WO2014033423A2

WO2014033423A2 - Scaffolding safety equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2014033423A2
Application number: PCT/GB2013/000364
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alister Paul GOWER; Stuart KIRKLAND
Original assignee: F-Board Limited
Priority date: 2012-08-29
Filing date: 2013-08-29
Publication date: 2014-03-06
Also published as: GB201315386D0; GB2507847B; GB2507847A; WO2014033423A3

Abstract

A scaffolding brick guard (20) comprises a panel (22) and at least two (hangers 28) for hanging the panel (22) vertically from a horizontal member of the scaffolding. Each hanger (28) has a first orientation in which it is substantially coplanar with the panel (22) and is attached to the panel (22) by means of a hinge whereby it is movable about an axis (32) into a second orientation not coplanar with the panel (22) to provide a hook to go over said horizontal member. When not in use a plurality of brick guards may be stacked by means of hollow conical stacking members (36) that nest together.

Description

Scaffolding Safety Equipment

This application claims priority from United Kingdom Patent Application No. 12 15 332.6, filed August 29, 2012, and United Kingdom Patent Application No. 12 16 775.5 filed September 19, 2012, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

This invention concerns scaffolding safety equipment of the kind known as a "brick guard".

Scaffolding comprises a rectilinear framework erected against a building and comprising a plurality of vertical members commonly known as 'standards' and a plurality of horizontal members of which 'ledgers' extend longitudinally, generally parallel to the building line, and 'transoms' extend from front to rear of the scaffolding, generally orthogonal to the building line. The standards, ledgers and transoms conventionally comprise metal tubes interconnected by scaffolding fittings - which is to say clamps of which several kinds are in general use, and the precise form of which is not germane to the present invention. When the framework is assembled and the fittings secured, longitudinally extending scaffolding boards are laid across the transoms as and where required to provide one or more elevated working platforms. Scaffolding is usually of modular dimensions and in most jurisdictions regulations specify the spacing of the standards, ledgers and transoms.

In most jurisdictions, also, scaffolding is subject to health and safety legislation and regulation including a requirement for measures to prevent any person (whether a worker on site or a member of the public) from being struck by falling materials or objects. (In the United Kingdom, for instance, this is the subject of Regulation 10 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005). To this end working platforms are edged by toe boards and by mesh barriers extending above the toe boards.

These mesh barriers are the brick guards the subject of the present invention.

Brick guards are commonly formed of substantially rigid metal or synthetic plastics material and formed or provided with hooks whereby they are hung vertically from a safety rail around the working platform with their lower edges inside the toe boards. Usually, for cheapness and simplicity, the hooks are integral with the brick guards, and this makes it difficult to stack the brick guards tidily and securely, especially in the hurly-burly of a construction site. With this in mind, United Kingdom Patent No. GB 2 445 815 describes a brick guard with detachable hooks, but this gives rise to further problems in that the hooks are easily lost or mislaid when detached from the brick guards and they may themselves be hazardously dropped when scaffolding is being erected or dismantled. Also, the placement of hooks during erection and their removal during dismantling slows down these procedures.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved brick guard.

Thus according to the invention there is provided a scaffolding brick guard comprising a panel and at least two hangers for hanging the panel vertically from a scaffolding member, characterised in that each hanger has a first orientation in which it is substantially coplanar with the panel and is attached to the panel by means of a hinge whereby it is movable into a second orientation not coplanar with the panel to provide a hook to go over said scaffolding member.

For the avoidance of doubt, the term 'brick guard' as used herein refers to a device for preventing any objects - not just bricks - from falling from scaffolding.

The panel may be formed, as a mesh, of substantially rigid synthetic plastics material.

The panel is preferably formed with stacking means whereby a plurality of brick guards may when not in use be laid horizontally and stacked one on top of another.

Other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, which is made by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which are not to scale and in which -

Figure 1 is an isometric view of scaffolding to which the invention may be applied;

Figure 2 is front elevation of a scaffolding brick guard according to the invention;

Figure 3 is an isometric view, somewhat reduced relative to Figure 2, from the front of the brick guard of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an isometric view from the rear of the brick guard of Figure 2, showing its top;

Figure 5 is an isometric view, somewhat enlarged relative to Figure 2, from the front of the brick guard of Figure 2, illustrating a hanger thereof;

Figure 6 is an isometric view showing a plurality of brick guards embodying a modified form of the invention, interconnected side-by-side and attached to a scaffolding toe board;

Figure 7 is an isometric view of a brick guard as in Figure 6;

Figures 8 and 9 are isometric views of the means for attaching the brick guard of Figure 7 to the toe board, showing means for attachment to the toe board, in a closed position and an open position respectively;

Figures 10 and 11 are isometric views of means for interconnecting the brick guards side-by-side, before and after interconnection respectively; and

Figures 12 to 14 are isometric views illustrating the movement of a hanger of the brick guard of Figure 7.

Referring first to Figure 1 , this shows scaffolding indicated generally at 10 erected against a wall 12 extending upwards from the ground (indicated by line 14) and supporting an elevated platform 16. The scaffolding 10 comprises a rectilinear framework of interconnected standards, ledgers and transoms mutually spaced apart by a modular pitch p.

The rear elevation of the scaffolding 10, against the wall 12, is formed by a run of five vertical standards S1 to S5, the front elevation of the scaffolding 10 is formed by a corresponding run of five standards S7 to S11 , and between the front and rear elevations are two intermediate standards S6 and S12. The longitudinal disposition of the forward standards S7 to S1 1 is maintained by ledgers L1 , L2 and L3, and corresponding ledgers (not numbered in the drawing, for sake of simplicity) interconnect the rearward standards S1 to S5. Extending between and secured to the front and rear standards are transoms T1 to T9. The lower transoms T3 to T7 support the platform 16 (and in Figure 1 the transoms T3 to T6, being concealed by the platform 16, are shown in broken lines).

In well-known manner, the ledgers L1 etc are connected to the standards S1 etc, and the transoms T1 etc to the ledgers L1 etc, by appropriate fittings, not detailed in the drawings, which may be of any convenient kind and the form of which does not form part of the present invention. Also not detailed in Figure 1 , to comply with safety regulations the framework has diagonal bracing and the platform 16 is surrounded at its front and ends by toe boards and debris netting extending upwardly from the lower transoms T3 to T7. The peripheral horizontal members T2, L2 and T8 form a safety rail around the working platform.

A brick guard 20 is hung vertically from the ledger L2 providing the forward safety rail. It is to be understood that Figure 1 is purely exemplary and that in practice similar brick guards will be hung along the length of the ledger L2 and similarly along the transoms T2 and T8 to prevent items falling from the working platform 16. Also, although not illustrated in Figure 1 , each brick guard will be hung with its bottom within and adjacent the toe boards edging the working platform 16.

Referring now to Figure 2, this shows the brick guard 20 in more detail. It comprises a panel 22 having a hexagonal mesh structure and formed of substantially rigid synthetic plastics material. For ease of manufacturing, the panel is formed in two sections, an upper section 22a and a lower section 22b joined together, by ultrasonic welding, along a common edge 24. As shown in Figure 2, the edge 24 is corrugated, to strengthen the join. (Those skilled in the art will well understand that all equipment on a construction site has to withstand rough handling). The panel 24 is formed with a notice board 26 for displaying manufacturing information, ownership details, safety data and so forth.

Towards the top of the panel 22 the brick guard 20 is provided with two hangers 28 which when not in use lie substantially coplanar with the panel 22 (as can be seen more clearly from Figure 3). The function and operation of these hangers will now be described with reference to Figure 4 and 5. Each hanger 28 is in the form of a hook (Figure 5) within a housing 30 extending a small amount rearwards of the panel 22 (Figure 4) and forming a housing with a recess for the hanger 28. When the brick guard 20 is not in use, each hanger 28 lies in a first orientation within its recessed housing 30, substantially coplanar with the panel 22. Each hanger 28 is retained upon a hinge having a vertical axis 32 and for use it is swung forward into a second orientation at an angle to the plane of the panel 22, as shown in Figure 5, so deploying its hook formation to loop over a horizontal member L2 etc of the scaffolding. As indicated by Figure 5 the hanger is at an angle of 45° to the panel 22 when deployed, but some other angle may be appropriate. The hinge may be sprung to return the hanger 28 to its coplanar position when not in use, or it may have a friction fit to prevent its falling out of the housing when the brick guard 20 is not in use. A hole 34 in the housing facilitates deployment of the hangers 28.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that it has hitherto been difficult to stack a plurality of brick guards on site, or during transportation, especially if there are projecting hooks. The brick guard 20 facilitates stacking, first by providing hangers that effectively retract into the plane of the brick guard when it is not in use, and second by stacking means in the form of an array of hollow cones 36 extending through and slightly rearward of the panel 22. (The arrangement shown has four such cones 36, but there may be more or fewer). The cones 36 are regularly disposed on the brick guard 20 so as to fit into the cones of an adjacent brick guard 20 lain against it. By this means a plurality of brick guards 20 may be stacked one upon another, with the cones 36 nested together, for a tidy and secure stack.

It will be noted from Figure 4 that the cones 36 project from the panel 22 by an amount slightly greater than the rearward projection of the housings 30, and thus when stacked the brick guards 20 rest on their cones with the panels all substantially horizontal and slightly separated. This contributes to the stability of the stack, and for this reason it is preferred to provide not fewer than four cones 36 on each brick guard.

Referring now to Figure 6, this shows three brick guards 40 embodying a modified form of the invention. The three brick guards 40 each have towards their tops hangers 42 whereby they are hung on a scaffolding ledger 44 which provides a safety rail for an elevated work platform 46. The work platform is edged, at foot level, by a toe board 48. The bottom of each brick guard 40 lies inside the toe board 48 (ie on the same side as the work platform 46) and attachment means 50 are hooked over the toe board 48 to attach the brick guards 40 thereto.

The form of a brick guard 40 is shown in more detail in Figure 7. It comprises a mesh panel 52, formed of substantially rigid synthetic plastics material. The hangers 42 and the attachment means 50 are all opened, for engagement with a scaffolding member and a toe board respectively (as shown in Figure 6). Also, the panel 52 has on one side a pair of pegs 54 and on the other side a pair of clasps 56. The function and operation of the peg 54 and clasp 56 connection means will be described hereinafter.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate the function and operation of the attachment means 50. The attachment means 50 comprises a housing 58 (within the thickness of the panel 40 - see Figure 7) for a generally hook-shaped coupling 60. The coupling 60 is rotatable between a first (closed) position as shown in Figure 8 in which it lies in the housing and substantially coplanar with the panel 52, and a second (open) position as shown in Figure 9 in which it can be hooked over a toe board as shown in Figure 6. Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the side-by-side interconnection of adjacent brick guards by means of a peg 54 on one side of a first brick guard 40a and a clasp 56 on the adjacent side of a second brick guard 40b. The peg 54 and the clasp 56 are configured and arranged for mating engagement. The adjacent sides of the brick guards 40a and 40b are brought together as shown in Figure 10, and the peg 54 and the clasp 56 are offered up to one another and then snapped into mating engagement as shown in Figure 11. With each peg 54 of a pair of the first brick guard 40a mated with a corresponding clasp 56 of the second brick guard 40b, the two brick guards 40a and 40b are connected together side-by-side. Any number of brick guards 40 can be joined together as shown in Figure 6 to extend along a work platform 46 of any length.

Two additional benefits of the connection means can be seen from Figure 10. The peg 54 is of generally circular cross-section and it fits into the clasp 56 in such a way that the first brick guard 40a can be rotated forwards (in the direction of arrow A, away from the outwards facing hangers 42 and coupling 60) relative to the second brick guard 40b by as much as 90°, so as to bound a corner of a work platform. The clasp 56 is formed with a recess 64 for a stem 66 on which the peg 54 is mounted, and this recess 64 provides enough clearance to allow the first brick guard 40a to be rotated backwards (in the direction of arrow B) by up to 13°, whereby curvature of a scaffolded building can be accommodated.

The hangers 42 of Figures 6 and 7 are generally similar to the hangers 28 of Figures 1 to 5, and each has a first (closed) orientation as shown in Figure 12 in which it lies in a housing 68 within the plane of a panel 52. However, three differences should be noted as follows. First, the hanger 42 has a hook-like form extending somewhat more than 180° of arc so as to wrap somewhat around a scaffolding ledger 44 (Figure 6), the hanger 42 being formed of relatively resiliency deformable material to permit snap-fit engagement with the ledger 44 and a lead-in 70 being provided to facilitate the engagement. Second, the hanger 42 opens to a second orientation illustrated by Figure 13 in which it is at a right angle to its first (closed) orientation, which makes engagement with the ledger 44 rather easier. Third, in its second orientation the hanger 42 is slip upwards for engagement with the ledger 44, as shown in Figure 14. Then a lug 72 on the hanger 42 retains the right-angle orientation of the hanger 42 by engagement with the housing 68.

It should also be noted that when the brick guard of Figures 6 to 14 is removed from a ledger 44, the weight of the hangers 42 causes them to fall back down to the position shown in Figure 13 and may also be biased (by a spring and/or cam surfaces between the hanger 42 and its housing 68) back into the first (closed) orientation of Figure 12.

Various modifications may be made to the arrangement hereinbefore described without departing from the scope of the present invention. For instance, the recessed housing 30 for each hanger 28 is a preferred option, but it may be adequate (and cheaper) to dispense with the recess and simply allow the hanger to lie on the face of the panel 22 when closed; and the term 'substantially coplanar with the panel' is intended to comprise this arrangement. The protrusion of each hanger 28 from the front face of a panel 22 will be small, so stacking of the brick guards should not be unduly awkward, but in any event brick guards of such form can be stacked top-to-toe so as to balance out the protrusion.

Another preferred option is to have the safety rail hangers and the toe board coupling connected to the panel in such a way that they can be removed and replaced if broken. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that is quite different from the removable hooks of GB 2 445 815, which have to be attached during assembly and removed during disassembly and thereby increase the drop hazard. In the preferred option of the present invention, by contrast, the hangers and coupling remain attached during assembly and disassembly, are folded away (still attached) when the brick guard is not installed and are removed only when they need to be replaced.

Claims

Claims What we claim is:

1. A scaffolding brick guard comprising a panel and at least two hangers for hanging the panel vertically from a scaffolding member, characterised in that each hanger has a first orientation in which it is substantially coplanar with the panel and is attached to the panel by means of a hinge whereby it is movable into a second orientation not coplanar with the panel to provide a hook to go over said scaffolding member.

2. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that, in its first orientation, each said hanger lies within a recess in a housing formed in the panel.

3. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the panel comprises a mesh formed of substantially rigid synthetic plastics material.

4. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that each hanger is formed of relatively resiliently deformable material and is configured and arranged to have a snap fit engagement with said scaffolding member.

5. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the panel is formed in two sections joined together by ultrasonic welding along a common edge, which common edge is corrugated.

6. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that in its second orientation each hanger is inclined relative to the panel and has a surface angularly formed to lie against the scaffolding member in use.

7. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed in any preceding characterised in that each hanger is biased towards its first orientation.

8. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the hangers are located towards a top of the panel in use.

9. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that each hanger is so configured and arranged that in its second orientation it is closer to the top of the panel than in its first orientation.

10. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that each hanger is releasably connected to said panel so as to be replaceable if broken.

11. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the brick guard comprises, located towards a bottom of the panel in use, attachment means for attaching the brick guard to a toe board of the scaffolding.

12. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed claim 11 characterised in that said attachment means comprises a coupling rotatable between a first position in which it is substantially coplanar with the panel and a second position in which in use it is hooked over said toe board.

13. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 characterised in that the bottom of the panel is in use is located against an inside face of said toe board.

14. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13 characterised in that said coupling is releasably connected to said panel so as to be replaceable if broken.

15. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that said brick guard includes connection means for connecting it side-by-side to other brick guards.

16. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed in claim 15 characterised in that said connection means comprises a clasp on one side of said panel and a peg on the other side of the panel, the peg of a first brick guard having mating engagement with the clasp of a second brick guard adjacent the first, whereby the first and second brick guards are interconnected.

17. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed in claim 16 characterised in that the mating engagement of the peg and the clasp is such that the first brick guard can be inclined relative to the second brick guard.

18. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the panel is formed with stacking means whereby a plurality of brick guards may when not in use be laid horizontally and laid one on top of another in a stack.

19. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed in claim 10 wherein said stacking means comprises an array of hollow cones projecting from a face of the panel and configured and arranged for nesting engagement with the cones of an adjacent brick guard in the stack.

20. A scaffolding brick guard as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the panel includes a notice board.