Related Applications This application claims the benefit of priority from Australian Patent Application AU2015903171 and granted Australian Patent AU2015210455, the contents of which are incorporated in entirety by reference.

Field

The present invention relates to a deck for scaffold. Background

The key elements of a scaffold are standards, ledgers and transoms which are generally assembled as interconnected scaffold bays. The standards, also called uprights, are the vertical components along an inside and outside of each of the scaffold bays. Ledgers are horizontal components which connect between the standards. Transoms connect the standards at right angles to the ledgers while providing a supporting structure for scaffold boards which run lengthwise of the bay between the inner and outer standards. The boards form a working platform and are traditionally secured to the supporting structure using tie-wire or strapping, if secured at all.

Safety regulations require ledger handrails be provided at a height of 1 metre above any adjacent working platform. The ledger handrails need to be installed before the working platform. A working platform elevated by an additional 2 metres will firstly need 3 metre high ledger handrails to be installed.

The higher ledger handrails are installed by firstly adding intermediate 2 metre high ledger handrails and then constructing a temporary 1 metre deck lift above the working platform. The temporary deck is constructed in the same manner as the working platform directly over the platform, using similar transoms and steel boards. Normal working operations along the working platform are interrupted and are unable to be resumed until the temporary deck is disassembled and removed. Object

The present invention seeks to provide an alternative form of deck.

Summary

In one broad aspect, there is provided a deck for attachment to scaffold, the deck having a platform formed of a main body and telescopically adjustable side members, locking devices to secure the deck to the scaffold and a carrier attached to an underside of the main body, the carrier supporting a ladder which is able to move from a stored position under the platform to a deployed condition.

In another broad aspect, there is provided a deck for temporary attachment to scaffold, the deck having a platform and locking devices to fix the platform onto ledgers and standards of the scaffold, wherein the deck further includes a ladder mounted to a carrier beneath the platform, the ladder being arranged to move from a stored position under the platform to a deployed condition whereby a user is able to climb the ladder and step up onto the platform. In one embodiment, the platform is formed of side members coupled to a main body and the distance between the side members is adjustable to vary the length of the platform.

In one embodiment, the side members are telescopically coupled to the main body. In another broad aspect, there is provided a deck for attachment to scaffold, the deck having a platform formed of a main body with side members, the distance between the side members being adjustable to vary the length of the platform, and locking devices to fix the platform onto the ledgers and standards of the scaffold. In one embodiment, a carrier is mounted beneath the main body, the carrier supporting a ladder which is arranged to move from a stored position under the platform to a deployed position. In one embodiment, the deck further includes flanges along lateral underside portions of the deck to engage and locate with sides of the ledgers.

In one embodiment, the locking devices include a clamp at either side of the deck, the clamps being biased into an engaged condition in relation to the ledgers.

In one embodiment, the clamps include spring biased rods that extend axially between the sides of the deck. In one embodiment, each clamp includes a spring biased rod that extends vertically relative to the deck, the rods being rotatable to swivel the respective clamp into an engaged position beneath the associated ledger.

In one embodiment, a handle is connected to each rod and the handles project upwardly from a top side of the deck to allow the clamps to be engaged and disengaged from above the deck.

In one embodiment, the locking devices include a catch at either side of the deck to secure to the adjacent standards.

In one embodiment, the locking devices are adjustable relative to the platform, whereby to move the catch between front and rear sides of the deck depending on the location of the standards. In one embodiment, the catch includes a hook attached to a bolt and the deck has guides for the bolt to slide through and then rotate to pivot the hook into an engaged position.

In one embodiment, the guides are rotationally mounted to the sides of the deck so that the respective hook is able to be flipped between the front side and rear side of the deck.

In one embodiment, the carrier includes side brackets and a retaining pin that engages in a corresponding track either side of the ladder. In one embodiment, the deck further includes a rail adapted to form a side barrier at an elevated position above the deck.

In one embodiment, the rail is hinged relative to the platform to move between a collapsed position and an upright position to form the side barrier.

In one embodiment, the rail is in the form of a midrail connected relative to the frame by a quick release/locking ratchet hinge. In one embodiment, the deck further includes a second side barrier on an opposite side of the deck.

In one embodiment, the side barriers are collapsible to be juxtaposed over the platform. Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a front view of a deck;

Figure 2 is a section view of the deck along the line A-A shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a side view of the deck; Figure 4 is a plan view of the deck; Figure 5 is a section view of the deck along the line B-B show in Figure 4; Figure 6 is an underside view of the deck; Figure 7 is an image of the deck in use;

Figure 8 is an image of the deck showing a catch in an engaged condition; Figure 9 is an image showing an underside of the deck; Figure 10 is a side view of another deck; Figure 11 is a front view of the deck of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a side view of the deck of Figure 10 fitted to scaffold;

Figure 13a is a front view of another deck mounted on ledgers, with a ladder in a stored position;

Figure 13b is a top view of the deck of Figure 13a showing locking devices securing the deck to standards, with the ladder in a deployed condition; Figure 13c is a side view of the deck of Figure 13b prior to being mounted on scaffold;

Figure 13d is a rear view of the deck of Figure 13c mounted to the scaffold;

Figure 13e is a side view of the deck and scaffold of Figure 13d;

Figure 14a is a front view of the deck of Figure 13a with an extended platform;

Figure 14b is a plan view showing the extended platform; Figure 15a is a top view of another deck with side barriers;

Figure 15b is a side view of the deck of Figure 15a mounted to scaffold;

Figure 15c is a rear view of the deck, illustrating folded and raised positions of the side barriers of the deck of Figure 15b;

Figure 15d is an opposite side view of the deck of Figure 15b; Figure 16a is a top view of the deck of Figure 14a with an extended platform; Figure 16b is a side view of the deck of Figure 16a mounted to scaffold; Figure 16c is a rear view of the deck of Figure 16a; and

Figure 16d is an opposite side view of the deck of Figure 16b. Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows a deck 1 with a frame 2 that supports a platform 3. The frame 2 is arranged to be fixed with locking devices 4, 5 onto scaffold 6 that includes ledgers 7 and standards 8.

The deck 1 includes downwardly depending flanges 9 along lateral underside portions 10 down both sides 11 of the deck 1. The flanges 9 engage sides of the ledgers 7 to locate the deck 1 in place.

The locking devices 4 are in the form of clamps 12 that fit under the ledgers 7 to resist the deck 1 lifting up. The clamps 12 are provided at the end of rods 13 that extend between the sides 11 of the deck 1.

The locking devices 5 are in the form of catches 14 that each include a hook 15 attached to a bolt 16 to loop over the associated standard 8. The deck 1 also includes a ladder 17 with side rails 18 and rungs 19. The ladder 17 is shown in the deployed condition where the rungs 19 allow a person to step up onto the platform 3.

Figure 2 shows a top end 20 of the ladder 17 abutting an underside 21 of the deck 1 so that the ladder 17 is angled relative to the platform 3 when in the deployed condition. The deck 1 has a carrier 22 with brackets 23 and a pin 24 that supports the ladder 17. The pin 24 is received in a track 25 formed in the side rails 18 of the ladder 17 so that ladder 17 can be pivoted about the pin 24 and lifted into a stored position.

Figure 3 shows the bolt 16 of the locking device 5 supported in a guide 26 that projects above the platform 3. The bolt 16 has a handle 27 at one end to allow the hook 15 of the locking device 5 to be engaged with the standard 8 using a bolt action, where the bolt 16 is pushed forward and then rotated into an engaged position.

Figure 4 shows the bolts 16, after rotation, having been pulled backward to a position where the hook 15 is secured around the standard 8.

Figure 5 shows the rods 13 of the locking devices 4 in a disengaged condition. The rods 13 are biased into an engaged condition, as indicated by dashed lines 28, such as by springs or the like. A handle 29 is connected to each rod 13. The handles 29 project through to a top side 30 of the platform 3 so that the clamps 12 can be engaged and disengaged from above the deck 1.

Figure 6 shows the rods 13 in an extended position, where the clamps 12 are in the engaged condition. Figure 7 shows the deck 1 in position on the scaffold 6, where the flanges 9 locate the deck 1 relative to the ledgers 7 and the clamps 12 are engaged to lock the deck 1 in place. The ladder 17 is shown removed from the carrier 22 into a deployed condition to allow easy access to the deck 1 from a working platform 31 beneath the deck 1. Figure 8 shows one of the locking devices 5 that is also in an engaged condition, where the bolt 16 has been positioned so that the hook 15 is engaged with the standard 8 to further lock the deck 1 in place.

As may be appreciated from the above, the deck 1 is able to be readily positioned on the ledgers 7 by separately locking onto both the standards 8 and ledgers 7, to allow quick installation of the deck 1 for working above the platform 31. The ledger 7 shown in Figure 8 is preferably a handrail ledger 32 at a regulation height of 1 metre. Another handrail ledger 33 can then be installed at a height of 2 metres, as shown in Figure 9, at which time the ladder 17 can be used to gain access to the platform 3 which is elevated by 1 metre to install handrail ledgers (not shown) at a higher level of 3 metres, without needing to deck out an entire temporary platform above the working platform, as is the case with the prior art.

Once the overhead work is completed, the ladder 17 can be returned to a stored position and locking devices 4, 5 can be readily disengaged to quickly remove or reposition the deck 1, as required, with minimal interruption to normal working operations.

Another example of a deck 1 is shown in Figures 10 to 12, where like parts of the deck described with reference to Figures 1 to 9 are indicated by like reference numerals. The deck 1 of Figures 10 to 12 is the same as the deck of Figures 1 to 9 but with the addition of mid rails 34 that are connected relative to the frame 2. The mid rails 34 are illustrated in an upright or elevated position where they form side barriers 35, along either side 11 of the deck 1. The mid rails 34 are preferably coupled to the frame 2 by a quick release/locking ratchet hinge 36 for efficiency in installation. The hinged connection to the frame 2 allows the mid rails 34 to be collapsed down into a juxtaposed position over the platform 3, as shown in Figure 11. The mid rails 35 are collapsed on top of each other in Figure 11, however, for a wider sized platform 3, the mid rails 35 may instead lay down evenly on the platform 3.

As shown in Figure 12, when the deck 1 is installed on scaffold 6, the mid rails 34 provide side barriers 35 intermediate the platform 3 and the overhead handrail ledger 33 for enhanced safety for a person working on the deck 1.

Figure 13 shows another deck 1, where like parts to those described above are designated with like reference numbers.

Figure 13a shows the platform 3 as being formed of a main body 37 and two side members 38. The main body 37 has top and bottom sections 39, 40 and the side members 38 have respective extensions 41,42 that telescopically slide between the two sections 39, 40. The extension 42 is in the form of a sleeve 43 and the other extension 41 is inserted into the sleeve 43.

Flanges 9 project downwardly from each of the side members 38. The distance between the side members is adjusted, if needed, by sliding the side members 38 relative to the main body 37 until the ledgers 7 are aligned with the side members 38 whereby the flanges 9 are able to fit either side of the ledgers 7, in order to secure the deck 1 in place.

A carrier 22 and ladder 17 are mounted to the bottom section 40, at an underside of the main body 37, so as not to obstruct the side members 38 being moved in or out of the main body 37.

Locking devices 4 each have a clamp 12 with a vertically extending rod 13 which is biased into a raised position by a biasing element 41 such as a spring, which acts between the top side 30 of the platform 3 and a handle 29 connected to the rod 13. The clamps 12 secure the deck 1 to the ledgers 7. To release the clamps 12, the handles 29 are pushed down against the bias force and rotated to swing the clamps 12 clear of the ledgers 7.

Figure 13b illustrates locking devices 5 engaged with standards 8. Each locking device 5 has a catch 14 which includes a bolt 16 mounted in a guide 26. A pivot connection 45 rotationally mounts the guide 26 to the respective side member 35. The connection 45 allows the catch to be flipped from a front side 46 of the deck 1 to a rear side 47 of the deck 1, as illustrated by dashed lines 48, depending on which side of the deck 1 the standards 8 are located.

Figure 13b also shows the locking devices 4 in the engaged condition, with the handle 29 parallel to the edge 49 of the associated side member 38 and the clamp 12 projecting transversely across the ledgers 7.

Figure 13c illustrates one of the locking devices 4 in a release condition, prior to the deck 1 being fitted to the scaffold 6, with the clamp 12 biased up against an underside 50 of the platform 3, parallel to the edge 49 of the side member 38 and the handle 29 rotated to a transverse position.

Figures 13d and 13e illustrate the ladder 17 in a lowered or deployed condition, which allows a person to climb the ladder 17 and step up onto the platform 3. The locking devices 4 have been moved to the engaged position shown by pressing the respective handle 29 down in order to rotate the clamp 90 degrees. The locking devices 5 have been engaged by sliding the respective bolt 16 through the guide 26, rotating the catch 14 down and then retracting the bolt 16 so that the catch 14 fits around the associated standard 8 to anchor the deck 1 onto the scaffold 6.

Figure 14 illustrates the same deck 1 as Figure 13 fitted to ledgers 7 that a spaced further apart. Figure 14a shows the side members 38 repositioned relative to the main body 37 of the platform 3 to match the increased spacing between the ledgers 7. To adjust the position of the side members 38, the extensions 41, 42 are slid out from the main body 37 of the platform 3. In that position, the locking devices 4 can be engaged to fix the platform 3 onto the ledgers 7. The other locking devices 5 are also engaged to secure the deck 1 relative to the standards 8 of the scaffold 6, as shown in Figure 14b, in the same manner as described with reference to Figure 13.

Figure 15 illustrates a deck 1 which is essentially the same as described with reference to Figures 13 and 14 but with the addition of side barriers 35 which are connected to the platform 3 by locking ratchet hinges 36. The side barriers 35 are described with reference to Figures 10 to 12 as midrails 34 and pivot between an upright condition and a collapsed condition, in juxtaposed relation to the platform 3, as illustrated in Figure 15c. The side barriers 35 provide additional security against a person falling off the platform 3. In Figure 15, the side members 38 are pushed into the main body 37 of the platform 3, in a direction indicated by arrows 51, to minimise the length of the deck 1.

Figure 16 illustrates the deck 1 in an extended position, where the side members 38 have been slid out of the main body 37 in a direction indicated by arrows 52, so that the deck 1 has an increased length to span between ledgers 7 that are spaced a greater distance apart.

It should be appreciated from the above that many variations and combinations may be made to the deck 1 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the locking devices 4, 5 can be of any form suitable for securing the deck 1 to scaffold and need not be limited to the specific clamps and catches described above.

The side members 38 can also be length adjustable in other ways, aside from telescopically sliding in and out of the main body 37. For example, the side members 38 may simply overlap the main body 37 and be able to be fixed at different positions to vary the length of the deck 1. Another variation could be to have only one of the side members 38 moveable relative to the main body 37 in order to adjust the length of the platform 3 and deck 1.

In other examples, the flanges 9 underneath the side members 38 could be dispensed with or replaced with any other form of structure suitable for locating the deck relative to the ledgers 7. In some examples, the deck 1 may simply have a length adjustable platform 3 and locking devices 4, 5 suitable for fixing the deck 1 to scaffold, with or without the side barriers 35 and/or carrier 22 and the attached ladder 17, as circumstances require.

List of Parts

1. Deck

2. Frame

3. Platform

4. Locking device

5. Locking device

6. Scaffold

7. Ledger

8. Standard

9. Flange

10. Underside portion

11. Side

12. Clamp

13. Rod

14. Catch

15. Hook

16. Bolt

17. Ladder

18. Rail

19. Rung

20. End

21. Underside

22. Carrier

23. Bracket

24. Pin

25. Track

26. Guide

27. Handle

28. Dashed line

29. Handle

30. Top side 31. Platform

32. Handrail ledger

33. Handrail ledger

34. Midrail

35. Barrier

36. Hinge

37. Main body

38. Side member

39. Section

40. Section

41. Extension

42. Extension

43. Sleeve

44. Biasing element

45. Connection

46. Front side

47. Rear side

48. Dashed lines

49. Edge

50. Underside

51. Arrows

52. Arrows