GB2433543A

GB2433543A - A scaffolding board retainer

Info

Publication number: GB2433543A
Application number: GB0526440A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Dick; Malcolm Mcloughlin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-23
Filing date: 2005-12-23
Publication date: 2007-06-27
Also published as: GB0526440D0

Abstract

A scaffolding board retainer for securing scaffolding boards, arranged side-by-side, to a transom of a scaffolding structure, comprises: an elongate body portion 1 and a securing portion 2 which extends in a transverse direction from the elongate body portion 1 and which has an aperture or recess 4 for receiving one end of the transom. In use, the elongate body portion 1 rests across, and against upper surfaces at the scaffolding boards and the securing portion 2 secures the retainer and the boards to the scaffolding structure by receiving the end of the transom through its aperture or recess 4, the boards being sandwiched between the transom and the elongate body portion 1 of the retainer. Advantageously, the retainer does not present a significant trip hazard, is re-usable and can be quickly and easily attached to the scaffolding structure.

Description

I

A scaffolding board retainer The present invention relates to a scaffolding board retainer for securing scaffolding boards to a scaffolding structure. In particular, the invention relates to such a retainer for securing scaffolding boards, arranged side-by-side, to a transom of a scaffolding structure.

Scaffolding is well known and is used to support construction workers and their tools and materials in the construction and repair of large structures such as buildings. The basic components of scaffolding are scaffolding poles (tubes) known as standards (uprights), ledgers and transoms. The standards extend vertically upwards from the ground and transfer the weight of the structure to the ground. The ledgers extend horizontally between the standards along the length of the scaffolding structure. The transoms are provided on the ledgers and extend horizontally across the width of the scaffolding structure.

Scaffolding boards are provided on the transoms of the scaffolding structure to define a surface for supporting construction workers and their equipment. Scaffolding boards are planks (usually of wood) which are arranged side-by-side across the width of the scaffolding structure and which extend along the length of the structure. The standard number of scaffolding boards arranged side-by-side is five, with each board having a width of nine inches. A different number of boards may, of course, be used. In addition to the scaffolding boards, toe boards are usually provided. The toe boards are arranged perpendicular to the scaffolding boards and parallel to the ledgers along the outside of the scaffolding structure.

The scaffolding boards must be secured to the scaffolding structure to prevent unwanted movement of the boards, such as lifting of the boards caused by the wind. It is known to secure the scaffolding boards to the structure by means of wire lashings, scaffolding poles and limpets.

The use of wire lashings presents a trip hazard if the lashings become loose, which they have a tendency to do over time. Furthermore, if the lashings become loose the boards may not be securely retained. In addition, the wire lashings must be securely tied to the scaffolding structure and can generally be used only once. Thus, the use of wire lashings also generates unwanted waste.

The use of a scaffolding pole also presents a trip hazard as the pole projects a significant amount above the surface of the scaffolding boards and must be carefully stepped over by a worker. In addition, the pole requires additional fasteners, such as wire lashing or couplers, to secure it to the remainder of the scaffolding structure. Furthermore, because of the height that the pole projects above the surface of the scaffolding boards it causes the toe boards to be raised, by two inches or so, above the level of the scaffolding boards. This creates a gap through which items could fall onto people below.

Limpets do not present a significant trip hazard. They are, however, more expensive than wire lashings and scaffolding poles, and a number of limpets must be used to secure the boards at any one place. Each limpet must be fastened to the boards separately using a scaffold spanner.

Disadvantageously, this reduces the speed at which scaffolding can be erected.

It is therefore desirable to provide a scaffolding board retainer which does not present a trip hazard to users.

It is further desirable to provide a scaffolding board retainer which is re-usable.

It is still further desirable to provide a scaffolding board retainer which can be fixed easily to the scaffolding structure without the use of other fasteners.

According to the present invention, there is provided a scaffolding board retainer for securing scaffolding boards, arranged side-by-side, to a transom of a scaffolding structure, comprising: an elongate body portion; and a securing portion which extends in a transverse direction from the elongate body portion and which has an aperture or recess for receiving one end of the transom; wherein, in use, the elongate body portion rests across, and against upper surfaces of, the scaffolding boards and the securing portion secures the retainer and the boards to the scaffolding structure by receiving the end of the transom through its aperture or recess, the boards being sandwiched between the transom and the elongate body portion of the retainer.

Advantageously, the scaffolding board retainer of the invention does not present a significant trip hazard, is re-usable and can be easily and quickly fixed to a scaffolding structure without the use of other fasteners.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the scaffolding board retainer further comprises an engaging portion which extends in said transverse direction from the elongate body portion and which opposes the securing portion, wherein, in use, the securing portion and the engaging portion abut against the outer sides of the scaffolding boards to retain the boards therebetween.

According to this embodiment, the securing portion and the engaging portion further aid the retention of the scaffolding boards, in particular by preventing lateral movement of the boards.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, an upper surface of the elongate body portion is bevelled or textured so as to provide a non-slip surface.

According to a still further embodiment, a lower surface of the elongate body portion has indented regions and gripping regions to grip the upper surface of the scaffolding boards. In this way, the weight of the retainer is reduced without reducing the ability of the retainer to grip the boards.

According to a still further embodiment, side surfaces of the elongate body portion, which extend along the length of the retainer, are angled to the vertical to reduce the trip hazard presented by the retainer. Thus, by angling the side surfaces of the retainer the risk of a worker tripping over the retainer is significantly reduced.

According to a still further embodiment, the scaffolding board retainer comprises plastic. Preferably, the retainer comprises a single plastic moulding.

In this way, a strong yet light retainer can be provided, making the retainer more manageable than conventional retaining means. Furthermore, by providing the retainer as a single plastic moulding, the retainer can be produced cheaply and easily.

According to a still further embodiment, the retainer comprises a brightly coloured material. This helps to make the retainer clearly visible to workers, further reducing the risk of tripping.

Reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. I shows a side view of a scaffolding board retainer according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the retainer of Fig. I along the line X-X; Fig. 3 is an end view of the retainer, showing an aperture in a securing portion thereof; Fig. 4 shows a side view of the retainer attached to a transom and scaffolding boards.

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a scaffolding board retainer according to an embodiment of the invention. The retainer comprises an elongate body portion 1, a securing portion 2 and an engaging portion 3. The securing portion 2 extends perpendicularly from the elongate body portion 1 and has an aperture 4 (as shown in Fig. 3) for receiving one end of a transom. The engaging portion 3 also extends perpendicularly from the elongate body portion I and opposes the securing portion 2.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, which shows a cross-section of the elongate body portion 1, the elongate body portion has a bevelled upper surface 5 comprising a plurality of ridges 6. This bevelled upper surface 5 reduces the risk of a worker slipping on the scaffolding board retainer. Furthermore, the lower surface 7 of the elongate body portion I comprises indented regions 8 and gripping regions 9, the gripping regions 9 contacting the upper surfaces of the scaffolding boards when the retainer is in use. In this way, the weight of the retainer is minimised whilst ensuring that the scaffolding boards are retained securely.

The sides 10, 11 of the retainer are sloped between its upper 5 and lower 7 surfaces, as opposed to being perpendicular to those surfaces, so as to reduce the trip hazard presented by the retainer. In other words, when the retainer is in-situ on the scaffolding boards, the sides 10, 11 are angled to the vertical so as not to present an abrupt edge or step over which a worker might trip.

The retainer comprises a single plastic moulding. This ensures that the retainer is light and manageable, and helps to reduce the weight of the scaffolding structure as a whole without loss of strength. In this way, the retainer can be supplied as a single plastic piece with no assembly required by the end user. Furthermore, the retainer comprises a hazard yellow plastic material, so as to enhance the visibility of the retainer and thus reduce the risk of a worker tripping over it.

In use, the retainer is used to secure scaffolding boards, arranged side-by-side, to a transom of a scaffolding structure. The retainer is positioned over the scaffolding boards and an end of the transom is entered into the aperture 4 of the securing portion 2. The retainer is then slid along the transom until the scaffolding boards are retained between the inner surfaces of the securing portion 2 and the engaging portion 3, as shown in Fig. 4. Thus, the lower and upper surfaces of the scaffolding boards are sandwiched between the transom and the lower surface 7 of the elongate body portion 1, respectively, the elongate body portion sitting flush across the upper surfaces of the boards. The outer sides of the scaffolding boards abut against the inner surfaces of the securing portion 2 and the engaging portion 3 of the retainer. The height of the engaging portion 3 is such that it rests on top of the transom with the elongate body portion of the retainer level across the scaffolding boards.

The retainer is secured to the scaffolding structure primarily using the aperture 4 of the securing portion 2. However, the engaging portion 3 is also secured to the structure, by being sandwiched between the scaffolding boards on its inside and a toe board on its outside.

Advantageously, because of the manner in which the retainer is fixed to the scaffolding boards and surrounding structure, the retainer can be fitted quickly and without the need for any additional fittings. This increases the speed with which the scaffolding can be erected and reduces costs.

Furthermore, because of the low height of the elongate body portion, which sits flush on the scaffolding boards, the risk of tripping as against conventional devices is substantially reduced. This risk is further reduced by providing sloped sides to the elongate body portion and by forming the retainer from a hazard yellow plastics material.

In addition, because of the low height of the retainer, the toe board sits flush to the retainer and scaffolding boards, such that there is no gap therebetween. In this way, the risk of items such as tools falling onto people below is avoided.

Various sizes of retainer can be provided so as to fit different numbers/widths of scaffolding boards. For example, the retainer can be sized so as to accommodate 2, 3, 4 or 5 boards each having a width of 9 inches. In one preferred embodiment, the length of the elongate body portion 1 between inner surfaces of the securing portion 2 and the engaging portion 3 is 1290 mm.

The width of the retainer is 70 mm and the height of the elongate body portion is 12 mm. The securing portion extends 115 mm downwards from the upper surface of the elongate body portion and the engaging portion extends 47 mm downwards from the upper surface of the elongate body portion.

Although the described embodiment comprises a single plastic moulding, the retainer may be formed from separate pieces which are welded together.

Furthermore, it is preferred, but not essential, that the retainer comprises plastic. Any suitable material may be used.

In addition, although in the preferred embodiment the securing portion 2 is provided with an aperture 4, the securing portion may be provided with a recess for accommodating the transom instead.

Claims

Claims: 1. A scaffolding board retainer for securing scaffolding

boards, arranged side-by-side, to a transom of a scaffolding structure, comprising: an elongate body portion; and a securing portion which extends in a transverse direction from the elongate body portion and which has an aperture or recess for receiving one end of the transom; wherein, in use, the elongate body portion rests across, and against upper surfaces of, the scaffolding boards and the securing portion secures the retainer and the boards to the scaffolding structure by receiving the end of the transom through its aperture or recess, the boards being sandwiched between the transom and the elongate body portion of the retainer.

2. A scaffolding board retainer according to claim 1, further comprising an engaging portion which extends in said transverse direction from the elongate body portion and which opposes the securing portion, wherein, in use, the securing portion and the engaging portion abut against the outer sides of the scaffolding boards to retain the boards therebetween.

3. A scaffolding board retainer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an upper surface of the elongate body portion is bevelled or textured so as to provide a non-slip surface.

4. A scaffolding board retainer according to any preceding claim, wherein a lower surface of the elongate body portion has indented regions and gripping regions to grip the upper surface of the scaffolding boards.

5. A scaffolding board retainer according to any preceding claim, wherein side surfaces of the elongate body portion, which extend along the length of the retainer, are angled to the vertical to reduce the trip hazard presented by the retainer.

6. A scaffolding board retainer according to any preceding claim, wherein the retainer comprises plastic.

7. A scaffolding board retainer according to any preceding claim, wherein the retainer comprises a single plastic moulding.

8. A scaffolding board retainer according to any preceding claim, wherein the retainer comprises a brightly coloured material.

9. A scaffold comprising: a plurality of scaffolding poles arranged to form a scaffolding structure; a plurality of scaffolding boards arranged side-by-side across a transom of the scaffolding structure; and a scaffolding board retainer according to any of claims 1 to 8 provided across the scaffolding boards and secured to the transom to secure the scaffolding boards to the scaffolding structure.

10. A scaffolding board retainer substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.