to provide structural support along the deck plate; and two end elements, one fixed at either end of the platform to interconnect the side supports and the deck plate and to provide support therebetween, each end element having at least one flange fixed to the deck plate, at least one flange at either side fixed to a respective side support and a hook projecting from the respective end of the platform for engagement with a scaffolding frame crossmember.