GB2359327A

GB2359327A - Scaffolding plank holder

Info

Publication number: GB2359327A
Application number: GB0003595A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Allan John Jennings
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-02-17
Filing date: 2000-02-17
Publication date: 2001-08-22
Also published as: GB0003595D0

Abstract

A plank holder normally used in scaffolding walk ways comprising a set of beams 1 with planks 6 attached in a longitudinal orientation. Locking means (fig 2) are attached to the beams to secure them to the scaffolding. Using different length plank holders allows the walk way to go around corners.

Description

2359327 PLANK HOLDER This invention relates to a holder of a group of

planks providing access platforms.

Access platforms and walkways are sometimes made by spanning long planks of wood or other material in a longitudinal direction between and with transverse and intermediate scaffolding supports. However the disadvantage of using planks in this way is that they are too long to fit into the back of small vehicles, are prone to damage by virtue of their length and do not easily fit around curved objects.

Groups of shorter planks of a length capable of being transported in small vehicles are difficult to use as access platforms and walkways in a longitudinal direction, as they require additional support.

When spanning in a transverse direction without additional support, groups of shorter planks tend to move apart creating large gaps between them. Also, they tend to slide off their support due to absence of lateral restraint and, as they are not as long as longer planks, tend to lift off their supports more easily.

An object of this invention is to facilitate the use of shorter planks as an access platform capable of being fitted around straight or curved objects without the use of additional supports and without them creating large gaps or sliding or lifting off their supports.

Accordingly, this invention provides a plank holder, which holds in position and restrains numbers of planks of both short and long lengths. This holder eliminates lateral movement and prevents planks both lifting and sliding off so that they can span in any direction and be arranged curved on plan without the need for further support.

Preferably the holder and the planks are made of metal or plastics material but they may instead be made ftom wood or from a combination of these materials.

2 A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a side view of a holder with a number of planks attached to it.

FIGURE 2 shows a side view of a plank with a holder at each end spanning between two supports.

FIGURE 3 shows a top view of two groups of planks held together by plank holders resting on supports to provide an access platform or walkway.

FIGURE 4 shows an enlarged view of a lock restraining two adjacent holders to a support.

FIGURE 5 shows an arrangement of holders with different spacing producing an access platform or walkway curved on plan As shown in FIGURE 1, the plank holder consists of a beam 1 upon which the planks 6 are fixed in a directian perpendicular to their length. The distance between adjacent planks may be determined by holes in the beam 2 through which the planks may be attached by screws or bolts or kept a fixed distance apart by protrusions 3 on the top surface of the beam.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the beam is of sufficient depth to provide a barrier to lateral movement and may have a lock 4 at one end with which it prevents its own and other groups of planks from being lifted off the supports 5 upon which they rest.

As shown in FIGURE 3, two or more plank holders may then be used with identical distances between planks to hold a parallel group of planks to form an access platform.

As shown in FIGURE 4, a lock may be a simple hook arrangement that rests upon the beam of an adjacent holder and goes around the support preventing both beams from lifting or sliding.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the plank holder may be curved to a radius. Two curved plank holders whose distances between planks are not identical may then be used to hold a group of planks that are not parallel enabling the platform to be fitted around cur-ved objects.

Using the above described invention access platforms and walkways can be made with short planks of'wood or other material and be made to fit around curved objects. Such access platforms and can be made in sizes that fit easily into the back of small vehicles.

3

Claims

1. A plank holder made from metal comprising a beam and lock all together of sufficient depth so as to prevent the lateral movement of any planks attached to it. A plank holder as described in Claim 1 made from any material.

3. A plank holder as described in any preceding Claims without a lock.

4. A plank holder as described in any preceding Claims using holes and through fixings as a spacing method.

5. A plank holder as described in any preceding Claims using protrusions as a spacing method.

6. A plank holder as described in any preceding Claims using protrusions and holes and through fixings as a spacing method.

7. A lock as described above.

8. The grouping of a number of planks to form an access platform using plank holders as described in any preceding Claims.

9. A plank holder substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

1O.An access platform substantially as herein described and in the accompanying drawings.

ustrated