GB2311090A

GB2311090A - Enclosure devise providing a protected walkway through scaffolding

Info

Publication number: GB2311090A
Application number: GB9605218A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Doctor Richard Robinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-03-12
Filing date: 1996-03-12
Publication date: 1997-09-17
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-12
Also published as: GB2311090B; GB9605218D0

Abstract

A walkway 2 comprises an enclosure device 4 supported by scaffolding poles which extend through aligned openings 7. The scaffolding poles may be integrated into a scaffolding structure of standard design. The walkway 2 provides protection for pedestrians, as they pass building work, from falling articles etc. The enclosure device may be formed from two half sections, each a mirror image of the other (figure 5), which may be connected by a male and female connector (figure 7). A plurality of devices 4 may be positioned next to each other on the scaffold to form walkways 2 of variable length. They may be connected at an angle to form non-linear structures.

Description

ENCLOSURE DEVICE This invention relates to an enclosure device and provides an assembly which includes an enclosure device, an enclosure device Dens. and a method of constructing a walkway.

Scaffolding is widely used in many situations and comprises elongate steel tubes which are secured together to define a rigid structure. The structure is generally arranged on the outside of a building and is arranged to support wooden platforms suitably defined by planks of wood. The platforms define walkways which allow workmen to move around and work on the outside of the building in a safe manner.

When scaffolding is used in relation to a building which is adjacent a pavement, the scaffolding structure will extend upwardly from the pavement adjacent the building. It is often undesirable or inconvenient to prevent access to the stretch of pavement and, accordingly, parts of the scaffolding adjacent the pavement may be clad with wooden sheets in order to define an enclosed walkway at the bottom of the scaffold structure.

Enclosed walkways of the type described can be timeconsuming to assemble. Furthermore, gaps may be present between the sheets which make up the assembly through which dust and other particulate matter may pass.

Additionally, the wooden sheets which define the walkway may not be sufficiently strong to resist penetration/damage by falling material, for example bricks. Also, the walkways are generally unaesthetic.

It is an object of the present invention to address the above-described problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an assembly comprising assembled scaffolding and, secured relative thereto, an enclosure device for providing a walkway.

The assembled scaffolding may be of standard design in comprising horizontally and vertically extending elongate tubes that are secured together, suitably by clamping means.

The enclosure device is preferably provided at the bottom of the assembled scaffolding. The device preferably abuts the ground and, more preferably, is secured thereto.

For example, said device may include a plurality of openings for receiving securement elements which are arranged to be urged into and retained in the ground.

The device preferably has a first end via which a person may enter the device and a second end via which a person may exit the device. Preferably, the device defines a substantially fully enclosed arrangement, for example by being substantially impenetrable to dust and/or water, between its first and second ends.

The assembly preferably comprises a plurality of devices which are preferably secured to one another. The assembly may include a device wherein one end thereof is angled relative to its other end in order to define a nonlinear walkway.

Scaffolding poles of the assembled scaffolding preferably extend into openings in the device for securing the device in position. Where the assembly includes a plurality of devices, horizontally extending poles may secure adjacent devices relative to one another.

The invention extends to an enclosure device for providing a walkway associated with assembled scaffolding, the enclosure device comprising an enclosure means for defining a walkway and first securement means arranged to receive a part of a length of scaffolding for securing the enclosure device to assembled scaffolding.

The first securement means is preferably arranged to receive a part of a length of scaffolding which extends substantially horizontally. It may be arranged to receive a part of the length of scaffolding which extends substantially vertically. Preferably, said first securement means comprises a plurality of openings for receiving parts of lengths of scaffolding.

The enclosure preferably includes a first part and a second part which are preferably arranged to be releasably secured together, suitably by means of a length of scaffolding. Said first and second parts are preferably substantially mirror images of one another. The first and second parts preferably include co-operable formations arranged to co-operate with one another for securing the parts together. Said first and second parts each preferably include an opening which is alignable with the opening in the other part and is arranged to receive a part of a length of scaffolding for securing the first and second parts of the enclosure together.

Said cooperable formations of the first and second parts may comprise a male formation on one part and a corresponding female portion on the other part. The cooperable formations may be arranged to form a substantially dustproof or waterproof seal.

Said first and second parts of the enclosure preferably include curved roof portions which extend from wall portions.

Said first and second parts are preferably made out of a plastics material, suitably by injection moulding.

Each of said first and second parts preferably define unitary moulded members.

Said first and second parts may be provided with means for thermal insulation. Thermal insulation material may be attached to the said first and seend parts.

Said first and second parts may be provided with sound inhibiting means. Sound proofing material may be attached to the said first and second parts.

Said enclosure device preferably includes second securement means at a first end for securing the device to a second enclosure device which may have any feature of the enclosure device described in any statement herein.

Said second securement means preferably comprises a male formation or a female formation arranged to co-operate with the other one of a male or female formation provided by said second enclosure device.

Said enclosure device preferably includes third securement means at a second end for securing the device to a third enclo'LrO devise which say b5evC y have the enclosure device described in any statement herein.

Said third securement means preferably comprises a male formation or a female formation arranged to co-operate with the other one of a male or female formation provided by said third enclosure device.

Said second and third securement means may be arranged to form a substantially dustproof or waterproof seal.

Preferably, said enclosure device includes a male formation at a first end and a female formation at a second end. In this case, each enclosure device may be substantially identical and arranged to be secured to each other said device.

Additional parts of the enclosure may be included to fit between the first and second parts, for increasing the width of the enclosure. Further supplementary parts may be included for use beneath the first and second parts, for increasing the height of the enclosure. Said additional parts may be secured to adjacent parts by any of the above mentioned securement means.

The enclosure device may be suitable for a variety of uses some of which are a shelter, an aqueduct, a cable duct and a carrier for solar panels.

The invention extends to an assembly comprising assembled scaffolding and, secured relative thereto, a barrier device.

A barrier device according to this aspect of the invention may have any of the features referred to in any other aspect of the invention in relation to a single part of an enclosure device including first and second parts.

The barrier device may be used as a hoarding, a fence or as a protective fan to catch some of the debris which may fall from a building or similar structure, whilst that building or similar structure is being built or is subject to maintenance work.

The invention extends to a method of constructing a walkway comprising securing an enclosure device as described in any statement herein to a length of scaffold of a scaffold assembly.

The invention extends to a method of constructing a barrier assembly, comprising securing a barrier device as described in any statement herein to a length of scaffold of a scaffold assembly.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a walkway defined by two enclosure devices; Figure 2 is a perspective view of one enclosure device; Figure 3 is a cross-section along line III-III of figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-section along line IV-IV of figure 2; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a side wall of one enclosure device; Figure 6 is a front view of part of the side wall of figure 5 in greater detail; Figure 7 is a front view of parts of two joinedtogether side walls in greater detail; Figure 8 is a view in the direction of arrow VIII of figure 7; Figure 9 is a front view of two joined together side walls; Figure 10 is a side view of part of a side wall; Figure 11 is a perspective view of two enclosure devices joined together in a scaffolding framework; and Figure 12 is a cross-sectional side view of a connection for two scaffolding poles used to secure enclosure devices together.

The walkway 2 comprises first and second enclosure devices 4 which are secured to one another by means of scaffolding poles which extend through aligned openings 7 in the two devices. The scaffolding poles which secure the devices 4 are integrated into a scaffolding structure of standard design which may be provided on the outside of a building. For example, the scaffolding poles which secure devices may be clamped to scaffolding poles which define the standard scaffolding structure.

The device 4 shown in figure 2 comprises two curved side walls 6 (figure 5) and 8 which are generally mirror images of one another. The side walls 6, 8 include end frame members 10, 12 and transverse frame members 14 which extend therebetween. Between the frame members 14, the side walls 6, 8 include a plastics sheet-like material.

Preferably, the side walls 6, 8 comprise a unitary plastics moulding.

The end frame members 10, 12 include aligned openings 7 which are arranged to receive scaffolding poles. The lowermost frame member 14 includes holes 16 through which bottom pins may be extended to secure the device to the ground.

The frame members 6, 8 are arranged to be sealingly secured together at their upper ends. Referring to figures 6 to 8, the end frame member 6 includes a connection member 20 at its upper end which includes a stepped arrangement when seen in cross-section (figure 8). The stepped arrangement is arranged to co-operate with a corresponding arrangement at the upper end of frame member 8 so that the two arrangements sealingly engage one another. Opening 22 is defined in the connection member 20 and this is arranged to be aligned with a corresponding opening in the upper end of frame member 8 so that the respective upper ends 6, 8 can be secured to one another by a length of scaffolding extending through the aligned openings.

Figure 9 shows an alternative arrangement for frame members 6, 8 to be sealingly secured together. A tongue 30 on frame member 8 seals with a groove 32 at a corresponding location on member 6.

Adjacent devices 4 are arranged to be sealingly secured to one another by means of a tongue and groove arrangement. In this regard, the cross-section of the end frame member 10 defines a tongue arrangement 30 as shown in figure 3, and the cross-section of the end frame member 12 defines a groove arrangement 32 as shown in figure 4.

The tongue/groove arrangements 30, 32 extend all the way around the outward facing surfaces of the frame members 10, 12. Thus, two enclosure devices 4 may be engaged with one another by engaging the respective tongue and groove arrangements.

Adjacent enclosure devices may be secured together with bolts or the like, placed through openings 7 (figure 9).

Strengthening ribs 16 (figure 10) may be provided adjacent to one more of the openings 7 arranged to receive a scaffolding pole.

Any number of devices 4 may be secured together to define a walkway. In addition, devices 4 may be provided which are curved so that a curved walkway may be defined.

As aforementioned, the devices 4 are preferably made out of a plastics material which is arranged to withstand the impact of, for example, falling bricks or tools. The devices 4 may be decorated to improve their aesthetic appeal and/or provided with advertising material.

The device may include internal fixing means to which lighting and/or speakers of a music/information system may be secured.

Connection members 17 (figure 12) may be used to secure scaffolding poles together. When the poles used to secure the enclosure 4 together meet then the poles may be joined by inserting the externally threaded end of a connection member 17 into the end of one scaffolding pole and then inserting the other end of the connecting member into the end of the other scaffolding pole. The connecting member 17 is then secured to the other scaffolding pole with a bolt or similar fixing device.

It should be appreciated that assembly of a walkway using devices 2 may be relatively quick and the devices can be readily integrated into the scaffolding structure.

Furthermore, the devices 2 can advantageously be re-used many times.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising assembled scaffolding and, secured relative thereto, an enclosure device for providing a walkway.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the assembled scaffolding is of standard design in comprising horizontally and vertically extending elongate tubes that are secured together.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the enclosure device is provided at the bottom of the assembled scaffolding.

4. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which the enclosure device is secured to the ground.

5. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the enclosure device has a first end via which a person may enter the device and a second end via which a person may exit the device.

6. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which the device is substantially impenetrable to dust and/or water, between its first and second ends.

7. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, which comprises a plurality of devices which are secured to one another.

8. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim which includes an enclosure device wherein one end thereof is angled relative to its other end in order to define a nonlinear walkway.

9. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which scaffolding poles of the assembled scaffolding extend into openings in the device for securing the device in position.

10. An assembly as claimed in the preceding claim, which includes a plurality of devices, in which horizontally extending poles secure adjacent devices relative to one another.

11. An enclosure device for providing a walkway associated with assembled scaffolding, the enclosure device comprising an enclosure means for defining a walkway and first securement means arranged to receive a part of a length of scaffolding for securing the enclosure device to assembled scaffolding.

12. An enclosure device as claimed in claim 11, in which the first securement means is arranged to receive a part of a length of scaffolding which extends substantially horizontally.

13. An enclosure device as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, in which the first securement means is arranged to receive a part of the length of scaffolding which extends substantially vertically.

14. An enclosure device as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, in which the enclosure means includes a first part and a second part, which parts are arranged to be releasably secured together.

15. An enclosure device as claimed in claim 14, in which said first and second parts are substantially mirror images of one another.

16. An enclosure device as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, in which the first and second parts include cooperable formations arranged to cooperate with one another for securing the parts together.

17. An enclosure device as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16, in which said first and second parts include an opening which is alignable with the opening in the other part and is arranged to receive a part of a length of scaffolding for securing the first and second parts of the enclosure together.

18. An enclosure device as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, in which said cooperable formations of the first and second parts comprise a male formation on one part and a corresponding female portion on the other part.

19. An enclosure device as claimed in one of claims 16 to 18, in which the cooperable formations are arranged to form a substantially dustproof or waterproof seal.

20. An enclosure device as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 19, in which said first and second parts of the enclosure include curved roof portions which extend from wall portions.

21. An enclosure device as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 20, in which each of said first and second parts define unitary moulded members.

22. An enclosure device as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 21, in which said first and second parts are provided with means for thermal insulation.

23. An enclosure device as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 22, in which said first and second parts are provided with sound inhibiting means.

24. An enclosure device as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 23, in which said enclosure device includes second securement means at a first end for securing the device to a second enclosure device which has any feature of the enclosure device as described in any preceding claim.

25. An enclosure device as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 23, in which said enclosure device includes third securement means at a second end for securing the device to a third enclosure device which has any feature of the enclosure device described in any preceding claim.

26. An enclosure device as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 25, in which said enclosure device includes a male formation at a first end and a female formation at a second end.

27. An enclosure device as claimed in claim 26, in which each enclosure device is substantially identical and arranged to be secured to each other said device.

28. An enclosure device as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 27, in which additional parts of the enclosure device are included to fit between the first and second parts, for increasing the width of the enclosure.

29. An enclosure device as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 28, in which further supplementary parts are included for use beneath the first and second parts, for increasing the height of the enclosure.

30. An enclosure device as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 29, in which the enclosure device is suitable for a variety of uses, some of which are a shelter, an aqueduct, a cable duct and a carrier for solar panels.

31. An assembly comprising assembled scaffolding and, secured relative thereto, a barrier device.

32. An assembly as claimed in claim 31, which has any of the features referred to in any of the preceding claims in relation to a single part of an enclosure device including first and second parts.

33. A method of constructing a walkway comprising securing an enclosure device as claimed in any previous claim to a length of scaffold of a scaffold assembly.

34. A method of constructing a barrier assembly, comprising securing a barrier device as described in any preceding claim to a length of scaffold of a scaffold assembly.

35. An enclosure device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

36. A barrier device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

37. A method of constructing a walkway substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

38. A method of constructing a barrier assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.