IES84256Y1 - Fittings for builders' trestles - Google Patents

Description

PATENTS ACT, 1992 S2005/0275 FITTINGS FOR BUILDERS’ TRESTLES SAFESTAND LIMITED FP—09-0966 FITTINGS FOR BUILDERS’ TRESTLES This invention relates to trestles ("bandstands") for supporting working platforms used on building sites and the like. Two or more such trestles are usually used together with scaffolding boards supported between them to make up the platform. Such trestles are generally used to support working platforms of relatively low height (e.g. 0.2-3.0 m) as a more convenient alternative to scaffolding. The invention relates more particularly to kickboard retaining brackets for such trestles and platforms. A system of builders’ trestles provided with safety barriers, board end supporting safety brackets, end gates and kickboard brackets is described in UK Patent No. GB2378978.

The trestle shown in GB2378978 comprises a pair of upright supports connected by a crossmember upon which planks or boards can be supported in use to make a platform, one of the upright supports having an integral upward extension above the crossmernber, reaching to a height at which one or more generally horizontally extending rails can be attached for fonn the safety barrier.

GB237897 8 also discloses brackets secured to the upward extension, for holding a kickboard, used to prevent objects from being accidentally pushed over the edge of the working platform. These brackets extend over the top of the board forming the edge of the platform nearest to the upward extension and can interfere with placement of this board. Also, it is sometimes necessary to remove this board whilst the remaining boards are kept in place as the working platform. The presence of the overhanging kickboard brackets makes this very difficult or impossible.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a builder’s trestle providing a safety barrier and comprising a pair of upright supports connected by a crossmember upon which planks or boards can be supported in use to make a platform, one of the upright supports having an upward extension above the crossmember, the trestle further comprising a bracket for receiving a kickboard, characterised in that the bracket extends upwardly from the crossmernber and is spaced from the upward extension, so that the kickboad may be received and held between the bracket and the upward extension in use. The platform-forming boards are FP~09-0966 therefore all inboard of the kickboard bracket and can all be easily removed and/or rearranged without hindrance fiom the kickboard or its bracket.

The invention and various preferred features and advantages of it are further described below with reference to an illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows the removable upright lower end received in its socket on the trestle; Fig. 2 shows the crossmember kickboard bracket, and Fig. 3 shows a kickboard in position, supported by two adjacent trestles.

Fig. 1 shows a tubular socket 38 welded to the end of the upper crossmember 28 of a trestle . The crossmember end extends outwardly beyond an upright support 40. The lower end of a removable upright 42 can be telescopingly received in the socket 38. A welded-on stop plate 46 prevents the end from passing completely through the socket 38. Generally horizontally extending safety rails (not shown) may be attached between the removable uprights and/or the upward extensions of adjacent trestles to form a safety barrier.

In Fig. 2 there is shown a kickboard bracket in the form of an angle having a horizontal limb welded to the trestle upper crossmember 28. A generally upright limb 48 of the bracket lies just inboard of the trestle support fixed upward extension 24, to define a board—receiving slot 50. The limb 48 is spaced a sufficient distance from the tubular socket 38 (Fig. 1) to allow fitment of a board overhanging end supporting bracket 52 to the crossmember 28, if required.

A longitudinal kickboard 54 can be seen in Fig. 3, supported on the crossmembers 28 of a pair of adjacent trestles 30. The kickboard 54 is retained in the slots 50 between the limbs 48 and the adjacent upward extensions 24. A platform 34 is formed from scaffolding boards supported on the crossmembers 28 between the limbs 48 and sockets 38.

Claims (2)

1. A bui1der’s trestle providing a safety barrier and comprising a pair of upright supports connected by a crossmember upon which planks or boards can be supported in use to make a platform, one of the upright supports having an upward extension above the crossmember, the trestle fiirther comprising a bracket for receiving a kickboard, characterised in that the bracket extends upwardly from the crossmernber and is spaced from the upward extension, so that the kickboard may be received and held between the bracket and the upward extension in 1186.

2. A builder’s trestle comprising a bracket for receiving a kickboard, substantially as described with reference to or as shown in