GB2463910A

GB2463910A - Scaffolding filler plate assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2463910A
Application number: GB0817823A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark William Scruton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-30
Filing date: 2008-09-30
Publication date: 2010-03-31
Also published as: GB2463779A; GB0909830D0; GB2463779B; GB0817823D0; GB0916625D0

Abstract

A filler plate assembly for locating between two spaced elongate scaffold boards comprises an elongate upper plate 1 adapted to overlie the space between the boards 2 and to partially overlie each of the boards, with swivel plates 5 mounted beneath the upper plate for releasably clamping the assembly in position. Preferably each swivel plate is formed in a shallow V-shape in longitudinal section. The swivel plate may be supported on a cross plate 6 by a bolt 7 passing through a hole in the swivel plate and a captive nut fixed to the cross plate 6.

Description

Scaffolding Filler Plate Assembly The invention relates to scaffolding and, in particular, to a filler plate assembly for locating between two spaced elongate scaffold boards.

Traditionally, scaffolding constructions located against a structure such as the wall of a house consist of a plurality of metal tubes connected by couplers. The upright tubes or "standards" are connected by long horizontal tubes or "ledgers" running parallel to the wall of the house. Shorter horizontal tubes or "transoms" running perpendicular to the wall of the house, rest on the ledgers. Main transoms are placed next to the standards and provide support for wooden hoards which form a work platform. Intermediate transoms are placed between the main transoms to provide extra support for the boards.

Generally, five wooden scaffold hoards will lie between the uprights, supported on the transoms to form a work platform. A further hoard, known as an inside board is placed between the wall of the house and the nearest uprights. This inside board is provided to fill the space which would otherwise occur between the wall of the house and the work platform.

Since the uprights need to pass between the inside hoard and the first of the five outer boards forming the platform, however, a gap is formed between these two hoards equal to the diameter of the uprights. It has been traditional to cut notches in the inside edge of the first of the five outer boards to accommodate the uprights and thus avoid this gap which would otherwise provide a potential hazard to workers on the platform who might easily put a foot or the wheel of a barrow into the gap. Cutting notches in boards seriously weakens them, however.

The invention provides means for filling the gaps between the inside board and the first of the five outer boards without the need to notch the boards.

Accordingly, the invention provides a filler plate assembly for locating between two spaced elongate scaffold boards comprising: an elongate upper plate adapted to overlie the space between the hoards and to partially overlie each of the boards; and means mounted beneath the upper plate for releasably clamping the assembly in position.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a filler plate assembly; Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of a filler plate assembly located between two scaffold boards; Figure 3 is an end view of the assembly in a first position; and Figure 4 is an end view of the assembly in a second position.

Referring to the drawings, it can he seen that the assembly comprises a flat elongate upper plate 1 which is adapted to overlie the space between two scaffold boards 2 and to partially overlie each of the boards. A pair of spaced side plates 3 extend downwardly from the underside of the upper plate 1 to form a downwardly open U-shaped channel with the central portion 4 of the upper plate. The side plates serve to provide rigidity to the assembly, to locate the assembly in position.

Elongate swivel plates 5 are mounted at two points beneath the upper plate for releasably clamping the assembly in position. Each swivel plate S is supported on a cross plate 6, mounted between the lower ends of the side plates, by means of a bolt 7 which passes through a hole in the swivel plate and a captive nut 8 fixed, such as by welding, to the cross plate. The head of the bolt 7 is sized so that it can he turned by a standard scaffolding spanner.

In Figure 3, the swivel plate is shown in the release position in which it is aligned along the length of the assembly. In this position of the swivel plate, the assembly can he placed between two scaffold boards or removed therefrom. The clamping position is shown in Figure 4 with the swivel plate extending perpendicular to the length of the assembly and hearing on the underside of both the adjacent hoards. The swivel plate is formed in a shallow V-shaped in longitudinal section as can be seen in Figure 4. By turning the bolt 7, the operator can clamp the boards between the upper plate 1 and the swivel plate 5 and this will tend to flatten out the swivel plate. The position of uprights is indicated in Figures 3 and 4 by the reference numeral 10.

A plurality of such assemblies as described can be provided for filling gaps between hoards. The length of the assembly is selected according to the standard spacing between uprights. The swivel plates are located spaced from the ends of the assemblies so that they can turn without hitting the uprights.

It is envisaged that the assemblies will be made from steel and the components connected together by welding. Typical dimensions for the top plate will be 125 mm width by 970 mm length by 3 or 4 mm thickness. The cross plates 6 may be located at about 175 mm in from the ends of the assembly. The spacing between the side plates may be mm so that they can comfortably fit between two hoards held apart by uprights of about mm diameter. The swivel plate may he 40 mm wide by about 125 mm long.

Claims

Claims 1. A filler plate assembly for locating between two spaced elongate scaffold hoards comprising: an elongate upper plate adapted to overlie the space between the boards and to partially overlie each of the boards; and means mounted beneath the upper plate for releasably clamping the assembly in position.
2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, comprising a pair of spaced side plates extending downwardly from the underside of the upper plate and forming a downwardly open U-shaped channel with the central portion of the upper plate.
3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the means for clamping the assembly in position comprises at least one cross plate mounted between the lower ends of the side plates and an elongate swivel plate supported on the cross plate for movement between a locking position and a clamping position.
4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the swivel plate is supported on the cross plate by a bolt passing through a hole in the swivel plate and a captive nut fixed to the cross plate.
5. An assembly as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the elongate swivel plate is formed in a shallow V-shape in longitudinal section.
6. A filler plate assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A filler plate assembly for locating between two spaced elongate scaffold boards comprising: an elongate upper plate adapted to overlie the space between the boards and to partially overlie each of the boards; and an elongate swivel plate mounted beneath the upper plate for releasably clamping the assembly in position and movable between a release position and a clamping position..2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, comprising a pair of spaced side plates extending downwardly from the underside of the upper plate and forming a downwardly open U-shaped channel with the central portion of the upper plate.3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2, a cross plate is mounted between the lower ends of the side plates and the elongate swivel plate is supported on the cross plate for movement between the release position and the clamping position.4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the swivel plate is supported on the cross plate by a bolt passing through a hole in the swivel plate and a captive nut fixed to the cross plate.5. An assembly as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the elongate swivel plate is 0sII .. : formed in a shallow V-shape in longitudinal section. * * U...6. A filler plate assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the *.....accompanying drawings. * . S...* S*q**S S