GB2427243A

GB2427243A - Scaffold tube coupler including clamp and hook

Info

Publication number: GB2427243A
Application number: GB0611003A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Allen Craigen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-06-14
Filing date: 2006-06-05
Publication date: 2006-12-20
Also published as: GB0512010D0; GB0611003D0

Abstract

A scaffold tube coupler comprising a hook member 18, 34 for connection to a first scaffold tube 19, 35, and a fastenable clamp member 13, 31 for connection to a second scaffold tube 15, 37. The hook member 18, 34 and clamp member 13, 31 are connected. The clamp member 13, 31 may form a shackle type connector with a latched clamping member, and may be connected to the hook via a connection member that may form a block 10 or frame 41. The hook member may form a J or G shaped hook 18, 34. An additional arm 30 may be spaced from the hook member 18, 34 to act as a bracing member that can engage with a surface to prevent unwanted swivelling of the connector about the first scaffold tube 19, 35. The coupler may be used to hook temporary or movable parts such as a handrail to a semi-permanent scaffold frame.

Description

1 2427243

SCAFFOLD TUBE COUPLERS

This invention relates to scaffold tube couplers, for interconnecting scaffold tubes for easy erection and dismantling, and security during use.

In erection of scaffolding, it is common practice to interconnect vertical and horizontal tubes, and tubes extending horizontally in different mutually perpendicular directions, at at least selected locations. For this purpose it is known to provide scaffold clamps in the form of shackles comprising a pair of mechanically connected clamps. These typically comprise a cradle part and a clamping part hinged thereto with some kind of latching device. In some cases the interconnection is rigid, constraining the poles to be held at mutual right angles. Others include a hinge or pivot between the clamps to allow a degree of play, or enable interconnected poles to be set at a range of mutual angles.

For example GB 489585 discloses a clamp comprising a tightenable sleeve for mounting on a first pole, and a shackle-type clamp mounted thereon to hold a second pole at right angles thereto. GB-A-2382618 discloses a triple clamp comprising a middle clamp which can be mounted on a first pole, and a further clamp at each side adapted to hold a respective further pole which is at right angles to the first pole. US-A- 2002/106237 shows a double clamp with two shackle-type clamps mounted back to back in such a way as to hold two scaffold poles which are mutually at right angles, and GB A-2364738 shows a similar arrangement where the pivotable clamping members are arranged to be latched by pivotable bolts with tightenable nuts.

Scaffold clamps of these known types require all the clamps to be closed, secured and latched, which makes for a time consuming process.

However in some situations it may be desirable to lock or latch one part of a construction to another for a temporary or non-load bearing part, such as a movable hand rail, and it is thus an object of the present invention to provide a scaffold tube coupler suitable for such a purpose.

According to the invention therefore, a scaffold tube coupler comprises a first connecting means, for engagement with a first scaffold tube, and a second connecting means for engagement with a second scaffold tube, wherein one of said connecting means comprises a hook member, and the other of said connecting means comprises a fastenable clamp member, the two connecting means being connected.

Preferably the hook member is formed as a J or G shaped hook, providing a curved surface for engaging with the first scaffold tube of approaching 1 80 , preferably more, so that a secure grip is obtained on the tube without use of a latching device.

The fastenable clamp member may for example comprise a conventional shackle type clamp, comprising a first part which is secured to a body of the coupler by welding, rivets or the like, and comprises a part cylindrical socket for receiving a scaffold tube, and a clamp part also presenting a curved surface hinged to the first part of the clamp, which can be closed over and grip the tube, and has a latch device for securing the clamp member onto the tube.

The coupler may include a body part which at least comprises a connection between the hook member and the fastenable clamp member.

The body part may include an arm, which terminates in the hook member, and may include a frame or block between the two connecting means.

An additional arm spaced from the hook member may be provided extending in the same direction from the frame or block, to for example act as a bracing member which can engage with a surface to prevent unwanted swivelling of the connector about the first scaffold tube member. The first tube member to be engaged by the hook member may be a structural tube of a permanent scaffold structure, whilst the fastenable clamp member may be engaged with a second tube member which forms a part of a temporary or semi-portable module, which is frequently shifted in position on the main scaffold, such as a temporary guard rail which is set up as a new platform is for example being constructed, and then removed when proper safety barriers have been constructed.

Some examples of scaffold tube couplers according to the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:- Figure 1 is a side view of a first coupler according to the invention, diagrammatically showing use with two scaffold tubes; Figure 2 is a view from above of the same coupler; Figure 3 is a side view of a second coupler according to the invention; Figure 4 is a view from above of the coupler of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a view from above of a third coupler according to the invention; Figure 6 is a view from above of the coupler of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of coupler according to the invention; Figure 8 is a view from above of the coupler of Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view suggesting one manner in which couplers according to the invention may be used, to provide a moveable temporary guard rail assembly.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 a first embodiment of scaffold tube connector 1 comprises a body 1 0, including a block 11, which is welded on one side to a shackle type tube clamp 1 2, which consists of a substantially semicircular cradle part 1 3 fixed to the block 11, and a pivoted clamp part 14 which is hinged at one side to the cradle part 13, and releasably latched at the other side to the cradle part 1 3, to secure a scaffold pole 15 in the clamp 12. The body 10 also includes a frame part 16 which has an upper arm 17 extending horizontally away from the block 11 and terminates in a hook part 1 8 which encompasses substantially 1 800 or more, and forms a J or G shaped member which is hooked over a further scaffold pole 19. The frame part 16 also has a lower arm 20 parallel to but spaced from the upper arm 17.

As the figures show, the scaffold poles or tubes 1 5, 1 9 are substantially orthogonal to each other, e.g. by reason of one pole forming a vertical member whilst the other is a horizontal member.

Figures 3 and 4 similarly illustrate a second embodiment of scaffold tube connector 30 which comprise a shackle type tube clamp 31 similar to that described in connection with the first embodiment, welded directly to a hook member 33 which comprises a semicircular curved part 34, which rests in a tube member 35 and a downward extension 36. The shackle type clamp 31 grips a further tube member 37.

Figures 5 and 6 show a further embodiment of scaffold tube connector 40, which is similar to the connector 1 of Figures 1 and 2, except that the body 11 is replaced by an open rectangular frame 41.

Figures 7 and 8 similarly show another embodiment of scaffold tube connector according to the invention which is similar to the connector 30 of Figures 3 and 4, and which comprises a hook part 50, configured like the part 34 of Figure 3, and a clamp part 52 similar to clamp part 31 of Figure 3. However the hook part 50 and clamp part 52 are connected by an intermediate solid body or block 51, instead of being welded or otherwise connected together directly.

The configuration of the connectors is such that the connectors of Figures 1 and 2, and Figures 5 and 6 on the one hand are adapted to deal with tension forces acting generally horizontally in the drawings, tending to pull the scaffold tubes 1 9, 1 5 apart. On the other hand the connectors of Figures 3 and 4 of Figures 7 and 8 are more adapted to sustain a load acting downwardly on the horizontal tubes 35 for example exerted by the structure of which tube 37 is apart. They can also act as stabilisers to prevent the tube 34 from moving inwards or outwards.

Figure 9 shows the tube connectors of the invention in use to support a semi-transportable temporary safety fence, which provides fences at an upper scaffold level, comprising an upper pair of rail members 45 on a top level. The rails 45, are carried on a plurality of upright poles 47, which are connected by tube connectors according to the invention to horizontal tubes 48, 49 of the main previously erected scaffold construction. The hook parts such as 18, 34 engage horizontal tubes 48, 49 whilst the shackle clamps 12, 31 engage the upright poles 47 of the safety fence.

Connectors 1 such as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 5 and 6 are used at the upper level, with tube 48 whilst connectors 30, such as shown in Figures 3 and 4 or 7 and 8 are used at the lower level with tube 49.

The fence structure is shown to be inclined, and arranged so that the connector 1 exerts a tractive force on the horizontal tube 48, whilst the connector 30 stabilizes the fence structure, preventing it from moving inwards from the horizontal tube 49. The latter may be a permanent fence rail at the lower level, while tube 48 is a deck support tube at the upper level.

The fence may be moved from place to place on the main scaffold construction by hooking and unhooking the hook members onto and from the horizontal scaffold tubes 48, 49. As the structure is temporary and not load bearing this type of connection is adequate for safety purposes.

It will be clear therefore that not only does the present invention include scaffold tube connectors as set out above, but also a scaffold structure comprising a semi-portable structure which can be hooked into position on semi-permanent scaffold tubes using such connectors, and removed again without affecting the integrity of the main scaffold structure.

It will be appreciated that the above embodiment has been described by way of example only and that many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A scaffold tube coupler comprising a first connecting means for

engagement with a first scaffold tube, and a second connecting means for engagement with a second scaffold tube, wherein one of said connecting means comprises a hook member, and the other of said connecting means comprises a fastenable clamp member, the two connecting means being connected.
2. A coupler according to claim 1, wherein the hook member is a J or G shaped hook, provided with a curved surface for engaging with the first scaffold tube extending over approximately 1 800 of arc or more.
3. A coupler according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the fastenable clamp member comprises a shackle-type clamp comprising a first part which is secured to a body of the coupler and comprises a part cylindrical socket for receiving a scaffold tube, and a clamp part, also presenting a curved surface hinged to the first part of the clamp which can be closed over and grip the tube and a latch device for securing the clamp member onto the tube.
4. A coupler according to any preceding claim including a body part which comprises a connection between the hook member and the fastenable clamp member. a
5. A coupler according to claim 4 wherein the body part includes an arm which terminates on the hook member and includes a frame or block between the two connecting means.
6. A coupler according to claim 5 wherein an additional arm spaced from the hook member is provided extending in the same direction from the frame or block to act as a bracing member which can engage with a surface to prevent unwanted swivelling of the connector about the first scaffold tube member.
7. A scaffold tube coupler substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.