The present invention is concerned vith scaffold fittings .

It is frequently desired to secure a scaffold tube to steelwork, such as an "H" beam, "l" beam or steel plate. Known devices of this type are disclosed in L.K. Specifications 1535209, 1537257 and 2111585; in all of these, the tube is secured to a flanged member on the steelwork in such a way that the tube is parallel to the flange. his means that an additional coupling is needed if it is desired to secure a tube at some other angle.

According to the present invention, there is provided a scaffold fitting for securing a scaffold tube to a steel plate or beam, which comprises: a base portion having a concave arcuate surface; a pivotal jaw having a concave arcuate surface arranged to face the arcuate surface of said base portion, the jaw being pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof to said base portion; clamping means arranged to engage the other end of said arm and draw said arm to said base portion to permit a scaffold tube to be gripped between said facing arcuate surfaces;

a channel member secured to or integral with the obverse of said base portion, the channel member comprising opposed sidewalls arranged substantially perpendicular to the axis of said tube, the free ends of said sidewalls being remote from said base portion; and clamping means for clampingly engaging said steel plate or beam to one of said sidewalls.

Ihe last mentioned clamping means is typically a plurality of bolts passing through corresponding threaded apertures in one of the sidewalls and arranged to tighten directly on to the steel plate or beam.

The channel member is preferably integral with the base portion; in an alternative, the channel member may be pivotally connected to the base portion, in which case the x channel member may be pivotal between the position perpendicular to the axis of the scaffold tube and a range of positions inclined thereto.

"Ihe scaffold fitting according to the invention enables a scaffold tube to be hung vertically from a horizontal steel plate or beam, which permits a scaffolding structure to be secured directly to steelwork (in, for example, an off-shore oil rig or the like) .

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary scaffold fitting according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view from underneath of the fitting of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the fitting of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the fitting of Figure 1.

Beferring to the drawings, the scaffold fitting comprises a body 10 having a jaw 12 attached thereto via pivot pin 14, and a generally U-shaped channel section 16 which is integral with the body 10. Ihe jaw 12 has a concave arcuate face 18 which faces a corresponding concave arcuate face 20 on body 10.

Ihe end of jaw 12 remote from pivot pin 14 has an open-ended groove 22 arranged to receive a bolt 24, which is attached to body 10 by means of a further pivot pin 26. The ends of jaw 12, on either side of groove 22, are provided with lips 28, 30 capable of engaging a nut 32 affixed to bolt 24 when the latter is received in groove 22. Vhen the bolt 24 is tightened to secure the jaw 12 to the body 10, the body and the jaw cooperate together to form a clamp in which the arcuate faces 18,20 are arranged to engage a tubular scaffolding member (not shown) .

The channel section 16 has a pair of apertures 34, 36 each of which receives a respective bolt 38,40 which can be tightened to engage a plate (not shown) between the respective ends 42, 44 of bolts 38,40 and the internal surface 46 of the channel section 16 opposed to apertures 34,36. By this means, a tubular scaffold member can be connected directly perpendicular to a plate.