WO2013061058A1

WO2013061058A1 - Scaffolding apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2013061058A1
Application number: PCT/GB2012/052641
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jay Jones
Original assignee: JOHNSON, Nicolas
Priority date: 2011-10-24
Filing date: 2012-10-24
Publication date: 2013-05-02
Also published as: GB2496579A; GB201118291D0

Abstract

A device for holding and laying out sheeting for covering scaffolding which consists of two sections with opposing spigots (102, Fig 1, 301, Fig 3) and support sections (101, 302) for clamping (105) to scaffolding (201). The sheeting (202) is held on the spigots to allow it to be rolled out across scaffolding. It may be used for deploying sheeting such as monarflex. An additional guide section may be provided to support the partially deployed sheeting.

Description

SCAFFOLDING APPARATUS

This invention relates to a scaffolding apparatus, in particular to an apparatus for use with scaffolding to facilitate the pay out of protection sheeting or netting.

Background

Protective sheeting or netting, typically using materials such as monarflex™, is commonly used with scaffolding. It serves a number of important purposes, including enhancing the safety of the workers on the scaffold, acting as a climate shield to protect workers, machinery and open construction against rain, snow, wind etc., ensuring a stable working climate on the scaffold so that deadlines can be met regardless of the weather and protecting the surroundings from any inconveniences for example particles and dust from sandblasting, water jetting or other activities.

Monarflex™ is typically provided as 2 metre wide sheets in rolls of approximately 100 m in length and typically up to 20 kg in weight. In order to secure it to scaffolding, current practice involves the manhandling of rolls of sheeting. A roll of sheeting is held outside of the scaffolding and rolled out. It is a cumbersome and labour intensive job and carries significant risk of injury for those performing the task.

It would be useful to provide a means to enclose scaffolding more safely, more simply and in a manner which is less labour intensive. The present invention seeks to provide a safer and easier mechanism for paying out scaffolding sheeting.

Summary of the invention Accordingly, in its broadest aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for mounting a roll of sheeting prior to and during attachment of said sheeting to scaffolding comprising a mounting means, comprising; a support means for a roll of scaffolding sheeting; a spigot member attached to said support means; and an attachment member for attaching said support structure to said scaffolding. Preferably, there is additionally provided a stabilising structure comprising a spigot member, a support means and an attachment means for attaching said stabilising structure to said scaffolding. Preferably, there is provided one or more guiding structures, comprising a support means, an attachment means for attaching said guiding structure to said scaffolding, and a guiding means to hold rolled out sheeting.

Brief Description of Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of the support structure for supporting a roll of scaffold sheeting prior to and during the securing of said sheeting to the scaffolding.

Figure 2 illustrates the support structure shown in Figure 1 , with the axial section of a scaffolding sheeting roll in position for use. Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of the stabilizing structure.

Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of the apparatus, attached to scaffolding, wherein a support structure and a stabilizing structure are used cooperatively to retain a roll of scaffold sheeting.

Figure 5 illustrates a guiding structure for holding sheeting according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 illustrates the initial set up of the support, stabilizing and guiding structures according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 illustrates the combined use of the support, stabilizing and guiding structures according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the stabilizing structure, using a telescopic arrangement.

Figure 9 illustrates the arrangement of Figure 8 raised to a second position to allow placement of a sheeting roll.

Figure 10 shows the rotational connection between the support means and the first connecting member. Figure 11 shows a side view, transverse to the direction of roll out of the sheeting, of the assembled device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 12 shows a side view, transverse to the direction of roll out of the sheeting, of the stabilising structure according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 13 shows a side view, transverse to the direction of roll out of the sheeting, of the support structure according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 14 shows a view in the direction of layout of the sheeting of the stabilising structure according to an embodiment of the invention.

Description of the preferred embodiments

A first embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figure 1. A support structure 100 is provided, which comprises a support means 101, preferably comprising a circular disk of substantially the same diameter as an unrolled roll of sheeting, for the scaffolding sheeting, a spigot member 102, preferably in the form of steel tubing, and an attachment means comprising a first connecting member 103, preferably in the form of steel tubing, a second connecting member 104, preferably in the form of steel tubing, clamps 105, preferably in the form of conventional scaffolding clamps, for attachment with scaffolding 105 and a strengthening strut 106, preferably in the form of steel tubing. In a preferred embodiment, the support means lOland the spigot member 102 are rotatably connected to said first connecting member 103. In an alternative embodiment the spigot is fixed with respect to said support means and said support means is fixed with respect to said first connecting member. In yet another embodiment, said spigot is fixed with respect to said first connecting member and said support means is rotatably connected to said first connecting member.

Figure 2 illustrates the use of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. The support structure is clamped to scaffolding 201. A roll of scaffolding sheeting 202, shown in cross- section, is placed onto the support means 101, such that the aperture 203 of the roll fits over the spigot member 102. This allows sheeting to be pulled from the sheeting roll 202, along the scaffold and fixed to the latter. During this process support means 101 and/or spigot member 102 may rotate to accommodate rotation of the sheet roll 202.

Figure 3 illustrates a stabilising structure 300 according to an embodiment of the invention. There is provided a spigot member 301 and an attachment means comprising a third connecting member 302, a fourth connecting member 303, a strengthening strut 304 and clamps 305.

Figure 4 illustrates the combined use of the support structure and the stabilising structure. The two structures are attached to scaffolding 201, with the support structure 100 positioned on the lower end of the sheeting roll 202 and the stabilising structure 300 positioned at the upper end of the sheeting roll. The support structure and the stabilising structure are attached to the scaffold by means of clamps 105. The sheeting roll 202 is positioned between the support means 101 of the support structure and the third connecting member 302 of the stabilising structure 300. The spigot members of the support structure 100 and the stabilising member 300 are inserted into the aperture of the sheeting roll 202 at opposite ends. Sheeting may then be unrolled from the roll and fastened to the scaffolding in a conventional manner. Figure 5 illustrates a further aspect of the invention. In an embodiment, an additional guiding structure 500 is provided to hold the scaffold sheet 511 in place during the layout of the sheeting. In an embodiment according to this aspect of the invention, two rollers 509 and 510 are provided, which guide the sheeting 511 between them. A support structure and attachment structure is provided, comprising fixed member 506, attached to fifth connecting member 504, spring loaded member 512, attached to a sixth connecting member 501, which is attached to a seventh connecting member 502, which is attached to an eighth connecting member 504. The arrangement is strengthened in an embodiment with support strut 503. The spring loaded member 512 holds roller 510 firmly against the sheeting 511 in a guide against roller 509 tight enough to hold the sheet in place whilst allowing the sheet to be moved between said rollers.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the combined use of the support structure 100, stabilising structure 300 and guiding structure 500. Figure 6 shows the initial positioning with a rolled up roll of scaffold sheeting 202 retained in the support structure 100 and the stabilising structures 300. Figure 7 illustrates partially rolled out sheeting 511, guided by the rollers 509, 510 of the guiding structure 500. In Figures 6 and 7 the guiding structure is shown as being approximately the same width as the support and stabilising structures. In an alternative embodiment, it is narrower, with a single roller pressing against the scaffold pole.

It would be clear to the person skilled in the art that alternative arrangements for implementing the support and stabilising structures would be possible. For example, instead of separate support and stabilising structures, a telescopic arrangement would be an option. In such an embodiment of the invention, a stabilising upper section upwardly slideable from a lower support is provided to allow the location of the sheeting roll onto a spigot section of the lower support section. This embodiment is illustrated in Figure 8. The support structure 100 in this embodiment has a receiving means 801, preferably in the form of a wider steel tubing section, into which member 302 of the stabilising structure 300 is received. Said stabilising structure may be lifted out in order to fit a roll of sheeting or netting. This is illustrated in Figure 9. A means 900 of securing the stabilising structure in the raised position 901 is also provided. This is preferably in the form of an aperture through said stabilising structure member for use with a pin or a bolt 902.

Figure 10 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the rotational connection 1000 between the support means 101 and the first connecting member 103. A box section 1001 is provided to offset the rotation unit 1002. This allows a pre-manufactured rotational unit to be used. The box section may then be welded to the support means 101, without melting lubricant in the rotational unit. The rotational unit 1002 is attached to the box section by means of fixing means 1003. Preferably said fixing means comprises one or more bolts.

Figures 11 - 14 show respectively the assembled device, the stabilising structure, the support structure and a view of the stabilising structure in the direction of the layout of the sheeting according to an embodiment of the invention. In another embodiment of the invention, straps, for example but not limited to Velcro™ straps, are provided to attach the support structure to the stabilising structure so as to provide easy transportation when the structures are not in use.

In a further embodiment, aluminium is used for construction of the members.

In use, once scaffolding has been positioned around a building as required, a support structure 100 is fixed by means of clamps 105 on a vertical pole of the scaffold. It may be positioned in a corner or at any convenient position. A roll of plastics sheeting 202, such as for example monarflex, is then positioned on support means 101 with spigot member 102 positioned in the aperture 203 of roll 202. If required, a stabilising structure 300 is positioned and clamped to the scaffold above the support structure 100. If required, one or more guiding structures 500 are clamped to the scaffolding at an appropriate distance from the support structure 100. The sheeting 202 is then pulled from the roll along the scaffolding and, if guiding structures are present, the sheet is pulled between the rollers 509 and 510. This process is continued until a desired amount, for example the entire scaffolding, is enclosed within sheeting. Once the sheeting has been fully paid out and secured as required, the support structure, stabilising structure and the one or more guiding structures are undamped and removed from the scaffolding.

The present invention is not restricted to details of the foregoing embodiments. For example, the spigot in Figure 4 is shown to be shorter than the distance between the floors of the scaffolding, meaning that people or equipment within the plastics sheeting when surrounding the scaffolding might be exposed to drafts and other inconveniences. In practice it is contemplated that that the clam 105 may be positioned, such that the roll would enclose a floor completely and overlie a corresponding sheet on the floor below and the floor above.

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding a sheeting roll prior to and during attachment of sheeting to scaffolding comprising a support structure, said support structure comprising; a support means for supporting a roll of scaffolding sheeting; a spigot member engageable with said support means; and an attachment means for attaching said support structure to scaffolding.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spigot member and said support means are rotatably engageable with said attachment means.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said rotational engagement comprises a rotatable connection offset.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim any preceding claim wherein said spigot member is shorter than a width of the sheeting on said sheeting roll.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said support means is a substantially flat disk.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said support member is a disk of comparable diameter to that of a rolled up roll of scaffolding sheeting.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the attachment means comprises a scaffold member with a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said distal end is engageable with and supportive to the support means and spigot member and said proximal end is attached to a connecting scaffold member.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising clamping means for attaching said connecting scaffolding member to other scaffolding sections.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any previous claim further comprising a stabilising structure comprising a spigot member, a support means and an attachment means for attaching said stabilising structure to scaffolding.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the attachment means comprises a scaffold member with a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said distal end is engageable with and supportive to the support means and spigot member and said proximal end is attached to a connecting scaffold member.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising clamping means for attaching said connecting scaffolding member to other scaffolding sections.

12. An apparatus as claimed in any previous claim, further comprising one or more guiding structures, said guiding structures comprising a support means, an attachment means for attaching said guiding structure to scaffolding and a guiding means for guiding unrolled sheeting.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the guiding means comprises at least one roller.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the guiding means comprises two opposing rollers.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein one of said rollers is supported on a fixed member.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 or claim 15 wherein at least one of the at least one rollers is supported on a spring-loaded member.

17. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said apparatus comprises at least one substantially steel member.

18. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said apparatus comprises at least one substantially aluminium member.

19. An apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. An apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying description.