| CLAIMS 1. A scaffold tie protector (1) comprising a housing (5) formed and arranged for the enclosure of a connection between a scaffold pole (28) and a tie member (38) ; said housing being provided with at least one pole aperture (6) for the passage of a said scaffold pole and having at least one tie aperture (14) formed and arranged for the passage of a tie member (38) connected to the scaffold pole (28) , wherein the placing of the tie aperture (14) and the pole aperture (6) on the said housing defines the configuration between the scaffold pole (28) and the tie member (38) connected to it in use of the scaffold tie protector. 2. A scaffold tie protector (1) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing (5) is formed and arranged for the enclosure of a joint (26) between at least two scaffold poles (28,30) and is provided with pole apertures (6,8,10,12) for the passage of said scaffold poles, wherein the tie aperture (14) is at a selected distance from a pole aperture (6) so as to define the spacing (D) between a said joint (26) and a said tie member (38) in use of the scaffold tie protector. 3. A scaffold tie protector (1) as claimed in claim 2 provided with four pole apertures (6,8,10,12) to allow passage of two scaffold poles (28, 30) that cross at a joint (26) connecting the two crossing poles. 4. A scaffold tie protector (1) as claimed in claim 2 provided with three pole apertures, to surround a T joint in the scaffold structure . 5. A scaffold tie protector (1) as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the selected distance of the tie aperture from a pole aperture defines a spacing (D) of 150mm between a scaffolding joint and a tie member in use. 6. A scaffold tie protector (1) as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the housing (5) , in use forms a substantially continuous surface around the scaffold joint (26) and connection (32) to the tie member (38) , apart from the pole and tie apertures. 7. A scaffold tie protector (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the housing (5) is formed from two separate or hinged together parts (2,4) . 8. A scaffold tie protector (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the housing takes the form of a mesh, to allow viewing of the contents . 9. A scaffold tie protector (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the housing (5) is lockable . 10. A scaffold tie protector (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the housing (5) is sealable . 11. A scaffold tie protector (1) as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a seal (20) that includes a tag or label. 12. A scaffold tie protector (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein a label is secured to an exterior surface of the housing. 13. A scaffold tie protector (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the housing (5) is distinctively coloured to allow easy identification of tie-in points of a scaffold from a distance. 14. A scaffold tie protector (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the tie aperture (14) and the pole apertures (6,8,10,12) are formed to fit closely to the tie member (38) and poles (28,30) respectively. 15. A scaffold tie protector (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein a pole or a tie aperture takes the form of an enlarged hole or slot, to allow a selected range of spacing and/or a selected range of angles between the pole and the member . 16. A scaffold tie protector (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein the housing (5) has an interior structure which only allows fitting about scaffold parts which have the desired configuration with respect to each other. 17. A scaffold tie protector (1) as claimed in claim 16 wherein the housing (5) is filled with foam, shaped to conform to scaffold parts in use. 18. A scaffold tie protector (1) as claimed in claim 16 wherein the housing (5) includes internal protrusions, which restrict or define the possible configuration of parts that can be accommodated within the housing. |
The present invention relates to the provision of a protector for scaffold ties, devices which provide a physical connection between a scaffold and an associated structure such as a building against which the scaffold is built. The protector prevents accidental damage to or tampering with a scaffold tie. In particular the present invention relates to a scaffold tie protector, which also protects a scaffold joint associated with the tie.
Conventional scaffolding is constructed from a number of scaffold poles which are held together by making joints between the poles, making use of various forms of clamps or other connector devices to provide a three dimensional rigid structure which allows construction, repair or maintenance work to be carried out on a structure against which the scaffolding is located. Where a scaffold of any appreciable size is required, for example in the repair of the exterior of a large structure such as a multi story building, the scaffolding is secured to the structure by means of ties. Such ties or "physical ties" are devices that connect and secure a scaffold to an associated structure.
Securing the scaffold, at regular and frequent intervals to its associated structure, provides increased strength and acts to prevent the scaffold from falling over or collapsing when it is highly loaded or stressed. For example when large amounts of building material are loaded onto the scaffold or in high winds.
Building regulations often dictate the form of the scaffold tie that may be employed, the number of ties to be used for a given scaffold size or design and the relation ship between scaffold ties and joints between scaffold poles required to give a safe and secure scaffold. Despite there being well known, in some countries mandatory, requirements for tying a scaffold to its associated structure scaffolds are still constructed that are unsafe, having an inadequate number of ties or incorrectly fitted ties.
Furthermore, even if properly fitted initially, scaffold tie devices are vulnerable to accidental damage or even tampering or theft in use.
Methods for protecting vulnerable scaffold components; in particular joints between scaffold poles have been suggested previously. For example, GB2331120 suggests using a lockable enclosure about scaffold joints. GB2395222 suggests fitting guards to joints and other projections from scaffolding poles.
However none of the prior art devices for protecting scaffolding components appears to have been commercialised.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a protector for use on scaffolding that protects scaffold ties and their associated joints.
Thus according to a first aspect the present invention provides a scaffold tie protector comprising a housing formed and arranged for the enclosure of a joint between scaffold poles; said housing being provided with pole apertures for the passage of said scaffold poles and having at least one tie aperture formed and arranged for the passage of a tie member attached to a said scaffold pole, wherein the tie aperture is at a selected distance from a pole aperture so as to define the spacing between a said joint and a said tie member in use of the scaffold tie protector.
According to a second aspect the present invention provides a scaffold tie protector comprising a housing formed and arranged for the enclosure of a connection between a scaffold pole and a tie member; said housing being provided with at least one pole aperture for the passage of a said scaffold pole and having at least one tie aperture formed and arranged for the passage of a tie member connected to the scaffold pole, wherein the placing of the tie aperture and the pole aperture on the said housing defines the configuration between the scaffold pole and the tie member connected to it in use of the scaffold tie protector.
The housing of the tie protector according to the second aspect of the invention protects the connection between a tie member and associated scaffold pole from damage or tampering. In addition the correct configuration, including the angle between the scaffold pole and associated tie member can be ensured by the size and spacing of the pole aperture and the tie aperture as described hereafter with reference to specific embodiments.
By providing a protector according to the first aspect of the invention, which both encloses a joint and defines the spacing between a joint and a tie member, a number of advantages are obtained. The joint is itself protected from loosening or damage when the scaffolding is being used. At the same time the connection between the tie member and its associated scaffold pole is also protected. Furthermore the tie protector provides the correct spacing required to ensure the structural integrity of the scaffolding, i.e. its safe and secure attachment to a structure by means of tie members.
Positioning a scaffold tie too distantly from a scaffold joint, reduces the benefits of the tie connection to a structure.
Joints between scaffold poles are nodes, which can distribute the forces resulting from a loading applied to the scaffold. For this reason construction regulations may require specified distances between a scaffold joint and a tie connection to a structure. This can be ensured by use of a tie protector according to the first aspect of the invention.
Suitable ties for attaching to a structure that can be used with the tie protectors of the present invention include all types such as are well known in the art. For example bolts for insertion into masonry and brickwork of a structure and clamps for attachment to steelwork (girders) of a structure.
A tie member (component of the tie device) passes through the aperture. For example, the tie may comprise a ringbolt. A scaffold pole attaches through the ring of the ringbolt and the threaded rod of the ringbolt (the tie member) passes through the tie aperture on the tie protector and into a wall of the structure to which the scaffold is λ tied' .
Preferably the housing is formed from two separate or hinged together parts which can close together around both the scaffold joint and the connection of a scaffold pole to tie member. The housing may comprise more than two parts if desired. Preferably in a tie protector according to the first aspect the housing when fitted forms a substantially continuous surface around the scaffold joint and connection to the tie member, apart from the pole and tie apertures .
The housing of a tie protector of the invention may be made of any suitably durable material, for example metals or plastics. Resilient materials such as plastic foam may be employed or the housing may have a foam insert fitted.
Alternatively, the housing may take the form of a mesh, for example a steel mesh, which allows viewing of enclosed joints and tie connections whilst still protecting them from damage. The housing may be held closed in use by any suitable latch device or devices. Preferably the housing is lockable, for example by means of a padlock or by means of a lock mechanism attached to or provided in the housing.
Providing a lockable housing allows the making and the maintenance of the tie connections to a structure, which are an essential part of the safety and integrity of scaffold operations, to be supervised and controlled. For example, a supervisor can inspect scaffold joints and their associated ties before fitting the tie protector that is then locked, securing the tie and joint from tampering or damage between periodic inspections by the supervisor.
As an alternative or addition to a lockable housing, the housing may be formed to be sealable. For example the housing may have loops on each of its separable or hinged together parts through which a line, such as a short piece of wire can be passed and secured by a seal. Breakage of the line or seal will provide an immediate indication of tampering. The seal may include a tag or label on which appropriate information is applied. Such information may include the company name, date of the fitting of the tie protector, next inspection or test date and the signature of a supervisor or competent person. Alternatively such tags or labels may be fitted to the tie protector independently of a seal . For example a label may be secured to an exterior surface of the housing.
Preferably the housing is distinctively coloured to allow easy identification of tie-in points of a scaffold from a distance. This allows a supervisor or inspector to quickly ascertain if sufficient, appropriately spaced, tie-ins to a structure have been made, inspected and protected. Advantageously the scaffold tie protector is a bright or fluorescent yellow colour or a combination of a yellow and black. Yellow and black are commonly used colours to indicate caution or danger in the construction or oil industries.
The housing of the scaffold tie protector has pole apertures to allow passage of scaffold poles. Typically, for a tie protector according to the first aspect of the invention the housing may have four pole apertures to allow passage of two scaffold poles that cross at a joint connecting the two crossing poles.
Alternatively, for example, where a λ T" type joint is made by attaching a pole end to a crossing pole the housing may be provided with only three pole apertures, to surround the T joint in the scaffold structure.
For a tie protector according to the first aspect of the invention the tie aperture is at a selected distance from a pole aperture, so as to define the spacing between the joint and an associated physical tie. An appropriate spacing for safe and secure scaffold construction is well known to those skilled in the art and may be defined in construction regulations in some countries. For example, in the United Kingdom a spacing of 150 mm is specified (British Standard BS5973) for the spacing between a joint made between crossing scaffold poles and a physical tie where an end of one of the crossing poles (the Λbutt end' ) abuts the structure. The physical tie, typically a ring bolt as illustrated in an embodiment described hereafter (Figure 2) is spaced at 150 mm, from the joint and is parallel to the pole that includes the butt end.
Typically the tie aperture and the pole apertures are formed to fit closely to the tie member and poles respectively, so as to restrict the relationship between the joint and tie member to a desired configuration. This also ensures that the poles and tie member run in the desired directions relative to each other i.e., at the appropriate angles relative to each other.
Alternatively where some degree of freedom in the tie member to scaffold joint distance or the angles between scaffold poles and/or the tie member is permissible the pole or the tie aperture (s) may take the form of an enlarged hole or slot allowing fitment about a joint and associated physical tie with a selected range of spacing and/or a selected range of angles between poles and/or between poles and tie member.
On the other hand where precise placement of scaffold parts such as poles, joints between them, and the physical tie are desired or required the housing may have an interior structure which only allows fitting about scaffold parts which have the desired configuration. For example the housing may be filled with foam, shaped to conform to poles, a joint between them and a tie member when they are in the desired configuration.
Alternatively the housing may include internal protrusions, which restrict or define the possible configuration of parts (for example poles, joint and tie member) that can be accommodated within the housing.
Further preferred features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description given by way of example of some preferred embodiments illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a tie protector of the invention in perspective, view;
Figures 2 (a to c) shows schematically the use of another tie protector of the invention in plan, front elevation and end elevation views respectively,- Figure 3 shows schematically a yet further tie protector of the invention in; and
Figures 4 (a to c) shows schematically a tie protector for use with a clamp type tie .
In figure 1 a tie protector 1 of the invention is shown in perspective view. The protector 1 is made of a high impact plastics material. The protector 1 has two complimentary housing parts 2,4, which fit together around a scaffold joint and physical tie arrangement (see figure 2) to form a housing 5.
The tie protector 1 may be coloured yellow for high visibility. The housing parts 2,4 fit together to provide an enclosure, which has a continuous surface apart from five apertures. There are four (circular) pole apertures 6,8,10,12 and one tie aperture 14 in the form of a slot in this example. Two pairs of apertured flanges 16,18 are provided at the join between the two housing parts 2,4 (one flange 18 not shown in this view) .
A similar tie protector to that of figure 1 is shown in use in figure 2 with like parts numbered the same. Figure 2a shows a plan view of the tie protector 1 in use, with the housing parts closed together to form the complete housing 5. In this example there are four pairs of flanges 16,18. Each flange of a pair coincides with its partner when the two housing parts 2,4 are closed together as shown. Seals 20 (only one shown) are attached by a wire 22 passing through one or more pairs 16,18 of the flanges to secure the two parts of the housing 5 together.
Alternatively one or more padlocks (not shown) may be used instead of or in addition to seals 20. As a further alternative the housing may be provided with a hinge, for example along a part of one long edge 24 of the housing 5. The housing 5 can then be opened and closed about the hinge and secured or locked by using the flanges 16,18 as described above. As a yet further alternative one or more of the pairs of flanges 16,18 may be replaced by a latch (not shown in this example) , which may be lockable .
As shown in figure 2a the housing 5 encloses a joint 26 between two scaffold poles 28,30 made with a conventional scaffold clamp 27. The poles exit the housing 5 through the pole apertures 6,8,10,12. The housing 5 also encloses the connection 32 between one of the poles 28 and a ringbolt 34 which is prevented from moving along the pole 28 in a direction away from the joint 32 by a conventional scaffold clamp 36 fitted to the pole. The threaded rod 38 (the tie member in this example of the use of the invention) of the ringbolt 34 exits the housing 5 via the tie aperture 14 and has been driven into a brick wall 40 of a structure such as a building. The position of the tie aperture defines the location of the threaded rod 38. The butt end 42 of the other scaffold pole 30 abuts the brick wall 40. The assembled and in use tie protector 1 is also shown in the front elevation 2b (wall 40 not shown for clarity) and sectional end elevation 2c, which shows the ringbolt 34 on pole 28.
By surrounding the joint 26 and connection to the ringbolt 34 the tie protector 1 prevents accidental (or deliberate) loosening or damage unless the seals 20 are broken or, if fitted, locking devices are opened. They tie protector 1 therefore allows easy supervision of a secure scaffold joint and physical tie arrangement. At the same time the distance between the pole aperture 6 and the tie aperture 14 defines the spacing between the joint 26 and the tie member (threaded rod 38) . This results in a spacing D as shown in figure 2a. In this example D is at 150mm as required under the United Kingdom Standard
BS5973. As the tie aperture 14 is in the form of a slot the angle made between the threaded rod 38 and the brick wall 40 may be varied to an extent limited by the length of the slot if desired. If stricter control over the position of the threaded rod 38 is required then the tie aperture 14 may be provided in the form of a circular hole, which restricts the threaded rod
(38, tie member) in the same way as the circular pole apertures 6,8,10,12 limit the positioning of the crossing scaffold poles 28,30.
Figure 3 shows schematically a tie protector 1 according to the second aspect of the invention in use. The tie protector 1 is of similar form to that of figures 1 and 2 but it only has one pole aperture 6, which is located on the housing 5 opposite the tie aperture 14. A tie member (threaded rod 38) is connected by means of a hook 42 clamped to the scaffold pole 28. The threaded rod has been fixed into a wall 40 to tie the scaffold to it. The placing of the pole aperture 6 and tie aperture 14 on the housing 5 ensures that the tie member (threaded rod 38) and scaffold pole 28 are essentially collinear, the desired configuration between the pole 28 and tie member in this example .
Figures 4 (a,b,c) show another tie protector 1 in front elevation (fig 4a) rear elevation (fig 4 b) and cross section side elevation (fig 4c) . The tie protector has a housing 5 of two parts 2 and 4. Two pole apertures 6,8 allow passage of a scaffold pole 28. A tie member, in the form of a flange 44 and bolt 46 assembly 48, is clamped to the scaffold pole 28 by a connector 50. As shown in the figures one part (upper in these views) 2 of the housing covers the flange 44 except at the rear (figure 4b) where a tie aperture 14 partially exposes the flange and bolt assembly 48.
Figure 4c shows the use of the tie protector 1. The bolt 46 of the assembly 48 can be screwed to a flange of an I beam 52, clamping the I beam 52 between the bolt 46 and a face 54 of the connector 52.
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