Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to scaffolding and in particular to a scaffolding tool.

The invention has been developed primarily for use in the assembly and disassembly of scaffolding and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

Background of the Invention

Scaffolding is a temporary framework erected adjacent or inside buildings to provide access for workers to parts of buildings (and other structures) that are above ground level and which may otherwise require a ladder or external lift to gain access to. Scaffolding is usually assembled and disassembled manually. Couplers are used to join scaffolding tubes together to form a load-bearing framework upon which boards are placed to provide platforms for workers. Couplers often comprise two clamps, for example in right angle and swivel couplers, or a single clamp, for example in a putlog coupler. The clamps are secured around the tubes by the tightening of a nut fastener through the jaws of the clamp. Scaffolding may be attached to an adjacent building/structure by scaffold fixings, which normally comprise an eye bolt and a threaded rod for insertion into the adjacent structure.

In the assembly and disassembly of scaffolding, a worker is often forced to operate in a limited space and at hazardous heights. For a single scaffolding structure, there may be many necessary connections (created by couplers), requiring the worker to tighten or loosen a large number of nuts. Furthermore, the worker is confronted with a range of connecting components, for example nuts on scaffolding couplers and eye bolts on scaffolding fixings. The present invention seeks to provide a scaffolding tool which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention a scaffolding tool is provided comprising:

- an elongate handle; and

- a ratchet socket, wherein the ratchet socket is hingedly connected to a first end of the elongate handle and a second end of the elongate handle comprises a tang. Advantageously, a single tool is provided to perform multiple tasks and may reduce the number of tools a user needs to carry or store. Specifically, the scaffolding tool allows the user to fasten or unfasten coupler nuts by virtue of the ratcheting socket and to loosen or release eye bolt and/or other relevant connections using the tang.

Advantageously, the hinge connection between the ratchet socket and the elongate handle means that the elongate handle may be held at different angles with respect to the socket body when engaging a nut of a coupler. This allows more or less leverage to be applied to the nut by the user depending on the angle the handle is held at with respect to the ratchet socket. That is, the less the angle (i.e. the more perpendicular) the greater the leverage that can be applied. Conversely, the greater the angle, the faster the nut can be fastened and also the less likely that surrounding structure will interfere with rotation of the handle.

Preferably, the ratchet socket further comprises a socket body and a nut engagement member.

Preferably, the first end of the elongate handle comprises a first hinge portion, the socket body comprises a second hinge portion, and the scaffolding tool further comprises a pin, the pin being adapted to hingedly connect the first and second hinge portions. Preferably, the nut engagement member comprises a hexagonal recess.

Preferably, the tang is integral with the second end of the elongate handle.

Advantageously, an integral tang is less likely to break or detach from the rest of the scaffolding tool in use.

Preferably, the tang is attached to the second end of the elongate handle by a screw connection.

Advantageously, the tang can be replaced if damaged or worn.

Preferably, the tang is tapered towards a point.

Advantageously, the tang may be used to readily engage eye bolt fixings of various diameters.

Preferably, the tang is arcuate such that the end of the tang is offset from a longitudinal axis of the elongate handle.

Advantageously, the tang may be more easily engaged with an eye bolt fixing when attaching or removing a scaffold fixing to an adjacent structure.

Advantageously, the scaffolding tool may be more readily used to pry apart scaffolding components during disassembly. Preferably, the elongate handle is less than 250mm long.

Advantageously, the risk of the user applying too much torque to the coupler nut and thus damaging the scaffolding coupler is reduced.

Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a scaffolding tool comprising a ratchet socket in a first orientation in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a side view of the scaffolding tool of Fig. 1 wherein the ratchet socket is in a second orientation;

Fig. 3 shows a top view of the scaffolding tool of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 shows a bottom view of the scaffolding tool of Fig. 1. Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment it should be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in many other forms.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, a scaffolding tool 10 is provided comprising an elongate handle 15 and a ratchet socket 20. The elongate handle 15 has a first end 25 and a second end 30. The second end 30 is tapered and arcuate, forming a tang 31. The first end 25 comprises a first hinge portion 35 and the ratchet socket 20 comprises a second hinge portion 40. The first hinge portion 35 and second hinge portion 40 comprise common diameter holes through which a pin 45 is inserted to form a hinge connection between the first end 25 of the elongate handle 15 and the ratchet socket 20.

The ratchet socket 20 further comprises a socket body 50 and a nut engagement member 21. One end of the socket body 50 comprises the second hinge portion 40 while the other end is connected to the nut engagement member 21 such that the nut engagement member 21 can ratchet over the socket body 50 in a selected direction. The nut engagement member 21 has a hexagonal inside cross section such that it can engage a standard nut fastener of a scaffolding coupler.

The scaffolding tool 10 can be used to perform a number of tasks associated with the assembly and disassembly of scaffolding. The ratchet socket 20 may be used to tighten the nut fastener of the scaffolding coupler such that a scaffolding tube may be securely clamped within the scaffolding coupler. The ratchet socket 20 may further be used to loosen the nut fastener of the scaffolding coupler. The tang 31 may be used to engage an eye bolt of a scaffolding fixing when the fixing is being attached to an adjacent structure. The tang 31 may further be used as a pry bar to more readily separate scaffolding components during disassembly. The tapered structure of the tang 31 may allow the user to readily engage eye bolt fixings of various diameters. The arcuate structure of the tang 31 may allow the tang 31 to be more easily engaged with the eye bolt when attaching or removing a scaffold fixing to or from an adjacent structure. The arcuate structure of the tang 31 may further provide greater leverage when the scaffolding tool 10 is used as a pry bar. The tang 31 is less likely to break or detach from the rest of the scaffolding tool 10 in use since it is integral with the second end 30 of the elongate handle 15.

The hinge connection between the first end 25 of the elongate handle 15 and the ratchet socket 20 allows the scaffolding tool 10 to be used more easily, since the elongate handle 15 can be adjusted at different orientations with respect to the ratchet socket 20, for example, a first orientation as shown in Fig. 1 and a second orientation as shown in Fig. 2. With the nut of the scaffolding coupler being engaged by the nut engagement member 21, the elongate handle 15 may then be selectively rotated about the hinge connection such that the elongate handle 15 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the socket body 50 as shown in Fig. 1, allowing the user to apply a torque adequate to tighten or loosen the nut. The elongate handle 15 may then be held at a more obtuse angle with respect to the socket body 50 or in-line with the socket body 50, for example, in the second orientation shown in Fig. 2, such that the user can fasten or unfasten the nut more quickly (if only a low level of torque is required). Furthermore, such an orientation may avoid interference between the elongate handle 15 and proximal structures or objects. A ratchet mechanism of the ratchet socket 20 allows the user to repeat the motion of the elongate handle 15 to cause tightening or loosening of the nut without having to remove the tool from the nut, adjust the position of the tool 10 and reengage the nut. The elongate handle 15 is less than 250mm in length, which may reduce the risk of the user applying too much torque to the coupler nut which could otherwise damage the thread.

In using the scaffolding tool 10, the number of tools a user needs to carry or store may be reduced. While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in many other forms. For example, the nut engagement member 21 may have different cross sectional shapes, the elongate handle 15 may be greater than, less than or equal to 250mm in length and the tang 31 may be straight rather than arcuate. In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as "forward", "rearward", "radially", "peripherally", "upwardly", "downwardly", and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Industrial Applicability

It is apparent from the above, that the arrangements described are applicable to a variety of industries, including the scaffolding and construction industries.