GB2423330A

GB2423330A - Scaffolding board clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2423330A
Application number: GB0500428A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Hogan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-11
Filing date: 2005-01-11
Publication date: 2006-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 2025-01-11
Also published as: GB0500428D0; GB2423330B

Abstract

A scaffolding board clamp (10) for securing boards onto a transom tube (7) which extends between a pair of ledger tubes (6). The clamp having a hook (2) at one end which is hooked around one ledger tube, a strap portion (1) designed to extend above the boards and a clip portion (4) adjacent the other end of the clamp which can be snapped over the other ledger tube to hold the boards (8) between the transom tube and the strap portion of the clamp. The clamp may include a portion (3) adjacent the clip portion (4) which extends at or below the level of the upper surface of the transom tube to allow a toe board to sit on top of the strap portion at this point if desired.

Description

SCAFFOLDING BOARD FASTENER

The present invention relates to scaffolding and in particular, to restraining boards, which might be exposed to adverse weather.

It is common place among scaffold company's to secure scaffold boards to scaffold structures. There are several methods applied to this task; with board fastening bars bemg the most popular. However there is a problem with the majonty of these 1steners, most board fasteners rely on a toe board to secure on end, and the said toe board is secured by a non load bearing coupler, this in turn makes the toe board an inappropriate fixing, which in turn makes the board fastener unworthy of its Irue potential. A few board fasteners have over come this problem with the use of retaining pins and the like, which lock the board fastener to a scaffold tube, thus removing the need to rely on a toe board. However with introducing a movable part to the board fastener, it adds expense to the manufacturing of the product, plus a time consuming procedure for the person using the board fastener According to this invention there is means provided to secure scaffolding boards to a scaffold structure in two simple steps. The said invention will preferably have means to secure a metal strip across the top of scaffolding boards, without the need for a toe board or any additional parts.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 shows the board fastener.

Figure 2 shows the board fastener on the scaffold prior to being locked into position.

Figure 3 shows the board fastener locked into position.

Referring to figures 2 and 3 there is a typical section of scaffolding comprising a set of vertical tubes 5 commonly know as standards, a set horizontal tubes 6 commonly know as ledgers, a additional honzontal tube 7 fitted at right angles across the top of the ledgers 6 is commonly know as a transom, placed on top of the transom 7 are scaffolding boards 8.

Refernng to figures 1,2 and 3 a board fastener 10 comprising a flat metal bar 1, at one end a hook 2, towards the other end there is a staggered embodiment 3, with a S shape arrangement 4 to the opposite end to the hook 2.

Referring to figure 2 a board fastener 10 has been placed across the scaffold boards 8, the hook 2 has been positioned under a ledger 6, with the innermost section of the S bend 4 resting midway across the top of a opposite ledger 6.

Refernng to figures 2 and 3 step two is now ready to be applied. The user would place their foot on the staggered embodiment 3, press down and the S shape arrangement 4 will snap over the ledger 6. When the scaffolding boards 8 are exposed to adverse weather it is understood that the middle of the metal bar 1, will flex slightly due to pressure caused by up lift on the more vulnemble ceniral scaffolding boards 8, this in turn will cause the board fastener 10 to tighten against the ledgers 6 further securing the board fastener 10. It is understood that because of the S shaped arrangement 4 no additional forms of securing the board fastener 10 is needed. Finally to remove the board fastener 10 from the scaffold, the tail end of the S shaped arrangement 4, simply needs to be pulled up in a outward direction.

Claims

1) A scaffolding board clamp for securing boards onto a transom tube which extends between a pair of ledger tubes, the clamp having a hook at one end which is hooked around one ledger tube, a strap portion designed to extend above the boards and a clip portion adjacent the other end of the clamp which can be snapped over and around the other ledger tube to hold the boards between the transom tube and the strap portion of the clamp.

2) A clamp according to claim 1 in which the clip portion is generally Sshaped and the second ledger tube snaps into one of the bends of the Sshaped clip portion.

3) A clamp according to claim 1 or 2 in which the clip portion can be clipped over and around the second ledger tube by the scaffolding erector pressing down with his foot.

4) A clamp according to claim 2 in which the clip portion can be disengaged from the second ledger tube by the scaffolding erector pushing or pulling up the tail end of the S-shaped clip portion.

5) A clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which each end of the strap portion of the clamp has a generally vertically extending shoulder designed to contact an outer edge of the adjacent outer scaffolding board to hold the boards horizontally.

6) A clamp according to any one of claims I to 5 in which the strap portion of the clamp adjacent the clip portion extends at approximately the level of the upper surface of the associated transom tube when the clamp is fitted to allow a toe board to sit on top of the strap portion if desired.

7) A method of securing scaffolding boards onto a transom tube which extends between a pair of ledger tubes, the method comprising providing a scaffolding board clamp which has a hook at one end and a clip portion adjacent the other end with a strap portion intermediate the ends, hooking the hook around one of the ledger tubes, extending the strap portion of the clamp above the boards and snapping the clip portion over and around the other ledger tube to secure the boards between the transom tube and the strap portion of the clamp.

8) A method according to claim 7 in which the clip portion is clipped over and around the second ledger tube by the scaffolding erector pressing down with his foot.

9) A method according to claim 7 in which the clip portion is disengaged from the second ledger tube by the scaffolding erector pushing or pulling up the tail end of the S-shaped clip portion.

10) A method according to anyone of claims 7 to 9in which when the scaffolding boards are forced by strong wind conditions upwards against the strap portion of the clamp, the strap flexes slightly upwards and this in turn causes the hook and clip portions to tighten against the ledgers thus further securing the clamp.

11) A scaffolding board clamp constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.