TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of scaffolding, falsework and formwork construction. Specifically, the invention comprises a portable stand for assisting in the unloading, assembly and collection of construction elements such as scaffolding, falsework and formwork components.

More particularly, the invention seeks to alleviate stress and injury as a consequence of lifting heavy construction elements off the ground, typically scaffolding planks and poles. This, by placing them in an upstanding or substantially upright or user-friendly and accessible position prior to their handling. The commercial benefits of which are directed towards improving the safety and efficiency of operators and users and the possible reduction in consequential work injury related claims.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Scaffolding has been utilised in the building and construction industries throughout recorded history and has been assembled from many different materials and in a multitude of ways. Formwork and forms of falsework have also been used for a similar historical period of time.

Scaffolding components tend to be delivered to a construction site as a series of component parts which are transported and delivered on a scaffold delivery pallet. This necessitates construction workers to unpack, carry and assemble the scaffolding parts prior to initiating building work. Other temporary construction elements, such as formwork and falsework, are also delivered to work sites in a similar manner.

The scaffolding or formwork generally comprises planks or tubing of different thicknesses or lengths. By and large, the tubing lengths are referred to as‘standards’. The long horizontal tubes are known as‘ledgers’ and the shorter horizontal tubes are known as‘transoms’. These tubes are made from either aluminium or steel, with steel representing the stronger and sturdier option. Correspondingly, when standard-size tubing is used, a length of steel tubing has a mass of approximately 4.5 kilograms per metre length, while aluminium has a mass of just under 2 kilograms per metre length. Although variable in length, the tubing tends to be of a length wherein multiple pieces of tubing will be of significant gross weight. Therefore, the process of loading or unloading a pallet, which involves a significant amount of bending, lifting and carrying, becomes a workplace hazard.

Furthermore, scaffolding working surfaces are constructed by using a series of boards or planks arranged on top of and connected to an assembled framework of tubing. Although the length of scaffolding planks may vary between projects, standard scaffolding planks are usually of a uniform width (approximately 225mm) and are of one of three thicknesses (38, 50 or 63 mm), with 38mm being the most common thickness. The scaffolding planks are typically constructed of timber, steel or aluminium. Correspondingly, even the lightest scaffolding plank is still of a substantial weight.

For efficiency purposes, construction workers unpacking a scaffold delivery pallet will tend to carry multiple components simultaneously. This therefore necessitates a series of bending, lifting and carrying activities in handling the construction elements. Furthermore, the inability of being able to use two hands while unpacking and packing of components rather than one, while having to use the other hand to support components already removed or prior to stacking, greatly increases the risk of related joint and muscle strain/fatigue. This obviously represents a workplace hazard and safety issue which has the unfortunate potential to attract and result in expensive employee litigation and compensation.

It is therefore an advantage to provide an apparatus to assist in the loading and unloading of construction elements (typically from a scaffold delivery pallet) which is directed to preventing compensable worker injury as a consequence of heavy lifting. It is also an advantage for this apparatus to be portable and relatively compact, so as to limit the amount of space taken up during its storage or transport between work sites.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention resides in a stand for presenting construction elements, including scaffolding planks and poles, in an upstanding user accessible position, the stand comprising: a upper arm against which the elements can be leant in an upright position; a lower arm spaced from the upper arm ; the lower arm to prevent the construction elements from toppling over the upper arm; a support joining the upper and lower arms, wherein construction elements placed between the upper and lower arms can be securely held in the upstanding user accessible position. Preferably, the upper and lower arms are horizontally disposed and are joined to a vertically disposed support. More preferably, the support and lower arm are comprised of a single tube wherein the lower arm is an extension of the support.

In a preferred embodiment, horizontal upper and lower arms and vertical support are steel tubes welded together.

Preferably, the stand is removably and pivotally attached to an upright tube of a scaffold delivery pallet by a pivot post, pole or leg inserted into the upright tube and wherein the stand extends outwardly and away from the scaffold delivery pallet.

In the preferred embodiment, the stand does not have any locking mechanism to fix its position relative to the pallet. The pivot tube is adapted to slip in and out of the upright tube and the elements being held in contact with the ground stops the stand from rotating about the upright tube.

The stand is also easily removed and carried when not in use.

The stand however may include a locking mechanism adapted to selectively lock the stand at an angle relative to the scaffold delivery pallet. This can comprise a threaded bolt and wingnut arrangement wherein the bolt passes through the stand and the upright tube wherein the orientation of the stand with respect the scaffold delivery pallet can be adjusted and locked in place by tightening the wingnut. It will be obvious to the skilled addressee that any other fixtures or mechanisms may be adapted for the same purpose.

Preferably, the upper and lower arms are curved, bent or otherwise shaped so as to prevent or limit any lateral or sideways movement of the construction elements in the stand.

The construction elements are typically components for assembling formwork, falsework or scaffolding, including scaffolding planks and poles. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a preferred stand in use accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 shows the stand of Figure 1 in detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a preferred stand 10 according to the invention. Construction elements, including scaffolding planks and poles 12 can be securely held in in an upstanding user accessible position. The stand 10 comprises an upper arm 14 against which a pole 12 is leant in a substantially upright position. Lower arm 16 is spaced from upper arm 14 by support 18 joining the upper and lower arms. Lower arm 16 is positioned in relation to upper arm 14 to prevent pole 12 from toppling over upper arm 14.

The upper and lower arms 14, 16 are horizontally disposed and are joined to vertically disposed support 18 and comprise steel tubes welded together. The support 18 and lower arm 16 are preferably comprised of a single tube wherein the lower arm is an extension of the support.

Support 18 is removably and pivotally attachable to an upright tube 20 of scaffold delivery pallet 22 by a pivot post, pole or leg (shown as 24 in Figure 2) inserted into upright tube 20 wherein the stand 10 extends outwardly and away from scaffold delivery pallet 22.

In the preferred embodiment, the stand 10 does not have any locking mechanism to fix its position relative to the pallet 22. The pivot post (shown as 24 in Figure 2) is adapted to slip in and out of the upright tube 20 and the elements such as pole 12 being held, in contact with the ground 30 stops stand 10 from rotating about upright tube 20.

The stand 10 however may include a locking mechanism adapted to selectively lock stand 10 at an angle relative to scaffold delivery pallet 22. This can comprise a threaded bolt and wingnut arrangement wherein the bolt passes through the stand and the upright tube 20 wherein the orientation of the stand 10 with respect the scaffold delivery pallet 22 can be adjusted and locked in place by tightening the wingnut. It will be obvious to the skilled addressee that any other fixtures or mechanisms may be adapted for the same purpose.

Preferably, the upper and lower arms 14, 16 are curved, bent or otherwise shaped so as to prevent or limit any lateral or sideways movement of a construction element 12 held in the stand 10. The upper and lower arms 14, 16 further include retention means 28a, 28b, which are designed to prevent the construction elements 12 from slipping out from between the two arms of the stand 10. The retention means 28a, 28b operate by providing a resting surface for the construction elements 12 to abut against in the event that they begin to slip out from between the upper and lower arms 14, 16. The retention means 28a, 28b are preferably posts or spigots that extend from the surface of the arms in opposite directions and towards each other. Whilst posts or spigots are preferred, any other suitable form or shape can be utilised.

The construction elements 12 are typically components for assembling formwork, falsework or scaffolding, including scaffolding planks and poles.

Figure 2 shows the stand 10 of Figure 1 in detail wherein upper arm 12 and lower arm 14 are joined to a vertically disposed support 18.

The stand 10 is removably and pivotally attached to an upright tube of a scaffold delivery pallet by a pivot post, pole or leg 24 and joined to support 18 by plate 26. The support 18 and lower arm 16 are preferably comprised of a single tube wherein the lower arm is an extension of the support.

In this specification, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term“comprising” has the non-exclusive meaning of the word, in the sense of “including at least” rather than the exclusive meaning in the sense of “consisting only of”. The same applies with corresponding grammatical changes to other forms of the word such as“comprise”,“comprises” and so on.

It will be apparent that obvious variations or modifications may be made which are in accordance with the spirit of the invention and which are intended to be part of the invention, and any such obvious variations or modifications are therefore within the scope of the invention. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention as disclosed is applicable to any industry that utilises formwork, falsework or scaffolding and is particularly applicable for use in the building and construction industry.