GB2421050A - Builders' trestles: accommodating a kickboard - Google Patents

Abstract

A builder's trestle has a safety barrier and comprises a pair of upright supports connected by a crossmember (28, Fig. 1) upon which planks or boards can be supported in use to make a platform (34, Fig. 1) one of the upright supports having an upward extension 24 above the crossmember. The trestle further comprises a bracket 48 for receiving a kickboard (54, Fig. 1). The bracket extends upwardly from the crossmember and is spaced from the upward extension, so that the kickboard may be received and held between the bracket and the upward extension in use.

Description

IMPROVED BUILDERS' TRESTLES This invention relates to trestles

("bandstands") for supporting working platforms 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 generally used to support working platforms of relatively low height (e.g. 0.3-3.0 m) as a more convenient alternative to scaffolding. The invention relates more particularly to access and safety features for such trestles and platforms. A system of builders' trestles provided with safety barriers, board end supporting safety brackets and end gates is described in UK Patent No. GB2378978.

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. These brackets extend over the top of the board forming 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.

According to the present invention, a builder's trestle providing a safety barrier compises a pair of upright supports coimected 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 for receiving a kickboard, wherein the bracket extends upwardly from the crossmember and is spaced from the upward extension, so that the kickboard may be received and held between the bracket and the upward extension in use.

For example, the bracket may be spaced from the upright, with the kickhroad received and held between the bracket and the upward extension. The platform-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.

The invention and various preferred features and advantages of it are further described below with reference to illustrative embodiments shown in the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a work platform supported on builders' trestles embodying the invention, and Fig. 2 is a more detailed view of part of a trestle, showing a kickboard bracket embodying the invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, a lateral arm 14 of a ladder support bracket extends in use generally parallel to crossmembers 28 of trestles 30. In this position, the arm 14 can support a ladder 32 beside a working platform 34 resting on the trestles 30. The ladder 32 can be rn tied to the arm 14 as shown at 36.

In Fig. 2 there is shown a kickboard bracket in the form of a generally upright plate 48 welded to the trestle upper crossmember 28 just inboard of a fixed upward extension 24 of the trestle, to define a boardreceiving slot 50. The plate 48 is spaced a sufficient distance from the tubular socket 38 (Fig. 5) to allow fitment of a board end supporting bracket 52 to the crossmernber 28, if required. A kickboard 54 can be seen in Fig. I.

Claims (2)

1. A builder's trestle providing a safety barrier and comprising a pair of upright supports coimected by a crossmember upon which planks or boards can be supported in S use to make a platform, one of the upright supports having an upward extension above the crossmember, the trcst]e further comprising a bracket for receiving a kickboard, characterjsed in that the bracket extends upwardly from the crossmember and is spaced from the upward extension, so that the kickboard may be received and held between the bracket and the upward extension in use.

2. A builder's trestle as defined in claim 1 and substantially as shown in or described with reference to the drawings.