GB2422868A

GB2422868A - Support arrangement for scaffolding barrier post

Info

Publication number: GB2422868A
Application number: GB0502574A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Taylor
Original assignee: SGB Services Ltd
Current assignee: SGB Services Ltd
Priority date: 2005-02-08
Filing date: 2005-02-08
Publication date: 2006-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2025-02-08
Also published as: GB0502574D0; GB2422868B

Abstract

A component 2 for supporting a barrier post 5b is provided with an aperture 9 configured to receive an upstanding mounting projection, such as a shear stud 4 welded to a steel beam, the mounting aperture 9 having a first region 10 of relatively large dimension for receiving a relatively large projection 7 and a second region 11 of relatively small dimension for receiving a relatively smaller projection 6. Thus, during installation, tube 2 with cup 3 is passed over head 7 of shear stud 4 using the combined aperture 10 and 11, the tube is moved sideways so that stem 6 lies against the edge of aperture 11, and then screw 21 in bracket 23 is tightened so that the shear stud contacts the component at three points, the head 7 contacting the inside of tube 2, and the stem 6 contacting screw 21 and the edge of region 11, whereby to secure tube 2 rigidly so that a barrier post 5b can be mounted using bayonet arrangement 5, 5a.

Description

PATENTS ACT 1977 P19421 GB-SJP/MTB/vt-ns "A Scaffolding Component and

Connection" THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a scaffolding component, and more particularly, relates to a scaffolding component for supporting a barrier post. The present invention also relates to a scaffolding connection comprising the scaffolding component together with a barrier post and a mounting projection.

It is well known in construction to provide temporary safety barriers at least partially around construction sites, for example, during the construction of a multi-storey or high-rise building. Such barriers, when provided at ground level, can define an outer perimeter of a construction site, thereby providing safety to members of the public such as passersby, and preventing unauthorised access to the construction site.

However, it is also important to provide temporary safety barriers around the site of construction work occurring above ground level, for example, around the first or higher floors of a multi-storey building under construction. In such an application, the temporary safety barriers serve to prevent construction workers and/or tools and the like falling down from the construction area towards the ground, thereby preventing serious injury both to the construction workers and to passers-by.

It is known to provide temporary safety barriers in the form of generally rectangular and elongate wire-mesh panels which are supported between substantially vertically-extending scaffolding posts. These posts may be supported on respective vertically upstanding mounting projections known as shear studs that have been welded to a steel beam.

Shear studs are commonly employed in steel and concrete composite construction techniques and are commonly supplied in various different sizes.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved scaffolding component which may support a barrier post from shear studs of different sizes, and also to provide an improved connection between a barrier post and a shear stud.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a scaffolding component for supporting a barrier post, the component being provided with a mounting aperture configured to receive an upstanding mounting projection, wherein the mounting aperture has a first region of relatively large maximum dimension suitable for receiving a relatively large mounting projection and a second region of relatively smaller dimension suitable for receiving a relatively smaller mounting projection.

Preferably, the first and second regions are defined by different radii of curvature.

Advantageously, the first and second region diverges from the first region.

Conveniently, the scaffolding component is configured to receive a barrier post.

Preferably, the mounting projection comprises a shaft and a head and wherein the first region of the mounting aperture is of sufficient dimension to allow passage of the head through the mounting aperture and the second region of the mounting aperture is of insufficient dimension to allow passage of the head through the mounting aperture.

Advantageously, the scaffolding component further comprises a locking arrangement provided to urge the mounting projection against a wall of the mounting aperture in order to prevent lateral movement of the mounting projection relative to the mounting aperture.

Conveniently, the locking arrangement is configured to urge the mounting projection in a direction from the first region of the mounting aperture towards the second region of the mounting aperture.

Preferably, the locking arrangement comprises a locking screw threadedly engaged in a locking aperture provided in the component.

The present invention also provides a scaffolding connection comprising a scaffolding component together with a barrier post and a mounting projection.

Preferably, the mounting projection contacts the scaffolding component at points on each of the mounting aperture, the locking element and an upstanding wall of the component.

So that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, an embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a scaffolding component in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view showing the upstanding mounting projection, but with the scaffolding component of Figure 1 removed; FIGURE 3 is an end view from below of the scaffolding component illustrated in Figure 1; FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view through the line A-A of Figure 3; and FIGURE 5 is a further, part sectional end view of the scaffolding component illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring initially to Figure 1, there is illustrated a scaffolding component I comprising on upstanding hollow cylindrical shaft 2 and a bottom cup 3, mounted to the lower end of the shaft 2. As shown in the configuration of Figure 1, the scaffolding component I has received, in the lower end of he shaft 2, an upstanding mounting projection 4, which is shown in isolation in Figure 2.

The upper end of the shaft 2 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed arcuate slots 5 which are configured, in a manner known per Se, to receive respective outwardly directed spigots 5A at diametrically opposed positions on a barrier post 5B. In use, the end of the barrier post is inserted into the top end of the open shaft 2.

The upstanding mounting projection 4 is a shear stud consisting of a substantially elongate cylindrical shaft 6 and a flat head 7. The head 7 is of larger diameter than the shaft 6. The mounting projection 4 is welded to a steel beam 8 as shown most clearly in Figure 2.

Turning now to Figure 3, it can be seen that the cup 3 is downwardly concave and has a mounting aperture 9 formed in a central portion of the cup 3. The aperture 9 is of an appropriate size and configuration to allow the mounting projection 4 to pass through the aperture. As can clearly be seen from Figure 3, the mounting aperture 9 has a first region 10 of relatively large maximum dimension which is suitable for receiving a relatively large mounting projection 4, and a second region 11 of relatively smaller dimension suitable for receiving a relatively smaller mounting projection 4.

Turning briefly to consider Figure 4, it can be seen that the bottom cup 3 is upwardly dished in shape, with the aperture 9 being located at the central, highest point, of the dish.

As can be seen from Figure 3, the first region 10 of the mounting aperture 9 is of sufficient dimension to allow passage of the head 7 of projection 4 therethrough, whereas the second region 11 of the mounting aperture 9 is of insufficient dimension to allow passage of the head 7 through the mounting aperture 9. However, the second region 11 of mounting aperture 9 is of sufficient diameter to receive the relatively narrower shaft 6 of the mounting projection 4.

Accordingly, the bottom cup 3 of scaffolding component I may be placed over an upstanding mounting projection 4 such that the head 7 of the projection 4 passes through the aperture 9 in the larger region 10.

The scaffolding component can be moved downwardly over the upstanding projection 4 until the bottom cup 3 of component I meets the steel beam 8. Whilst the upstanding projection 4 is welded to steel beam 8 and is not moveable, the scaffolding component may be shifted slightly in a direction from left to right as shown in Figure 1 (i.e. in the direction from Y to X in Figure 3) such that the shaft 6 of the projection 4 is received in the second region 11 of aperture 9. The projection 4 may then be locked in place in this configuration as explained in more detail below.

The mode of action of receiving projection 4 in a larger region 10 of aperture 9 and then receiving "nesting" the projection 4 in a smaller region 11 of aperture 9 means that mounting projections 4 of different dimension may be received by the same scaffolding component I and yet still be nested closely against a region of the aperture which approximates to the diameter of the shaft 6 of the projection 4 such that lateral movement of the projection 4 within aperture 9 may be minimised.

Whilst aperture 9 as shown in the figures comprises two substantially circular regions defined by different radii of curvature, which circular regions diverge from each other, it should be appreciated that aperture 9 could adopt many different configurations in order to provide a region of relatively large dimension and a region of relatively smaller dimension.

For example, the aperture could adopt a triangular configuration or define a conical cross-section.

Turning now to Figure 1, in order to lock the mounting projection 4 in place in the smaller region 11 of the aperture 9, there is provided a locking arrangement. As illustrated in Figure 1, the locking arrangement comprises a shoe 20 which is welded to the base of the outer shaft 2 in the region of the cup 3. However, it should be appreciated that the locking arrangement could be provided directly in the wall of shaft 2.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the locking arrangement also comprises a locking screw 21 which is threadedly engaged with a nut 22 welded to the shoe 20 and which passes through an aperture formed in the shoe 20. Accordingly, the locking screw may be screwed in a direction from right to left as shown in Figure 1, so that the end of its shaft bears against the outer surface of the mounting projection 4, in order to urge the mounting projection 4 in a direction from the first region 10 of the mounting aperture 9 towards the second region 11 of the mounting aperture 9, thereby effectively locking the mounting projection 4 in the second region 11 of aperture 9.

Therefore, Figure 1 shows a connection between the scaffolding component I and the mounting projection 4. In the configuration shown, the head 7 of the mounting projection 4 is of sufficiently large dimension such that when the mounting projection is urged against the smaller region 11 of aperture 9 by the action of the screw 21, the head 7 of the mounting projection 4 contacts the inner wall of the shaft 2. Therefore, the mounting projection 4 maintains three points of contact with the scaffolding component in order to maintain the barrier post 5 in vertical alignment.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in 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.

Claims

1. A scaffolding component for supporting a barrier post, the component being provided with a mounting aperture configured to receive an upstanding mounting projection, wherein the mounting aperture has a first region of relatively large maximum dimension suitable for receiving a relatively large mounting projection and a second region of relatively smaller dimension suitable for receiving a relatively smaller mounting projection.

2. A scaffolding component according to Claim 1, wherein the first and second regions are defined by different radii of curvature.

3. A scaffolding component according to Claim I or Claim 2, wherein the second region diverges from the first region.

4. A scaffolding component according to any preceding claim, wherein the scaffolding component is configured to receive a barrier post.

5. A scaffolding component according to any preceding claim, wherein the mounting projection comprises a shaft and a head and wherein the first region of the mounting aperture is of sufficient dimension to allow passage of the head through the mounting aperture and the second region of the mounting aperture is of insufficient dimension to allow passage of the head through the mounting aperture.

6. A scaffolding component according to any preceding claim, further comprising a locking arrangement provided to urge the mounting projection against a wall of the mounting aperture in order to prevent lateral movement of the mounting projection relative to the mounting aperture.

7. A scaffolding component according to Claim 6, wherein the locking arrangement is configured to urge the mounting projection in a direction from the first region of the mounting aperture towards the second region of the mounting aperture.

8. A scaffolding component according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the locking arrangement comprises a locking screw threadedly engaged in a locking aperture provided in the component.

9. A scaffolding connection comprising a scaffolding component according to any preceding claim together with a barrier post and a mounting projection.

10. A scaffolding connection according to Claim 9 as dependent on any of Claims 6 to 9, wherein the mounting projection contacts the scaffolding component at points on all of the mounting aperture, the locking element and an upstanding wall of the component.

11. A scaffolding component substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. A scaffolding connection substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

13. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.