WO2010136044A1

WO2010136044A1 - A scaffolding element

Info

Publication number: WO2010136044A1
Application number: PCT/DK2010/050115
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jesper Ryberg Lonardi; Hans Handrup Hansen
Original assignee: Ryberg Lonardi Holding Aps
Priority date: 2009-05-27
Filing date: 2010-05-26
Publication date: 2010-12-02
Also published as: EP2435643A1; CN102439246B; CN102439246A; AU2010252397B2; AU2010252397A1

Abstract

A scaffolding device (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) comprising a scaffolding element (2), which comprises two engagement ends (3a, 3b) and a longitudinal middle section (4), engagement means (5a, 5b) provided at each of said two engagement ends (3a, 3b) and adapted for engaging a respective other scaffolding element (9), locking means (6a, 6b) provided at each of said two engagement ends (3a, 3b) and adapted for locking said respective engagement means (5a, 5b) in engagement with said respective other scaffolding element (9), actuating means (7) for releasing said respective locking means (6a, 6b), and connecting means (8) for connecting said respective locking means (6a, 6b) with said actuating means (7), wherein said actuating means (7) is arranged as a common actuating device (7) on and/or in said middle section (4) of said scaffolding element (2), said actuating device (7) being adapted for releasing said respective locking means (5a, 5b) simultaneously.

Description

A scaffolding element

The present invention relates to a scaffolding device according to the preamble of claim 1. Such scaffolding devices are commonly known and widely used as constructional elements when assembling scaffoldings. Scaffolding devices may take different forms and shapes depending on their functionality and placement in the scaffolding. Examples are end frame elements forming the basic end frame of the scaffolding, horizontals and di- agonals, both being scaffolding elements used for connecting opposite end frames and stabilizing and supporting the scaffolding, and rail elements forming e.g. hand rails and simultaneously having a supporting effect on the scaffolding.

A scaffolding device of the type mentioned above is described in DK 165796 B, in which a wire is connected to a spring tensioned locking device of a fastening grip adapted for gripping about a scaffolding pipe, the fastening grip being mounted at an end of a scaffolding pipe. The locking device may be brought from a locking position to a released position by pulling the wire, thereby pulling the locking device against the force of the spring tension.

Other known scaffolding devices comprise engagement means and spring-loaded locking means at each end of a tubular scaffolding element, wherein the locking means may be operated by direct manual manipulation thereof. However, when demounting such a scaffolding device comprising a fastening grip with a corresponding locking device at each end thereof during deconstruction of scaffoldings a frequently occurring disadvantage remains. This disadvantage lies in, that when releasing a second locking device, having already released a first, the first locking de- vice tends to slip back into its locked position because of the spring loading. Thereby the scaffolding worker may be forced to release the firstly released locking device more than one time, thereby rendering the de- construction process more time consuming.

It is the object of the invention to provide a scaffolding device of the type mentioned in the introduction, whereby mounting and particularly demounting of the scaffolding device during construction and de- construction of scaffoldings becomes significantly simpler and faster.

According to the invention, this is obtained by a scaffolding de- vice with the features of the characterizing portion of claim 1.

Thereby a scaffolding device adapted for releasing said respective locking means simultaneously by means of an actuating means arranged as a common actuating device is provided. Hence, with a scaffolding device according to the invention it becomes possible to mount or demount the scaffolding device with one single releasing/locking action rather than with the previously needed several releasing/locking actions. In a preferred embodiment defined in claim 2 the scaffolding device is simplified further in its function by arranging the actuating device substantially at the middle of the scaffolding device and/or adapting it for one-hand actuation, whereby the scaffolding device is easier to keep at equilibrium during mounting or demounting, possibly even using just one hand, thus rendering a worker's second hand free for other purposes such as e.g. supporting himself.

In a preferred embodiment the common actuating device is con- structed according to claim 3. In this way a movement of the actuating means is transferred into a movement releasing the respective locking means of the scaffolding device when operating the actuating means. Thereby easy and straightforward actuation of a means such as a release button, handle or lever results in direct and automatic release of the re- spective locking means of the scaffolding device, that may subsequently be removed or added directly from or to a scaffolding of which it forms a part.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the connecting means connecting the actuating device and the locking means is constructed according to claim 6. By arranging the connection means within the scaffolding element a particularly convenient construction of the scaffolding device is obtained. This construction ensures a minimized or even eliminated risk of accidental release of the locking means in that the connection means are protected by the structure of the scaffolding element. Simultaneously, the use of a connection means in the form of a wire and optionally one or more pulleys ensures a particularly well functioning, efficient and directionally precise transfer of the movement of the actuating device into a movement of the locking means, particularly if the con- nection means are arranged within an angled scaffolding element, such as within an end frame.

A scaffolding device according to the invention may form different parts of a scaffolding. Particularly, according to claim 8, it may form a horizontal, a diagonal or a rail element, and according to claim 10 it may form an end frame of a scaffolding. Thus, it is in principle possible to construct a scaffolding using only scaffolding devices according to the invention.

Further features, embodiments and advantages of a scaffolding device according to the invention appear from the remaining dependent claims.

According to a second aspect of the invention the object is achieved by a method for producing a scaffolding device according to the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising the steps according to claim 14. With this method it is not only possible to produce new scaf- folding devices according to the invention, but even to modify an existing scaffolding device into a scaffolding device according to the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention the object is furthermore achieved by a scaffolding comprising one or more scaffolding devices according to the first aspect of the invention.

The invention will be described in more detail below by means of a non-limiting example of a presently preferred embodiment and with reference to the schematic drawings, in which :

Fig. 1 shows a schematic drawing of a scaffolding according to the third aspect of the invention,

Figs. 2a to 2c show a first embodiment of a scaffolding device according to the first aspect of the invention in the form of a horizontal, a diagonal or a rail element in a locked condition seen in three different views, Figs. 2d and 2e show enlarged views of an actuating means and an engagement end, respectively, of a scaffolding device according to figs. 2a - 2c in a locked condition,

Figs. 3a to 3e show views corresponding to figs. 2a to 2e, re- spectively, of the scaffolding device in a released condition,

Figs. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of a scaffolding device according to the invention in the form of an end frame element in a locked condition and in a released condition, respectively,

Fig. 6 shows a side view of a third embodiment of a scaffolding device according to the invention in the form of a horizontal, diagonal or rail element in a locked condition,

Figs. 7a to 7c show different views of an alternative embodiment of an actuating means of a scaffolding device according to the invention, Figs. 8 and 9 show further alternative embodiments of an actuating means of a scaffolding device according to the invention,

Fig. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of a scaffolding device according to the first aspect of the invention in the form of a horizontal seen in a cross-sectional view, Figs. 11a and lib show a fifth embodiment of a scaffolding device according to the first aspect of the invention in the form of a horizontal seen in a cross-sectional view in locked and released positions, respectively, and

Figs. 12a and 12b show a sixth embodiment of a scaffolding de- vice according to the first aspect of the invention in the form of a horizontal seen in a cross-sectional view in locked and released positions, respectively.

In fig. 1 is schematically shown a scaffolding according to the third aspect of the invention. Such a scaffold is constructed by means of a plurality of scaffolding devices, of which at least one is a scaffolding device according to the invention. As is illustrated in fig. 1, scaffolding devices may take several different forms and shapes depending on their functionality and placement in the scaffolding. End frame elements Id form the end frames of the scaffolding. The end frames are substantially ladder-shaped in structure with horizontal steps 101 extending between vertical posts 102. The end frame elements Id are thus shaped as ladder-segments comprising one or more steps 101 and corresponding segments of each associated vertical post 102. The end frame elements Id may in principle each comprise any number of steps 101 of an end frame, but however preferably comprise only one step 101. Horizontals Ia and diagonals Ib are used for connecting the opposite end frames and stabilizing and supporting the scaffolding. Between the end frames, rail elements Ic form e.g. hand rails that may be gripped by a worker moving about on a footbridge Ie. The scaffolding rests on the ground on base elements, here shown as wheels If. Other examples of base elements are trestles or base plates.

Fig. 2a shows a scaffolding device according to the invention, which may be used as e.g. a horizontal Ia, diagonal Ib or rail element Ic, in a locked position. The scaffolding device, that is in figs. 2a to 2e shown as a horizontal Ia, comprises a scaffolding element 2 with a hollow, pipe-shaped or tubular middle section 4, engagement ends 3a and 3b provided at respective ends of the middle section 4, and actuating means 7. In principle the middle section 4 may also take other shapes than tubular, for instance it may have a cross-section comprising a plurality of sides, e.g. a rectangular or octagonal cross-section.

Fig. 2b shows a section taken at B-B in fig. 2a through the scaffolding device, and fig. 2c shows a perspective view of the scaffolding device. As can be seen each engagement end 3a, 3b comprises respec- tive engagement means 5a, 5b and locking means 6a, 6b. Each locking means 6a, 6b is connected to a respective connecting means 8a, 8b extending within the scaffolding element 2 and connecting the locking means 6a, 6b with the actuating means 7. The connecting means 8a, 8b is a wire, but may also be e.g. a rod or an articulated rod. The actuating means 7 comprises releasing means 10 and an operating element 11. The actuating means 7 is arranged as a common actuating device in the middle section 4 of the scaffolding element 2, and the actuating device 7 is adapted for releasing the respective locking means 6a, 6b simultaneously. Alternatively, the actuating means 7 is arranged as a common ac- tuating device on the middle section 4.

Turning to fig. 2d, showing an enlargement of the detail D featuring the actuating means 7 in fig. 2b, the operating element 11 comprise two angled elements 14a, 14b, the respective connecting means 8a, 8b being connected to one end thereof. At the opposite end the angled elements 14a, 14b are connected to a pin 12. The pin 12 extends between the angled elements 14a, 14b and an intermediate pin 34, the intermediate pin 34 being connected to the releasing means 10. The releasing means 10 is provided as a release button, but may also be e.g. a release handle or lever.

Fig. 2e shows an enlargement of the detail E featuring the engagement end 3b in fig. 2b. The engagement end 3b comprises engagement means 5b and locking means 6b. The engagement means 5b comprises a preferably semicircular hook part 24 adapted for engaging a respective other scaffolding element with a circular cross section. The V- shaped locking means 6b comprises a nose 25 and two ends 26a, 26b. The connecting means 8b is connected to one 26a of the two ends. The nose 25 forms a section adapted for engagement with the other scaffolding element, thereby locking the hook part 24 in engagement with the other scaffolding element. The locking means 6b is rotatable about a transversal axis 20 of the scaffolding element 2 between a locked position and a released position.

The scaffolding device is generally made of a suitably lightweight and strong material such as a metal, preferably aluminium. How- ever, some parts of the scaffolding device such as the releasing means or the engagement means may be made in a material such as a plastic, while some other parts such as the operating element or the connecting means are preferably made of a stronger metal such as steel or iron.

The locking means 6b is pretensioned, preferably by means of a spring, the pretensioning force acting to urge the locking means 6b towards the locked position. The pretensioning force is provided by a spring, e.g. a helical spring, arranged on the outer surface of a pin placed coincident with the transversal axis 20, on which pin the locking means 6b is mounted, the locking means 6b thus being rotatable about the pin. The locking means 6b may also comprise a stop 22 preventing rotation of the locking means 6b beyond a predetermined position. The locking means 6b is furthermore arranged such as to be manually re- leasable by manipulating the end 26b. In the present case the stop 22 is constituted by an edge part of the middle section 4. Alternatively the stop may be constituted by an edge part of the engagement end 3b or be a separate part provided on the middle section 4 or the engagement end 3b.

With reference also to figs. 3a to 3e showing the scaffolding de- vice of figs. 2a to 2e in views corresponding to those of figs. 2a to 2e, respectively, but in a released position, the function of the scaffolding device shall now be described.

When operating the releasing means 10 to bring the actuating means 7, and thereby its components, from the position according to fig. 2d to the position according to fig . 3d, a user presses the releasing means 10, possibly using only one hand, to release the locking means 6a, 6b at both engagement ends 3a, 3b of the scaffolding device simultaneously. Thereby the scaffolding device may be completely released and removed from the remaining scaffolding in one step, thus providing for considerably simpler and faster removal of scaffolding devices when disassembling a scaffolding. In further detail, the releasing means 10 presses onto the intermediate pin 34, that in turn presses the pin 12 towards the angled elements 14a, 14b in a piston-like manner. The angled means 14a, 14b, which are rotatable, rotate, thereby pulling the respec- tive connecting means 8a, 8b in a direction towards the pin 12, i.e. towards the centre of the actuating means 7, or in other words in a direction away from the respective locking means 6a, 6b.

The operating element 11 thus moves the connecting means 8a, 8b in such a way as to transfer a movement of the actuating means 7 into a movement of the respective locking means 6a, 6b from a respective locked position (cf. fig. 2e) into a respective released position (cf. fig. 3e), thereby releasing the respective locking means 6a, 6b when operating the releasing means 10. The transfer of movement is effectuated in that the pin 12 of the operating element 11 is movable across the middle section 4 by the releasing means 10 such as to move the connecting means 8a, 8b to exert a pull in the respective locking member 6a, 6b against a pretensioning force pretensioning the respective locking member 6a, 6b towards its locked position. It is noted, that in an alter- native embodiment the intermediate pin 34, that otherwise has an optimizing effect on the transfer of movement between releasing means 10 and pin 12, may be omitted.

When the user lets go of the releasing means 10, the spring force acts on the locking means 6a, 6b, forcing it back into the locked position, pulling the connection means 8a, 8b in a direction towards the respective engagement ends 3a, 3b, thereby forcing the operating element 11 back to its initial position as shown in fig. 2d.

The scaffolding device according to the invention is mounted on a scaffolding either by simply snapping the engagement ends 3a, 3b onto respective other scaffolding elements, or by operating the releasing means 10, placing the engagement ends 3a, 3b in engagement with the respective other scaffolding elements and letting go of the releasing means 10, thus letting the locking means 6a, 6b slide into engagement with the respective other scaffolding element. Figs. 4 and 5 show a scaffolding device, which may be used as an end frame element Id of a scaffolding, in a locked and released position, respectively. The scaffolding element 2 of the scaffolding device comprises a tubular middle section 4 - corresponding to a step 101, cf. fig. 1 - extending at each end into respective, preferably pipe-shaped, end sections 27a, 27b - corresponding to a segment of a vertical post 102, cf. fig . 1. Each of the end sections 27a, 27b provide at one end thereof engagement ends 3a, 3b, and are connected substantially perpendicular to the middle section 4, thus forming a substantially H- shaped end frame element. Each engagement end 3a, 3b comprise engagement means 5a,

5b forming respective first end parts 28 adapted for engagement with respective second end parts 30 of a respective other tubular scaffolding element 9. In the embodiment shown the first end part 28 is provided with a cross section fitting narrowly into the second end part 30 in a telescopic manner until a point at which notches 281, 301 on the respective end parts 28, 30 meet forming a stop. Each end section 27a, 27b may furthermore at other ends thereof, opposite the engagement ends 3a, 3b, comprise a further engagement end (not shown), each further engagement end comprising further engagement means forming a second end part, e.g. similar to the second end part 30, adapted for engagement with a first end part, e.g. similar to the first end part 28, of a respective other scaffolding element 9.

The scaffolding device furthermore comprises respective con- necting means 8a, 8b and actuating means 7, which are identical to and working as those described above, and respective locking means 6a, 6b. The locking means 6a, 6b are, as can be seen, placed in the first end part 28 close to the angle where the middle section 4 and the respective end sections 27a, 27b join, thereby ensuring proper transfer of move- ment from the actuating means 7 to the locking means 6a, 6b via the connecting means 8a, 8b, the connecting means 8a, 8b forming a direct connection to the actuating means 7. The respective locking means 6a, 6b are rotatable about a substantially central, transverse axis 20, and each comprise a catch 31 and an end 32. The respective connection means 8a, 8b are attached at the end 32. The catch 31 is adapted for engagement with a projection 33 on the second end part 30. Furthermore the locking means 6a, 6b comprise a safety release means 23.

In an alternative embodiment, in which the respective locking means 6a, 6b are displaced further into the first end 28 towards the notch 281, the respective connection means 8a, 8b may comprise, preferably at the angle between the middle section 4 and the respective end section 27a, 27b, at least one respective pulley (not shown) for guiding the respective connection means 8a, 8b through the angle.

Turning now to fig. 6, a side view of a third embodiment of a scaffolding device, here shown as a horizontal Ia, according to the invention is shown in a locked condition. The scaffolding device of fig. 6 is very similar to and of the same general type as those of figs. 2a - 2e, and it shall thus for the sake of simplicity be described in terms of its differences only. The locking means 6a is in this embodiment provided as a piston-like element 40 arranged to be slidable in a bushing 41, the inner part of the bushing 41 being provided with a compression spring 21 for pretensioning the locking means 6a. The locking means 6a is shown in the locked position, having a nose 25 in engagement with the respective other scaffolding element 9. Opposite the nose 25, at the end 26 of the locking element 6a the connection means 8a is attached. The locking means 8a is lead over a pulley 19 thereby ensuring that the piston-like element 40 of the locking means 6a is withdrawn straight into the bush- ing 41, when operating the actuating means 7 to move the locking means 6a to its released position.

Optionally more than one pulley 19 may be provided, the pul- ley(s) generally being arranged such as to guide said wire in such a way as to transfer a movement of said actuating device into a movement of said locking means from a locked position into a released position.

Furthermore the operating means 11 of the actuating means 7 is provided as a pin 12 arranged in a guide bushing 13, the pin 12 acting directly on the angled elements 14a, 14b in a piston-like manner when operating the releasing means 10. Figs. 7a to 7c show different views of an alternative embodiment of an actuating means 7 of a scaffolding device according to the invention, fig. 7a showing the assembled actuating means 7, fig. 7b an exploded view and fig 7c a longitudinal cross section taken along the line C-C in fig. 7a. In this embodiment the actuating means 7 comprises a releasing means 10, a bar 15, a plurality of first pins 16 and a plurality of second pins 17 all arranged in a housing 35 comprising two parts, in the present case halves 35a, 35b. The first pins 16 are arranged in a first set of holes or bushings 36 in the bar 15, the second pins 17 are arranged in a second set of holes or bushings 37 in the bar 15, and the connecting means 8 (although not shown in figs. 7a to 7c) is lead through a third through hole or bushing 38 in the bar 15. In the present preferred embodiment, the holes 36, 37 and 38, respectively, are mutually perpendicular, although other configurations are feasible. As is best seen in fig. 7c, the first pins 16 and the second pins 17 are arranged in the bar 15 in such a way that the first pins 16 guide the connecting means 8 and the second pins 17 act in a piston-like manner on the connecting means 8 when operating the release means 10 to depress the second pins 17 into the second holes 37.

Fig. 8 shows another alternative embodiment of an actuating means 7 of a scaffolding device according to the invention. Here the actuating means 7 comprise an integral release means 10 and operating means 11, the operating means 11 being guided in a guide bushing 13 through which the connecting means 8 is lead. The first part 10a, 11a of the integral release means 10 and operating means 11 is shown in the non-actuated position, while the second part 10b, lib is shown in the actuated position.

Fig. 9 shows yet another alternative embodiment of an actuat- ing means 7. Again, the actuating means 7 comprises an integral release means 10 and operating means 11, the operating means 11 being guided in a guide bushing 13 through which the connecting means 8 is lead. The connecting means 8 is here lead over a series of guide pulleys 39a, 39b and 39c, of which one guide pulley 39b is arranged vertically below the guide bushing 13, while the remaining guide pulleys 39a and 39c are arranged just outside the guide bushing 13. In this way the movement of the connecting means 8 by depression of the operating means 11 is not only smoothened in comparison to the embodiment shown in fig. 8, but also provided such as to make the release means 10 operable with more ease and to be more gentle to the connecting means 8.

Fig. 10 shows a cross sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a scaffolding device according to the invention, which may be used as e.g. a horizontal Ia, diagonal Ib or rail element Ic, in a locked position. The scaffolding device, in fig. 10 shown as a horizontal Ia, comprises a scaffolding element 2 with a hollow, pipe-shaped or tubular middle section 4, engagement ends 3a and 3b provided at respective ends of the middle section 4, and an actuating means 7 arranged on the middle section 4. In principle the middle section 4 may also take other shapes than tubular, for instance it may have a cross-section comprising a plurality of sides, e.g. a rectangular or octagonal cross-section.

As can be seen each engagement end 3a, 3b comprises respective engagement means 5a, 5b and locking means 6a, 6b. Each locking means 6a, 6b is connected with the actuating means 7 by means of a respective connecting means 8a, 8b extending within the scaffolding element 2. The connecting means 8a, 8b are preferably rigid elements such as a flat piece of metal, a rod or the like. The actuating means 7 comprises two releasing means 10a, 10b and an operating element 11. The operating element 11 comprises two rotating devices 50a, 50b each comprising a respective first end 53a, 53b and a respective second end 54a, 54b and each being arranged to be rotatable around a respective axis of rotation 55a, 55b. The operating element 11 further comprises two linking devices 51a, 51b each being a wire, but may also be e.g. a rod or an articulated rod. Alternatively, the connecting means 8a, 8b and the corresponding linking device 51a, 51b may be integral elements. A respective end 52a, 52b of each releasing means 10a, 10b is connected to a respective first end 53a, 53b of a respective rotating device 50a, 50b by means of a respective connecting means 8a, 8b. Each rotating device 50a, 50b is in turn connected to both linking devices 51a, 51b in such a way that the linking device 51a connects the first end 53a of the rotating device 50a with the second end 54b of the rotating device 50b, while the linking device 51b connects the second end 54a of the rotating device 50a with the first end 53b of the rotating device 50b. By this arrangement the actuating means 7 is arranged as a common actuating device on the middle section 4 of the scaffolding element 2, and both releasing means 10a, 10b are separately adapted for releasing the respective locking means 6a, 6b simultaneously. Alternatively, the actuating means 7 is arranged as a common actuating device in the middle section 4.

When operating any one of the releasing means 10a, 10b to bring the actuating means 7, and thereby its components, from the locked position to the released position, a user presses the releasing means 10a or 10b, possibly using only one hand, to release the locking means 6a, 6b at both engagement ends 3a, 3b of the scaffolding device simultaneously. In further detail, exemplified by the releasing means 10a, the releasing means 10a is brought to rotate about an axis of rotation 20a, thereby pushing the end 52a and thus the connecting means 8a in a direction towards the centre of the scaffolding element, or in other words in a direction away from the locking means 6a and towards the opposite locking means 6b.

Thereby the rotating device 50a rotates about its axis of rotation 55a and consequently pushes the linking device 51a and pulls the linking device 51b in such a way as to effect an opposite rotation of the rotating means 50b pulling the connecting means 8b and thus the end 52b of the releasing means 10b towards the centre of the scaffolding element. Thereby a transfer of a movement of the releasing means 10a into a movement of the opposite releasing means 10b is effectuated such that both locking means 6a, 6b are moved from a respective locked position into a respective released position, thereby releasing the respective locking means 6a, 6b when operating the releasing means 10a. The transfer of movement is effectuated in that the rotation of the rotating means 50a moves the linking devices 51a, 51b to exert a pull in the respective locking member 6a, 6b against a pretensioning force pretensioning the respective locking member 6a, 6b towards its locked position.

When the user lets go of the releasing means 10a, the spring force acts on the locking means 6a, 6b, forcing it back into the locked position, pulling the respective ends 52a, 52b in a direction towards the respective engagement ends 3a, 3b, thereby forcing the operating element 11 back to its initial position.

It is noted that the two connecting means 8a, 8b may alternatively be omitted, and the respective end 52a, 52b of each releasing means 10a, 10b may thus be connected directly to a respective first end 53a, 53b of a respective rotating device 50a, 50b.

Figs. 11a and lib show cross sectional views of a fifth embodiment of a scaffolding device according to the invention, which may be used as e.g. a horizontal Ia, diagonal Ib or rail element Ic, in a locked and a released position, respectively. The scaffolding device, in figs. 11a and lib shown as a horizontal Ia, differs from the scaffolding device of figs. 2a-e and 3a-e in the configuration of the operating element 11 and the releasing means 10, i.e. the actuating means 7, only. Therefore only these elements will be described in the following. The operating element 11 comprises two brackets 60a, 60b connected at a respective end 65a, 65b to a respective connecting means 8b, 8a. The two brackets 60a, 60b comprise a respective pin 62a, 62b and a respective track 64a, 64b. The two brackets 60a, 60b are mounted in the middle section 4 of the scaffolding element 2 such as to be pivotal around a respective transversal pivot axis coinciding with a longitudinal axis of the respective pins 62a, 62b, and are preferably mand of metal, e.g. aluminium.

The releasing means 10 comprise two tracks 63a, 63b, each accommodating and guiding a respective pin 62a, 62b in such a way as to allow the respective brackets 60a, 60b to pivot around their respective transversal pivot axis, and a pin 61 positioned such as to extend through both tracks 64a, 64b simultaneously.

When operating the releasing means 10 to bring the actuating means 7, and thereby its components, from the position according to fig. 11a to the position according to fig. lib, a user presses the releasing means 10, possibly using only one hand, to release the locking means 6a, 6b at both engagement ends 3a, 3b of the scaffolding device simultaneously. In further detail, the pressing the releasing means 10 causes the pin 61 to press onto the brackets 60a, 60b causing the brackets 60a, 60b to rotate about their respective pivot axis defined by the respective pins 62a, 62b, which are guided in the tracks 63a, 63b. Thereby the respective ends 65a, 65b of the brackets 60a, 60b are moved away from each other, thus pulling the respective connecting means 8a, 8b in a direction towards the centre of the actuating means 7, or in other words in a direction away from the respective locking means 6a, 6b.

The operating element 11 thus moves the connecting means 8a, 8b in such a way as to transfer a movement of the actuating means 7 into a movement of the respective locking means 6a, 6b from a respective locked position (cf. fig. lla) into a respective released position (cf. fig. lib), thereby releasing the respective locking means 6a, 6b when operating the releasing means 10.

As in the previously described embodiments the locking means 6a, 6b are pretensioned such that when the user lets go of the releasing means 10, the spring force acts on the locking means 6a, 6b, forcing it back into the locked position, pulling the connection means 8a, 8b in a direction towards the respective engagement ends 3a, 3b, thereby forcing the operating element 11 back to its initial position as shown in fig. 11a. Figs. 12a and 12b show cross sectional views of a sixth embodiment of a scaffolding device according to the invention, which may be used as e.g. a horizontal Ia, diagonal Ib or rail element Ic, in a locked and a released position, respectively. The scaffolding device that is in figs. 12a and 12b shown as a horizontal Ia differs from the scaffold- ing device of figs. 11a and lib in the configuration the operating element 11 and the releasing means 10, i.e. the actuating means 7, only. Therefore only these elements will be described in the following.

The operating element 11 is in this embodiment an articulated element comprising a pivot rod 70, a first intermediate rod 73 and a second intermediate rod 74. The pivot rod 70 is arranged in the middle section 4 of the scaffolding element 2 in such a way as to be pivotal around a transversal pivot axis 71, at which the pivot rod 70 is connected to the second intermediate rod 74 by means of a fixed connection. Hence, the pivot rod 70 and the second intermediate rod 74 may alternatively be one integral element, preferably shaped substantially as a T. The pivot rod 70 is furthermore connected, directly or over an intermediate element such as a block, with the repsctive connecting means 8a, 8b at its respective ends 72a, 72b. The second intermediate rod 74 is connected to the first intermediate rod 73 by means of a sec- ond pivotal connection 76, and the first intermediate rod 73 is in turn connected to the releasing means 10 by means of a first pivotal connection 75. The pivot rod 70 and the intermediate rods 73, 74 may in principle have any suitable cross section and are rigid, preferably metallic, elements. When operating the releasing means 10 to bring the actuating means 7, and thereby its components, from the position according to fig. 12a to the position according to fig. 12b, a user presses the releasing means 10, possibly using only one hand, to release the locking means 6a, 6b at both engagement ends 3a, 3b of the scaffolding device simultaneously. In further detail, the releasing means 10 presses onto the first intermediate rod 73, that in turn presses on the second intermediate rod 74, which causes the pivot rod 70 to pivot, in the view shown clockwise, around the pivot axis 71. Thereby the pivot rod 70 pulls the respective connecting means 8a, 8b in a direction away from the respective locking means 6a, 6b.

The operating element 11 thus moves the connecting means 8a, 8b in such a way as to transfer a movement of the actuating means 7 into a movement of the respective locking means 6a, 6b from a respec- tive locked position (cf. fig. 12a) into a respective released position (cf. fig. 12b), thereby releasing the respective locking means 6a, 6b when operating the releasing means 10.

As in the previously described embodiments the locking means 6a, 6b are pretensioned such that when the user lets go of the releasing means 10, the spring force acts on the locking means 6a, 6b, forcing it back into the locked position, pulling the connection means 8a, 8b in a direction towards the respective engagement ends 3a, 3b, thereby forcing the operating element 11 back to its initial position as shown in fig. 2d. The invention also provides a method for producing a scaffolding device according to the invention. The method may be applied to any of the above embodiments of the invention. This method comprises the steps of: providing a scaffolding device comprising a scaffold- ing element 2 with two engagement ends 3a, 3b and a middle section 4, providing at least one engagement means 5a, 5b and at least one locking means 6a, 6b at each of said two engagement ends 3a, 3b, providing the middle section 4 of the scaffolding element 2 with a slit or a cut, providing a connecting means 8, such as a wire or a rod, and a common actuating means 7, - connecting the connection means 8 to the locking means 6a, 6b and the actuating means 7 in such a way as to enable simultaneous release of the locking means 6a, 6b, and inserting the actuating means 7 in the slit. An alternative to providing a slit in the middle section 4 of the scaffolding element 2 is to provide a through cut in the middle section 4 effectively splitting the middle section 4 in two parts, preferably two halves. Subsequently, the actuating means 7 is inserted between the two parts of the middle section 4, the actuating means 7 thereby form- ing an intermediate part of the middle section 4. This alternative is particularly suitable in case of an actuating means 7 according to the embodiment described in connection with figs. 7a to 7c.

It should be noted that the above description of preferred embodiments serves only as examples, and that a person skilled in the art will know that numerous variations are possible without deviating from the scope of the claims.

Claims

P A T E N T C L A I M S

1. A scaffolding device comprising: a scaffolding element for forming a supporting or carrying part of a scaffolding structure, said scaffolding element comprising two en- gagement ends and a longitudinally extending, preferably pipe-shaped, middle section, engagement means provided at each of said two engagement ends and adapted for engaging a respective other scaffolding element, locking means provided at each of said two engagement ends and adapted for locking said respective engagement means in engagement with said respective other scaffolding element, actuating means for releasing said respective locking means, and connecting means, such as a wire or a rod, for connecting said respective locking means with said actuating means, cha racterized in that said actuating means is arranged as a common actuating device on and/or in said middle section of said scaffolding element, said actuating device being adapted for releasing said respective locking means si- multaneously.

2. A scaffolding device according to claim 1, cha racterized in that said actuating device is arranged substantially at the middle of said middle section and/or is adapted for one-hand actuation.

3. A scaffolding device according to claim 1 or 2, cha rac- t e r i z e d in that said actuating device comprises a releasing means, such as a release button, handle or lever, and an operating element adapted for moving said connecting means in such a way as to transfer a movement of said actuating means into a movement of said respective locking means from a respective locked position into a respective re- leased position, thereby releasing said respective locking means when operating said releasing means.

4. A scaffolding device according to claim 3, cha racterized in that said operating element comprises at least one pin, preferably guided in a guide bushing, said pin being movable across said middle section by said releasing means such as to move said connecting means to exert a pull in said locking member against a pretensioning force pretensioning said locking member towards said locked position, said operating element preferably further comprising at least one angled, rotatable element connecting said connecting means with said pin.

5. A scaffolding device according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said operating element comprises a bar, a plurality of first pins and a plurality of second pins, said first pins and said second pins being arranged in said bar in such a way that said first pins guide said connecting means and said second pins act in a piston-like manner on said connecting means when operating said release means.

6. A scaffolding device according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said actuating device comprises an operating element adapted for moving said connecting means in such a way as to transfer a movement of said actuating means into a movement of said respective locking means from a respective locked position into a respective released position, thereby releasing said respective locking means when operating any one of said two releasing means, and in that it further comprises two releasing means, such as release buttons, han- dies or levers, adapted for actuating said actuating element.

7. A scaffolding device according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said operating element comprises two rotating devices and two linking devices, each releasing means being connected to a respective rotating device by means of said connecting means and each rotating device being connected to each of said linking devices.

8. A scaffolding device according to any one of the above claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said connecting means is arranged internally within said scaffolding element and/or comprises a wire and optionally at least one pulley for guiding said wire, said at least one pulley, when present, being arranged such as to guide said wire in such a way as to transfer a movement of said actuating device into a movement of said locking means from a locked position into a released position.

9. A scaffolding device according to any one of the above claims, cha racterized in that said locking means is rotatable about a transversal axis of said scaffolding element between a locked position and a released position and/or is pretensioned, preferably by means of a spring, towards a locked position and/or comprises a stop preventing rotation of said locking means beyond a predetermined position and/or comprises a safety release means.

10. A scaffolding device according to any one of the above claims, cha racterized in that it is in the form of a horizontal, a diagonal or a rail element of a scaffolding, said middle section of said scaffolding element extending into said two engagement ends of said scaffolding element, each said engagement means comprising a semicircular hook part adapted for engagement with said respective other scaffolding element.

11. A scaffolding device according to claim 10, cha racter- i z e d in that said locking means is rotatable about a substantially central, transverse axis, and that said locking means is angled comprising a nose and two ends, said connection means being attached at one of said two ends, said nose forming a section adapted for engagement with said respective other scaffolding element locking said hook part in engage- ment with said respective other scaffolding element.

12. A scaffolding device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, cha racterized in that it forms an end frame element of a scaffolding, said middle section of said scaffolding element extending at each end into respective, preferably pipe-shaped, end sections, each said end section at one end thereof providing one of said engagement ends of said scaffolding element, each said end section being connected in an angle with, preferably substantially perpendicular to, said middle section to form a substantially H-shaped end frame element.

13. A scaffolding device according to claim 12, cha racter- i z e d in that said engagement means of each said engagement end forms a first end part adapted for engagement with a second end part of said respective other scaffolding element, and in that said locking means is rotatable about a substantially central, transverse axis, and that said locking means comprises a catch and an end, said connection means be- ing attached at said end, said catch being adapted for engagement with a projection on said second end part.

14. A scaffolding device according to claim 13, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that each said end section at other ends thereof comprises a further engagement end, each said further engagement end comprising further engagement means forming a second end part adapted for engagement with a first end part of said respective other scaffolding element.

15. A scaffolding device according to claim 12, 13 or 14, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said connection means comprises, preferably at said angle, at least one pulley for guiding said connection means through said angle.

16. A method for producing a scaffolding device according to any one of the above claims, comprising the steps of - providing a scaffolding device comprising a scaffolding element with two engagement ends and a middle section, providing at least one engagement means and at least one locking means at each of said two engage- ment ends, providing said middle section of said scaffolding element with a slit, providing a connecting means, such as a wire or a rod, and a common actuating means, - connecting said connection means to said locking means and said actuating means in such a way as to enable simultaneous release of said locking means, and inserting said actuating means in said slit.

17. A scaffolding comprising at least one scaffolding device according to any one of claims 1 to 15.