GB2429745A

GB2429745A - Pole retainer

Info

Publication number: GB2429745A
Application number: GB0616989A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lee Mark Riches
Original assignee: Access UK Ltd
Current assignee: Access UK Ltd
Priority date: 2005-08-30
Filing date: 2006-08-29
Publication date: 2007-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 2026-08-29
Also published as: GB0517646D0; GB0616989D0; GB2429745B

Abstract

The invention relates to an access scaffold tower pole retaining device comprising at least four shackles. The retaining device facilitates easy carriage of a number of poles whilst simultaneously providing a locking device preventing theft or loss of the poles. The retaining device may be a case comprising two parts 1, 2 in the form of cast glass reinforced resin case halves attached together by hinges 3 at the bottom and fasteners 4 at the top. The two halves of the device cooperate together in the closed position to form eight apertures 5 through which poles may be positioned and retained. The shackles may include a rubber or felt padded region on the shackles inner surface to grip the poles and hold them in position when the shackles are closed. The case preferably has a handle 6, and may be locked in the closed position to prevent unauthorised removal of the poles from the case.

Description

POLE RETAINER

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a retainer for access tower poles. In particular, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to lockable pole retainers for preventing the theft or misplacement of scaffold access tower poles.

Background of the Invention

Mobile access towers are used in various industries including building, cleaning, and the fitting and servicing of, for example, windows in buildings. Scaffolding is typically utilised for building mobile access towers and, depending on the type of tower desired, a large number of poles and platforms may be required.

Access tower use and construction is governed by health and safety legislation in most developed countries. In the United Kingdom, for example, an access tower must be used in almost all cases where construction personnel have to work above floor level.

A typical one level access tower has a work platform and two side frames connected by six horizontal bars (four forming railing) and two diagonal bars.

Access tower poles generally comprise an elongate hollow and substantially cylindrical bar of a light but stiff metal alloy with enlarged claws at each end for fixture to other tower members. The claws are designed to fit around and engage members of approximately the same diameter as the bars and so are wider in at least one dimension than the bar.

When manually transporting a mobile access tower, moving the sides and the work platform is reasonably straightforward. As the minimum number of bars required in a one-level tower is eight, bar transportation can pose a problem. Often workers will attempt to carry all eight at once to limit the number of trips required. However, carrying eight poles together is awkward because of the length and weight. Also, the bars tend to fan out' which can make transportation time consuming, difficult and hazardous.

It would be useful if there were a simple and effective apparatus which facilitated the relatively effortless carrying of multiple poles and which limited danger on the work site.

Maintaining a complete set of access tower components on a work site can prove difficult as parts may be easily removed by other workers. Poles are a particular concern as a number may be removed without causing a tower to collapse. For safety reasons, a contractor may not use a tower pole which is short of being complete.

US 5,259,690 teaches the application of coloured markings to indicate ownership and deter the theft of scaffold components from building sites. However whilst this method may deter theft it does not make theft any more difficult, nor can it prevent theft.

US 6,886,662 teaches the use of an eye with an aperture sized to receive a tether or cable for securing scaffold components against theft. This particular method however suffers from the disadvantages that it both hinders dismantling of the tower and does not provide complete security.

It would be useful if there were a device available which could prevent the removal of scaffold bars or tower poles from a site, thereby facilitating the maintenance of complete tower poles.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pole holder which addresses these deficiencies in the prior art or to at least provide the public with a useful alternative.

It is an object of specific embodiments to provide an access tower pole holder which facilitates easy carriage of a number of poles whilst simultaneously providing a locking device preventing theft or loss of poles.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a device comprising a retainer having at least four shackles. In use the shackles are opened, access tower poles are placed therein and the shackles are closed to retain the poles.

Preferably the retainer is adapted for use in retaining access tower poles. In preferred embodiments the retainer comprises at least six shackles, preferably between six and ten shackles. More preferably the retainer comprises eight shackles.

Known access towers have eight poles per tower layer. The preferred embodiment having eight shackles is therefore particularly suited for use with these known towers.

The device of the invention allows a number of poles to be securely and easily carried together. This reduces the likelihood of accidental injury of workers, either through carrying or dropping poles.

The invention also includes a case comprising the retaining device of the invention.

The case of the invention is moveable between a first position in which the shackles are open and poles can be placed into the shackles and a second position in which the shackles are closed and the poles can not be removed from the shackles. When retained in the case the ends of the access tower poles protrude from the ends of the case and the central part of the poles is retained within the case.

One successful embodiment which has been used in trials comprises a case having two sides. The ends of each side have recesses which, when the sides are aligned and brought together, cooperate together to form the shackles. The sides are hinged together along a long edge of the side (the bottom of the case) and there may be one or more fastening members at the opposite long edge (the top of the case) to hold the case in a closed position.

Alternative retainers incorporate one or more locks that prevent the shackles from being opened and poles being removed once locked. These embodiments are very useful in preventing or at least hindering theft of access tower poles. Poles can be locked up at night before workmen retire and they can then be assured that when they return in the morning to resume work that they will have enough poles to form complete tower layers.

Some embodiments of the retainer incorporate a handle. In the case, a single handle is generally incorporated above the centre of gravity of the case and between any fastening and/or locking means which may be present along the top edge of the case.

One of the cases of the invention has two sides that are substantially symmetrical.

The case sides can be of substantially the same shape to limit expense in casting and manufacture. Two sides can then be arranged so that the long edges are attached together with hinges. Other fittings such as locks and/or fastening means are then affixed to the case sides. In other embodiments the two sides are mirror images of one another or have rotational symmetry.

A known access tower is made up of two side pieces and eight access tower poles of diameter approximately 50mm. Hence, in preferred embodiments the device of the invention is adapted to hold and retain poles having a diameter of around 50mm or two inches. The shackles when closed thus typically have a diameter slightly larger than the bars of the poles. There can be some tolerance in this, allowing a small amount of play and movement of the poles, and this is acceptable so long as the enlarged heads or claws at each end can not pass through the closed shackles. It can be an advantage for the poles both to be retained by the shackles and also to be gripped by them. The shackles can therefore be a relatively tight fit to the poles. The shackles can include, generally on their inner surface, a padded region, for example rubber or felt or plastic or other suitable material, which is pressed onto the poles when the shackles are closed to grip them and hold them in position. In use of the device this can assist in preventing sliding movement of the poles in the device.

Whilst the known tower uses eight poles, and preferred embodiments are designed for this known tower, the device of the invention may be adapted to retain any number of poles. Depending on how many poles are required by legislation governing the construction of access towers, the device may be adapted to retain that number, a factor, or a multiple thereof. Preferably the retainer may be adapted to retain poles in an 8 x I or in a 2 x 4 configuration. Most preferably the device may be adapted to retain poles in an 8 x I configuration.

The device may have two parts attached by a hinge, especially if in the form of a case.

In preferred embodiments more than one hinge is used. More preferably there are two hinges. In that aspect of the invention where the device has a I x 8 configuration and has two parts, the two parts are substantially identical except for the location of hinge and, if present, lock portions.

Hitherto, problems in relation to access tower poles have included both the difficulty of locking the poles to avoid theft and the need conveniently to move poles around on site. Preferably, the device of the invention functions as both a retainer and as a carrier, and additionally comprises a handle. In some embodiments the handle may be moulded as one or more parts of the device. In other embodiments the handle may be attached to one or more parts of the device. In use, poles are loaded into and fastened into the shackles and then they are picked up and carried using the handle.

The ability to lock poles securely, whether as a set which can then be transported or even to lock them in situ is an advantage of the invention. Preferably, the device of the invention functions as both a retainer and as pole securing device when additionally fitted with means for locking the device in the closed position. A single lock, e.g. a padlock, can then be used to secure all poles.

Preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention also incorporate into either the handle or the fastening means some way of locking the device in the closed configuration. When thus locked the device of the invention can help prevent loss of poles through theft or simple misplacement. The locked device can be secured to scaffold components on the site to prevent the locked poles from being removed from the site.

The device of the invention may be have another shackle or a loop to enable it to be locked to another portion of the scaffold or may simply be attached to the scaffold by passing a chain or the like through the handle and securing this to the scaffold. One particular embodiment has an extra aperture so that the device can be secured around a pole on the site and locked thereto.

The present invention also provides a method for retaining poles comprising fitting one or more poles into the device of the invention when open and closing the device to enclose said poles.

In a further aspect the invention provides a method for securing one or more poles comprising fitting said one or more poles into an open device according to the invention having locking means fitted thereto, closing the device to enclose said poles and locking the device in the closed configuration.

Preferably the method for securing poles comprises the additional step of securing the device to one or more substantially immovable objects.

In a specific embodiment of the invention, described in more detail below, the device is a case having apertures to retain and carry up to eight access tower poles. The case sides are moulded so that the case ends form two sets of eight shackles, and in use each pole is held in two shackles, one at each end. Closing the case brings the sides and ends together, hence moves the halves of each shackle together. As there are two sets of eight shackles, it is also possible to use this embodiment for up to sixteen access tower poles, which may be secured by collecting the ends within the case and locking the device in the closed position.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side elevation and front elevation of a pole holder according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a pole holder according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention in an open position; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a pole holder according to the second preferred embodiment of the invention in a closed position; and Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a pole holder according to the second preferred embodiment of the invention in use with two poles.

Figure 1 shows a pole holder according to the invention with an offset I x 8 configuration. This configuration allows greater ease of handling for taller workers than the 2 x 4 configuration discussed below. As the worker does not have to bend down as far to pick up or place down a device of this height, there is less chance of injury. The device comprises two parts (1) and (2) in the form of cast glass reinforced resin case halves attached together by hinges (3) at the bottom and fasteners (4) at the top. The two halves of the device cooperate together in the closed position, as shown, to form eight apertures (5) through which poles may be positioned and retained in use.

The device is thus a case, with halves moveable between a first position in which the shackles are open and poles can be placed into the shackles and a second position in which the shackles are closed and the poles can not be removed from the shackles.

At the top of the case where the two parts meet and may be fastened together there is provided a handle (6). The handle is reinforced to provide the requisite strength so that a worker may carry the device loaded with up to eight poles.

Cast into the surface of the parts are a number of feet both on the bottom (7) with the case standing upright and on the sides with large area (8) so that when the case is laid down for loading these feet make contact with the work surface preventing undue damage to the device. Also cast into the parts are vertically extending structural ribs (9) which provide rigidity to the apparatus and prevent the weight of the poles (when present) from causing the device to deform.

Figure 2 shows a device with a 2 x 4 configuration of shackle apertures. The device consists of 3 parts, two ends (10) and (11) fashioned from wood and with apertures for receiving four poles each, and a middle part (12) with a set of apertures on either side that cooperate with the apertures of the ends to form eight pole retaining holes or shackles when the device is in the closed configuration. The 3 parts of the device are joined together with hinges (13) along the bottom edge and when in the closed position may be secured with fastening means (14). A handle (15) is attached to the middle part of the device to allow carrying. This embodiment allows for compact storage of up to eight poles.

Figure 3 shows the same device as shown in figure 2 but in the closed configuration.

The fastening means are engaged and, as can be seen from the figure, the device forms a compact and neat way for storing (and, if desired, locking) or carrying up to eight access tower poles.

Figure 4 shows the same device as shown in figures 2 and 3 in the closed position and in use. Three poles are shown inserted in positions 1, 4 and 5 of the device. If carrying less that the full eight poles it is preferable that the poles be inserted into holes that give as close to an even distribution of weight about the handle as possible.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments one of skill in the art will appreciate that addition or alteration may be made without departing from the invention as claimed in the appended claims. Specifically, parts of the invention may be substituted with known equivalents without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims

Claims 1. An access tower pole retaining device having at least four

shackles.
2. The device according to claim 1 having at least six shackles.
3. The device according to claim 1 or claim 2 having between six and ten shackles.
4. The device according to any one of claims I to 3 having eight shackles.
5. A case for access tower poles, comprising the retaining device of any of claims 1-4.
6. The case according to claim 5 additionally comprising a handle.
7. The case according to claim 5 or 6, adapted so that when the case is closed the shackles are closed.
8. The case according to claim 7 wherein the case is moveable between a first position in which the shackles are open and poles can be placed into the shackles and a second position in which the shackles are closed and the poles can not be removed from the shackles.
9. The case according to claim 8 wherein the case has first and second sides and recesses in the respective ends of the sides cooperate to form the shackles.
10. The case according to claim 9 comprising substantially symmetrical first and second sides.
11. The device or case according to any previous claim additionally including one or more locks. - 10-
12. A method for carrying access tower poles including placing them in a device or case according to any previous claim and carrying the device or case.
13. A method for securing access tower poles including placing them in a device or case according to claim 11 and locking the shackles in a closed position.
14. An access tower pole retaining device substantially as hereinbefore described.