GB2362421A - Scaffolding system - Google Patents

Abstract

The scaffolding system, of the type with connectors 24 on the end of cross-members 100 that engage sockets on uprights and receive wedge elements W that urge the connector towards the uprights, has a connector that comprises a casting with a base portion that connects two limbs 26,27 which are designed in use to extend above and below a socket on the upright. The connector has two side faces of which at least one is designed so that a portion of the decking 40 that is supported by the cross-member extends past it. The connector may also include an abutment 35 to one side of the recess 42 formed between the limbs and base portion which engages a portion of the socket in use and acts to limit horizontal movement of the cross-member. Also disclosed is the cross-member that is generally I-shaped in cross-section and includes engagement formations 107,109 that are designed to engage decking units that are provided with reciprocal engagement formations 116,117.

Description

2362421 A I. - -- -

Title: Improvements to Builders' Scaffolding Description of Invention

This invention relates to a releasably engageable builders' scaffolding assembly of the kind, hereafter referred to as being of the kind described, comprising an upright member, a cross member and connecting means for detachably connecting the upright mernber and cross member together; the connecting means comprising a socket mounted on the exterior of tile upright member and being open at each of two opposite ends thereof which are spaced apart along the length of the upright member, and a generally channel section connector, at or near one end of the cross inember, the connector including two limbs which are spaced apart vertically by a base part to pen-nit the socket to be received between the limbs, each limb having a respective abutment face adapted to abut the upright member, and each limb further being provided with a respective opening whicli receives a wedge clanying member forming pail of the connecting means and in whicli the cross member Supports a desired further scaffolding component sucli as decking unit.

The arrangement is such that in connecting) the cross inember to the upright member the two limbs of the connector are disposed to straddle the socket with the wed ge clamping member extending through the two open ends of the socket in pressure engaLement witli an edge of the opening of each of the two limbs which is nearest to the upright member and also with all internal clamping face of the socket, so that the abutment faces of the two]]nibs are brought into engagement with the upriglit member at positions above and below the socket.

Hitherto, such a further component lias either been disposed wholly oil one side of the base pail which is remote from the upright member or the component has been provided with a part whicli extends closer to the upright C, 2 than does another pail which is disposed wholly oil the side of the base pail remote from the upright member.

This either leads to a limitation on the proxirnity of the component to the upright member or requires the component to be configured to have ail extension pail to extend, for example, over the upper of the two limbs of the connector so as to be closer to the upright inember than is the base pail of the connector.

An object of the present invention is to provide ail improved builders' scaffolding of the kind described whereby the above mentioned problems are overcome or are reduced.

According to one aspect of the invention we provided a builders' scaffolding of the kind described wherein the connector comprises a casting and the base pail of the connector has opposite side faces which extend between said limbs and wherein at least one of the side faces has at least an end part of the further scaffolding component extending therepast.

The base pail and the lin-ibs of the connector may be of the same width.

An abutment may be provided at one side of the recess defined by the limbs and the base pail of the connector to engage a pail of the socket to linlit movement of the cross ineinber in a generally horizontal plaile.

The base pail inay be provided with abutinew ineans to engage at least a part of the cross member to facilitate connection thereto.

The cross meniber may coiriprise a vertical web pail and upper and lower flanges disposed in a,.,,eiiei-ally 1-shape and the abutnient means illay provide a gap or gaps in which an end portion of the vveb part is received.

The cross ineniber may have a portion which engages a forination of the further scaffolding component.

The formation inay be of substantially constant cross section throughout its length.

The further component may coniprise a deckiiig tinit.

The decking unit inay have first and second end parts each of which cooperates with a respective cross-ineniber to support the decking unit and each of which has a portion which provides said formation.

The or each formation may restrain relative angular movement between a further component part and a respective crqss-nieinber with which the formation is engaged.

The angular movement may be in a horizontal plane and/or in a vertical plane.

Each cross-member may have an upwardly facing abutment surface which engages an end pail at positions wInch are spaced lengthwise of the crossmember.

Each cross-meinbei- inay have a side abutnient surface and said end pall having an abutment portion which engages said side abutinent surface at positions which are spaced lengthwise of the cross-nieinber.

The side abutment surface of the cross-ineniber may be provided oil a second flange such that the side abutinew surfaces are transverse to said upwardly facing abutinent surfiace.

The flange may be provided with a fLiilliei- side abutnient surface oil the opposite side of said flange to sa id side abiitiiieiit surface.

Said side abutinent surfaces inay coinprise a lip provided oil the respective flange.

The end pails may be provided witli a first projecting pail having an abutment portion to engage said upwardly facing abutinent surface and a second projecting pail having an abiitiiieiit portion to ellgage said side abutirlent surface.

The formation may be an element projecting fl.oiii the abutillent portion of the end pail in a direction away fi-oni the decking unit.

4 The abutment portion of the end pail may comprise a recess in which said flange is received.

An inner face of said recess may abut the side abutment surface.

The cross-member may have an upper transverse limb.

The upwardly facing abutment surface may be provided on said upper transverse limb.

The cross-member rnay have a downwardly facing abutment surface disposed below said upwardly facing abutinent surface.

Said downwardly facing abutment surface may be provided on said upper transverse limb.

The formation may be provided witli a Surface opposed to and spaced from the downwardly facing abutinent SUrflice of the upper transverse llinb.

The cross-men-iber may be provided witli a lower transverse limb connected to said flange.

The lower transverse limb may be connected to said upper transverse limb by a web pail.

The base pail of the connector may be connected to an end pail of the cross-member.

The upper and lower linibs of the coiiiiectoi, may be provided with apertures in which the wedge shaped nieniber is received.

The wedge shaped men-iber inay have a noteli in the side thereof remote from the upright to accomniodate an end part of the aperture In the upper limb thereby permitting the wedge shaped ineinber to be inclined furtlier away from the upright at its upper end and to retain, or resist retention of, the wedge shaped member in an inclined position.

The cross member may comprise a transoin and/or a ledger.

The invention will nox be described in inore detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wlierein:- Figure 1 shows a part of a builder's scaffolding ernbodying the invention,

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the builder's scaffolding of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-33 of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a connector used ill the scaffolding shown in Figures 1 to 3 froin one side and froin the fi-ont, Figure 5 is a perspective view of the connector sliowil ill Figure 4 taken from said one side and from the real., Figure 6 is a perspective view of the connector sliown in Figure 4 taken from the other side and the real., Figure 7 is a perspective view of the connector sliown in Figure 4 taken from said other side and fi.om the front, Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view taken oil the line 8-8 of Figure 5, Figure 9 is a fi-agmentary perspective view taken oil the line 9-9 of Figure 7, and Figure 10 is a plan view of part of the scaffolding shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 of the accornpanying di.awiii,(,,s sliows a scaffolding structure including a plurality of upriglit scaffold ineinbers 1 Oa - 1 Oj.

As can be seen fi-oni Figure 1 the ul)i-l,,lit scaffold inenibers are arranged in pairs of spaced upright ineinbers, a first pall. coiiipilsliig the upright rnei-nbers 10a 10b a second pair comprising the upriglit nienibers 10 and IOA and the members 10g and 10h positioned oil top tliereof, and a third paii. conipi-Ising the upright members 1 Oe and 1 Of and the ineinbers 101 and 1 Oj positioned oil top thereof.

Each lowen-nost scaffold meniber 1 Oa - 1 Og is provided at Its lower end with an adjustable leiigtli jack 11. Eacli jack 11 coniprises an externally threaded tube 12 whicli is tlireadedly engaged witli a nLit 12a engaged with the 1 C) - 6 bottom of the associated upright 1 Oa - 1 Of whicli fits over the ttibe 12 above the nut 12a. The nut 12a is provided, in conventional inanner, with hand engageable portions 12b whereby it can be rotated to adjust the length of the jack. At the lower end each tube 12 is provided with a flat ground engaging plate 13. Since the orientation of the plates 13 relative to the axis of the upright does not matter there is no need to provide any means for rotation between the tube 12 and the plate 13), although such may be provided if desired.

At their upper ends the lowerniost upi-light men-ibers 10a -]Of are provided with a spigot 14 for engagement in a socket, riot shown, provided by the internal bore at the lower end of the upper upright members 10g 10j. It should be appreciated that if desired, further upright members may be provided on top of the members 10a - 10b or on top of the menibers 10g - 10j respectively and such stacking of uprights may be continued until the desired c height for the scaffolding is achieved.

The uprights of each pair i.e. the uprights 10a and 10b- 10c, 10g and C> -5 - 10d, 10h., and 10e, 10i and 10f, 10j, are interconnected by transoms 100. In use, the transoms provide cross-inembers which extend substantially horizontally, substantially nornial to the lengfli of a wall or other structure adjacent the seaffoldiii( An upright of each pair is interconnected by ledgers 21 which, in use, provide cross-members which extend substantially horizontally, substantially parallel to the length of the wall of other sti.iictui.e adjacent the scaffolding.

Each upright niernber 10a - 10j is provided in known manner with sockets 22 at spaced intervals along its lenoth. Each socket 22 comprises a generally V-shaped strip of metal which is welded or otherwise secured to the exterior surface of the upright so as to define a socket which is open at both its upper and lower ends. Each socket 22 forins part of a connecting means which additionally comprises a connector, indicated generally at 24, at opposite ends of each cross ineinber 100 or 21 and a wed,,e shaped clamping inember W C 7 which is captively associated witli such connector. Four sockets 22 are provided at each of said spaced positions along the length of each upright, the sockets at each of said positions being equi-aiigularly spaced apart around the circumference of the upright. If desired, other forms of connecting irleans may be used. In the illustrated example all four sockets are at the sai-fle longitudinal position along the length of each upright but if desired one or more may be provided at different longitudinal positions.

Each transom 100 comprises a transverse member in the forin of ail elongate element 101, in the present example forined frolli cold rolled sheet metal, provided at each end with a coiniector 24 Each end connector 24 is made as a castHig in weldable, malleable cast iron but, if desired, a casting in any othei. suitable material may be used. The connector 24 is of generally channel section with a vertically disposed base part 25 and upper and lower limbs 26, 27 respectively exteiiding nonnal thereto. The upper limb 26 is forined witli ail opeimig iii the forin of a slot 28 and the lower limb is formed with aiiother opeimig also in the forin of a slot 29, the two slots being of dimensions suitable flor i-eceiviiig ail associated wedge clamping member W. The length and dispositiori of each of the slots 28, 29 is selected in accordance with the angle betweeii the wedgirig faces 3 1 a, 3) 1 b of the wedge clamping member 24a and the dispositioii of abutinent faces 332, 33 coiistituted by a downwardly extending curved face of the upper and lower limb 26, 27 respectively, in relation to ail internal claiiil)lii,,, , face 34 of the associated socket member 22 when the connector 24 is iii use to secure a cross-incillber to which it is secured to the upright rnember 1 Oa - 1 Oj.

In addition, one side of the recess defiiied between the upper and lower limbs 26, 27 and the base part 25 is provided wIth ail abutmerit pail 35 for engagement with ail end part of the socket 22 witli which the comiector is C engaged so as to linilt sideways niovenient of tli transom 100 in a generally horiziontal plane. Provision of tlils abutinew -335 facilitates offering up of the 8 connector to the socket as one of end of the connector may be attached to a socket of an adjacent upright and then the transom 100 is swung horizontally so as to receive the socket between the upper and lower limbs 26, 27 with the inwardly directed surface 36 of the abutment 35 arresting further movement of the transom 100 when it engages the socket 22. With the surface 36 so engaging the socket 22 the wedge member W is positioned for dropping through the socket into the opening 29 in the lower limb 27 and then driven into place to tighten the connection.

In addition the base part 25, on its outwardly directed surface -337 is formed with a pail. of generally square section elongate projections 38, 39 which provide a gap 40 therebetween for receiving an upright pail of the transom 100 as hereinafter described in more detail. Ill addition a projecting limb 41 is provided at the bottom of the base pail 25 to engage a base pail of the transom 100 again as hereinafter described in more detail. In order to save material a recess 42 is forined in the side of the lin-ibs 26, 27 and base pail 25, opposite to the abutment 35.

The elongate element 10 1 coniprises a transverse upper linib 102 spaced from a pair of generally co-planar first and second transverse lower limbs 103, 104, connected thereto by a web pail 105. The web part 105 is received in the gap 40 and is welded to the parts 338, -339 as well aS to the Surface 37. In addition, the lower limbs 103 3, 104 etigage the flange 4 1 and are welded thereto.

Extending generally upwardly from the lower 11mbs 103, 104 are c flanges 106, 107, the end pail of each of wlilch is provided with all inwardly turned lip 108, 109. The transverse upper lin-ib 102 provides an upwardly facing abutinent surface 11 Oa, whilst the dowiiwardly facing surfaces of the transverse upper limb 102 provide second and third downwardly facing abutment surfacess 110b, 110c. The end parts of the lips 108, 109 provide spaced first and second side abtitiiieiit surfaces 111, 112. The outwardly facing 9 surfaces of the flanges 106, 107 provide tliii.d and fourth side abutment surfaces 113, 114.

As can be seen fi-om Figure I and 10, in the present example, three decking units 40 are disposed in side by side relationship between each pair of adjacent transoms 100 although in Figure I only ome of the decking units are illustrated for clarity. It will be appreciated that, if desired, decking units may be provided which are of a different width to that described hereinbefore so that more, or less, than three decking units may be provided associated with each pair of transoins.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 3) eacli decking unit 40 is a rolled section of mild steel or other suitable metal SLIcli as an alUnlinluin alloy and comprises an upper part 41, a pair of spaced side finib 42 depending downwardly therefrom and having at the fi-ee end thereof inturned lips 43) whicli are generally parallel to the upper part 41 wlilch have at tlieir fi-ee edges upturned flanges 44 which are generally parallel to the limbs 42. The upper part 41 has an upper surface 45 W111CII, III use, supports operatives and equipment oil the scaffolding structure and may be provided witli any desired configuration of non-slip pattern or the like. Rods 40a are welded to the lips 433 to serve as handles.

The transoms 100 support a plurality of decking units. Each decking unit 40 is provided at each end with -,in end part 1 15. Eacli end pail 115 in the present example is formed fi.om cold rolled slicet inetal, and is affixed to the decking unit 40 by welding or by any otlier nicans as desired. Eacli end pail 115 comprises a first projecting pail 116 and a second projecting pail 117 disposed spaced from and generally parallel to the first prOjecting pail 116. The first projecting pail 116 and the second projecting pail 117 are connected by a connecting part 118 depending fi-om the projecting pail 116 to the pall 117. The second projecting pail 117 lias a connecting pail 119 which extends in a direction generally inwardly of the decking, unit 40, the connectin,(,, pail 119 1 c being shaped to define a recess 120. The connecting part 118 in the present example is shaped at its lower part partly to accommodate the connecting part 119 and the recess 120.

In use, the end parts 115 are engaged with the elongate meniber 101 as best shown in Figure -3). A lower surface 116a of the first projecting part 116 rests on the upwardly facing abutnient surface 1 10a of the transverse upper limb 102. The flanges 106, 107 are received in the respective recess 120 of the end parts 115, such that the first side abutinent surface 111 and the second side abutment surface 112 contact a first inner face 120a of the respective recess 120, while the third and fourtli side abtitiiieiit surfaces 11-33, 114 are disposed facing and spaced fi.oni a second iiiiiei. face 120b of the recess 120. In this position, the load of the deckingg unit 40 is transmitted through the first projecting element 116 and the transverse upper 11mb 102. The engagement of the side abutment surface 111, 112 with the first inner face 120a of the recess 120 prevents disengagement of the decking unit 40 froin the transom 100 in a direction transverse tothe transoin 100.

The engagement of the first projectnig element 116 witli the upwardly facing abutment surface 11 0a, and the flanges 106, 107 in the respective recess 120 acts to restrain aiigitlai. inoveinent of the decking unit 40 relative to the transom 100 in a vertical plaiie. All,,Lllai- inovenient of the decking unit 40 1 1 in a plane containing the decking iiiiit, liereni referred to as a horizontal plaile, will be resisted by the flaiiges 106, 107 received in the respective recess 120 engaging the respective first iiicl second ii- iner faces 120,1, 120b of the recess 120 as the decking unit rotates.

Referring to the left liand deckiiig unit 40 as seen in Figure -3), rotation of the decking unit 40 in a generally clockwise direction as seen in Figure 7 will be limited by engagement of the first projecting part 116 and the upwardly facing abutment surface 1 10a, and of the first side abLitinent surface 111 with the first inner face 120a of the recess 120a. Rotation iii a generally anti- 11 clockwise direction is similarly limited as a result of second inner face 120b of the recess 120 being brought into contact with the third side abutment surface 113 of the flange 106.

Angular movement of the left hand decking unit 40 in a horizontal plane limited by engagement at one end thereof between the surfaces 111 and 120a and at the other end thereof between the surfaces 11 and 120b.

Similar limitation of angular movement in a vertical plane and a horizontal plane takes place for the right hand deciiig unit 40.

In the present example, the gap between the third and fourth side abutment surfaces 113, 114 and the first and second inner faces 120a, 120b of the respective recess 120 is 21nin, sufficient to penint engagenlent of the end part 115 with the elongate element 110 whilst resisting sLibstantial angular movement in a horizontal plane.

Each decking unit 40 inay be assembled to a pair of spaced transoms by offering up a decking unit 40 in an inclined position so that the free end of the element 116 of the pail 115 at one end of the decking unit 40 is engaged with c) the web 105 of a transom 100. The fi.ce end of the second projecting pail 117 at the other end of the decking unit cati then move'past the fi-ee end of the Lipper transverse end 102 of the adjacent transom so that after inovenlent of the decking unit to space the element 116 froin the web 105 the end pails 115 at each end of the decking unit can be positioned as shown in Figure -3. Either end of the transom may be first enga., -_led with its associated transom. Handles 1:1 40a in the form of bars welded to the inturned lips 4-33 to extend transversely of the decking unit may be provided at a suitable spacing to facilitate handling of a decking unit 40. Removal of a decking iinit is the reverse of the asseinbly arrangement described above.

The above described restraint of angLilar movement in a horizontal plane causes each decking unit effectivel, to act to forin a diaphragm and so the requirement for tie members is rediiced.

12 Should the decking unit 40 be lifted as a whole generally vertically, or rotated so only one end is lifted, for example, through wind lift, an upper surface 1 17a of the second projecting pail 117 will be brought into contact with the downwardly facing abutment surface 11 Ob, 11 Oc of the transverse upper limb 102, restraining any further upward inovenient of the end pail 115 and preventing disengagement of the decking unit 40 frorn the elongate element 101. When the upward force oil the decking unit 40 decreases, for example when the wind drops, the decking unit 40 will fall, re-engaging the recess 120 with the flange 106, 107.

Upward pivoting of only one end may be llinited or resisted either by the above described contact alone or by the above described flinitation of rotation in a vertical plane or by a desired conibination thereof Although in the present example, a lower surface 117h of the second projecting pail 117 is shown spaced frorri an upwardly facing surface 103a, 104a of the transverse lower Ilirib 103, 104, the end parts 115 call be disposed such that the lower surface 117b contacts the Lipwardly facing surface 10-3a, 104a. and indeed if desired the load of the decking unit 40 could be transmitted partly or wholly thrOLIgh the secorid projecting pcart 117 111 preference to the first projecting pail 116.

The flanges 105, 106 and the recesses 120 inay alteniatively be disposed such that the third and foiti-th side abtairient SUrfaces 113), 114 contact the second inner faces 120b of the recesses 120 and the first and second side abutment surfaces 111, 112 are spaced fl-orn the first fliner faces 120a of the recess 120. preferably by a gap of 21111n. Furtlier alternatWely the flanges 105, 106 may be spaced froill all faces of the recesses 120 Iri the latter case, for example the first and second side abittinent sLirfaces 111, 112 may be spaced from the first inner faces 120a by linin and the third and fourth side abutment surfaces 113, 114 may be spaced froni the second intier faces 120b also by Inun.

The second projecting pail 117 provides a formation of each decking unit 40 which, in 1he present example as explained above, is adapted to engage with the transom 100 as a result of engagement of the upper surface 170a thereof with the downwardly facing abutment surface 11 Ob, or 11 Oc.

As best shown in Figure 10, in order that a decking unit 40 may be moved into abutment with, or closely adjacent to, a ledger 21 and/or an upright 10a-10j the base pail 25 is cast so as to be of a width which is sufficiently small that the second projecting parts or formations 117 can extend past the base pail 25. In practice the extent to which the pail 117 extends past the base pall 25 towards the associated upright 1 Oa - 1 Ob depends upon the design intention but, if desired, the pail 117 rnay extend wholly or substantial ly for the length of the upper and lower limb 26, 27. As a result a unit 40 can be moved so that a lateral edge of the end pail 115 can lie in a single plane which is generally vertical and so that the edge 128 of the upper projecting pail 116 can be rnoved past the base pail 25 towards its associated Upright and so that the associated limb 42 of the main pail of the decking can also be moved closely adjacent or into engagement with its associated ledger 2 1. By this means the end pails 115 do not require end portions which are cut back and so the decking units 40 are all identical and do not require liaiidiii,,,,. In addition the end parts of the lower end pail 119a can be fastened to the intin-ned flai i-es 43), the upturned lips 44 being cut away as necessary to accoinniodate parts 11 9a.

Although in this specification the further scaffolding coillponent has comprised a decking unit 40 and the formation has been described as the lower projection 117, if desired the further scaffolding component may comprise any other suitable component associated with any suitable cross nien-ibei. whereby it is desired to perinit a formation of the ffirtlier scaffolding coniponent to be passed wholly or partly through the web of the connecting ineinber.

Although in the above examples for case of nianufactin.e the components have cooperating surfaces which are continuous and planar, if desired, one or 14 more of the cooperating surfaces could be continuous and provided with localised projecting areas, or could be provided on spaced separate elements, so as to be spaced an appropriate distance apart lengthwise of the transom for cooperation with a continuous planar or similar localised areas of the cooperating surface, or with spaced separate elements to provide the hereinbefore described connection and restraint fi-om angular movement.

In order to provide adequate restraint of relative angular movement, the cooperating surfaces are preferably laterally spaced by a distance of at least 10cm. If desired, the spacing inay be less than or greater than 10cm, the spacing depending upon the extent of restraint to relative angular movement required in any particular structure.

The ledgers 21 each have a single elongate eleinent which is a steel tube of circular tubular configuration but if desired, may be of other crosssection. A connector is connected, by welding in the present example, to each end of the elongate element.

The connectors described liereinbefore in connection with the transom are the same as the connector provided on the ledgers. However, if desired, there may be an absence of any notch on the web of the connector of the ledgers. Further discussion of the connectors of the ledgers is not required.

In a second embodiment, which is the saine as the first eillbodinlent except as described hereinafter, the ledgCI'S, Including, then. connectors, may be of the saine configuration as the transoms of the first embodiment and the decking units may have end parts as described in connection with the first embodiment but engaged with the ledgers. In this case the decking units extend at 90' to the direction illustrated in connection vith the first ernbodinient.

If desired, the transoins of the second einbodinient may be the same as the transoms described in connection with the first emboditnent or may be of the configuration described above in relation to the ledgers of the first embodiment or indeed may be of any other suitable design configuration.

When the transoms of the second ernbodinient are of the configuration as the transoms of the first embodiment the adjacent decking units may have an adjacent part of the same or similar configuration to the end parts engaged with the ledgers so as to engage with the transom in the same or a similar way as the end parts engage with the ledgers.

The features disclosed in the fore going description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expresse in their specific forms orin terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

16

Claims (1)

1. A builders' scaffolding of the kind described wherein the connector comprises a casting and the base pail of the connector lias opposite side faces which extend between said limbs and wherein at least one of the side faces has at least an end pail of the further scaffolding component extending therepast.

2. A builders' scaffolding according to Claim 1 wlierein the base pail and the limbs of the connector are of the same width.

3. A builders' scaffolding according to Claims 1 or 2 wherein an abutment is provided at one side of the recess defined by the limbs and the base pail of the connector to engage a part of the socket to Innit movement of the cross c member in a generally liorizontal plane.

4. A builders' seaffoldiii,,, according to any oiie of the preceding claims CI wherein the base pail is provided witli abutment means to ciiZ(-7)az(:y>e at least a pail of the cross member to facilitate comiection tliereto.

5. A builders' scaffolding accordling to Claim 4 wherein the cross lilember comprises a web part and Lipper aiici lower flanges disposed in cross-section, in a generally 1-sliape and the abLitnICIlt means may 1)io,lde a gap or gaps in which an end portion of the web pail is received.

6. A builders' scaffolding according to Claim 4 or 5 wlierein the crossmember lias a portion wlilcli engages a forination of the fill-tlleiscaffolding component.

17 7. A builders' scaffoldiiig accordiiig to any oiie of the preceding claims wherein the formation is of substantially constant cross-section throughout its length.

8. A builders' scaffolding according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the further component comprises a decking unit.

9. A builders' scaffolding accordmg to Claim 8 wlieii depeAent on Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the deckmg imit has first and secolid eild parts each of which c o-operates with a respective cross-member to support the decking unit and each of which has a portion wlilcli provides said formation.

10. A builders' scaffolding accordmg to Claim 9 wIlerein the or each C> formation restrains relative angular iiioveiiieiit betweeii a further component part and a respective cross-inember with the formatloii is engaged.

11. A builders' scaffoldiiig accordmg to Claim 10 wherein the ailgular movement is in a horizontal phane arid/or M -a vertical 12. A builders' seaffoldiiig accordmg to aiiy, oiie of the preceding claims wherein each cross-member lias aii iii)rai.diy ficl'ii,,,, abtament surface whicli engages an end part at positions \llilcli are spaced]ciigtli\vise of the crossmember.

13. A builders' scaffolding according to any one of the preceding claims C1 0 wherein each cross-menibei- has a side abutinew surface aild said end part having an abutment portloii whicli enoages said side abutillent surface at z -- -- positions which are spaced Iciigtlivise of the cross-inember.

18 14. A builders' scaffolding according to Claini 13 wherein the side abutment surface of the cross-i-nen-iber is provided on a flange such that the side abutment surfaces are transverse to said upwardly facing abutinent surface.

15. A scaffolding builders' according to Clann 14 wherein the flange is provided with a further side abutinent surface on the opposite side of said flange to said side abutment surface.

16. A builders' scaffolding accoi.ding to Clann 15 wherein said side abutment surfaces comprise a lip part of the 17. A builders' scaffolding according to Claini 12 or any one of Claims 13) to 16 when dependent on Claiiii 12 wherein the end parts are provided with a first projecting pail having an abutinent portion to eiiga,(,),e said upwardly facing abutment surface and a second pi. jecting part havin,,,, an abutment portion to Q) 1 z, D engage said side abutment surface.

18. A builders' scaffolding according to Claini 17 when dependent on 0 Claim 14 or any one of Claims 15 to 17 when dependent on Claiiii 14 wherein the abutment portion of the end part coinprises a recess in which said flange is received.

19. A builders' scaffolding accoi-diii,,,, to Claini 18,liei.eiii an innel. face of said recess is disposed to abut the side abLitinent SUrface.

20. A builders' scaffolding according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cross-meinber has an upper transverse linib.

19 21. A builders' scaffolding according to Claiin 20 when dependent on Claim 12 or any one of Claims 13 to 19 when dependent on Clalin 12 wherein the upwardly facing abutinent surface is provided on said upper transverse limb.

22. A builders' scaffolding according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cross-member has a downwardly facing abutinent surface disposed below said upwardly facing abutiiieiit surface.

23. A builders' scaffolding according to Claini 22 when dependent on Claim 21 wherein said downwardly facing abutinew surface is provided on said upper transverse Ifinb.

24. A builders' scaffolding according to Claiiii 6 or any one of Clanns 7 to 23 when dependent on Claini 6 wherein the forination is provided with a surfce opposed to and spaced froin the dowilwai-dly facIng abutnient surface of the upper transverse Ilinb.

25. A builders' scaffolding according to aii, one of the preceding claims C.

wherein the cross-inenibei- is provided with a ti-aiis,ei.se 11mb coiinected to said flange.

26. A builders' scaffolding accordnig to Claini 25 when dependent directly or indirectly on Claini 23) wherein the lower traiisverse Ilinb is connected to said upper transverse flinb by a, web part.

27. A builders' scaffolding according to aii, one of the preceding claims wherein the base part of the connect is connected to an ciid part of the crossmember.

28. A builders' scaffolding according to ally one of the preceding claims wherein the upper and lower limbs of the connector are provided with apertures in which the wedge shaped rneinber is received.

29. A builders' scaffolding according to ally one of the preceding claims wherein the cross member comprises a transom or a ledger.

30. A builders' scaffolding substantially as lierembefore described witli reference to the accompanying di.awiiigs.

C) 31. A cross-meniber for Lise ill a bLilldei.s' scaffolding according to ally of the preceding claims.

32. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described berein and/or in the accompanying drawinos.

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