GB2361956A

GB2361956A - Support element for foot or leg

Info

Publication number: GB2361956A
Application number: GB0007736A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher James Whiteley
Original assignee: AMS ACCOMODATION Ltd; Oxford Plastic Systems Ltd
Current assignee: AMS ACCOMODATION Ltd; Oxford Plastic Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2000-03-31
Filing date: 2000-03-31
Publication date: 2001-11-07
Also published as: GB0007736D0

Abstract

The support element, for use with scaffolding, portable buildings, walkways and cranes, temporary seating systems, slip lorries etc. on soft ground, has a load receiving area 10 and a load transmitting surface 16, the latter of which has a greater surface area. An applied load is transmitted from the load receiving area to the load transmitting surface via a load transmitting means which is preferably formed from a series of ribs 18 and/or webs that connect the area and surface together. The element is preferably formed as a moulded element, e.g. from plastic, and preferably includes a positioning means, ideally formed from at least one rib 24, that surrounds the load receiving area. The load receiving area may have a surface texture applied to it and is designed to receive an insert that in turn is designed to receive a scaffolding pole. The element may also include an opening to permit the storage of the element upon a pole, bar etc.

Description

2361956 "Support Member" This invention relates to a support member

intended for use with a load bearing foot or leg. The support member of the invention is especially useful where the load bearing foot or leg is to be placed upon relatively soft ground.

A number of objects and devices include load bearing feet or legs, for exam'pl-'--__ portable buildings, portable cranes, temporary walkways, temporary seating systems, scaffolding assemblies, and skip lorries. Where the feet or legs of such devices or objects are to be placed upon hard ground, few problems are encountered. However, when used on relatively soft ground the legs or feet can sink into the ground with the result that the supported object or device may become unstable and/or damage to the ground surface covering may occur. It is known to use, for example, broken paving slabs or building blocks to spread the load, but this requires a source of paving slabs, building blocks or the like to be readily available and this is often not the case. Further, the part blocks or slabs may be too small or of insufficient inherent strength to spread the load over an area great enough to avoid damage to the ground surface or instability due to sinking. Additionally, the blocks or slabs are relatively heavy, and are not conveniently re-usable in this application.

It is an object of the invention to provide a support member in which the disadvantages set out hereinbefore are of reduced effect.

According to the present invention there is provided a support member comprising a load receiving area and a load transmitting surface spaced from the load receiving area, the load transmitting surface having a surface area greater than the area 2 of the load receiving area, and load transmitting means for transmitting a load applied to the load receiving area to the load transmitting surface.

The load transmitting means conveniently comprises a series of ribs and/or webs.

The use of ribs and/or webs permits the load to be transmitted in an efficient manner without requiring the use of excessive quantities of material.

The support member is preferably of moulded form, conveniently of moulded plastics form. Such a support member may be of relatively high strength and low weight.

Positioning means, for example in the form of ribs, may be provided around the load receiving area to ensure that a foot or leg of a device or object positioned thereon is correctly located. Additionally or alternatively, the load receiving area may be provided with a surface texture to reduce slipping of a foot or leg positioned thereon.

The support member may be provided with an insert shaped to receive an end of a scaffolding pole and to apply the load from the scaffolding pole to the load receiving area.

The support member may be provided with an opening permitting storage of several support members upon a pole, bar or the like.

The invention will further be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure I is a side view of a support member in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of the support member of Figure 1.

3 The support member illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a one piece plastics moulding defining an upper load receiving area 10, the outer periphery of which is defined by the upper ends of four side walls 12 arranged to define a short tube of square cross-section, and a plate 14 of cross-sectional area approximately four times that of the load receiving area 10, the lower surface of which defines a load transmitting surface 16.

Ribs 18 are provided between the outer surfaces of the side walls 12 and the part of the plate 14 outside of the tube defined by the side walls 12, the ribs 18 bracing the outer parts of the plate 14 against deflection when a load is applied to the load receiving area 10.

Internally of the tube defined by the side walls 12, the support member is shaped to define a region 20 of tubular form of generally circular cross-section which is aligned with a central opening formed in.the plate 14. Webs 22 connect the region 20 to the side walls 12. The webs 22 extend over the full height of the side walls 12 and serve to brace the side walls 12 against deflection. Further, as the upper ends of the webs 22 lie in the load receiving area 10 and as the web 22 extend over the full height of the side walls 12 and are integrally connected to the plate 14 at their lower ends, they assist in transmitting the load applied to the load receiving area 10 to the plate 14 and load transmitting surface 16 thereof Adjacent the outer periphery of the load receiving area 10, the upper ends of the side walls 12 are shaped to define ribs 24 which serve to assist in ensuring that a foot or leg of a device or object placed upon the load receiving area 10 does not slip off the 4 support member.

To assist in carrying the support member, an opening 26 is provided in the plate 14 to define a carrying handle. The plate 14 may be provided with drainage holes to prevent water accumulating within the tube defined by the side walls 12.

The support member described hereinbefore is suitable for use in a wide range of applications, for example in supporting the feet or legs of skip lorries, cranes, portable buildings, scaffolding, temporary barriers or temporary walkways. In use, the support member is positioned on the ground and orientated to receive a foot or leg of a device or object to be supported. The foot or leg is lowered onto the load receiving area 10, engaging the upper ends of the side walls 12 and webs 22. The foot or leg should be located centrally on the load receiving area 10, and ribs 24 are used to avoid slippage of the foot or leg. Such movement of the foot or leg is most likely to occur where the object or device is relatively light. Once the object or device has reached its final position, it will be appreciated that a substantial load is applied to the support member, the load being transmitted through the webs 22 and side walls 12 to the plate 14, the ribs 18 inhibiting deflection of the plate 14 thus ensuring that the load is transmitted to the ground upon which the support member is stood over substantially the whole of the area of the load transmitting surface 16.

The support member is relatively light and may be transported easily with the object or device to be supported, and may be re-used. As the load carried by the support member is transmitted to the ground over a relatively large area, the risk of sinking and damage is reduced. In the illustrated embodiment, the load transmitting surface is of area approximately four times that of the load receiving area. It will be appreciated, however, that the load transmitting surface could be larger or smaller than this.

When not in use, the support member may be stored with a number of other support members carried by a pole or bar extending through the opening formed in the plate 14 and through the region 20.

In a modification to the arrangement illustrated, the upper end surfaces of the webs 22 and side walls 12 which define the load receiving area 10 may be textured to avoid slippage of a foot or leg positioned thereon. In an alternative modification, an insert may be mounted upon the load receiving area, the insert being arranged to receive an end of a scaffolding pole.

Claims

6 CLAIMS

1. A support member comprising a load receiving area and a load transmitting surface spaced from the load receiving area, the load transmitting surface having a surface greater than the area of the load receiving area, and load transmitting means 5 for transmitting a load applied to the load receiving area to the load transmitting surface.

2. A support member as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the load transmitting means comprises a series of ribs and/or webs interconnecting the load receiving area and the load transmitting surface.

3. A support member as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the load receiving area and the load transmitting surface form part of a moulded body.

4. A support member as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the moulded body is of plastics form.

5. A support member as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, fiirther comprising positioning means provided around the load receiving area.

6. A support member as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the positioning means comprises at least one rib.

7. A support member as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a surface texture is applied to the load receiving area.

8. A support member as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an 20 insert is mounted upon the load receiving area and adapted to receive a scaffolding pole to transmit a load to the load receiving area from the scaffolding pole.

9. A support member as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further 7 comprising an opening permitting the storage of the support member upon a pole, bar or the like.

10. A support member substantiaBy as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.