GB2465452A

GB2465452A - Auxiliary platform for scaffolding

Info

Publication number: GB2465452A
Application number: GB0916392A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Robinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-18
Filing date: 2009-09-18
Publication date: 2010-05-26
Also published as: GB0916392D0; GB0817124D0

Abstract

A platform device 2 for scaffolding, comprises a platform (18, Fig 1a) supported by a frame, where the device is selectively attachable to the scaffolding using brackets 26. The device includes two or more support members (4, 6 Fig 1a) in a frame which supports a platform surface (18 Fig 1a). Preferably connection means (32, Fig 1d) are provided to connect the platform device to another similar platform device. The connection means may comprise tubes or blocks which fit into and can be secured to one or more ends of the support members. Preferably, when two platform devices are connected in this way, the surface formed is substantially continuous. A method of connecting a platform device to scaffolding is also defined.

Description

I

Platform device The invention to which this application relates is a platform device for scaffolding.

Scaffolding is a temporary framework used to support people and material in the construction or repair of buildings and other large structures. The framework typically comprises a modular system of tubes made of metal or other material. The tubes tend to be relatively inflexible to ensure rigid support when under load.

The framework typically includes uprights, ledgers and transoms.

Uprights are the vertical tubes that transfer the mass of the structure to the ground. Ledgers are horizontal tubes which connect between the uprights.

Transoms are connected to and/or rest upon the ledgers at right angles. Main transoms are placed next to the uprights holding S. , : 20 the uprights in place and providing support for boards placed *...

thereon and forming a platform. Platforms are normally spaced 2m apart vertically. Braces may also be provided diagonally *..S between ledges to increase rigidity.

* S.... * S

25 The boards are typically wooden planks 225mm wide, 38mm thick and up to 4m long. Intermediate transoms can be placed between the main transoms to provide extra support for boards.

Further components may be added to the framework such as a hop up for supporting bricks, for use by bricklayers. Typically the hop up comprises at least two brackets supported by the uprights onto which boards can be placed, typically around I.5m above the supporting ledgers.

However, the boards between adjacent hop ups tend to overlap each other. In contrast to the main framework, as the boards are oniy supported at their ends, they tend to bend in the middle under any load placed thereon. This in turn causes the ends to lift up, which represents a tripping hazard. This is undesirable in the UK in particular as such a hazard may not meet health and safety regulations.

It is possible to extend the transoms to provide a wider platform, but the problem with this system is that the extension is at the same height as the rest of the platform, which is undesirable is a user wants to work at an intermediate height. In addition the extension has to be rakered up to ensure the distal edge is properly supported, and undesirably, additional tubes and time are required for this purpose.

An aim of the present invention is to provide a means of supporting a load on scaffolding in between platforms, which is safe and quick to erect thereby overcoming the abovementioned * , : 20 problem. * * ****

In an aspect of the invention, there is provided a platform **** . . device for scaffolding comprising: * a frame including two or more support members; and 25 a platform supported by the frame; wherein the platform device is attachable to the scaffolding at a selectable location via one or more brackets.

Thus the platform can be supported by the brackets at a mid-point between different scaffold levels, where the levels are defined by the ledgers.

It will be appreciated that other attachment means could be used instead of brackets to fulfil the same function.

In one embodiment at least one support member is substantially inflexible such that the frame does not bend under load when the platform device is supported by the brackets at locations at or adjacent the ends of the device.

Thus as the support members do not bend the ends of the platform do not rise up and cause a tripping hazard.

In one embodiment the support members are tubes. Tubular structures typically provide the required rigidity. Typically the tubes are made of metal such as aluminium or steel.

In one embodiment two tubes are arranged along the longitudinal edges of the platform for support thereof.

In one embodiment, one or more transverse tubes are provided between the longitudinal tubes. This increases the rigidity and strength of the frame. Typically the transverse tubes are welded I...

. : 20 to the longitudinal tubes but it will be appreciated that other S....' methods of securing the same together can be used. * .

In one embodiment, the platform is a sheet of non-slip ply, S.....

* which typically is screwed to the tubes. : 25 * S.

However, it will be appreciated that any type of sheet material may be used for the platform.

In one embodiment platform devices can be connected together via connection means.

In one embodiment the connection means are tubes or blocks which fit into and can be secured to the ends of the longitudinal tubes.

In a further embodiment the connection means are external sleeves into which the ends of the longitudinal tubes can be secured.

Thus, as the platform devices abut end-to-end when connected together, there is no tripping hazard even when the device is not under load, as the surface formed by the platforms is substantially continuous.

In a further embodiment the ends of the platform devices can interengage directly, the ends of one device fitting into the ends of a further device, such that the same can be secured together.

In one embodiment the longitudinal tubes are not limited to a particular length. Thus the resulting platform devices may have different lengths. However, a plurality of platform devices can be secured together to form the desired length. It will therefore be appreciated that the length of the platform device is not

S

: 20 restricted to a particular dimension of the scaffolding with *...

which it can be used. * *

In one embodiment the brackets are provided with receiving S. S*S.

means for receiving the longitudinal tubes, typically in the form 25 of channels or clips but it will be appreciated that any suitable means could be utilised to substantially prevent lateral movement of the platform device on the brackets.

In one embodiment longitudinal movement of the tubes can be substantially prevented by fastening the tubes to the scaffolding or brackets. Typically the tubes are tied to the scaffolding but it will be appreciated that other fastening methods could be used.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of connecting a platform device to scaffolding, said platform device comprising a frame including two or more support members and a platform supported by the frame; wherein one or more brackets are selectively inserted into the scaffolding and the platform device is positioned on the brackets such that is supported thereby.

In one embodiment two or more platform devices are connected together such that the ends of the platforms do not overlap.

Typically the scaffolding is provided with uprights, each of which may include one or more slots via which the brackets may be supported.

Thus a user inserts the brackets into the slots of the scaffolding uprights at the desired level, which advantageously can be at a different level to the ledgers, and can then simply place a platform device on the brackets to be able to use the same. A **.* : 20 number of platform devices can be connected together * *** substantially seamlessly to allow different lengths of platform to be created. It will be appreciated that this is a much quicker and e* more adaptable way of providing a platform compared to * * **** * * conventional methods. 25

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described wherein:-Figure 1 illustrates of a platform device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; (a) schematic isometric view of components; (b) side view; (c) a bracket; (d) a connection sleeve.

Figure 2 illustrates a platform device in use with scaffolding.

With reference to Figure la, there is illustrated the components of a platform device 2 comprising two support members in the form of metal tubes 4, 6 around 2m long, onto which are joined five transverse tubes 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 approximately 0.5m apart, typically by welding.

A sheet of non-slip ply 18 is then placed onto the tubes as indicated by arrow 22 and joined together via corresponding holes 20, 24 via screws, bolts or other fastening means to give the layered construction illustrated in Figure lb. The platform device 2 can be supported by scaffold brackets 26 such as that shown in Figure Ic, which is provided with two channel members 28, 30 for receiving and supporting the corresponding tubes 6, 4.

With reference to Figure id, the platform device can be connected end-to-end with another platform device via connection means such as connection sleeve 32 into which the : 20 abutting ends of the platform devices can be inserted and * S..

secured via corresponding holes 34, 36 and suitable fastening means * S *. **.*S

* Referring to Figure 2, a scaffolding framework is illustrated 25 comprising a plurality of uprights 40, ledgers 42, and transoms 44. Diagonal braces (not shown) may also be provided to increase rigidity of the structure.

Boards (not shown) may be placed on the transoms to form platforms, which in this example would be spaced apart by about 2m vertically.

The uprights are also spaced apart by about 2m in this example, and the transoms are spaced apart by about im for increased strength of the platforms.

The scaffolding is provided with a plurality of brackets 26 connected to the uprights 40. In this example the brackets are fitted around 1.5m above the lower platform, which is a height suitable for bricklaying.

It will be appreciated that if a user simply placed boards across the brackets in the conventional manner to form a platform, the boards would have to overlap the brackets to ensure that they did not fall off the same. However, this also means that the boards would overlap each other when spanning adjacent gaps between brackets, such that if a heavy load was placed in the middle of the board where there was no support, the board would bend causing the ends to lift and present a tripping hazard. * ***

: 20 In this example, two platform devices 2, 2' have been connected * ..S together as hereinabove described, a 3m platform device 2 and a *...* im platform device 2', to form a substantially continuous 4m surface 46. This construction is supported by brackets 26 with * channels thereon preventing lateral movement, and longitudinal 25 movement is restricted by fastening the tubes of the platform device to those of the scaffolding at one or more points (not shown).

A user such as a bricklayer is thus able to place relatively heavy loads such as bricks on the surface 46 as the tube components of the platform devices 2, 2' are inflexible and therefore the surface 46 does not sag in between the locations where it is supported. In addition, there is no tripping hazard at the interface 48 between the two platform devices 2, 2', so the surface 26 is safer to use than those created by conventional devices.

As a comparative example, a normal cantilever platform for scaffolding is created by extending the transoms from the framework and placing additional boards on the extension.

However, an underslung ledger is required to allow a support raker or strut to be connected between the ledger and the framework, and a further ledger between the raker and the transom may be required to support the raker. A large number of couplers is required to connect all the components together securely.

Thus for a 7m long by im wide cantilever platform, the requirements are a 7m ledger support, 12 extended transoms, a 7m underslung ledger, 4 raker supports, 28 double couplers, 24 single couplers and 12 scaffold boards. This system takes around 2.5 hours to erect. *.s.

: 20 In contrast the Versa Access scaffold board system of the * .** present invention requires 4 brackets and 12 platform devices and only takes 20-30 minutes to erect. ****

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** **.* * The platform device 2 thus overcomes the hazards of the prior 25 art systems and is easier and quicker to assemble than conventional means.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention may also include further additional modifications made to the device which does not affect the overall functioning of the device.

Claims

Claims 1. A platform device (2) for scaffolding comprising: a frame including two or more support members (4, 6); and a platform (18) supported by the frame; wherein the platform device is attachable to the scaffolding at a selectable location via one or more brackets (26).
2. A platform device according to claim 1 wherein at least one support member is substantially inflexible.
3. A platform device according to claim I or 2 wherein the support members are tubular.
4. A platform device according to any preceding claim wherein two tubes are arranged along the longitudinal edges of the platform.: 20
5. A platform device according to claim 4 wherein one or * more transverse tubes are provided between the longitudinal tubes. S...S

*..I..

*
6. A platform device according to any preceding claim 25 wherein the platform is a sheet of non-slip ply.

*
7. A platform device according to any preceding claim wherein connection means are provided to allow platform devices to be connected together.
8. A platform device according to claim 7 wherein the connection means are tubes or blocks which fit into and can be secured to one or more of the ends of the support members.
9. A platform device according to claim 7 wherein the connection means are external sleeves into which one or more of the ends of the support members can be secured.
10. A platform device according to claim 7 wherein the connection means are formed as part of the frame such that the ends of the frame of one device can fit into the ends of the frame of a further device.
11. A platform device according to any preceding claim wherein a plurality of platform devices of the same or different lengths can be secured together to form a desired length.
12. A platform device according to any of claims 7-11 wherein the surface formed by the platforms is substantially continuous * .* : 20
13. A platform device according to any preceding claim * *** wherein the brackets are provided with receiving means for *.*** receiving one or more support members and substantially **** preventing movement of the platform device relative to the * I... * *brackets. ** ** * * 25 * .*
14. A platform device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying figures.
15. A method of connecting a platform device (2) to scaffolding, said platform device comprising a frame including t\vo or more support members (4, 6) and a platform (18) supported by the frame; wherein one or more brackets (26) are selectively inserted into the scaffolding and the platform device is positioned on the brackets such that is supported thereby.
16. A method according to claim 15 wherein two or more platform devices are connected together such that the ends of the platforms do not overlap. * * * S. 0 *.** * . S... *I** * . S...* I. S* * a a * ** * ** *..a.SI I