GB2382614A

GB2382614A - Scaffold system mountable on window sill or ledge

Info

Publication number: GB2382614A
Application number: GB0119126A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard Crawford Robert Blain; Elizabeth Olive Blain
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-04
Filing date: 2001-08-04
Publication date: 2003-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 2021-08-04
Also published as: GB0119126D0; GB2382614B

Abstract

The scaffold system includes a work platform 11 directly supported by framed transom 1 with supports at each end. The first end is secured to the window sill or ledge using a screw clamp connected to horizontal transom 15 and vertical member 18. The second end is secured on a sloping or flat surface, such as a roof, outside the building via a swivel foot 5 connected to telescopically extending members 3 and 4. Vertical adjustability of the platform can be achieved by sliding transom 1 along vertical members 18 and 3.

Description

DEMOUNTABLE EXTENDING MULTI-PURPOSE SCAFFOLD SYSTEM This invention relates to further development of Prior Art, Patent Application No 9903583. 4 a 'Demountable Extending Scaffold System'. The advantage of this design is that the one system accommodates a multiplicity of situations. Scaffolding is the usual method of supporting work platforms. Traditional scaffolding commences from ground level and the cost of providing small work platforms for dormer window maintenance work and for high rise window maintenance work is enormous, increasing in cost as the height of the building increases.

Occasionally there are restrictions preventing the erection of scaffolding in busy thoroughfares and occasionally there are structural obstructions. Although the cross section of members are shown as tubular, rectangular box section or any geometrical sections may be used with suitably shaped connections. For narrow apertures, seats could substitute for platforms.

According to this invention there is provided a scaffold system to allow a means of access to the dormer window face, cill, cheeks and roof surface and which can be placed into position by one person through a dormer window or other aperture Figs 1-6. from the safety of the building interior. The system support comprises a vertical sliding framed transom 1 with at one end an inverted standard 18 which acts as a guide and support. A shortened transom 15 is secured to the standard 18 and to a window cill, wall or upstand by an adjustable screw clamp 2 and the other end by an inward folding telescopic standard comprising an outer standard 3 and inner standard 4 connected to a load distributing swivel plate 5. (An alternative to the inward folding standard may be as described for 13,14, & 20). The load is transmitted at a point which is substantially horizontally spaced from the window/opening onto a inclined load bearing roof surface, or alternatively placed onto a load distributing layer board (not shown).

All roof pitches can be accommodated by the swivel plate and by adjusting the spring loaded telescopic standard (outer standard 3 and inner standard 4) and securing both by pinning through pre-determined holes in the outer standard 3 and the inner standard 4. The holes in the inner standard 4 are spaced to accommodate different roof pitches with a fine adjustment 17 for levelling the framed transom. The height of the top and lower guardrail is regulated by rivets or rings fixed onto the capped standards 3 & 14. The end section and end return guardrails 7 are of standard lengths whilst the central section guardrails 6 are telescopic in order to span the centre section which will be governed by the length of window and position of opening sashes or by the distance of accommodating apertures. Standard length guard rails can be used

for the centre span where appropriate. The ledgers 8 for the fixed width work platform panels 11 are secured to the tubular section transom by'U'shaped saddles 16 (welded to the tubular ledgers) and secured in position by trapped wedges 9. One end of the ledger 8 is upturned 20 to receive and secure the end standard 14 with the spring loaded joint 13. The other end of the ledger accepts an extension tube 10. Ledgers can also be of fixed length, where appropriate.

Members are interchangeable for left or right hand positions.

A configuration of the invention provides for a work platform 11 for high-rise window maintenance work below cill level Figs 5 & 6. The work platform I I is suspended from a window cill, wall or upstand with at one end by means of a shortened transom 15 an adjustable screw clamp 2 and an inverted wall standard 18, adjusted vertically by spacer 22.

The ledgers and work platform are supported by a vertical sliding framed transom I and folding standard 3. secured to the inverted/drop wall standard 18 by fixed or adjustable collar clamps 21 The remainder of the construction is as previously described and is illustrated in Figs 1-6 inclusive.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings 1-6 in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of the multi purpose scaffold system with its constituent members ; Figure 2 shows an end view of the multi purpose scaffold system with its constituent members ; Figure 3 shows a plan view of the multi purpose scaffold system with its constituent members.

Figure 4 shows a pictorial view of the multi purpose scaffold system with its constituent members assembled (to provide access to the face, cheeks and roof of a dormer window) in position, incorporating the framed transom 1, telescopic standard 3, swivel plate 5, inverted wall standard 18 fixed ledgers 8, upturned ledger/standard 20, extension tubes 10, work platform 11, end standards 14, fixed length top and bottom guard rails 7, telescopic top and bottom guard rails 6. (The rails are omitted in part to allow unobstructed view of the assembly.)

Figure 5 Shows a side view of the multi purpose scaffold system whose configuration provides a work platform for work below cill level and comprises a shortened transom 15, screw clamp 2, inverted wall standard 18, adjustable spacer 22, framed transom 1, inner folding standard 3, fixed or adjustable collar 21 Figure 6 shows an end view of the multi purpose scaffold system whose configuration provides a work platform for work below cill level and comprises a shortened transom 15, screw clamp 2, inverted wall standard 18, adjustable spacer 22, framed transom 1, inner folding standard 3 and fixed or adjustable collar 21.

Referring to the drawing, Figs. 1-6. the multi-purpose scaffold system comprises a framed transom 1, inverted wall standard 18, shortened transom 15 with at one end a screw clamp 2 to secure the frame to a cill, wall or upstand and at the other end a folding telescopic standard comprising an outer standard 3 hinged at 12 and an inner standard 4. The telescopic folding standard comprising an inner standard 4 is adjusted vertically inside the outer standard 3 and secured by a pin. The plate 5 swivels to accommodate any pitch of roof surface The length of the framed transom 1 is fixed to accommodate the required width of the working platform 11.

Lateral stability is provided by the load bearing swivel plate 5 (two framed transoms per working platform) and by fixed ledgers 8. Different lengths of window (spans) are accommodated by inserting extension tubes 10 into the ends of the fixed ledgers 8 and pinned.

Standards 3 have a snap-fix joint 12 which allow inward folding to facilitate safe and easy fixing of the telescopic guard rails from the safety of the building interior. The end standards 14 are secured to upturn ledgers/standards 20 by spring loaded joints 13. Standards allow a predetermined height of the top and bottom guardrails which are secured to the standards by spring loaded couplers. Rivets or rings are fixed into each standard at appropriate positions to prevent the guardrail sliding down. The top of the standards have enlarged caps to prevent the top guard rails lifting off Referring to drawings Figs. 5 & 6 the clamped inverted standard 18, shortened transom 15, framed transom 1 folding standard 3, adjustable spacer 22, collar or adjustable clamps 21 form an assembled frame secured on and to a cill, ledge or upstand to support the work platform, guardrails etc and to transmit loads to a vertical surface below cill level.

For a dormer window with two opening sashes Figs 1-5. The sequence for providing a working platform 11 to the front of the dormer and for providing access to the dormer face, cill, cheeks and roof surface is as follows: The shortened transom 15 secured to the inverted wall standard 18 is positioned to accommodate the distance between cill and roof surface, the telescopic standard is adjusted to suit the roof pitch by means of the pre-determined holes in the telescopic inner 4 and outer 3 standards which are securely pinned. (allowance has been made for the thickness of a layer board, where used, in the pre determined spacing of the holes) The wall standard is interchangeable to accommodate various depths between cill support and work platform to form a framed transom support The first framed transom support and connected swivel plate 5 is offered through the window opening with the swivel plate 5 being positioned onto the roof surface or layer board on the outer end with at the inner end the shortened transom 15 laid on the cill. Should it be necessary, the framed transom 1 can be levelled using the fine adjuster 17 or spring loaded adjustment. The shortened transom 15 is then securely (temporarily) clamped to the cilllledge by tightening the screw clamp 2. (right side from the safety of the building interior).

Obstructions to fixing such as radiators etc, can be overcome by the use of shaped or plain packing.

The second framed transom support, telescopic standard and connected swivel plate is positioned in the same manner as the first. (Left side from inside the building).

An extension tube 10 is inserted into the end of a ledger 8 which is then slid along the right side cranked transom 1 to the telescopic standard 3 and secured to the cranked transom 1 by a trapped wedge 9 through the saddle 16

An extension tube 10 is inserted into the end of a ledger 8 which is then placed onto the right side framed transom 1 nearest to the cill and secured to the framed transom 1 by a trapped wedge 9 through the saddle 16

A ledger 8 is slid along the left side framed transom I to the telescopic standard 3 and secured to the cranked transom 1 by a trapped wedge 9 through the saddle 16.

A ledger 8 is placed onto the left side framed transom I nearest to the cill and secured to the framed transom 1 by a trapped wedge 9 through the saddle 16 The extension tubes 10 inserted into both right side ledgers 8 are partly slid out and inserted into both left side ledgers 8 (completing the span to carry the work platform panels 11) and secured by pinning The top and bottom telescopic guard rails 6 are clipped on to folded standards 3 which are then pushed out and snapped/secured in the vertical position by means of the snap fix joint 12.

With the ledgers 8 & 10 and the telescopic guardrails 6 in position, single (short length) work platform panels 11 are offered out from the inside of the building and slid along the ledgers 8 and extension tubes 10 to form a work platform between the extremity of the window openings. Spring shells 19 are inserted into the semi-circular saddle 19 to accommodate the reduced diameter of the extension tubes 10.

The remaining work platform panels I I are laid at both ends of the work platform 11 from the safety of the already positioned centre work platform 11.

Individual end standards 14 are fixed into the upturned ledger/standard 20 and secured in position by a spring loaded joint 13.

The remaining guardrails 7 are then snapped into position and the toe boards fixed.

Access to the dormer cheeks and roof surface can be obtained using a ladder or access board secured to the inner edge of the work platform at either end of the scaffold.

To dismantle the scaffold, the steps described above are carried out in reverse sequence.

The configuration for high level windows or for windows in high-level buildings requires the following sequence.

Provision of a work platform below cill level Figs 5 & 6, require the framed transom support, comprising shortened transom 1, inverted standard 18 framed transom 1 and folding standard 3 to be assembled with spacer 22 adjusted to accommodate the cill projection. The frame is then offered out of the window or other aperture and securely clamped (temporarily) to the cill, ledge or upstand as before described. (Right side from inside the building).

The process is repeated for the left side framed transom support.

The ledgers 8 & 10, guardrails 6 and single work platform panels 11 are positioned as before described. The operative positions the end platform panels 11 from the safety of the already positioned centre platform. The end standards 14, remaining guardrails 7 and toe boards are then positioned to provide a safe work place.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A demountable extending multi-purpose scaffold system comprising first and second support structures and a work platform, where each support structure includes a first adjustable horizontal member having an adjustable screw clamp secured to a vertical member at a first end and to a sliding vertical intermediate member at the second end and a vertical sliding framed horizontal support member secured to a vertical intermediate member at the first end and to a telescopically disposed vertical member with an adjustable swivel foot located at its lower end at the second end
2. A demountable extending multi-purpose scaffold system as claimed in claim I where the inner and outer vertical members are secured in a predetermined position by means of a pin passing through aligned apertures in the vertical members.
3 A demountable extending multi-purpose scaffold system as claimed in claim 1 where the work platform is maintained in a horizontal position given dissimilar aperture levels for horizontal support members.
4 A demountable extending multi-purpose scaffold system as claimed in claim 1 where the longitudinal and transverse sections in the support structure accommodate a detachable sliding seat
5. A demountable extending multi-purpose scaffold system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a fine adjustable means located adjacent to the adjustable swivel foot..

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6 A demountable extending multi-purpose scaffold system as claimed in any preceding claim where the outer vertical members are hinged.
7 A demountable extending multi-purpose scaffold system as claimed in any preceding claim where the work platform includes ledgers each having one end upturned to receive a vertical member by means of a spring loaded joint where the ledgers are fitted to an underside of the working platform and secured to the support structures by means of'U'shaped saddles held in position by trapped wedges or commercially obtainable fittings.
8 A demountable extending multi-purpose scaffold system as claimed in claim 5 comprising reduced diameter/section extension pieces, a first end of which is fittable into a first ledger and a second end of which is fittable into a second ledger.
9. A demountable extending multi-purpose scaffold system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising guard rails extending between adjacent vertical outer member.
10. A demountable extending multi-purpose scaffold system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the guard rails are telescopic.
11. A demountable extending multi-purpose scaffold system whereby the support structure revolves on the axis of the vertical intermediate member to facilitate compactness for carrying and storage.

12 A demountable extending multi-purpose scaffold system as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1-6