GB2338260A

GB2338260A - Scaffold comprising platform and ladders

Info

Publication number: GB2338260A
Application number: GB9812447A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Dematrios Williamson
Original assignee: SGB Services PLC
Current assignee: SGB Services PLC
Priority date: 1998-06-09
Filing date: 1998-06-09
Publication date: 1999-12-15
Also published as: GB9812447D0

Abstract

An access system consists of at least one platform (18) and at least two ladder elements. Each ladder element has stiles and transversely extending rungs. The platform has at each end, and at each side, a plurality of extending projections (2, 3, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25). Each projection defines a downwardly open channel (5, 13, 22, 27, 30) dimensioned to receive a rung of a ladder element. The projections at each end and on each side of the platform are spaced apart by a distance sufficient to accommodate at least a stile of one ladder. Diagonal channels (23) are also provided.

Description

1 2338260 PATENTS ACT 1997 P12315GB-NWisd DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO AN ACCESS SYSTEW' THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to an access system, and more particularly relates to an access system intended for use by builders or decorators.

It has been proposed previously to provide an access system which can be assembled from a kit of parts. The kit of parts comprises two ladder elements and a platform adapted to be connected between the two ladder element to form a working platform. The platform is provided with diagonal reinforcing struts which extend from the platform to the ladders so that the two ladders, in combination with the platform, provides a relatively stable structure. The working platform may be located at a number of different positions on the ladders, thus enabling the platform to be located at different heights.

In the prior proposed arrangement, however, the ladders can only be mounted at the two opposed ends of the platform, meaning that the platform can only have one configuration, the only adjustable parameter being the height of the platform relative to the ladders.

2 The present invention seeks to provide an improved access system.

According to this invention there is provided an access system, the access system comprising at least one platform, and at least two ladder elements, the ladder elements having stiles and transversely extending rungs, the platform having, at each end, and at each side, a plurality of extending projections, each projection defining a downwardly-open channel dimensioned to receive a rung of a ladder element, the projections at each end and on each side of the platform being spaced apart by a distance sufficient to accommodate at least a stile of one ladder.

Preferably the projections provided on at least one side of the platform are adapted to inter-engage with projections provided on another side of an identical platform so that the downwardly-open channels of the interengaged projections can all receive one rung of one ladder element.

Conveniently each platform is substantially rectangular, each platform. having, at one narrow end, two spaced apart projections and having, at the other narrow end, at least two further spaced apart projections, the projections of the one end and the other end adapted to be inter-engaged so that the downwardly-open recess defined thereby can receive one rung of one ladder element.

Advantageously at said other end of the platform two pairs of spaced apart projections are provided, each pair of spaced apart projections being spaced apart by a distance which is at least equal to the width of a projection provided at the said one end of the platform, with the space between the said pair of projections being substantially aligned with the said projection at said one end of the platform.

3 Preferably adjacent a predetermined end of the platform each side of the platform is provided with two projections, the projections being spaced apart, and each being adapted to engage a rung of a ladder.

Conveniently the under-side of the platform is provided with a substantially diagonally extending recess extending from the space between said two projections provided adjacent the predetermined end of the platform, and that end of the platform to receive the rung of a ladder element.

The access system may incorporate one or more stabiliser extending between the platform and at lest one of said ladder elements.

The invention also relates to a kit of parts for forming an access system as described above, said kit of parts comprising at least one platform and at least two ladder elements.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that fin-ther features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a platform element of an access system in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 2 is a side view of the platform element of Figure 1, FIGURE 3 is an underneath view of the platform element of Figures 1 and 2, 1 4 FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of an access arrangement utilising a platform of the type illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, FIGURE 5 is a side view of the arrangement shown in Figure 4, FIGURE 6 is a plan view of an access arrangement using two platforms of the type shown in Figures 1 to 3, FIGURE 7 is a plan view of an alternate access arrangement using two platforms of the type shown in Figures 1 to 3, and FIGURE 8 is a plan view of another access system using a single platform of the type shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a platform 1 is of generally rectangular configuration. The platform is configured to engage with the rungs and stiles of a ladder at various positions about the periphery of the platform. The platform is also designed to be inter-connected in various alternative arrangements with identical platforms, with the combined platforms being adapted to engage the rungs and stiles of a ladder. The platform may be made of a plastics material and may, for example, be rotationally moulded.

At a first relatively narrow end of the platform 1, two projections 2,3 are provided which are spaced apart, and which are symmetrically located. Each projection is of "hook" form, with each projection terminating with a depending lip 4 which serves to define a downwardly-open channel 5. The channel 5 is dimensioned to receive a rung of a ladder.

At the opposite end of the platform 1, two pairs of spaced apart projections 6,7,8,9 are provided. The projections 6,7 define between them a gap 10 which has the same width as the projection 2 and which is axially aligned with the projection 2. Defined between the projections 8 and 9 is a gap 11 which has the same width as the projection 3 and which is axially aligned with the projection 3.

Each of the projections 6, 7, 8 and 9 terminates with a depending lip 12 serving to define a downwardly-open channel 13. The channels 13 are aligned and are dimensioned to receive the rungs of a ladder.

One side of the platform 1, adjacent the first end, is provided with a first laterally projecting portion 14 which is spaced by a space 15 from a second laterally projecting portion 16, which is spaced by a relatively narrow space 17 from a laterally extending portion 18 of the main platform. The projections 14 and 16 are each provided with a terminal depending lip 19,20 defining a downwardly-open channel 21,22 (as can be seen in Figure 3).

The opposed side of the platform is provided with a mirror-image construction which is identified with the same reference numerals.

As can be seen in Figure 3, a substantially diagonally extending downwardly-open channel 23 is provided in the under-surface of the platform extending firom each space 15 between the projections 14 and 16 on each side of the platform to the space defined between the projections 2 and 3 at the end of the platform. The downwardly-open channels 23 are dimensioned to receive the rungs of a ladder.

6 At the other end of the platform, on each side of the platform, there is a projection, in the forTn of the projections 24 on one side of the platform and projection 25 on the opposite side of the platform. The projection 24 is relatively long, and the projection 25 is relatively short.

The projection 24 has a terminal depending lip 26 defining a downwardlyopen channel 27. The projection 24 is spaced from the lateral extension of the main platform 18 by means of a space 28.

The projection 25 is provided with a terminal depending lip 29 defining a downwardly-open channel 30. The projection 25 is spaced from the lateral extension 18 of the platform by means of a space 3 1.

The platform may be provided with two internal substantially axially extending reinforcement elements 32,33, with the reinforcement element 32 extending from the projection 2 to the projection 6, and the reinforcement element 3 extending from the projection 3 to the projection 9. Each reinforcement element extends across the top of the downwardly- open recess formed by each of the projections mentioned above. The reinforcement elements may be made of metal and serve to provide a substantial degree of rigidity to the platform.

A platform of the type described above is intended to be used with at least two ladder elements to form an access system. As will be appreciated from the following description, the spaces between the projections at the ends and at the sides of the platform are dimensioned to accommodate at least a stile of one ladder element, although some spaces may be big enough to accommodate two stiles. A rung of each ladder element is received in at least

1 7 one downwardly-open channel so that the platform is securely supported by the ladder elements.

Referring, for example, to Figure 4, a platforTn 1, of the type described above, is provided, the platform 1 being associated with a first ladder element 40 which is positioned with a rung of the ladder extending through the downwardly-open channels 13 defined by the projections 6,7,8, 9. The stiles of the ladder element are located adjacent the outer-most projections 6 and 9.

At the other end of the platforTn a second ladder element 41 is provided, the rungs 42 of the ladder extending substantially parallel with the side of the platforTn. One stile 43 of the ladder is located within the space 15 adjacent the terminal projection 14, and one rang of the ladder extends through the downwardly-open channel 21 defined by that projection 14. On the other side of the platform a corresponding ladder 44 is provided, with the rungs 45 of the ladder extending substantially parallel to the side of the platform. One stile 46 of this ladder is also accommodated in a space 15. The projection 14 provided on that side of the platform also extends over one rung of the ladder 44 with the downwardly-open channel 21 defined by that projection engaging one rung of the ladder. Reinforcing elements 47 may extend from the ladder elements 41,44 to the platforTn 1 to provide the access system with stability.

The access system shown in Figures 4 and 5 may be extended by incorporating a second platform IA. The second platform IA will be axially aligned with the first platform 1 having the same orientation so that the projections 2,3 provided at the end of the first platform 1 are received in the spaces 10 and 11 between the projections 6,7 and the projections 8,9 of the ad acent end of the platform IA.

J j 8 It is to be appreciated that the projection 25 provided on the platform 1A will extend over the same rung 42 of the ladder 41 that is engaged by the projection 14 of the platform 1 and, equally, the projection 24 provided on the platform IA will extend over the same rung 45 of the ladder 44, as engaged by the corresponding and adjacent projection 14 provided on the platform 1. A stile of the ladder element 41 is received in the space 28 of platform 1A and a stile of the ladder element 44 is received in the space 3 1.

A further ladder element 48 is provided at the end of the platform 1A remote from the platform 1, the ladder 48 having rungs 49 which extend transversely of the axis of the aligned platform, one rung 49 being engaged by the projections 2 and 3 of the platform IA.

Figure 7 illustrates an alternative arrangement incorporating two platforms 1 and IA. However, in this arrangement instead of using two ladder sections 41 and 44, having rungs which extend parallel with the sides of the platforms in the region where the platforms 1 and IA are inter-connected, a single transversely extending ladder section 50 is used having rungs 51. One rang is accommodated within the downwardly-open channels 5 dermed by the projections 2 and 3 of the platform 1, and also received in the downwardlyopen channels 13 formed by the projections 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the platform IA.

Figure 8 illustrates a further arrangement in which a single platform 1 is associated with three ladder elements, thus providing an access platform of substantial stability. A first ladder element 52 is provided extending transversely of the platform and engaging the projections 6, 7, 8 and 9 provided at one end of the platform, while a second ladder element 53 is provided extending transversely of the platform at the other end of the platform engaging the projections 2 and 3. A further ladder element 54 is provided adjacent one 9 side of the platform engaging the projections 14 and 16 provided at that one side of the platform. The ladder element 54 has a stile 55 received in the space 17 defined by the platform 1.

It is to be appreciated that many alternative arrangements may be provided. A ladder may extend diagonally of the platform, with a rung of the ladder being received within the channel 23, and a number of platforms may be located side-by-side with a single ladder, for example, engaging the projection 3 of one platfom and the projection 2 of an adjacent platform. Similarly, one ladder may engage the projections 6,7 of one platform and the projections 8 and 9 of an adjacent platform.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An access system, the access system comprising at least one platform, and at least two ladder elements, the ladder elements having stiles and transversely extending rungs, the platform having, at each end, and at each side, a plurality of extending projections, each projection defining a downwardlyopen channel dimensioned to receive a rung of a ladder element the projections at each end and on each side of the platform being spaced apart by a distance sufficient to accommodate at least a stile of one ladder.

2. A system according to Claim 1 wherein the projections provided on at least one side of the platform are adapted to inter-engage with projections provided on another side of an identical platform so that the downwardly-open channels of the inter-engaged projections can all receive one rung of one ladder element.

3. A system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each platform is substantially rectangular, each platform having, at one narrow end, two spaced apart projections and having, at the other narrow end, at least two further spaced apart projections, the projections of the one end and the other end adapted to be inter-engaged so that the downwardly-open recess defmed thereby can receive one rung of one ladder element.

4. An arrangement according to Claim 3 wherein at said other end of the platform two pairs of spaced apart projections are provided, each pair of spaced apart projections being spaced apart by a distance which is at least equal to the width of a projection provided at the said one end of the platform, with the 11 11 space between the said pair of projections being substantially aligned with the said projection at said one end of the platform.

5. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein adjacent a predetermined end of the platform each side of the platform is provided with two projections, the projections being spaced apart, and each being adapted to engage a rang of a ladder.

6. A system according to Claim 5 wherein the under-side of the platform is provided with a substantially diagonally extending recess extending from the space between said two projections provided adjacent the predetermined end of the platform, and that end of the platform to receive the rung of a ladder element.

7. An access system according to any one of the preceding Claims incorporating one or more stabiliser extending between the platform and at least one of said ladder elements.

8. An access system according to any one of the preceding Claims comprising a plurality of platforms and at least three ladder elements.

9. A kit of parts for forming an access system according to any one of the preceding Claims comprising at least one platform and at least two ladder elements.

10. An access system substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

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