Scaffoldings or staging are tools that allow performing various types of workings where it is necessary that the operator is lifted from the ground and is in a safe and unmovable position in order to carry out his works. Scaffoldings or stagings are commonly applied, for example, in works like masonry, house-painting, laying of electric or hydraulic systems, etc.

In small-sized environments, where it is necessary to frequently move in narrow spaces (such as for example the interior of houses where walls are painted or electric, hydraulic, etc. systems are being installed), nowadays there are only unmountable small-sized scaffoldings, that are in turn manufactured and disassembled according to application places. This type of arrangement, obviously, is time-and energy-consuming for an operator, and often implies difficulties in transporting and handling the scaffolding in working places.

Object of the present invention is providing a a scaffolding that is portable, light and capable to be handled, being able to be folded and opened with simple and immediate operations, and being able to be quickly and efficiently handled in all working places where it can be found.

A further object of the present invention is providing a scaffolding of the above-mentioned type that is also motored, thereby preventing the operator that is over it from having to descend on the ground in order to move it in order to carry out new works, but rather performing such movement automatically over the scaffolding itself.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are obtained by a scaffolding as claimed in the independent Claims. Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are claimed in the dependent Claims.

The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, given as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a side view of an embodimento of the inventive scaffolding in its open position; -Figure 2 is a front view of the scaffolding in Fig.

1 in its closed and bent position; and - Figure 3 is a detailed view of a motoring arrangement of the inventive scaffolding.

Herein below, a preferred, but not limiting, embodiment of the scaffolding of the present invention is shown. It will be described herein below as applied to the field of home workings, but it is clear that it can find a valid and efficient application to any field in which it is necessary to perform works in non-fixed positions lifted from the ground.

In the following text of the description, the terms "lower","upper","vertical","horizontal", etc. refer to the ground on which the scaffolding is placed and on which it will operate.

With reference to the Figures, the portable scaffolding 1 of the foldable type of the present invention substantially comprises: - at least four supporting risers 3,5, 7,9 ; -at least two connection members 11,12, in which such connection members 11,12 are each respectively connected with two of the supporting risers 3,5, 7, 9, and in which such connection members 11,12 are mutually hinged (in 14) one to the other in their central positions in order to form a"X" ; and -at least one first pair of bars 16,18 connected to the supporting risers 3, 5, 7,9 in order to support bearing means 20,22 for an operator.

With this basic structure, the scaffolding 1 is adapted to assume a closing position in which the supporting risers 3,5, 7,9 are mutually approached and are approached to the connection members 11,12 that are parallel to the supporting risers 3,5, 7,9 and mutually approached ; the scaffolding 1 is further adapted to assume a plurality of opening positions in which the supporting risers 3,5, 7,9 are moving one away from the others in order to perform a progressive"X"-like opening of the connection members 11, 12.

Among other things, due to this type of structure that allows folding the scaffolding 1 in a final closing position whose sizes are very reduced and are adapted for a comfortable transport, one (in the case shown, 16) of the first pair of bars 16,18 can be also provided as closure stop, preventing an excessive approach of the risers 3,5, 7,9 one to the other, that could otherwise be dangerous for the operator's hands, subjected to be pinched between the risers 3,5, 7, 9 that are one too near the other. In order to make the transport further easy, the carrier structure of the scaffolding 1 can be made of aluminium or other light and sturdy material adapted for such purpose.

In particular, the connection members 11, 12 are connected to the supporting risers 3,5, 7,9 in a fixed way at one end (that is usually the upper one of risers and connection members) and in a slidingly movable way at another end, being able to slide in suitable raceways 3', 5', 7', 9'obtained in the lower part of the risers 3,5, 7,9 themselves.

In order to be able to realise a plurality of working positions at different heights from the ground according to needs, the scaffolding 1 is adapted, through holes 24, obtained in the supporting risers 3,5, 7,9, to contain a second pair of bars 26, 28 in order to support bearing means 20,22 for an operator. The additional bars 26,28 can be made integral with the scaffolding, or be provided separate and able to be secured and disassembled from the scaffolding 1 itself, to guarantee a further operating flexibility and the related comfortable transport. Other pair of bars can obviously be provided according to applications.

The bearing means 20,22 are generally composed of a table equipped with daps (not shown) in order to engage the first and the second pair of bars 16,18, 26,28. The bearing means 20, 22 can alternatively be composed of two or more tables equipped with daps in order to engage the first and the second pair of bars 16,18, 26,28 and able to be placed one next to another on the bars 16,18, 26,28 in order to form a single bearing table. This connection can occur in various connection and/or engagement ways, using tables made of aluminium or wood or other suitable materials.

In an embodiment, the scaffolding 1 is further equipped with at least two foldable joining members 30,32, each one connected to two respective supporting risers 3,5, 7,9 and each one made of two parts 30', 30'' ; 32', 32'' mutually engaged (in 34,36) to realise a substantially upturned"V"-like shape, in order to enable progressive opening and closing positions of the scaffolding 1.

Moreover, in order to increase the operating flexibility during the working phases, each one of the supporting risers 3,5, 7,9 of the scaffolding 1 is equipped with at least one caster wheel 38,40, 42,44 for moving the scaffolding 1 itself.

Moreover, the scaffolding 1 is equipped with protecting members 46 against operator's falls, that are preferably realised in order to protect three or four sides of the scaffolding 1. For such purpose, in addition to providing at least two side protecting members 46', 46'', it is possible to provide a front protecting member 46'''and/or a rear protecting member (not shown) that can be inserted once the operator has risen above the scaffolding 1. These protecting members 46 can be fixed or able to be inserted and removed from the scaffolding 1 when assembling and disassembling it, respectively.

Once having opened the scaffolding 1 and installed its protecting members 46, it will be possible to secure (to the projections obtained or able to be obtained in the protecting members 46 or on the bearing tables 20,22) one or more boxes or other vessels containing the tools that an operator will have to use during its works.

The enclosed Figures show the motored version of the scaffolding 1 of the present invention. In such version, the following further characteristics are provided, in addition to the below-mentioned constructive characteristics: - at least one motored wheel 50; - motoring means 52 for the wheel 50; and - driving means 54 of the wheel 50.

With such arrangement, the at least one motored wheel 50 is adapted to assume an inactive position in which it does not engage the ground and does not operate on the scaffolding 1 and an active position in which it engages the ground and operates on the scaffolding 1 to move it in a motored and guided way.

Moreover, the at least one motored wheel 50 is equipped with stop means 60 that, if enabled by pushing the lever 61 downwards, are adapted to push it and keep it in its active position, and with pushing means (for example a spring) that, if the stop means 60 are disabled, are adapted to push the wheel 50 and make it go away from its engagement with the ground.

Moreover, the motoring means 52 of the wheel 50 are composed of at least one electric motor 62 operatively connected to the wheel 50 and supplied by supply means 64 of a battery type (supply means of a different type, such as also the mains connection, are obviously provided, where necessary).

The driving means 54 of the wheel 50 can comprise an handle 66 operatively connected to the wheel 50, in which the handle 66 is adapted to rotate along two opposite directions in order to allow a similar leftward or rightward rotation of the wheel 50; the driving means 54 further comprise switching means 68 (commonly a small lever or the like) in order to switch the frontward or backward running of the wheel 50 through the motoring means 52.

According to a possible variation, the driving means 54 of the wheel 50 comprise a steering wheel (or similar device) operatively connected to the wheel 50, in which such steering wheel is adapted to rotate along two opposite directions in order to allow a similar leftward or rightward rotation of the wheel 50.

The inventive scaffolding 1 can further comprise means 70 for turning on and off said supply means 64 of the battery type in order to allow their activation only when it is necessary and in order not to uselessly discharge the battery.

Moreover, the scaffolding 1 can further comprise fuse means 72 to break the electric circuit between the driving means 54 and the motoring means 52 in case of failure.

The above-described scaffolding 1 can then be installed quickly, by opening and securing the bearing table 20,22 at the desired height, after having moved it on its wheels 38,40, 42, 44. Once having performed its first positioning, in case of a motored version, the wheel 50 (that before was in an inactive position lifted upwards) is fixed to the ground and then the operator, once having climbed up the scaffolding 1, is able to drive it forward, backward, rightward or leftward, after having turned on the driving system. If such system remains off, or when it is turned off after having moved to the new desired position, the wheel 50 is unmovably secured to the ground, thereby simultaneously fixing the whole scaffolding 1, to allow the operator to carry out all necessary workings.