DOS SANTOS, Lewis Albertor Grijo (8 Winds Ridge, Send Woking, Surrey GU23 7HU, GB)
| CLAIMS 1 ) A stabiliser for a scaffolding structure comprising a main elongated body member with a first end portion designed to contact a support surface from which the stabiliser is to be supported, a fastening device for attachment to a tubular portion of the scaffolding structure, the fastening device being supported by the other end of the main body member and comprising two circumferentially extending embracing formations (which) designed to extend partially around the tubular portion of the scaffolding structure in opposite directions, the formations being axially spaced relative to the tubular portion to define therebetween a gap inclined at an angle relative to the axis of the tubular portion through which the tubular portion can pass in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the tubular portion when the stabiliser and thus the fastening device is twisted to said angle to align the gap and the tubular portion for attachment to or detachment from the tubular portion. 2) A stabiliser according to claim 1 in which the first end portion is provided with a foot for contact with the support surface. 3) A stabiliser according to claim 1 or 2 in which the main elongated body member is telescopic to allow adjustment of the length of the stabiliser. 4) A stabiliser according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the fastening device is pivotable reiati've to the remainder of the main body member to assist connection with the tubular portion of the scaffolding structure. 5) A stabiliser according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the fastening device comprises a component pivotally connected with the other end of the main body member, the component carrying the two circumferentially extending embracing formations at axially spaced locations on the component. 6) A stabiliser according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the fastening device comprises upper and lower members, each member having a part cylindrical fastening portion at one end for attachment to the other end portion of the main body member or a component connected therewith, each member also having one of the embracing portions at the other end, the upper and lower members being secured to the other end portion of the main body member or a component connected therewith one above the other with their respective embracing portions extending in opposite directions. 7) A stabiliser according to claim 6 in which the upper and lower member are secured to each other intermediate their ends for improved rigidity. 8) A stabiliser according to any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the stabiliser is provided with a brace arranged to be positioned substantially horizontally when in use, one end of the brace being connected with the stabiliser and the other end having connecting means for attachment to the scaffolding structure. 9) A stabiliser according to claim 8 in which the brace is pivotally connected to the stabiliser and provided with the connecting means at the other end for attachment to the scaffolding structure. 10) A stabiliser according to claim 9 in which the connecting means is a hook-type fastener with a spring-loaded latch. 11) A scaffolding structure provided with a stabiliser according to any one of claims 1 to 10. 12) A stabiliser for a scaffolding structure constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. |
This invention relates to scaffolding stabilisers used to prevent toppling of scaffolding structures such as frames or towers both during the building of the scaffolding structure or its subsequent use.
Such stabilisers are designed to contact a support surface at a lower end and to be attached to the scaffolding structure at an upper end.
Difficulties arise attaching such a stabiliser to the scaffolding structure at a sufficiently high level to operate effectively without tipping over the scaffolding structure when the scaffolding rigger climbs on scaffolding structure to attach the stabiliser to structure.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improve form of scaffolding stabiliser which is easy to attach and which is stable and secure when in use.
Thus according to the present invention there is provided a stabiliser for a scaffolding structure comprising a main elongated body member with a first end portion designed to contact a support surface from which the stabiliser is to be supported, a fastening device for attachment to a tubular portion of the scaffolding structure, the fastening device being supported by the other end of the main body member and comprising two circumferentially extending embracing formations designed to extend partially around the tubular portion of the scaffolding structure in opposite directions, the formations being axially spaced relative to the tubular portion to define therebetween a gap inclined at an angle relative to the axis of the tubular portion through which the tubular portion can pass in a direction
perpendicular to the axis of the tubular portion when the stabiliser and thus the fastening device is twisted to said angle to align the gap and the tubular portion for attachment to or detachment from the tubular portion. Such a stabiliser can be easily attached to the scaffolding structure by an assembler standing on the support surface without the need to climb on the scaffolding structure thus destabilising the structure.
The first end portion may be provided with a foot for contact with the support surface.
The main elongated body member may be telescopic to allow adjustment of the length of the stabiliser.
The fastening device may be pivotable relative to the remainder of the main body member to assist connection with the tubular portion of the scaffolding structure.
The fastening device may comprise a component pivotally connected with the other end of the main body member, the component carrying the two circumferentially extending embracing formations at axially spaced locations on the component.
In an alternative construction the fastening device may comprise upper and lower members, each member having a part cylindrical fastening portion at one end for attachment to the other end portion of the main body member or a component connected therewith, each member also having one of the embracing portions at the other end, the upper and lower members being secured to the other end portion of the main body member or a component connected therewith one above the other with their respective embracing portions extending in opposite directions.
The upper and lower member may be secured to each other intermediate their ends for improved rigidity.
The stabiliser may be provided with a brace arranged to be positioned substantially horizontally when in use, one end of the brace being connected with the stabiliser and the other end having connecting means for attachment to the scaffolding structure.
The brace may be pivotally connected to the stabiliser and provided with the connecting means at the other end for attachment to the scaffolding structure. This connecting means may, for example, be a hook-type fastener with a spring-loaded latch.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a scaffolding stabiliser in accordance with the present invention mounted on a vertical scaffolding member;
Figure 2 shows on a larger scale a fastening device used in the stabiliser shown in Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 shows on a larger scale the lower portion of the stabiliser shown in Figure
1 ;
Figure 4 shows details of a hook-type fastener used to secure a brace of the stabiliser to a vertical scaffolding member;
Figures 5 to 8 show stages in the attachment of the stabiliser to the vertical tubular scaffolding member;
Figure 9 shows the deployment of a brace member which acts between the stabiliser and the vertical tubular scaffolding member;
Figure 10 shows an alternative connection between the fastening device and the remainder of the stabiliser; Figure 11 shows a simplified form of stabiliser in accordance with the present invention, and
Figure 12 shows an alternative form of fastening device for use on the stabiliser.
Referring to the drawings, a scaffolding stabiliser 10 comprises a main elongated body member 11 which may be of variable length. In the arrangement shown the main body member has an outer tubular member 12 and an inner tubular member 13 whose effective length is varied by the insertion of a pin (not shown) through a hole (not visible in the drawings) in the inner tubular member 13 and one of the holes 14 in the outer tubular member 12. Any other suitable method of holding the inner and outer tubular members in a chosen relative position can be used to provide a variable length stabiliser.
A first end portion 15 of the stabiliser is provided with a foot 16 for contact with the ground or other support surface on which the stabiliser is to be used. If desired the foot 16 may be pivotable relative to the end portion 15.
At the other end of the stabiliser an end portion 17 is inclined relative to the main body member 11 and carries a fastening device 18 for attachment to a tubular portion 19 of an adjacent scaffolding structure which is to be stabilised. This scaffolding structure may be a scaffolding tower or frame structure. The end portion 17 may be pivotable at 20 relative to the remainder of the stabiliser to facilitate attachment of the stabiliser to the scaffolding structure and accommodate different angles of inclination of the stabiliser relative to the scaffolding structure.
The fastening device 18, best shown in Figures 2, 6 and 8 comprising two circumferentially extending embracing formations 21 which extend partially around the tubular portion 19 of the scaffolding structure in opposite directions. These portions 21 are mounted on a tubular sleeve-like component 18a which surrounds the end portion 17 of the stabiliser and is secured thereto by any suitable means such as rivets 18b. The sleeve 18a and formations 21 can conveniently be formed as a casting.
The formations 21 are axially spaced relative to the tubular portion to define therebetween a gap G which is inclined at an angle A relative to the axis of the tubular portion 19 and through which the tubular portion 19 can pass in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the tubular portion when the stabiliser and thus the fastening device is twisted to said angle A (see Figure 6) to align the gap G and the tubular portion 19 for attachment to or detachment from the tubular portion.
Thus to attach the stabiliser to the tubular scaffolding member 19 the stabiliser 10 is inclined at the angle A relative to the tubular member 9 (see Figures 5 and 6) by a scaffolding assembler standing on the ground or some other support surface on which the scaffolding is standing. The stabilizer 10 is then moved towards the member 19 so that the member 19 moves through the gap G whereupon the stabiliser is then rotated relative to member 19 by the assembler as indicated by arrow B (see Figures 6 and 7) until the fastening device 18 is fully engaged with the member 19 as shown in Figures 2 and 8. The stabiliser 10 is then lowered as indicated by arrow C in Figure 7 until the foot 16 is in contact with the support surface. To remove the stabiliser the above procedure is reversed.
The stabiliser is also provided with a brace member 23 which is designed to be positioned substantially horizontally when in use. This brace member 23 may also be of variable length if required with, for example, inner and outer tubular members similar to the members12 and 13 described above in relation to main body member 11. One end of the brace is pivoted at 24 on a collar 25 which is secured (e.g. by welding) to the outer tubular member 12.
The other end of the brace is connected to the tubular scaffolding member 19 via a hook-type fastener 26 which has a spring-loaded latch 27 for securing the hook to the member 19. The hook-type fastener is pivotally attached to the brace 23 at 28. After the stabiliser is attached to the member 19 the brace 23 is deployed by rotating the brace in the direction of arrow D (see Figure 9) and the hook-type fastener is then engaged with the member 19. As will be appreciated, any suitable type of fastener can be used in place of the hook-type fastener 26 to secure the brace 23 to the scaffolding member 19.
Figure 10 shows an alternative pivotal connection between the fastening device 18' and the upper end of the outer tubular member 12'. In this arrangement the sleeve 18a' is provided with an integral connecting flange 18c' which is pivotally connected at 20' to member 12'. There may be no member 17 inside sleeve 18' if the sleeve is sufficiently strong. This arrangement transfers the forces between the sleeve18' and the member 12' more symmetrically relative to the embracing formations 21 and may therefore be less likely to cause slipping of the fastening device 18' relative to the tubular member 19.
Figure 11 shows a simplified form of stabiliser in which a fastening device 30 is used to secure an angled stabilising leg 31 to scaffolding member 19. In this arrangement the upper inclined end portion 31a of the leg 31 does not pivot relative to the remainder of the leg and the fastening member 30 is of a two piece construction shown in more detail on Figure12.
The fastening member 30 is formed from identical an upper and lower member 32 and 33 which have projecting tabs 36 which are bolted together at 34 for improved rigidity. One end 32a, 33a of each upper and lower member 32, 33 is formed as a part cylindrical fastening portion which is riveted or otherwise secured to the end portion 31a of the stabiliser using fastening holes 35. The other end of each member 32, 33 has a scaffolding pole embracing portion 32b, 33b which is shaped to extend partially around the scaffolding member 19 in the same manner as the formation 21 described above in relation to Figures 1 to 9. These potions 32b, 33b have edges 32c and 33c which are again spaced axially from each other to define a gap G which allows the passage of the member 19 when the stabiliser is inclined at the angle A as previously described. The use of the two fastening members 32 and 33 may be cheaper to manufacture and more easily repairable and can be used in the stabiliser construction of Figures 1 to 10 if desired. For example, the members 32 and 33 could be fastened on to a component 17 pivoted onto the member 12.
The present invention thus provides a scaffolding stabiliser which is simple to attach and detach from an associated scaffolding structure without the assembler needing to mount the structure so that the previously discussed toppling problems are avoided.