GB2316974A

GB2316974A - Trestle Structure

Info

Publication number: GB2316974A
Application number: GB9618339A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Gordon Dyson; David Nigel Cameron
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-09-03
Filing date: 1996-09-03
Publication date: 1998-03-11
Also published as: GB9618339D0

Abstract

A trestle structure (11) for supporting a platform (19) comprises a top section (TS) having locating slots (2, 3) in which supporting boards (14) can be held edgewise. The trestle is built up from a plurality of inter-fitting sections (TS, IS, BJ) which permit platform height variation by altering the number of sections (IS, BJ). The sections (TS, IS, BJ) of the trestle are moulded with male and female formations for inter-fitting and may be filled with a particulate plastics material (eg polystyrene granules).

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO TRESTLE STRUCTURES This invention relates to trestle structures, particularly to trestle structures comprising a plurality of trestles supporting a working platform which may be a work surface, table, deck or staging, and also to a trestle for use in such a trestle structure.

Conventional trestles as used for example in the building trade are of metal frame construction with height adjustable legs carrying a support bar for scaffold boards which are laid horizontally edge to edge to provide a working platform and may be overlaid by a plywood sheet to provide a more level surface. It is a disadvantage of existing trestles that they have to be provided in a range of sizes to suit different applications. Furthermore, the existing trestles may be unsuited to certain applications, for example their metal feet may damage a floor on which the trestle structure is to be erected.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a trestle structure comprising a plurality of trestles supporting a working platform, characterised in that the trestles have upper surfaces provided with locating slots in which supporting boards are held edgewise to support said platform.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a trestle comprising a pillar divided horizontally into at least two interfitting sections, wherein the top section has in its upper surface two sets of mutually perpendicular slots for the edgewise reception and location of supporting boards for supporting a working platform.

The invention will now be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 1 to 3 show alternative trestle structures in accordance with the invention; Fig. 4 shows part of a trestle structure of Fig. 2 with the trestle partly in vertical section; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a top section of the trestle of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a corresponding plan view; Figs. 7 and 8 are sections on lines VII-VII and VIII-VIII respectively of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a plan view of an intermediate section of the trestle shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 10 is a section on X-X of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a plan view of a base section of the trestle shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 12 is a corresponding section on line XII-XII of Fig. 11 Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the base section and an intermediate section of the trestle of Fig. 4 in a partially separated condition.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a linear trestle structure including a plurality of spaced trestles 1 each of which is in the form of a squat rectangular pillar having a flat upper surface in which are formed four parallel open-ended slots 2 (see also Fig. 5) extending over the full length of a central region of said surface.

The central region is flanked by two pairs of blind slots 3 which are not used in the structure of Fig. 1. Two conventional scaffold boards 4 extend between each pair of trestles 1 with their end portions located in alternate slots 2 in spaced overlapping relationship with the two boards 4 of the adjacent section of the trestle structure.

Each pair of boards 4 may extend over all or part of the length of the respective slots 2 and, as illustrated, if the trestles 1 are closely spaced the free ends of the boards 4 may project beyond the respective trestle 1.

The slots 2 are of uniform depth corresponding to the width of the boards 4 so that the upper edges of the boards 4 are flush with the top surfaces of the trestles 1. The horizontal support rails so provided by the upper edges of the boards 4 support a working platform 5 provided by horizontally disposed boards 6 of the same kind as the boards 4. In this case the working platform 5 is an elevated walkway adjacent a wall structure 7 on which constructional work is being carried out by building operatives using the trestle structure.

In the trestle structure of Fig. 2 parts corresponding to those of Fig. 1 are given the same reference numerals increased by 10 and are not further described. The lengthwise positioned boards 14 in this case occupy either the central pair of slots 12 in the top surface of the respective trestle 11 or the pair of outer slots 12 but as in the Fig. 1 structure the ends of the boards 14 project beyond the trestles 11 into free overlapping relationship with the boards 14 of the next adjacent section of the trestle structure. The longitudinal sections of the trestle structure are interconnected by pairs of transverse boards 18 which are located edgewise in the blind slots 13. The boards 18 must be of fixed length corresponding to the transverse spacing of the trestles 11 plus the insertion depth of the slots 13.

The boards 18 may be cut to length from the boards 14 and since the slots 13 have the same vertical depth as the slots 12 the upper edges of the boards 18 provide transverse support rails which with the longitudinal support rails provided by the upper edges of the boards 14 provide a grid structure capable of supporting plywood sheets 19 affording a flat working platform which may be used as a multipurpose stage or deck.

The trestle structure of Fig. 3 is similar to that of Fig. 2 and corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals increased by 100. As in the embodiment of Fig. 2, the trestles 111 are arranged at the corners of a rectangular grid and interconnected longitudinally by pairs of boards 114 located edgewise in the open-ended slots of the top surface of the trestles 111. In this case, however, the side slots are left unoccupied and the longitudinal support rails provided by the upper edges of the boards 114 are overlaid by spaced pairs of transverse boards 120 which provide the supporting surface for the plywood decking 119.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragment of the trestle structure of Fig. 2 with the trestle 11 shown in vertical section at one corner. The trestle 11 (which is identical to the trestles 1 and 111) is divided horizontally into top TS, intermediate IS and base BS sections which interfit by means of male and female formations as indicated in the sectioned portion. It will be noted that the base section BS has a vacant female formation on its under surface enabling it to be used as an intermediate section if necessary. The intermediate sections are of equal height which is less than the height of the top section and greater than the height of the base section. By varying the number and arrangement of intermediate and/or base sections the height of the trestle may be varied stepwise within a wide range. The trestle sections are individually moulded in synthetic plastics material with integral male and female formations. The mouldings are hollow but may be filled with particulate plastics material, for example polystyrene granules. Figs. 5 to 13 show the trestle sections in greater detail.

As indicated in dotted line in Fig. 5, a cross-shaped recess (female formation) 121 is provided on the lower surface of the top section TS and is shown in section in Figs. 7 and 8. The slots 2, 3 shown in perspective and plan view in Figs. 5 and 6 respectively are also shown in the sections of Figs. 7 and 8. An intermediate section IS is shown in perspective in Fig. 13 and in plan and section views in Figs. 9 and 10 respectively. The intermediate section IS has a crossshaped projection (male formation) 122 on its upper surface and a corresponding cross-shaped recess 123 on its lower surface. The cross-shaped projection 122 is a snug fit in the recess 121 of the top section TS or the recess 123 of an overlying intermediate section IS.

The base section BS has a cross-shaped projection (male formation) 124 on its upper surface and a corresponding cross-shaped recess (female formation) 125 on its lower surface. The projection 124 is a snug fit in the recess 121 of an overlying intermediate section or, if the base section BS is itself being used as an intermediate section or if the trestle has no intermediate sections, in the recess 121 of the top section TS. The recess 125 of the base section BS will only be used if the base section BS is being used as an intermediate section and in this case the recess 125 will receive the projection 122 of an underlying intermediate section or the projection 124 of an underlying base section.

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications may be made to the trestle and trestle structures described above, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the slots in the top section of the trestle may intersect so that both sets of slots are open-ended. The shape of the trestles may be changed e.g. to a cylindrical form. The mode of interconnection of the trestle sections may be changed and the trestles could be of unitary (i.e. non-sectional) construction and made in different materials. The base sections may also be adapted to receive castor wheels associated with suitable brakes to provide a mobile platform design particularly suitable for painters, decorators and other trades requiring such a facility. Finally, although a small range of trestle structures has been described and illustrated it will be appreciated that because of the modular nature of the trestles and their constituent sections it is possible to construct a wide range of different trestle structures with working platforms at varying heights.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A trestle structure comprising a plurality of trestles supporting a working platform, characterised in that the trestles have upper surfaces provided with locating slots in which supporting boards are held edgewise to support said platform.

2. A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein two sets of mutually perpendicular slots are provided in each trestle.

3. A structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein one set of parallel slots extends between opposite ends of a central region of the trestle surface and the other set of parallel slots is in flanking relationship with said central region.

4. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper surface of each trestle is flat and the depth of the slots corresponds to the width of the boards so that the upper edges of the boards are flush with the upper surfaces of the trestles.

5. A structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the trestles are divided horizontally into interfitting sections to permit height variation by altering the number and/or dimensions of the constituent sections.

6. A structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the trestle sections are hollow mouldings of synthetic plastics materials with integrally moulded male and female formations for interfitting purposes.

7. A structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the trestle sections are filled with particulate synthetic plastics material, e.g. polystyrene.

8. A trestle structure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A trestle comprising a pillar divided horizontally into at least two interfitting sections, wherein the top section has in its upper surface two sets of mutually perpendicular slots for the edgewise reception and location of supporting boards for supporting a working platform.

10. A trestle as claimed in claim 9, wherein one set of parallel slots extends between opposite ends of a central region of the upper surface and the other set of parallel slots is in flanking relationship with said central region.

11. A trestle as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the sections are hollow mouldings of synthetic plastics material with integrally moulded male and female formations for interfitting purposes.

12. A trestle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sections are filled with particulate synthetic plastic material e.g. polystyrene.

13. A trestle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.