WO2013030805A1

WO2013030805A1 - Guiding and support device for temporary guard rail of a frame scaffolding system and frame scaffolding system comprising said devices

Info

Publication number: WO2013030805A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/054510
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefano BANI
Original assignee: Tecnostampi Di Bani Elio
Priority date: 2011-09-02
Filing date: 2012-09-01
Publication date: 2013-03-07
Also published as: ITPI20110095A1

Abstract

A frame scaffolding system which involves the use of temporary guard rails comprises, for each upright to which a temporary guard rail has to be mounted, at least two guiding and support devices (100) comprising fastening means (110) for binding it to the upright, means for guiding the vertical sliding of the guard rail and support means (130) which cooperate with cross elements of the guard rail itself. The scaffolding system of the Invention and the related guiding and sup¬ port devices guarantee great reliability, versatility, ease of assembly and usage at extremely low cost.

Description

TITLE

GUIDING AND SUPPORT DEVICE FOR TEMPORARY GUARD RAIL OF A FRAME SCAFFOLDING SYSTEM AND FRAME SCAFFOLDING SYSTEM COMPRISING SAID DEVICES.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a guiding and support device for guard rails of scaffolding systems of the type comprising fastening means for coupling to a vertical member of the frame scaffolding system, guiding means suitable for guiding the sliding in the vertical direction of a guard rail and supporting means for supporting the guard rail at a given height.

The present invention also relates to a safety frame scaffolding system comprising at least one pair of vertical members to each of which Is bound at least one guiding and support assembly of a temporary guard rail in which the guiding and support assembly have vertically elongated guide means which cooperate with sliding means, which are also elongated vertically, of the temporary guard rail, and supporting means which support the barrier at a given height by preventing it from falling down.

STATE OF THE ART

In the field of building construction is particularly acute the problem of safety of workers since the industry statistics show that the percentages of mortality and accidents is very high. In this sector for the construction or maintenance of buildings are usually used scaffolding for the realization of temporary trenches at various altitudes. The scaffolding for the building industry are structures made up of components with a high level of standardization. Typically, a scaffold comprises a plurality of portals, each consisting of two tubular vertical members, by a crosspiece which connects the vertical members in their upper part and by two diagonal stiffening elements that connect the crosspiece to each of the vertical members. In the initial mounting two portals are arranged facing at a certain distance and connected with horizontal and / or diagonal connection elements which also constitute fall protection barriers. Thus, a walkway is supported on the cross members of the two portals so as to extend from one to another. Subsequently, additional portals can be joined to or Inserted above the previous ones so as to continue the assembly of the scaffolding in length and height.

The problems for the safety of frame scaffolding systems occur during the phases of assembling and disassembling as an operator is forced to operate on the walkway between two portals for mounting the upper level before horizontal anti-fall barriers are anchored and working.

To allow the operator to work safely up to the positioning of anti- fall barriers there are basically two types of solutions: the adoption of anti-fall systems constituted by individual safety points or horizontal safety lines to which workers are anchored by means of harnesses and devices connecting the anchorages and the harness itself; or the use of temporary guard rails that can be brought in position by operators that are located at the level of the scaffolding system which is the lower one with regard to the level to be protected by the temporary guard rail.

A scaffolding system provided with temporary guard rails is described for example in WO 2009030993 in which means for guiding the sliding of the temporary guard rails are welded to the vertical members of two facing portals. The guiding means are constituted by metal elements in the shape of "U" forming a vertical channel in which can slide vertically with a certain looseness a vertical side member of a temporary guard rail. The metal plates that form the side walls of the channel are also provided with aligned holes that allow the insertion of a pin which constitutes a support element of the temporary guard rail that prevents it from sliding downwards once it reaches the working position in which constitutes a anti-fall barrier at the level of the scaffolding above the one where there are the guide means thereof and from which the temporary guard rail is moved. The scaffolding system described above is effective and has very low cost due to the simplicity of the guide means, however, it has some problems which limit their commercial diffusion. Firstly, the welding operation of the guide means to the vertical members is expensive, as well as it is not cost effective, due to the high standardization of the components typical of the industry, the production of new portals with Integral guide means. Furthermore, the fact that the guide means are bound to the portals in a non-removable way makes the portals themselves less flexible in their mode of use as it Is defined a priori the orientation of the guide means, Finally, the support means of the barrier in the described above scaffolding system need to be operated manually (manual Insertion of the pin into their housing holes) and therefore it is necessary a combined action of two operators (one per uproght) to lift and fasten the temporary guard rail.

In FR 2347508 is described another scaffolding system comprising the use of temporary barriers in which means are provided for guiding the vertical sliding of the barrier fastened to the vertical members of the scaffolding in a removable mode thanks to the presence of a retaining portion provided with a shaped opening and a fastening element of progressive size that fits in said opening. These fastening means allow to anchor the guide means to vertical members of different size but, anyway, it does not guarantee a very secure anchoring. In the cited patent the guard rail support means are part of the guard rail itself and are constituted by elements housed Inside the tubular vertical side member of the guard rail, which are bound in swivel mode to the same tubular member and partially protruding from them by openings formed in the wall of the tubular member and they are maintained In position by a spring. The support means of the barrier cooperate with the guide means integral with the vertical member. Such support means are efficient, but their realization is rather costly as it involves a certain complication In the structure of the guard rail and is not very reliable due to the presence of the spring members and the relative sensitivity of this type of devices.

A further scaffolding system that uses temporary guard rail is described in EP 0728884. In this case the means for guiding the vertical sliding of the guard rail are constituted by profiled elements that have a vertical extent much greater than that of the guide means of the patents previously described, These profiled elements include, from the bottom upwards, a "U" shaped portion, a fixed horizontal support element, an "L" shaped portion, and finally a further "U" shaped section. In the upper "U" portion there is a support element rotatable between a position In which it do not engage the sliding channel of the guard rail and a position in which it engages the channel so that it is able to prevent the downward movement (and in a specific embodiment also upwards) of the guard rail. Each profiled portion forming the guide means is provided with two vertically spaced elements for fastening to the vertical member of the scaffolding system. The barriers in order to properly slide in the guide means described above should provide a horizontal upper rail with free ends and a lower portion provided with vertical side elements. The above described system is quite efficient, but it is also the one that has the greatest manufacturing costs among those mentioned, as the structure of the guide and support means is rather complex and the shape of the guide rails Is also quite special and complex. Furthermore, there is a significant problem for security as the barrier during lifting is in some portions of its stroke completely unguided and in other portions only partially guided and this could cause serious risks for the safety of the operator or other people that are near the barrier in case it slips out of the operator's hands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to propose a guiding and support device for temporary guard rails of frame scaffolding systems of great effectiveness, reliability, with reduced manufacturing costs, easy and quick to install.

Further object of the present invention is to propose a scaffolding eystem with temporary guard rails optimized with regard to manufacturing costs, assembling easiness and time, versatility of use and, last but not least, reliability.

According to one aspect of the present invention the above objects are achieved by means of a guiding an support device for a temporary guard rail of a frame scaffolding system providing fastening means for fastening to a vertical member of the frame scaffolding system, guiding means for guiding a temporary guard rail to vertically slide, and support means for the temporary guard rail, In which the support means comprises at least a support member movable between a sliding position and a stop position at least of a downward movement, said support member being positioned so that it creates a supporting surface which Is located outside a sliding member cooperation zone of said guiding means.

The device described above is easily securely connectable to an vertical member of a scaffold, it Is provided with guide means which guide the sliding in the vertical direction of a guard rail and it is provided with supporting means projecting from the guide means toward the internal side of the guard rail, so as to not act on the vertical side members of the guard rail but on cross members extending internally from them. In this way we have numerous and significant advantages. Firstly the guard rail can have a particularly simple and economic shape. Furthermore, it is very simple to define the number of height adjustment position of the guard rail simply by defining the number and distance of the guard rail's cross members. Finally, the support element constraints the vertical side member of the guard rail within the channel identified by the guide means even if the other guard rail's vertical side member should accidentally escape from its guide means.

Advantageously, the guiding means comprises a "U" shaped portion and said support means comprises a support member plvotably bound at a free end of said "U" shaped portion in order to swing between a position in which it transversally closes a slide channel of said "U" shaped portion and a position in which it do not occlude the aperture of said slide channel,

Still advantageously, the fastening means comprises at least two fastening portions hinged each other by vertical hinge means, and at least one of them comprises said guiding means and the support means thereof, wherein the fastening portions creates a clamp means for clamping vertical members of different sizes.

According to another aspect of the present invention the above objects are achieved by a frame scaffolding system comprising at least two spaced apart vertical members, each vertical member providing a guiding and support assembly for making a temporary guard rail vertically slide and supporting it at least in a work position in which said guard rail protects the level of the frame scaffolding system above the level where are the vertical members providing said guiding and support assemblies, wherein said guard rail has vertical side members cooperating with guiding means of said guiding and support assemblies, and in which each guiding and support assembly comprises at least a device according to any of claims 1 to 3 which has at least a support member movable between a guard rail sliding position and a guard rail stop position for preventing at least the downward movement of the guard rail, said support member being positioned for cooperating with cross portions of said guard rail inward extending from said vertical side members of said guard rail.

Advantageously each guiding and support assembly comprises at least three guiding portions vertically spaced apart of a determined amount.

Still advantageously the scaffolding includes at least two further vertical members mounted on top of said vertical members for making an upper lever of said frame scaffolding system, each providing a guiding and support assembly thereof, the vertical side members of said guard rail having length such that they slide remaining always guided by at least two vertically consequent guiding portions.

The system outlined above allows to constrain and guide the movement of the guard rail in an effective and safe way by means of elements of low cost and small size. In fact, it is sufficient to provide an adequate positioning of the single guiding and support portions and an adequate length of the vertical elements of the guard railOs vertical side members to be certain that the guard rail remains always guided by at least two guide portions for each side thus being constrained, all along its vertical movements from the ground up to the last level of the scaffolding, to lay in the vertical plane identified by the guide means.

Preferably the guiding portions are structurally independent each other, each guiding portion providing fastening means for binding It to said vertical members, at least one of said guiding portions also providing support members so that It is a guiding and support device.

Alternatively each guiding and support assembly comprises a guiding and support device providing at least three guiding portions spaced apart and connected each other by rigid or partially flexible connection means, at least one of said guiding portions providing said support means for supporting the guard rail (40).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages of the Invention will become more comprehensible from the following description of embodiments thereof, given as non limiting examples, with reference to the enclosed figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a frame scaffolding system according to the invention in perspective view: Fig. 1a is an overall perspective view, FIG. 1b is a detail of fig. 1a;

Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of a guiding and support device according to the invention: Fig. 2a is a perspective view, Fig. 2b is a top view, Fig. 2c is a front view, Fig. 2d is a side view, Fig. 2e Is a perspective view showing the fastening means of the device in the open configuration, Fig. 2f is a top view of the device with the fastening means in the open configuration, Fig. 2g is a side view of the device with the support means in the raised position; Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a guiding and support device according to the invention: Fig. 3a is a perspective view, Fig. 3b is a top view, Fig. 3c is a front view, Fig, 3d is a side view;

Figure 4 shows another embodiment of a guiding and support device according to the invention: Fig. 4a is a perspective view, Fig. 4b Is a top view, Fig. 4c is a front view, Fig. 4d is a side view;

Figure 5 shows a support element of a guiding and support device according to the invention: Fig. 5a is a front view, Fig. 5b Is a top view;

Figure 6 shows another embodiment of a guiding and support device of the present invention: Fig. 6a is a perspective view, Fig. 6b is a top view, Fig. 6c is a front view, Fig. 6d is a side view;

Figure 7 shows another embodiment of a guiding and support device according to the invention: Fig. 7a is a perspective view, Fig. 7b is a top view;

Figure 8 shows the guiding and support device of Figures 6 and 7 Installed on an vertical member of a scaffolding system: fig. 8a represents a front view, Fig. 8b is a top view;

Figure 9 shows another embodiment of a guiding and support device according to the invention; Fig. 9a represents a top view, Fig. 9b is a front view, Fig. 9c is a side view;

Figure 10 shows another embodiment of a guiding and support device according to the invention; Fig. 10a is a perspective view, Fig. 10b is a top view; Figure 11 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a guiding and support device according to the invention;

Figure 12 shows an accessory associated to a guiding and support device according to the invention,

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to identify common elements which are substantially the same in the figures. It should be understood that elements and features of one embodiment may be conveniently incorporated in the other embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig, 1 illustrates a frame scaffolding system having safety features according to the present Invention. The scaffolding system comprises portals, 10, identical to each other arranged on parallel planes equally spaced from each other to form a ground floor of the scaffolding and as many additional portals 10 overlapped with the first to form a first floor of the scaffolding. Each portal comprises two tubular vertical members, 1 , 12, connected by an upper crosspiece, 13, further connected to the vertical members by two diagonal stiffening elements, 14, 15. The portals 10 are superimposable thanks, for example, to a variation in diameter of the vertical members 11 and 12 in correspondence of the upper and / or lower end. On top of the two crosspieces 13 of two consecutive portals 10 at a same level is supported a walkway, 20, which connects the two portals 10 and allows the passage of operators to carry out their work. Consecutive portals 10 are also connected together by horizontal or diagonal elements further strengthening and stiffening the scaffolding not shown in the figure for simplicity and clarity of representation. In addition to the stiffening elements, between two vertical members 11 of two consecutive portals are also installed anti-fall barriers, 30, which are usually installed on the free side of the scaffolding, i.e. on the side opposite to that facing the building under construction or maintenance, so as to protect the operators during their work.

In addition to the anti-fall barriers 30 there are temporary guard raile, 40, which constitute provisional anti-fall barriers during the phases of assembly and dismantling of the scaffolding. In a scaffolding system according to the present invention the temporary guard rails 40 are particularly simple and inexpensive since they do not need to have special construction requirements. According to the present invention a temporary guard rails 40 must include vertical side elements, 41 , one or more upper cross elements, 42, for protection and connection, and one or more lower cross elements, 43, extending internally by each of the vertical side elements. In the embodiment of fig. 1 , the temporary guard rails 40 has two upper cross elements 42 and two lower cross elements 43. The lower cross elements 43, for simplicity of construction and to impart rigidity to the barrier, also connect the opposite vertical side elements 41 , even if, they could alternatively be simple protuberances of small length extending internally from the vertical side elements. In addition, of course, additional vertical or diagonal elements may be provided. A temporary guard rails 40 used in a scaffolding system according to the present invention may also be adjustable in length, simply by providing that all the cross elements 42 and 43 which provide a connection between the vertical side elements 41 are of adjustable length. Cross elements 42 and 43 of adjustable length may be made for example by providing these elements made of two or more portions mutually sliding In a telescopic mode or through rail-slide couplings. The adoption of guard rails adjustable in length makes it even more flexible the scaffolding system of the present invention allowing to protect even strokes of different length from those standardized.

The temporary guard rails 40 are connected to the scaffolding, guided to vertically slide in It, and supported to remain at a certain height by the presence of guiding and support assemblies, 50. A scaffolding system according to the present invention provides for at least two spaced vertical members 11 , to each of them being bound a guiding and support assembly 50 and able to constrain a guard rail 40 to vertically slide and support it at least In a working position in which the guard rail acts as a anti-fall barrier at the level of the scaffolding which Is above the level of the vertical members to which the guiding and support assemblies 50 are bound.

In the embodiment of fig. 1 a guiding and support assembly 50 is made up of three identical guiding and support devices, 100, independent each other, each bound at a specific height of the respective vertical member 11. Each guiding and support device 100 includes one of the three guide portion of the guiding and support assembly 50. The presence of at least three guide portions suitably spaced in the vertical direction enables, together with a suitable length of the vertical side elements 41 of the guard rail, to have at least two guide portions simultaneously in cooperation with the vertical side elements of the guard rail. In this way the vertical movement of the barrier Is very safe because from the ground level of the scaffolding up to the last level of the same the guard rail is always constrained to slide vertically remaining always lying In the vertical plane determined by the guiding and support devices 100. In addition, to ensure that the guard rail is properly supported at least in the working position it is sufficient that at least one of the two guide devices located higher up along the vertical member 1 is also provided with support means. The fact that the support means Interact with any cross element of the guard rail extending internally from the vertical side elements allows to have several setting positions for adjusting the height of the guard rail and ensures a high safety because even if the guard rail were to get out of operator hands during lifting, so falling downwards, it could not still go out of the guides and it would stop at the first cross element of the guard rail which meets the supporting means of a guiding and support device 100.

Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of a guiding and support device 100 according to the present invention used in the scaffolding system of Fig. 1b. The guiding and support device comprises fastening means, 110, to the upright 11 , guiding means, 120, for guiding the sliding of the temporary guard rail 40, and support means, 130, to prevent the sliding down of the temporary guard rail 40. The fastening means 110 are constituted by two fastening portions, 111 , 112, each of which is integral with one of the two guiding means 120. The fastening portions 111 , 112 are connected together via hinge means, 113, with vertical axis and they form a clamp means of a suitable form to surround the upright 11. On the opposite side with respect to the hinge means 113 there are closing members, 1 4, constituted in this embodiment by a bolt that connects and brings together two perforated edges, 115, 116, of the fastening portions respectively 111 , 112. Figures 2e, 2f and 2g show the device with the fastening means 110 In the open configuration in which the edges 115 and 116 are spaced apart so as to create an opening that allows the insertion around the upright 11. The fastening means are further provided, in correspondence of their Inner surfaces, of elements with a high friction coefficient, 117, which guarantee a proper tightening to the upright 11. The guiding means 120 are constituted by guide portions 121 which form a vertically elongated "U" shaped profile so as to have an extension between 5 cm and 30 cm, preferably between 8 and 10 cm. Obviously, the "U" shape of the guide means is the one most suitable to adapt to the most common type of guard rails which have tubular vertical side elements with a circular or rectangular section shape but, anyway, the shape of the guide portions may be of any shape suitable to cooperate with a corresponding shape of the vertical side elements of the guard rail. The presence of guiding means arranged symmetrically with respect to a centerline plane of the guiding and support device 100 allows, obviously, to exploit the modularity of the structure of the scaffolding using the same device for two adjacent guard rails which are aligned on the same plane.

The support means comprise a support element 130, 131 , constrained to rotate about a pin with horizontal axis integral with the guide means 120, and which is also external to the guide channel formed by them with respect to a transverse direction, and extending with respect to the free end of the "U" profile of the guiding means 120 in the direction orthogonal to the above-mentioned central plane of the device. The support element 131 , shown in detail in fig. 5, comprises an element having a open circular shape, 133, whose opening is large enough to snap into the pin 132, and an elongated portion, 134, extending at least to the width of the guiding channel created by the guiding means 120. The support element 131 and the associated coupling elements integral with the guiding means 120 are shaped in such a way that the support element 131 can rotate between a substantially horizontal position in which it forms a support plane, 135, for the guard rail 40, and a substantially vertical position in which, as seen In fig. 2g, it allows the free sliding of the guard rail. The position of the pin 132 and the above free sliding position are such that, once the guard rail has past, the support element returns by gravity into the horizontal position. It should be noted that, unlike what happens in all systems of the prior art, the position of the support element is such that this does not act on a vertical side element of the guar rail, but internally with respect to it, that is on each cross element, 42, 43 extending from the vertical side element 41. This arrangement has important advantages and solves some problems related to the systems of the prior art. First, It lets take almost any type of guard rail because the guard rails are necessarily provided with cross elements. In addition, it allows the guard rail to have a high number of possible setting positions In height which are proportional to the number of cross elements of the guard rail. Finally, the support element 132, when it is in the horizontal position of support, prevents the horizontal movement of the vertical side element of the guard rail, thus preventing the vertical side element 1 from escaping from the guiding means 120. This latter feature is particularly Important for safety as even if the guard rail should accidentally disengage from one of the two guiding and support assemblies it would still be bound to another guiding and support assembly. Obviously, although the particular conformation of the support means 130 described above ensures many advantages, different support elements may be validly employed which, for example, are taken back in position by elastic means or which have a different shape. In addition, the support means 130 may Include constraining means also useful to prevent the sliding upwards of the guard rail. For example, It may be provided a pin housed In two holes provided in two fins projecting from the ends of the "U" profile in the upper zone of them, in such a way that once raised the guard rail 40 to the working position it can be prevented from sliding upwards by manually inserting said pin which would constrain from above the same cross element downside supported by the supporting member 132.

Finally, the guiding and support device 100 has reinforcement ribs which ensure adequate strength and rigidity. The guiding and support device of the invention can In fact be made of plastic, aluminum or other metallic material, always respecting the provisions of structural resistance imposed by the current regulations. Moreover, all components can be advantageously obtained by molding, which allows great savings in production in series.

Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment, 100a, of a guiding and support device according to the invention. In this embodiment, to a portion, 111 , of the fastening means are integral guiding means, 120a, which are identical In shape to the guiding means 120 but oriented In the direction rotated by 90°. Similarly, also the related support means 130a are rotated 90° with respect to the support means 130. The embodiment described above, of which advantageously exist a right-hand version and a left-hand version, Is suitable to be applied to the uprights of end portals 10 of the scaffolding. In fact, the guiding means 120a are suitable to constrain temporary guard rails installed between the two uprights, 11 , 12 of the same end portal 10 of the scaffolding.

In fig. 4 there is shown another embodiment, 100b, of a guiding and support device according to the invention. The device 100b of Fig. 4 is shown without the relative support element and, as it can be seen It Is constituted by a single component comprising a retaining portion, 111b, which has a surface shaped so as to adapt to the outer contour of an upright 1 and holes, 119b , which, thanks to the presence of similar holes in the upright 11 allow bolting it to the upright. The device 100b also comprises guiding means 120 and support means 130 similar to those of the preceding embodiments. Obviously, the embodiment described above has all the advantages of the prior embodiments (in particular the upright must be arranged with appropriate holes) but It has even lower manufacturing costs. Moreover, thanks to the presence of the holes in the uprights, positioning in height and angular alignment of the device are very precise and rapid.

In Figures 6, 7 and 8 are shown two other embodiments, 100c, 100d, of the guiding and support device the Invention which, jointly used, which permit the use of temporary guard rails at portions of the scaffolding joined together with any type of angle (this happens quite often when the scaffolding must follow curved walls). In particular, the embodiment 00c of Figure 6 comprises fastening means, 110c, vertically offset with respect to the guiding means 120 which are present on only one side of the device. Otherwise, the embodiment 100d of fig, 7 includes also the guiding means 20 present on only one side of the device, but these are aligned in height with the fastening means 1 0d. As shown in Fig. 8 a guiding and support device 100c and a guiding and support device 100d are bound to the same upright 11 with the device 100d leaning over the device 100c. In this way the guiding means of the two devices are located at the same height but can be angularly oriented In any mutual position.

Fig. 9 shows another embodiment, 100e, of a guiding and support device according to the invention, useful to form alone a guiding and support assembly 50 shown in fig, 1. The device 100e is in fact constituted by three Identical devices 100 connected and maintained at the correct distance and aligned with each other by rigid or semi-rigid connection means, 160. For example, in the case that the devices 100 are made of plastic material the connecting elements 160 can be made integral In the same material and they have a thickness such as to allow a certain flexibility that facilitates the storage and transportation. The connection elements 160 may also be detachable, bound to the devices 100 simply by pressure via specific protuberances and their housings. The presence of the connecting elements 160 greatly facilitates the installation of devices on the uprights as it determines the distance and the mutual angular alignment.

In fig. 10 it is shown another embodiment of a guiding and support device 10Of according to the present invention. The guiding and support device comprises fastening means, 110, guiding means, 120, and support means, 130. The fastening means 10 are constituted by two fastening portions, 111 , 112, each of which is integral with one of the two guiding means 120. The fastening portions 111 , 112 are connected together via hinge means, 113, with vertical axis and they form clamp means suitable to close around the upright 11. On the opposite side with respect to the hinge means 113 there are present closing members, 114b, constituted in this embodiment by an operation lever, 171 , hinged to the body of a fastening portion 112 and two tie rod elements, 172, hinged to the lever 171 In eccentric position with respect to the axis of rotation of the operation lever 171 itself. In correspondence of their free end the tie rod elements are connected by a cross element, 173, which interacts with a corresponding engaging portion 174, integral with the other fastening portion 111 which allows to clamp the fastening portions 111 and 112 around the upright 11.

The geometry of the kinematic mechanism created by the operation lever 171 and the tie rod elements 172 Is such as to render stable the closed configuration ehown in figures. Moreover, the closing members 114b comprise a locking mechanism, 175 that prevents the disengagement of the cross element 173 from the engaging portion 174 when the support element 131 is located In a substantially horizontal position of support. The locking mechanism 175 is constituted by an opening, 176, formed in the operation lever 171 , whose upper wall, 177, is engaged by a hook-shaped end, 178, of the support element 131 . Thanks to the configuration described above the supporting member 131 prevents the movement of the operation lever 171 from the closed configuration as long as the support element 131 Is located In a substantially horizontal position.

Furthermore, the support element 131 is provided with a stable raised position (shown in the figure with dashed line) which can be switched manually. The raised position Is made stable by allowing the rotation of the support element 131 of a further angle beyond the vertical position and realizing a mating geometry with the supporting walls of the pin 132 such as to create an increasing friction between the latter and the support element 3 .

In fig. 1 it Is represented another embodiment of a guiding and support device 100g according to the present Invention. The guiding and support device comprises fastening means, 1 10, guiding means, 120, and supporting means, 130. The fastening means 1 10 are constituted by two fastening portions, 1 1 1 , 1 12 not connected together but having a specular shape so that they can be independently bound to an upright 1 1 by means of screw means insertable Into suitable holes, 181 , provides In the fastening portions and the upright 1 1. In this embodiment the fastening means 1 0 and the guiding means 120 are constituted by two separate and distinct bodies that can be coupled via coupling means, 182, constituted in this embodiment by male coupling profiles, 183, made in the fastening means 1 10 and corresponding female coupling profiles, 184, made in the guiding means 120, which allow a mutual vertical sliding. The coupling profiles 183 and 84 are slightly tapered with Increasing size from top to bottom, so that an end stroke position is determined for their mutual sliding. This embodiment makes it possible to stably bind the fastening means 1 10 to the upright 1 1 , while the guiding means 120 can be easily removed each time the guard rail is raised and it is no longer required the constraining action of the guiding means 120. Thanks to this embodiment, the fastening means 1 10, which once installed on the upright 1 1 need no longer be removed, exactly define the height and the angular position which must assume the guiding means 120, which instead are removed whenever the temporary guard rail 40 is moved to the upper level. The fastening means 1 10 are not too bulky and they do not disturb during transport of the portals. In this embodiment will be advantageously used at least two fastening means for each upright 1 1 and at least four guiding means 120 for each guard rail, so that for the realization of a complete scaffolding will be required many more fastening means 1 10 than guiding means 120,

Thanks to the fact that for each of the fastening means 1 10 may be provided male coupling profiles 183 arranged in various angular positions and similarly for each of the guiding means 120 may be provided female coupling profiles 184 in various angular positions, this embodiment has a high flexibility as It allows a number of different binding positions without changing the individual components.

Obviously the fastening elements of the fastening means 1 10 to the upright may be different as, for example, they may be directly welded to the upright, and also the coupling means 182 of the guiding means 120 and fastening means 1 10 may be different, as they may be screw means or other type of quick couplings.

Advantages similar to those of the embodiment described above 100g may also be obtained by associating to one of the embodiments 100, 100a, 100c, 100f, an accessory such as the one shown in Fig. 12 which consists of an annular element, 190, that can be stably bound to the upright by means, for example, of screw means inserted Into appropriate holes, 191 , present in the annular wall of the element and corresponding holes in the upright, the annular element providing means for angular reference such as, for example, the grooves 192. The guiding and support device 100, 100a, 100c, 100f, must in this case correspondingly provide protuberances extending from the bottom surface and adapted to be inserted into the grooves 192. The accessory 190 may thus remain stably bound to the upright so as to constitute a reference for positioning both in height and angle to the guiding and support device.

These and other variations and modifications can be made to the scaffolding system and the guiding and support device for temporary guard rails of scaffolding systems of the present invention still keeping the advantages derived therefrom and above outlined, and always remaining within scope of protection provided by the claims that follow.

In fact, the description made above of specific embodiments is useful to illustrate the basic concept of the invention, so that experts in the field may implement modifying and adapting to the various applications the above embodiments; such adaptations and modifications will therefore be considerable as equivalents of the embodiments exemplified. It is understood that the phraseology or numbering used are for illustration only and to aid in the understanding of the inventive concept and not of limitation.

Claims

guiding an support device (100) for a temporary guard rail of a frame scaffolding system providing fastening means (110) for fastening to a vertical member of the frame scaffolding system, guiding means for guiding a temporary guard rail to vertically slide, and support means (130) for the temporary guard rail, characterized in that the support means (130) comprises at least a support member (131 ) movable between a sliding position and a stop position at least of a downward movement, said support member (131) being positioned so that it creates a supporting surface (135) which is located outside a sliding member cooperation zone of said guiding means.

Guiding and support device (100) according to claim 1 characterized in that said guiding means (120) comprises a "U" shaped portion and said support means (130) comprises a support member (131 ) pivotably bound at a free end of said "U" shaped portion in order to swing between a position in which It transversally closes a slide channel of said "U" shaped portion and a position in which it do not occlude the aperture of said slide channel.

Guiding and support device (100, 100a, 100c, 100d, 100e) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized In that said fastening means (1 0) comprises at least two fastening portions (11 , 112) hinged each other by vertical hinge means (1 13), at least one of said fastening portions (111 , 1 12) comprising said guiding means (120) and the support means (130) thereof, said fastening portions (111 , 1 12) creating a clamp means for clamping vertical members (11 ) of different sizes.

Guiding and support device (100f) according to the previous claim characterized in that it provides closing members ( 14) for keeping clamper said fastening portions (111 , 112) comprising:

an operation lever (171 ) hinged to a fastening portion (112),

tie rod elements (172) hinged to said operation lever (171 ) in eccentric position with respect to the axis of rotation of said operation lever (171),

a cross element (173) integral to said tie rod elements

(172) which interacts with a corresponding engaging portion

(174) Integral with the other fastening portion (111 ) for keeping the fastening means (1 10) clamped.

5. Guiding and support device (100f) according to the previous claim characterized In that it comprises a locking mechanism

(175) that prevents the disengagement of said cross element

(173) from the engaging portion (174) when said support element (131 ) is located in a substantially horizontal position of support.

6. Guiding and support device (100f) according to the previous claim characterized In that said locking mechanism (175) comprises a hook-shaped end (178) of the support element (131 ) suitable to engage said operation lever (171 ) for keeping It in the clamping position.

7. Guiding and support device (100) according to any preceding claim characterized in that said support element (131 ) is provided with a stable raised position which can be selected by hands.

8. Guiding and support device (100g) according to any preceding claim characterized In that said fastening means (110) and said guiding means (120) are made of two separate and distinct bodies that can be coupled via coupling means (182).

9. Guiding and support device (100g) according to the previous claim characterized in that said coupling means (182) are constituted by male coupling profiles (183) and corresponding female coupling profiles (184) which allow a mutual vertical sliding of said guiding means (120) and said fastening means (110).

10. Guiding and support device (100g) according to any preceding claim characterized In that said coupling means (183, 184) are tapered with increasing size from top to bottom, so that an end stroke position is determined for their mutual sliding.

11. Guiding and support device (100) according to any preceding claim characterized in that it comprises an accessory (190) which can be coupled to said device (100) so that it form a height and angular reference for positioning said device.

12. Frame scaffolding system comprising at least two spaced apart vertical members (11), each vertical member providing a guiding and support assembly (50) for making a temporary guard rail (40) vertically slide and supporting it at least In a work position In which said guard rail (40) protects the level of the frame scaffolding system above the level where are the vertical members (11) providing said guiding and support assemblies (50), wherein said guard rail (40) has vertical side members (41 ) cooperating with guiding means (120) of said guiding and support assemblies (50), characterized In that each guiding and support assembly (50) comprises at least a device (100) according to any preceding claim in which said at least one support member (131 ) is movable between a guard rail (40) sliding position and a guard rail stop position for preventing at least the downward movement of the guard rail (40), said support member (131 ) being positioned for cooperating with cross portions (42, 43) of said guard rail inward extending from said vertical side members (41 ) of said guard rail (40).

13. Frame scaffolding system according to the previous claim characterized in that each guiding and support assembly (50) comprises at least two guiding portions (120) vertically spaced apart of a determined amount.

14. Frame scaffolding system according to the previous claim characterized In that each guiding and support assembly (50) comprises at least three guiding portions (120) vertically spaced apart of a determined amount.

15. Frame scaffolding system according to the previous claim wherein said frame scaffolding system comprises at least two further vertical members (11 ) mounted on top of said vertical members (11 ) for making an upper level of said frame scaffolding system, each providing a guiding and support assembly (50) thereof, the vertical side members (41 ) of said guard rail (40) having length such that they slide remaining guided by at least two vertically consequent guiding portions (120).

16. Frame scaffolding system according to claim 14 or 15 characterized in that said guiding portions (120) are structurally independent each other, each guiding portion providing fastening means ( 10) for binding it to said vertical member ( 1 ), at least one of said guiding portions (120) also providing support members (130) so that It is a guiding and support device (100, 100a, 100b, 00c, 100d, 100f).

17. Frame scaffolding system according to claim 14 or 15 characterized In that each guiding and support assembly (50) comprises a guiding and support device (100e) providing at least three guiding portions (120) spaced apart and connected each other by rigid or partially flexible connection means (160), at least on of said guiding portions (120) providing said support means ( 30) for supporting the guard rail (40).

18. Frame scaffolding system according to any of claim 12 or followtngs characterized In that said temporary guard rail (40) is adjustable in length.