IES84257Y1 - Fittings for builders' trestles - Google Patents

Description

PATENTS ACT, 1992 S2005/0274 FITTINGS FOR BUILDERS‘ TRESTLES SAFESTAND LIMITED FP-l 0~O0O4 ob4257 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. 023.0 m) as a more convenient alternative to scaffolding. The invention relates more particularly to fittings 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.

To better prevent objects from being accidentally knocked over the edges of the platform supported by the trestles, it is desirable to provide transverse kickboards at the ends of the platform as well as a longitudinal kickboard at the rear edge (opposite the working side).

Joist hangers are known, having a pocket for reception of a joist end, and a strap or bracket for securing the pocket to an adjacent wall or stringer. See, for example, GB2354267. Such hangers do not suggest themselves, and are not suitable for, securing transverse kickboards to a longitudinal kickboard on a platform supported by builders’ trestles. Either the hanger must be pennanently or semi—permanently secured to the longitudinal kickboard or, if left loose, does not form a sufficiently stable support for the transverse kickboard. In particular, the hanger may pivot about the strap or bracket and disengage from the longitudinal kickboard. Thus, if such joist hangers were to be used loose, far from guarding against accidents caused by falling objects, the transverse kickboard itself would become a hazardous unsecured and potentially falling object.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a bracket for securing a first kickboard transversely of a second kickboard, comprising a socket dimensioned for securely receiving an end of the first kickboard and a clip for securing the bracket to the second kickboard, the clip comprising a hook part dimensioned for securely suspending the bracket fi‘0II1 the top edge of the second kickboard, and a lateral extension aligned with the longitudinal axis of the second kickboard for stabilising the bracket thereon, the socket comprising a rear wall positioned between the first and second kickboards in use. Preferably the lateral extension comprises a pair of projections extending FP-l0-0004 one on either side of the socket. The extensions may lie along the top edge of the second kickboard in use. The socket may comprise a pair of opposed side walls and optionally a bottom wall for engaging the end of the first kickboard. The transverse kickboard bracket is not only useful in conjunction with platforms supported by builders’ trestles, but may be used in connection with any kickboards, including those used in staging, scaffolding and the like.

The invention and various preferred features and advantages of it are further described below with reference to illustrative embodiments shown in the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a transverse kickboard bracket embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a modification of the bracket of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 shows the bracket of Fig. l in use.

Figs. 1 and 3 show a bracket 60 for securing a transverse kickboard 62 to the longitudinal kickboard 54, for example to form a barrier to prevent objects from being accidentally knocked over the ends of the working platform 34. The bracket 60 comprises a socket 64 for receiving an end or corner of the transverse kickboard 62, the socket having a bottom wall 66 and an opposed pair of triangular sidewalls 68 spaced for snug reception of a standard scaffolding plank between them. The bracket 60 further comprises a clip 70 having a hook portion 72 extending parallel to "a rear wall 74 of the socket 64, so that the clip 70 may be hooked over the longitudinal kickboard 54 whose upper edge is thus snugly received between the rear wall 74 and the hook portion 72. The clip 70 supports the socket 64 and thus the kickboard 62 from the kickboard 54 at a suitable height above the supporting trestle crossmembers, allowing for the thickness of the platfonn 34. In the modification shown in Fig. 2, the bottom wall 66 is omitted, so that the transverse kickboard is supported directly on the platform 34. This form of bracket may therefore be used with longitudinal kickboards of different heights (widths) or for support not only by longitudinal kickboards whose lower edge is substantially level with the platform 34 upper surface as in GB2378978, but also by longitudinal kickboards which lie outboard of the platform 34 and are supported on the trestle crossmembers.

FP0004 The clip 70 also comprises a pair of lateral extensions or projections 76, one projecting to either side of the socket 64. In use the extensions or projections 76 lie along the top edge of the longitudinal kickboard 54 and stabilise the socket 60, preventing it from twisting about the longitudinal axis of the transverse kickboard 62. The transverse kickboard 62 is therefore stably and finnly secured to the longitudinal kickboard 54. If desired, the opposite end of the transverse kickboard 62, remote from the socket 64, can be braced against an upright (not shown), forming part of a removable safety barrier at the working side of the trestles. This prevents the kickboard 62 from tending to swing outwardly of the platform 34 about the bracket 60. The transverse kickboard 62 may even be clamped or otherwise secured to the removable upright.

Claims (4)

1. A bracket for securing a first kickboard transversely of a second kickboard, comprising a socket dimensioned for securely receiving an end of the first kickboard and a clip for securing the bracket to the second kickboard, the clip comprising a hook part dimensioned for securely suspending the bracket from the top edge of the second kickboard, and a lateral extension aligned with the longitudinal axis of the second kickboard for stabilising the bracket thereon, the socket comprising a rear wall positioned between the first and second kickboards in use.

2. A bracket as defined in claim 1, in which the lateral extension comprises a pair of projections extending one on either side of the socket.

3. A bracket as defined in claim 2, in which the extensions lie along the top edge of the second kickboard in use.

4. A bracket as defined in any preceding claim, in which the socket comprises a pair of opposed side walls for engaging the end of the first kickboard. S. A bracket as defined in claim 4, in which the socket comprises a bottom wall.