GB2386638A

GB2386638A - Scaffolding clip for boards

Info

Publication number: GB2386638A
Application number: GB0206463A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clive Day
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-19
Filing date: 2002-03-19
Publication date: 2003-09-24
Also published as: GB0206463D0

Abstract

A scaffolding clip is disclosed having a conventional clamping collar whereby the clip can be secured to a scaffolding pole. The clamping collar supports a claw having a pair of fingers separated to form a slot and shaped so that in use when secured to a standard (1,2) the fingers can extend over an upper edge of a scaffolding board used to provide a toe board (9) whereby when two clips are secured in opposing relation the ends of a scaffolding board can be received into the opposite slots to provide a stop end toe board (8).

Description

: - 1 Scaffolding Clip 2386638 The present invention is concerned with a

clip for use in building scaffolding, and particularly but not exclusively for securing a stop end toe board.

5 A conventional scaffolding installation consists of a tubular framework formed from upright members known as standards, horizontal tubular members known as ledgers extend longitudinally usually parallel to a building, horizontal members extending perpendicular to the ledgers are known as transoms. The rectangular framework so formed usually also includes braces which extend diagonally. The members are held 10 together by clips of various types, however, that most commonly used consists of a pivotally mounted collar adapted to encircle a member and secured by means of a nut and bolt located opposite the pivot. The part of the clip extending away from the collar is formed as an arcuate claw the curve of which complements the curve of a tubular member. The clip will grip a board by extending over and around the edge of the board 15 lying in a plane parallel to the long axis of the member, usually with the long axis of the board perpendicular to the long axis of the member.

A working platform is formed by laying boards horizontally across the transoms.

The boards may be secured to the scaffolding by means of clips. To alleviate the hazard of tools or materials being accidentally pushed off the platform a board must be installed 20 extending vertically up from the outer edge of the platform to form a toe board. For the same reason safety regulations also require the installation of a stop end toe board extending parallel to the transoms at the end of each platform. The installation of the stop end toe board presents a problem in that access to the outside standards and outside ledgers is obstructed by the toe board and/or the platform. It is therefore 25 common practice to secure the stop end toe board to the inside standard only using a conventional clip. However, the conventional clip then acts as a pivotal hinge which will allow the stop end toe board to swing open if hit hard allowing material or tools to fall

!.' - 2 from the platform. A need for a clip capable of alleviating this hazard is perceived and addressed by the present invention.

A scaffolder must already have access to numerous tools and components and a proliferation of the types of components required will inconvenience the scaffolder both 5 financially and practically. It is therefore an additional object of the present invention to provide a clip capable of alleviating the aforementioned problem and generally useful as a clip in many additional applications.

It is also desirable that any clip will operate in a manner familiar to the scaffolder and acceptable to the safety regulations to alleviate the risk of incorrect installation.

10 Ease of manufacture and low cost are also objectives of the present invention.

Accordingly the present invention provides a scaffolding clip having a securing collar defining an aperture with a central axis capable of clamping to a scaffolding pole and a claw capable of gripping over the edge of a board said claw including a slot disposed parallel to the axis to receive an edge or end of a toe board.

15 The slot provides a convenient means of securing a toe end board by simply securing two opposing clips one to each of an inside and opposing outside standard so that the slots are in opposition and at the same height. The toe end board is then readily slotted into place vertically.

The clip may be provided solely for the purpose of securing a stop end toe 20 board, in which case the claw may be provide by two vertically extending parallel members with an open slot between them. However, the claw may also resemble a conventional clip claw with the slot formed vertically in the claw. Such a clip may be used as a conventional clip or to secure a toe end board as described above.

A scaffolding clip embodying the present invention will now be described by way 25 of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a scaffolding clip in use to secure a stop end toe board and,

At ': Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the scaffolding clip of figure 1, Figure 3 is an elevation of a second embodiment of the clip looking towards the slot. Referring to the figures, a scaffolding installation is shown from the inside in 5 figure 1 and has an inside standard 1, and an opposite outside standard 2. An inside ledger 3 extends horizontally, parallel to the building and an outside ledger 4. A transom 5 (only one of which is shown) extends horizontally and perpendicular to the ledgers to support a platform 6. A pair of identical clips 7 each constructed according to the invention are shown securing a stop end toe board 8 and a toe board 9.

10 As can be seen enlarged in figure 2 each clip 7 consists of a conventional mounting bracket comprising an arcuate bar 10 mounted by means of a pivot 11 at one end. The opposite end can be secured by means of a bolt 12 mounted by means of a pivot 13 to a body 14 of the clip. The bar 10 co-operates with an arcuate cut out in the body 14 to form a clamping collar which, when a nut is tightened onto the bolt 12 acts to 15 clamp the clip to a standard. Extending away from the body of the clip 7 is a claw part which is divided into two fingers. Each finger may have a riser part 15 extending slightly up (parallel to the axis "A") from the body 14, a bridging part 16 which extends Art,.

perpendicular to the axis "A" and allows the claw part to bridge over the toe board 9, a depending part 17 extending down from the bridging part and parallel to the axis "A" and 20 a gripping part 18 which extends horizontally back towards the axis A parallel to the bridging part 16. Importantly the fingers are separated to form a slot extending parallel to the axis "A" of a size suited to received a scaffolding board end or edge of a scaffolding board, e.g., in the range 20-30mm. The bridging part will preferably have a span in excess of the thickness of a scaffolding board, e.g., of about 40 to 60 mm in 25 order to provide a slot of sufficient depth to securely engage a stop end toe board.

In use to secure the toe board 8 the clip is lowered over the toe board 8 so that each gripping part engages the toe board 8. As the collar is tightened onto the standard

2 by means of the nut and bolt the gripping parts 18 bear against the toe board and clamp it against the standard 2. To secure a stop end toe board, a second clip is fastened to the opposite inside standard 1 with its slot facing the outside standard clip.

A toe end board 9 cut to suitable length can then be lowered so that its ends engage one 5 each in each in each of the slots.

By careful design of the proportions and shape of the clip, e.g., by making the riser part, bridging part and at least part of the depending part of arcuate shape corresponding in size to a scaffolding pole, it may also be used in place of a conventional clip to secure a scaffolding pole as a transom or ledger to a standard.

10 Figure 3 is an enlarged end elevation on the illustraating a second embodiment of the clip, here the opposing inside edges of the depending part 17 of each finger are curved to form a Ups' shape so that the width of the slot decreases towards the bottom to grip the sides of the stop end toe board. This acts to prevent the stop end toe board being displaced in the direction of its length and improves the tolerance of the clip for 15 inaccurately cut stop end toe boards.

Claims

1. A scaffolding clip having a securing collar defining an aperture with a central 5 axis capable of clamping to a scaffolding pole and a claw capable of gripping over the edge of a board said claw including a slot disposed parallel to the axis to receive an edge or end of a toe board.

2. A clip according to claim 1 wherein the claw is provided by two fingers each 10 having a riser part rising parallel to the axis, a bridging part extending perpendicularly away from the axis and of a span sufficient to bridge the thickness of a scaffolding board, a depending part extending down from the bridging part parallel to the axis, said fingers being separated to form said slot and said span being sufficient to provide a slot of a depth sufficient to securely engage the end or edge of a scaffolding board.

3. A clip according to claim 2 wherein the each finger is provided with a gripping part extending back towards the axis from the depending part in order to grip the front surface of a scaffolding board and preserve the depth of the slot.

20

4. A scaffolding clip as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.