Background Of The Invention Suspended scaffolding designed to be secured to ends of beams of a roof frame overhanging exterior walls of a building structure is known in the art. However, the scaffolding is generally designed for being fixed to inclined beams of roof frames and is not suitable for also fixing to substantially horizontal beams as may occasionally be necessary, so as to allow the fixing of fascia board and guttering to eaves while the scaffolding is in position. Alternatively, the prior scaffolding does not allow for work platforms to be provided between the building structure=s outer wall and platform supporting stanchions of the scaffolding.

Examples of known suspended scaffolding each of which suffers from one or both of the above mentioned drawbacks are described in Australian Patent Application No.

70403/91 and Australian Patent Application No. 33256/84.

In both of these scaffolding, significant bending forces are applied to beams carrying them when the scaffolding is under load. The bending forces are substantially magnified when heavier loads as may be required in normal use of the scaffold are carried thereon. This presents an unsatisfactory risk of the beams snapping particularly in instances when the beams are formed from softer woods than the hardwoods commonly used in the past..

Further scaffolding and arrangements or roof barriers are disclosed in published Australian Patent Application No.'s 48798/93,80156/91,31701/95 and 30694/95.

However, none provide a satisfactory resolution of the problems outlined above. In

United States Patent No. 4256201 there is described a scaffolding unit with an attachment member for being attached to a beam of a roof frame and which is connected to a post for supporting a work platform adjacent to the side wall of the building structure. A turnbuckle extends between the attachment member and the post and is provided for causing the post to be drawn inwardly toward the side of the building structure once the attachment member has been secured along the beam. However, the presence of the turnbuckle inhibits the mounting of fascia board and or guttering to the roof frame.

Summary Of The Invention It is an aim of the present invention to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art.

In one aspect of the invention there is provided a scaffolding unit for attachment to a beam of a roof frame, which beam extends transversly across a side of a building structure. The scaffolding unit comprises a primary support for supporting one or more work platforms above a ground surface and an attachment member that extends from the primary support and is able to be moved to a desired angle relative to the primary support to enable the attachment member to lie alongside and be attached to the beam, and so hold the primary support from the ground surface. The scaffolding unit also has a connecting member for securing the primary support to the attachment member after the attachment member has been arranged alongside and secured to said beam, to thereby hold the primary support in position. The attachment member is connected to an end region of the primary support for location over the roof frame.

The connecting member will generally extend away from the primary support at an inclined angle relative to the primary support, when the attachment member is secured to the primary support by the connecting member.

Usually, the end region of the primary support will be adapted to overhang the roof frame and most usually, the support member will be formed to accommodate an end of the beam. The support member may be a post for being suspended from the roof frame in an upright position adjacent to the side of the building structure.

Generally, the attachment member will be able to be pivoted about the primary support so as to be moved to the desired angle. The attachment member may also carry

attachment means for enabling the scaffold member to be attached to the beam of the roof frame. The attachment means will typically comprise brackets spaced apart from each other along the length of the attachment member.

The connecting member may be carried by the primary support and be capable of being swung relative to the support member to thereby enable the connecting member to be attached to the attachment member when the attachment member is at the desired angle.

At least one platform support carried on the primary support may be provided for supporting a work platform inward of the primary support toward the building structure, respectively. The primary support may also or alternatively, carry at least one platform support each for supporting a work platform outward of the primary support away from the building structure, respectively.

There may also be provided one or more stabilisers for contact with the side of the building structure to thereby stabilise the work platforms. A stabiliser may be carried by a platform support and be slidable relative to the primary support to enable the stabiliser to press against the side of the building structure.

By being able to be moved relative to the post, the attachment member may be secured to a horizontal beam of the roof frame or a beam inclined to the horizontal.

Moreover, by being able to carry work platforms between the support member and side of the building structure as well as outward of the support member, the scaffolding unit allows a trades person to readily access the roof frame, clad the side and roof of the building structure, line eaves of the roof frame or fix fascia board and guttering to the roof frame, and provide safety rail as may be required.

In addition, the scaffolding unit may be mounted on the beam such that a significant component of the weight of the scaffolding unit and the load carried on the work platform (s) in use can be born by the side of the building structure itself so that bending forces applied to the beam are thereby minimised.

The scaffolding unit may be provided assembled or as separate parts such as in the form of a kit, for assembly together.

There is also provided scaffolding formed with the use of a plurality of scaffolding

units as described immediately above.

The features and advantages of the present invention will now be further described hereinafter with reference to a number of preferred, non-limiting embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description Of The Accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a side view of a scaffold unit embodied by the present invention secured to an inclined beam of a roof frame; Figure 2 is a side view of another scaffold unit embodied by the invention secured to a horizontal beam of a roof frame; Figure 3 is a side view of the scaffold unit of fig. 1 carrying work platforms alongside an upper floor of a building structure; Figure 4 is a side view of a yet further scaffold unit embodied by the invention carrying work platforms for enabling work on adjacent floors of a multi-story building structure; Figure 5 is a perspective view of suspended scaffolding incorporating scaffolding units of the present invention; Figure 6 is a perspective view of further suspended scaffolding embodied by the present invention; Figure 7 is a plan view of a scaffold unit embodied by the invention carrying a platform support arranged so as to be angled relative to the wall of the building structure when the scaffold unit is secured thereto; and Figure 8 is a plan view of yet another scaffold unit of the invention.

Detailed Description Of Preferred Embodiments Of The Invention The scaffolding unit 10 illustrated in fig. 1 comprises an attachment member 12 secured to a primary support post 14 and which is able to pivot relative to the post about pivot pin 16. Connecting means in the form of a strut 18 is fixed at one end to a middle region 20 of member 12 and is attached at an opposite end to upper end region 22 of post 14 to thereby brace the scaffolding unit and prevent the post from rotating about a pivot pin 16.

The attachment member lies alongside and is secured to rafter 24 of roof frame 26

by coach bolts 28 extending through apertures provided in brackets 30 and 32 carried by the scaffold member so that the lower end of the post is suspended above the ground surface surrounding building structure 34. Fixing means other than coach bolts may of course may also be used.

The attachment member 12 is secured to rafter 24 such that the bracket 30 is positioned directly over stud wall 36 of the building structure 34 rather than the end region of the rafter overhanging the stud wall. This ensures a significant weight component of the scaffolding unit and loads carried by it in use are born by the stud wall and so minimises bending forces exerted on the rafter.

To accommodate different eaves widths, bracket 30 can be moved along attachment member 12 and be fixed in the desired position by the receipt of adjustment pin 38 extending through the side of the bracket in one of apertures 40 defined in the member 12.

Post 14 carries platform support 42 comprising a pipe 44 of square cross-section and a stabiliser 46 that extends from the pipe. The stabiliser has an elongate end plate in abutment with stud wall 36 of building structure 34 which acts to space post 14 from the stud wall and so stabilise the scaffolding unit. The distance the stabiliser 46 extends from pipe 44 can be fixed as required by inserting adjustment pin 50 through one of the apertures 51 defined along the stabiliser once the stabiliser has been repositioned in pipe 44 as necessary. Rather than an adjustment pin, a suitable clamp may also be utilised.

A further platform support 52 carried by post 14 projects in a direction away from the stud wall and is provided with a socket 54 receiving a rail post 56 of railing 58. Each of the platform supports are braced by brackets 60 and carry planks 62 forming work platforms 64.

The position of the platform supports 42 and 52, and hence the work platforms 64, can be adjusted up or down post 14 by simply removing adjustment pins 66, sliding the platform supports along the post and reinserting the pins through the appropriate apertures 68 of the post.

As will be appreciated, work platforms 64 allow trade persons ready access not only to stud wall 36 but also eave 70, facia board 72 and guttering 74. In instances where

the fascia board and guttering are not yet secured in position, the recess 76 of the upper end region 22 of the post 14 and formed by section 78 overhanging the eave and downwardly directed section 80, allows them to be located and fixed in position.

The angle of inclination of the attachment member 12 relative to the post can be fixed as required when securing the scaffolding unit to a rafter or other beam of a roof frame by pivoting strut 18 about pivot pin 82 and subsequently fastening the strut in position by inserting adjustment pin 84 through the appropriate aperture 86 defined in the middle region 20 of the attachment member.

In fig. 2, an embodiment of a scaffolding unit of the invention is shown secured to a horizontal beam 88 of a roof frame. This embodiment is the same as that shown in fig. 1 except that the pipe 44 of the platform support 42 is shorter and does not support a work platform 64 between post 14 and the building structure 34.

In fig. 3, a scaffolding unit 10 is secured to the roof frame of an upper floor of a multi-story structure such that post 14 is suspended above lower roof 90. The stud wall 36 is also shown as being partially covered by exterior cladding 92.

The scaffolding unit shown in fig. 4 is provided with two platform supports 42a and 42b located one above the other adjacent separate levels 94 and 96 of a multi-story building structure, respectively. In this instance, the post 14 has been elongated by the reception of a post extension member 98 in a socket formed at the lower end of post 14.

The extension member 98 is fixed in position by the reception of a bolt passing through the lower end of the post and the extension member.

In fig. 5, a section of suspended scaffolding 102 formed with the use of a number of scaffolding units 10 is illustrated. The scaffolding units 10 are spaced apart from each other along the side of the building structure 34 and are secured in similar positions with respect to each other on different rafters 24. Braces 100 secured to posts 14 brace the scaffolding 102 and provide a further safety rail for trades persons when on work platform 64.

Yet further suspended scaffolding 102 is shown in fig. 6. Each scaffolding unit 10 of this scaffolding differs from ones described above in that the strut 18 of each scaffolding unit is connected to an opposite end of the overhanging section 78 of the

upper end region 22 of the post. In addition, the bracket 32 for securing the attachment member to a beam of the roof frame 26 is able to be slid along and be fixed to the attachment member as needed.

This scaffolding is also provided with a work platform 64 carried by platform supports 52 fixed in position to upper end region 22 of the posts 14 of scaffolding units 10. This work platform allows trade person access to the roof above the facia board.

Again, the platform can be lowered by repositioning the platform supports 52 lower down the posts 14 in a manner as indicated above.

If desired, a scaffolding unit 10 may be provided with a platform support 42 or 52 which project substantially horizontally from the post 14 and which is arranged such that when the scaffolding unit is secured to a corner beam of a roof frame, the platform support is able to extend at substantially the same angle with respect to the wall of the building structure as other corresponding platform supports of scaffolding units 10 arranged along the same side of the building structure so as to be able to readily and safely receive planks 62 for forming a work platform 64. Such a scaffolding unit is shown in fig. 7.

In fig. 8, there is shown an embodiment of a scaffolding unit wherein the post itself is able to be rotated about a vertical axis of rotation when the scaffolding member 12 of the scaffolding unit 10 is fixed to a rafter 24 of a roof frame 26. More particularly, the post 14 is able to be swivelled about swivel pin 104 such that the platform support 52 is able to be swung between a right offset position as indicated in solid outline and a left offset position as indicated in phantom outline to thereby achieve same result as the embodiment of fig. 7. It will be understood that the platform support can be locked in an offset position by braces 100 securing posts 14 of adjacent scaffolding units 10 together.

When a scaffolding unit of the invention is to be stored after use, the scaffold member 12 is rotated about pivot pin 16 to lie alongside post 14 following removal of the unit from the roof frame and the removal of each platform support provided. Rather than actually needing to remove the platform supports, each one may be able to be pivoted upwardly so as to also lie along the post.

Although the present invention has been described hereinbefore with a reference to a number of preferred embodiments it will be understood that numerous variations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the following claims.