GB2415225A

GB2415225A - Kickboard bracket and telescopic rail for builders' trestle

Info

Publication number: GB2415225A
Application number: GB0422072A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Liam Clear
Original assignee: Safestand Ltd
Current assignee: Safestand Ltd
Priority date: 2004-06-18
Filing date: 2004-10-05
Publication date: 2005-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 2024-10-05
Also published as: GB0605401D0; GB2420822A; GB2415225B; GB2420821B; IES20050275A2; GB2421050B; GB0605399D0; GB2415223B; GB2420822B; GB0605403D0; CN1989309A; GB0422072D0; GB2421050A; GB2420821A; GB0413686D0; GB2415223A

Abstract

A bracket 60 for securing a first kickboard 62 transversely of a second kickboard 54 comprises a socket 64 for receiving an end of kickboard 62 and a clip 60 for securing the bracket to kickboard 54, and a lateral extension 76 for stabilising the bracket. Also disclosed is a telescopic safety rail comprising inner and outer parts 80, 82, where the inner part is prevented from sliding free of the outer part, e.g. by a leaf spring 98 and pin 92 co-operating with holes 94, 96 in tubes 80, 82. Also disclosed are a ladder support for staging, a trestle with facility for a removable upright, and a trestle with a fixed kickboard bracket.

Description

BP-09-04 24 1 5225 FITTINGS FOR BUILDERS' TRESTLES This invention relates

to trestles ("bandstands") for supporting working platfonns used on building sites and the like. Two or more such trestles are usually used together with scaffolding boards supported between them to make up the platform. Such trestles are s generally used to support working platforms of relatively low height (e.g. 0.2-3.0 m) as a more convenient alternative to scaffolding. The invention relates more particularly to access and safety features for such trestles and p]atfonns. A system of builders' trestles provided with safety barriers, board end supporting safety brackets, end gates and kickboard brackets is described in LJK Patent No. GB2378978.

A ladder is usually used to access the platfonn supported by the trestles. Leaning the ladder against the edge of the platform may be unsafe, as the boards Conning the platform are simply rested on upper crossbars of the trestles and can shift under lateral thrust loads. The ladder can also topple sideways unless tied securely to the trestle structure. Furthermore, a large gap must be left in the safety rail, both for the ladder itself and to allow workmen to step off and on the ladder, to and from the platfonn. This manocuvre can be difficult, particularly when canning heavy loads, as access to the platform is in front of and to one side of the ladder.

The invention disclosed in GB0413686.7 addresses these problems by providing a ladder support bracket comprising a laterally extending and against which a ladder can be rested in use, and a generally vertically extending arm adapted for engagement over or within the top of an upright support of a builder's trestle or scaffolding. The generally vertically extending and can simply be dropped over or into the upright, and a ladder rested against the laterally 2s extending bracket anm. This anm may be arranged to extend parallel to platform supporting cross-members of the builders' trestles or scaffolding, such that the platfonn lies to one side of the ladder. The gap in any safety rail required for ladder access can thereby be reduced, and stepping onto or off the ladder involves a simple sideways movement.

The generally vertically extending and may be hollow and fit telescopically over the upright in use. Preferably however, it comprises a downwardly directed spigot which engages within the hollow interior of a tubular upright support. The generally vertically extending ann is BP09-0483 preferably provided with means to engage the upright support to prevent rotation of the support bracket around the longitudinal axis of the upright. For example the engagement means and upright may have complementary non-circular (e.g. square or rectangular) profiles. s

The laterally extending and preferably has one end attached to the generally vertically extending arm, and a stop member at its other end. The ladder can then be rested against the laterally extending aria between the vertical and and the stop, secured against toppling sideways.

As shown for example in GB2378978, a builder's trestle providing a safety barrier comprises a pair of upright supports connected by a crossmember upon which planks or boards can be supported in use to make a platform, one of the upright supports having an upward extension above the crossmember, to which one or more rails can be attached for forth the safety barrier. When the trestles are being used against an existing wall, a single safety barrier at the opposite side of the platform to the wall will be adequate. However, where the wall is absent or incomplete (for example when the trestles are being used to build the wall) safety barriers at either side of the platform may be desirable.

Accordmgly, in a further independent aspect, the invention disclosed in GB0413686.7 provides a builder's trestle providing a safety barrier as described above, in which the crossmember is provided at its end opposite the upward extension with a fitting for receiving the lower end of a removable upright, to which further safety rails can be attached to form a further safety bander. The fitting may simply be an open upper end of the upright at that end of the crossmember, into which the lower end of the removable upright is telescopingly fitted, the open end preferably extending a little above the crossmember to provide an edge stop for the scaffolding boards used to form the platform.

Alternatively, the fitting may comprise a spigot secured in or fonned from the upper end of the upright at that end of the crossmember.

BP-09-04S, Preferably however, the fitting comprises a tubular socket attached to that end of the crossmember, the upright at that end of the crossmember being attached to the crossmember inboard of the socket. The socket preferably comprises a through-going opening for receiving the dower end of the removable upright. Debris such as mortar droppings therefore s will fall through the opening and will not accumulate in and obstruct the socket.

The removable upright and the upward extension may each be provided with fittings for attachment of the safety rails, these fittings being provided at approximately the same height on the removable upright as on the upward extension. Safety rails can therefore also be fitted 0 between the removable upright and upward extension, for example to form safety barriers at the ends of the working platoon. The safety rails may be telescopic, allowing them to be secured between upright supports at various different spacings.

GB2378978 also discloses brackets secured to the upward extension, for holding a kickboard, used to prevent objects from being accidentally pushed over the edge of the working platform. l hose brackets extend over the top of the board conning the edge of the platform nearest to the upward extension and can interfere with placement of this board. Also, it is sometimes necessary to remove this board whilst the remaining boards are kept in place as the working platform. The presence of the overhanging kickboard brackets makes this very difficult or impossible.

In accordance with a further independent aspect of the invention disclosed in GB0413686.7 there Is provided a builder's trestle providing a safety barrier and comprising a pair of upright supports connected by a crossmember upon which planks or boards can be supported in use 2s to make a platform, one of the upright supports having an upward extension above the crossmember, the trestle further comprising a bracket extending upwardly from the crossmember for receiving a kickboard. For example, the bracket may be spaced from the upright, with the kickbroad received and held between the bracket and the upward extension.

The platfom-forming boards are therefore all inboard of the kickboard bracket and can all be easily removed and/or rearranged without hindrance from the kickboard or its bracket.

BP-09-04S3 To better prevent objects from being accidentally knocked over the edges of the platform supported by the trestles, it is desirable to provide transverse kickboards at the ends of the p]atfonn as well as a longitudinal kickboard at the rear edge (opposite the working side).

Joist hangers are known, having a pocket for reception of a joist end, and a strap or bracket for securing the pocket to an adjacent wal] or stringer. Such hangers are not suitable for securing transverse kickboards to a longitudinal kickboard on a platfonn supported by builders' trestles. Either the hanger must be pennanent]y or semi- pennanent]y secured to the ]ongitudina] kickboard or, if left loose, does not forth a sufficiently stable support for the transverse kickboard. In particular, the hanger may pivot about the strap or bracket and 0 disengage from the longitudinal kickboard. Thus, if such joist hangers were to be used loose, far from guarding against accidents caused by falling objects, the transverse kickboard itself would become a hazardous unsecured and potentially falling object.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a bracket for Is securing a first kickboard transversely of a second kickboard, comprising a socket for receiving an end of the first kickboard and a clip for securing the bracket to the second kickboard, the clip comprising a lateral extension aligned with the longitudinal axis of the second kickboard for stabi]ising the bracket thereon. Preferably the lateral extension comprises a pair of projections extending one on either side of the socket. The extensions may lie along the top edge of the second kickboard in use. The socket may comprise a bottom wall and a pair of opposed side walls for engaging the end of the first kickboard. The transverse kickboard bracket is not only useful in conjunction with platforms supported by builders' trestles, but may be used in connection with any kickboards, including those used in staging, scaffolding and the like. The clip may comprise a hook portion.

A further potential hazard arises from the telescopic safety raids referred to above. In one fond, as shown for example in Figure 7, such a safety raid comprises an inner tubular e.g. square- or rectangularsectioned part slideab]e within an outer tubular past of corresponding section. The mner part is freely engageab]e with/disengageable from the outer part, so that during handling and installation the firmer part may accidenta]]y slide out of the outer part and fad] from height. Accordingly, in a second independent aspect, the present invention comprises a telescopic rail for use in forming a guard or safety barrier for builders' trestles, BP-09-048 3 s staging, scaffolding or the like, comprising inner and outer telescopic parts, in which the inner part is prevented from sliding free of the outer part in use. For example, the inner part may comprise a lateral outward projection engageable with a lateral inward projection on the outer pan' to prevent the two parts from sliding *ee of one another. The lateral outward projection may comprise an inner end stop and the lateral inward projection a corresponding end stop, e.g. a collar, on the outer part. Preferably however, the inner and outer parts are prevented from sliding free of one another by a resiliently loaded latch carried by one part, engageab]e in a locking formation on the other part. The latch may be a pin and the locking formation a socket or aperture. The resilient loading or bias may be provided by a leaf spring lo e.g. a bow spring mounted in the inner part. A plurality of locking formations may be provided, for example one at either end of the outer part, whereby the safety rail may be latched in a fully extended and a fully retracted position.

The invention and various preferred features and advantages of it are further described below is with reference to illustrative embodiments shown in the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ladder support bracket as described above; Fig. 2 shows the bracket of Fig. I being offered up for fitment to the upward extension of a trestle or scaffolding; Fig. 3 shows the bracket of Fig. I fitted to the upward extension; Fig. 4 shows the bracket of Fig. 1 in use supporting a ladder for access to a work platform supported on builders' trestles; Fig. 5 shows the lower end of a removable upright being offered up for figment to a trestle; Fig. 6 shows the removable upright lower end received in its socket on the trestle; Fig. 7 shows assembled safety barriers referred to above; and 2s Fig. 8 shows a crossmember kickboard bracket referred to above; Fig. 9 shows a transverse kickboard bracket embodying the first aspect of the present invention; Fig. 10 shows the bracket of Fig. 9 in use; Fig. 11 is a cross-section through overlapping parts of a telescopic rail embodying the second aspect of the present invention; Fig. 12 is an alternative embodiment of the telescopic rail, and Figs. 13 and 14 are perspective views of the inner telescopic part of the rail shown in Fig. 12.

BP-09-04R, The ladder support bracket 10 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a generally vertical anm 12 and a laterally extending and 14 each formed from square sectioned steel tubes each having one end welded to the other. A pair of reinforcing plates 16 is provided at the joint. The other s (upper) end of the vertical and 12 has a generally horizontal plate 18 welded to it. A spigot depends from the plate 18 parallel to the anm 12 to provide a hook-like configuration. A plate 22 is welded to the free end ofthe lateral aria 14 to form an end stop. As shown in Fig. 2, the spigot can be fitted into the top end of a square sectioned tubular uptight support 24 of a builder's trestle of the kind shown in GB2378978. Ends of the reinforcing plates 16 project 0 outwardly below the spigot 20 to embrace the upright 24. The lower end of the and 12 is thus steadied and the bracket 10 is prevented from rotating around the upright 24. In Fig. 3, the spigot is shown completely received within the hollow interior of the upright 24. Ears 26 for attachment of safety rails remain accessible with the bracket 10 in place.

As shown in Fig. 4, the lateral and 14 of the ladder support bracket extends in use generally parallel to the crossmembers 28 of the trestles 30. In this position, the and 14 can support a ladder 32 beside the working platform 34 resting on the trestles 30. The ladder 32 can be tied to the and 14 as shown at 36. Only a small gap in the safety rail is required for workmen to step through between the ladder and the platform 34. This gap when not in use can be closed by safety rails located between the ears of adjacent uprights 24 in the usual way.

Fig. 5 S]lOWS a tubular socket 38 welded to the end of the upper crossmember 28 of a trestle 30. The crossmember end extends outwardly beyond an upright support 40. The lower end of a removable upright extension 42 can be telescopingly received in the socket 38. Fig. 6 2s shows the extension 42 lower end received in the socket 38. A welded- on stop plate 46 prevents the end from passing completely through the socket 38.

As shown in Fig. 7, upper ends of the upright extensions 42 are provided with ears 26 for receiving end spigots of safety rails 46 so as to forth a safety barrier at the working side of the platform. Safety rails 46 may also be fastened in the same manner between a removable upright extension 42 and the fixed upright support 24 at the other side of the same trestle, to form an end bander. For this purpose, the ears 26 are fixed to the upright extensions 42 and BP-09-0483 supports 24 at substantially the same heights above the p]atfonn. Safety rails 46 are also secured between the fixed upright supports 24 to fond a safety bander at the other side of the platform, parallel with and opposite to the working side. The safety rails 42 are preferably telescopic for adjustment to different trestle spacings and widths. They may be removed s when no longer needed, for example being removed progressively as a wall is built up in front of the platform.

In Fig. 8 there is shown a kickboard bracket in the foTTn of a generally upright plate 48 welded to the trestle upper crossmember 28 just inboard of the trestle fixed upright support lo 24, to define a board-receiving slot 50. The plate 48 is spaced a sufficient distance from the tubular socket 38 (Fig. 5) to allow Eminent of a board end supporting bracket 52 to the crossmember 28, if required. A longitudinal kickboard 54 can be seen in Fig. 4.

Figs. 9 and 10 show a bracket 60 for securing a transverse kickboard 62 to the longitudinal kickboard 54, for example to fond a barrier to prevent objects from being accidentally knocked over the ends of the working platfonn 34. The bracket 60 comprises a socket 64 for receiving an end or Conner of the transverse kickboard 62, the socket having a bottom wall 66 and an opposed pair of triangular sidewalls 68 spaced for snug reception of a standard scaffolding plank between them. The bracket 60 further comprises a clip 70 having a hook portion 72 extending parallel to a rear wall 74 of the socket 64, so that the clip 70 may be hooked over the longitudinal kickboard 54 whose upper edge is thus snugly received between the rear wall 74 and the hook portion 72. The clip 70 supports the socket 64 and thus the kickboard 62 from the kickboard 54 at a suitable height above the adjacent trestle crossnembers 28, allowing for the thickness of the platform 34. 2s

The clip 70 also comprises a pair of lateral extensions or projections 76, one projecting to either side of the socket 64. In use the extensions or projections 76 lie along the top edge of the longitudinal kickboard 54 and stabilise the socket 60, preventing it from twisting about the longitudinal axis of the transverse kickboard 62. The transverse kickboard 62 is therefore stably and finally secured to the longitudinal kickboard 54. If desired, the opposite end of the transverse kickboard 62, remote Tom the socket 64, can be braced against the endmost upright extension 42, to prevent the kickboard 62 from tending to swing outwardly of the BP-09-04S 3 platform 34 about the bracket 60. The transverse kickboard 62 may even be clamped or otherwise secured to the upright extension 42.

A safety feature for securing inner 80 and outer 82 tubular parts of a telescopic rail 46 s together to prevent the two pasts from sliding free of one another is shown in Fig. 11. The inner end of the Inner part 80 is flared to foam an end stop collar 84 having a lateral outward projection 86. Correspondingly, the firmer end 88 of the outer part 82 is fonned of reduced cross-section to provide a lateral inward projection 90. The projections 86, 90 will abut one another to prevent the inner telescopic part 80 from being fully withdrawn from the outer 0 telescopic part 82. As shown, the collar 84 and reduced end 88 are foamed by plastically deforming ends of the parts 80, 82, e.g. by crimping, swaying or the like. The required defonnation of the part inner ends 84, 88 may take place prior to attaching (e.g. welding) the end spigots to the outer end of each raid part 80, 82. The outer end of the inner part 80 is first fed through the outer end of the outer part 82 and out of the outer part inner end 88. The spigots are then attached, after any necessary flattening of the part outer ends.

Instead of being formed by plastic deformation of the rail parts, the lateral projections could originate on separate components, e.g. end stops/collars, which are later attached to the parts 80, 82 by welding or other suitable means. The lateral projections 86, 90, rather than being provided around the entire circumference of the part 80, 82 inner ends 84, 88, can instead be provided on only one, two or three corresponding faces of the parts 80, 82. Other (preferably non-circular) cross-sections for the parts 80, 82, besides the square or rectangular cross-sections shown, are also possible, with some or all of the part circumferences being provided with lateral projections. 2s

Figs. 12 to 14 show an alternative embodiment of the rail safety feature. A resiliently loaded latch is fonned by a pin 92 which projects from a hole 94 Conned in the inner end of the inner telescopic part 80. The pin 94 may be pushed into the hole 94 against the resilient bias of a bowspring 98, by finger pressure applied through a slightly larger hole 96 fonned in the inner end of the outer rail part 82. With the pin thus depressed, the inner part 80 may be slid further into the outer part 82 to adjust the length of the rail 46 as desired. When the part 80 is withdrawn from the part 82 again, as the pin 92 draws level with the hole 96, it wild snap BP-09-0483 outwardly and engage in the hole 96 to prevent the two rail parts 80, 82 from sliding free of one another. The hole 96 therefore fonns a locking Connation for the latch pin 92. A similar hole may be provided towards the outer end of the outer past 82, so that the rail 46 may be latched in a fully retracted position. Indeed, corresponding intermediate holes may be s provided, for latching the rail 46 at predetermined lengths, e.g. snatching the recommended distance between adjacent trestles, or between the trestle upright 24 and the opposite upright extension 42. The bowspring 98 may be retained within the inner part 80 by welding or other appropriate fastening at 100. The pin 92 may be riveted through a hole 102 formed in the other end of the bowspring 98. Other fonns of resiliently biassed latch pin or other co- 0 operating resiliently loaded latch and locking connations will be readily apparent.

Claims

BP-()9-0483 CLAIMS

1. A bracket for securing a first kickboard transversely of a second kickboard, comprising a socket for receiving an end of the first kickboard and a clip for securing the bracket to the second kickboard, the clip comprising a lateral extension aligned with the longitudinal axis of the second kickboard for stabilising the bracket thereon.

2. A bracket as defined in claim 1, in which the lateral extension comprises a pair of projections extending one on either side of the socket.

3. A bracket as defined in claim 2, in which the extensions lie along the top edge of the second kickboard in use.

4. A bracket as defined in any preceding claim, in which the socket comprises a bottom wall and a pair of opposed side walls for engaging the end of the first kickboard.

5. A bracket as defined in any preceding claim, in which the clip comprises a hook portion.

6. A telescopic rail for use in forming a guard or safety barrier for builders' trestles, staging, scaffolding or the like, comprising inner and outer telescopic parts, in which the inner part is prevented from sliding free of the outer part in use.

7. A telescopic rail as defined in claim 6, in which the inner part comprises a lateral outward projection engageable with a lateral inward projection on the outer part to prevent the two parts from sliding free of one another.

8. A telescopic rail as defined in claim 7, m which the lateral outward projection comprises an inner end stop and the lateral inward projection comprises a corresponding end stop on the outer part.

BP-09-04 8,

9. A telescopic rail as defined in claim 6, in which the inner and outer parts are prevented from sliding free of one another by a resiliently loaded latch carried by one part, engageab]e in a locking formation on the other part.

s

10. A telescopic rail as defined in claim 9, in which the latch comprises a pin and the locking Connation comprises a socket or aperture.

11. A telescopic rail as defined in claim 9 or 10, in which the resilient loading is provided by a leaf spring mounted in the inner part.

12. A telescopic rail as defined in any of claims 9 to 11, comprising a plurality of said locking Connations.

13. A ladder support bracket comprising a laterally extending and against which a ladder can be rested in use, and a generally vertically extending and adapted for engagement over or within the top of an upright support of a builder's trestle or scaffolding.

14. A ladder support bracket as defined in claim 13, in which the generally vertically extending and is hollow.

15. A ladder support bracket as defined in claim 13, in which the generally vertically extending and comprises a downwardly directed spigot.

16. A ladder support bracket as defined in any of claims 13 to 1 S. in which the generally vertically extending anm is provided with means to engage the upright support to prevent rotation of the support bracket around the longitudinal axis of the upright support.

17. A ladder support bracket as defined in claim]6 in whacks the engagement means has a non-circular profile complementary to the crosssection of the upright support.

BP-09-0483

18. A ladder support bracket as defined in any of claims 13 to 17, in which the laterally extending anm has one end attached to the generally vertically extending anon, and a stop member at its other end.

s

19. A builder's trestle providing a safety barrier and comprising a pair of upright supports connected by a crossmember upon which planks or boards can be supported in use to make a platfonn, one of the upright supports having an upward extension above the crossmember to which one or more rails can be attached to form the safety barrier, in which the crossmember is provided at its end opposite the upward extension with a fitting for receiving the lower end lo of a removable upright, to which further safety rails can be attached to forth a further safety barrier.

20. A builder's trestle as defined in claim 19 in which the fitting comprises an open upper end of the upright at that end of the crossmember, into which the lower end of the removable upright is telescopingly fitted in use.

21. A builder's trestle as defined in claim 20 in which the open end extends above the crossmember.

22. A builder's trestle as defined in claim]9 in which the fitting comprises a spigot secured in or fonned from the upper end of the upright at that end of the crossmember.

23. A builder's trestle as defined in claim 19 in which the fitting comprises a tubular socket attached to that end of the crossmember, the upright at that end of the crossmember being attached to the crossmember Inboard of the socket.

24. A builder's trestle as defined in any of claims 19-23, in which the removable upright and the upward extension are each provided with fittings for attachment of the safety raids, these fittings being provided at approximately the same height on the removable upright as on the upward extension.

BP-09-048.

25. A builder's trestle providing a safety bander and comprising a pair of upright supports connected by a crossmember upon which planks or boards can be supported in use to make a platform, one of the upright supports having an upward extension above the crossmember, the trestle further comprising a bracket extending upwardly from the crossmember for s receiving a kickboard.

26. A builder's trestle as defined in claim 25, in which the bracket is spaced from the uptight, so that the kickboard may be r eceived and held between the bracket and the upward extension In use.