COUPLINGS AND METHOD OF SCAFFOLDING

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a scaffolding system and couplings, which enable a plurality of different scaffolding systems to be combined with traditional scaffolding methods.

BACKGROUND

Scaffolding is used, for example, in the construction industry as a means of providing relatively stable temporary access to an area at height or to provide a raised platform to support workloads at a height above the ground.

The load class of a scaffold will vary dependent on its needs from light duty (typically 0.75kN/m ² ) to heavy duty (typically 3.0kN/m ² and above). Light duty scaffolds are subject to relatively minimal loads and are typically used for maintenance, painting and small repairs with minimal operatives. Heavy duty scaffolds are subject to relatively large loads and are typically used to carry formwork, structures and heavy material with heavy construction traffic and a larger number of operatives.

Due to its versatility, cost, speed and ease of erection, scaffolding is the preferred means of access within the construction industry as opposed to Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs). However, due to advances in technology and more accurate health and safety records, Health and Safety Executives (HSEs) are now increasingly recommending the use of MEWPs. However, MEWPs are significantly more expensive to both install and use compared to scaffolds.

Additionally, regulatory bodies, such as the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) are setting higher standards in order to improve safety in the industry and therefore there is regulatory pressure in the industry to both maintain and improve safety. In general, there are two methods of building a scaffold. First, there is the traditional tube and fitting and, secondly, there are proprietary system methods.

Tube and fitting scaffolds are constructed from tubes and couplers to erect working platforms adjacent to the working surface.

Proprietary system scaffolding is quicker to erect. In many countries, such as, for example, USA and Canada, the proprietary systems are becoming the preferred method of scaffolding over the traditional methods, because of their better safety records. However, the proprietary systems are relatively expensive and undesirably have bays of a fixed size. Scaffolding having bays of a fixed size are disadvantageous because in practice the ground on which the scaffold is erected will usually be uneven and often have holes which may occur where part of the scaffold makes contact with the ground and on which it bears its weight. The fixed sized bays are also restrictive as the erected scaffold may block, for example, doorways and windows. Further, proprietary systems are restricted in maximum lengths of horizontal and vertical components (e.g. 2.4m). Being restricted to shorter vertical standards means the scaffold structure requires a greater number of joints and therefore reduces structural stability. Furthermore, the shorter vertical standards in the proprietary system means that when working at a height where a crane or lift is not present, material can only be passed one lift (i.e. 2m) upwards, whereas material can be passed three lifts (i.e. 6m) upwards when the traditional method is used. Moreover, once a proprietary system scaffold has been erected it cannot easily be altered without the scaffold being dismantled and re-erected.

The traditional tube and fitting method of scaffolding is relatively less expensive. Furthermore, the traditional tube and fitting method enables different lengths of horizontal and vertical components including lengths up to 7m. This enables the erection of different and desired bay sizes within the erected scaffold structure. Therefore, the scaffold structure can be built specifically to accommodate uneven ground, holes in the ground and doorways and windows. This advantageously provides more flexibility and adaptability and requires fewer components when erecting a specified scaffold. Moreover, it is estimated that an operative will handle nearly three times as many tubular components when using a proprietary system compared to the traditional method for the same scaffold structure. Accordingly, there are significant advantages and disadvantages in using either the traditional method or proprietary systems of scaffolding.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a scaffolding system and components and scaffolding methods which enable the advantages and mitigate the disadvantages of both the known proprietary systems and the traditional method and to enable aspects of both scaffolding systems and traditional methods to be used in the same scaffolding structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is described herein and in the claims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a hybrid scaffolding standard member having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises a male connecting portion operable to insert within a female connecting portion of a first adjacent scaffolding member to detachably attach the scaffolding member with the first adjacent scaffolding member.

The second end may comprise a female connecting portion operable to receive a male connecting portion of a second adjacent scaffolding member to detachably attach the scaffolding member with a second adjacent scaffolding member.

The scaffolding member is advantageously detachably attachable to at least one of the first and second adjacent scaffolding members by rotating the scaffolding member relative to the first and second adjacent scaffolding members.

The male connecting portion advantageously comprises at least one portion of increased diameter and the female connecting portion comprises at least one portion of reduced diameter, wherein the, or each, portion of increased diameter is connectively cooperable with one or more portions of reduced diameter of a said female connecting portion of said first adjacent scaffolding member and the or each portion of reduced diameter is connectively cooperable with one or more portions of increased diameter of a said male connecting portion of said second adjacent scaffolding member. The hybrid scaffolding standard member advantageously further comprises a plurality of ledger member connectors extending radially outwards from the external surface of the hybrid scaffolding member and disposed in spaced apart arrangement along the length of the hybrid scaffolding member and a plurality of transom member connectors extending radially outwards from the external surface of the hybrid scaffolding member and disposed in spaced apart arrangement along the length of the hybrid scaffolding member, wherein each ledger member connector is longitudinally disposed relative to an associated transom member connector such that, in use, a hybrid scaffolding transom member and at least one hybrid scaffolding ledger member is connectable to the hybrid scaffolding standard member in a predetermined arrangement which defines a horizontal alignment plane.

The horizontal alignment plane is advantageously defined by the lowest portion of a said connected hybrid scaffolding transom member.

Additionally, or alternatively, the horizontal alignment plane is defined by the highest portion of a said connected hybrid scaffolding ledger member.

The ledger member connectors and the transom member connectors are advantageously circumferentially offset relative to each by a predetermined angle in the range of 0° to 180° around the circumference of the hybrid scaffolding standard member.

More preferably, the ledger member connectors and the transom member connectors are advantageously circumferentially offset relative to each other by 90° around the circumference of the hybrid scaffolding standard member.

Each of the ledger member connectors preferably comprise a male connection member.

Each of the transom member connectors preferably comprise a male connection member.

Each of the ledger member connectors advantageously comprises at least one fixing aperture. Each of the transom member connectors advantageously comprise at least one fixing aperture.

The ledger member connectors and the transom member connectors are preferably welded to the hybrid scaffolding standard member.

The ledger member connectors are preferably disposed along the length of the hybrid scaffolding standard member at intervals of 0.5m.

The transom member connectors are preferably disposed along the length of the hybrid scaffolding standard member at intervals of 0.5m.

Accordingly to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a hybrid scaffolding transom member comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises a first standard member connecter.

The second end may comprise a second standard member connector.

The, or each, standard member connector may comprise a female connection receiver.

The female connection receiver advantageously comprises a fixing aperture.

Each standard member connector is advantageously connectively cooperable with a transom member connector disposed on a hybrid scaffolding standard member to detachably attach the hybrid scaffolding transom member with a said hybrid scaffolding standard member in a predetermined arrangement which defines a horizontal alignment plane.

The horizontal alignment plane is advantageously defined by the lowest portion of a said connected hybrid scaffolding transom member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a hybrid scaffolding ledger member comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises a first standard member connecter. The second end may comprise a second standard member connector.

The, or each, standard member connectors may comprise a female connection receiver.

The female connection receiver advantageously comprises a fixing aperture.

Each standard member connector is advantageously connectively cooperable with a ledger member connector disposed on a hybrid scaffolding standard member to detachably attach the hybrid scaffolding ledger member with a said hybrid scaffolding standard member in a predetermined arrangement which defines a horizontal alignment plane.

The horizontal alignment plane is advantageously defined by the highest portion of a said connected hybrid scaffolding ledger member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a hybrid scaffolding member coupler comprising a first scaffolding member holder for holding a first scaffolding member having a longitudinal axis and a second scaffolding member holder for holding a second scaffolding member having a second longitudinal axis, wherein, in use, the first and second scaffolding member are held such that their longitudinal axis are 90° relative to each other, and wherein each of the first and second scaffolding member holders comprise a collar having a base and a force exerting member, wherein the force exerting member is operable to exert a retaining force along a defined plane to retain the respective first and second scaffolding members in the respective first and second scaffolding member holders, and wherein, in use, the defined plane of the exerted force of the force exerting member of the second scaffolding member holder extends above the longitudinal axis of the first scaffolding member held by the first scaffolding member holder, such that, in use the first scaffolding member positioned in a predetermined arrangement which defines a horizontal alignment plane.

Each of the force exerting members of the first and second scaffolding member holders advantageously comprise a lever having a hinged end and a free end, wherein the free end is operable to move along a threaded guide pin and wherein the lever is locked in a scaffolding member retaining position using a retaining nut disposed on the threaded guide pin.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a hybrid support transom comprising a base portion having first and second ends, the first and second ends each having scaffolding member receivers having openings extending in opposing directions which, in use, each receive a ledger scaffolding member such that the hybrid support transom is supported between therebetween, and at least one scaffolding board receiving slot operable to receive the ends of scaffolding boards such that the scaffolding boards are arranged relative to a horizontal alignment plane.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hybrid scaffolding guardrail comprising a guardrail member and a coupling operable to detachably attach the guardrail member to a scaffolding standard member, wherein the coupling comprises a joint having first and second ball joints arranged, in use, to allow rotation of the guardrail and movement of the guardrail in any direction relative a said scaffolding standard member.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention there is provided a hybrid scaffolding system comprising at least one of: a hybrid scaffolding standard member according to the first aspect of the present invention; a hybrid scaffolding transom member according to the second aspect of the present invention; a hybrid scaffolding ledger member according to the third aspect of the present invention; a hybrid scaffolding member coupler according to the fourth aspect of the present invention; and a hybrid support transom according to the fifth aspect of the present invention.

The transom member connector disposed on the hybrid scaffolding standard member is advantageously detachably attachable with the standard member connector disposed on the hybrid scaffolding transom member by aligning the fixing aperture of the transom connector with the fixing aperture of the standard connector and inserting a wedge through the aligned fixing apertures.

The ledger member connector disposed on the hybrid scaffolding standard member is advantageously detachably attachable with the standard member connector disposed on the hybrid scaffolding ledger member by aligning the fixing aperture of the transom connector with the fixing aperture of the ledger connector and inserting a wedge through the aligned fixing apertures.

It is believed that a scaffolding system and couplings, and method of scaffolding in accordance with the present invention at least addresses the problems outlined above.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations of the present invention are possible and it is intended that the present invention may be used other than as specifically described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

Figure 1 is a schematic drawing showing the various hybrid and scaffolding members and traditional scaffolding members used in the hybrid scaffolding system according to the present invention;

Figure 2A is a perspective view showing male and female connecting portions of a hybrid scaffolding standard member according to the first aspect of the present invention;

Figure 2B is an end view of the male connecting portion of Figure 2A.

Figure 2C is an end view of the female connecting portion of Figure 2A.

Figure 3A is a plan view of showing the arrangement of a hybrid scaffolding transom member and first and second hybrid scaffolding ledger members attached to a hybrid scaffolding standard member according to first, second and third aspects of the present invention;

Figure 3B is a perspective schematic drawing showing the arrangement of Figure 3 A; Figure 4 is a perspective schematic drawing showing the attachment arrangement of hybrid scaffolding ledger member and hybrid scaffolding standard member;

Figure 5 is a drawing showing a hybrid scaffolding member coupler according to a fourth aspect of the present invention;

Figure 6A is a perspective view of a hybrid support transom according to a fifth aspect of the present invention;

Figure 6B is a sectional view of the hybrid support ransom of Figure 6A;

Figure 7 is a drawing showing a hybrid scaffolding guardrail according to a sixth aspect of the present invention;

Figures 8A, 8B and 8C show a perspective view from above, and top and side plan views, respectively, of one pair of ledger member connectors and transom member connectors being disposed along the length of the hybrid scaffolding standard member, and showing further detail of the first, second and third aspects of the present invention;

Figures 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D illustrate a perspective view from below, and front, top and bottom plan views, respectively, of further detail of the standard member connector of Figure 4;

Figures 10A, 10B and 10C show a perspective view from the side, and front and side plan views, respectively, of a wedge that is used with the standard member connector; and

Figure 11 illustrates a perspective view from the side and above of the interconnection of first and second hybrid scaffolding transom members and first and second hybrid scaffolding ledger members to a hybrid scaffolding standard member, and showing further detail of the first, second and third aspects of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a hybrid scaffolding system and method which enables an operative to combine system scaffolding with traditional scaffolding components whilst maintaining correct levels throughout the scaffold structure and improving safety, and thereby providing an improved scaffolding system and method whilst increasing efficiency.

Referring to Figure 1, a hybrid scaffolding system according to the present invention comprises a hybrid scaffolding standard member 12, a hybrid scaffolding transom member 14, and a hybrid scaffolding ledger member 16.

The hybrid scaffolding system may also include traditional scaffolding members such as a traditional ledger 18 and traditional transom 20. Additionally, the hybrid scaffolding system may include a combination of the hybrid and traditional scaffolding members such as the cross hybrid scaffolding ledger member 22. In a similar manner the hybrid scaffolding system may include a cross hybrid scaffolding transom member (not shown), which enables a scaffolding structure to be erected in a birdcage formation.

Referring also to Figures 2A and 2B, each hybrid scaffolding standard member 12 comprises a first end 24 and second end 26.

The first end 24 comprises a male connecting portion 28, which may be in the form of a spigot 30. The spigot 30 has two regions of increased diameter, 32 and 34, which form a defined profile when viewed from the first end 24 along the longitudinal axis of the standard member 12 (see Figure 2A). Although two regions of increased diameter is preferred one or three or more regions may alternatively be used.

Figures 2A and 2B depict the male connecting portion 28 being inserted above the female connecting portion 36 disposed on the opposite, second 26 end of an adjacent hybrid scaffolding standard member 38. In this configuration, the second end 26 of the hybrid scaffolding standard member 12 may have a blank end for topping off a scaffold. Alternatively, the second end 26 can receive a traditional scaffolding sleeve coupler (not shown) for connection to an adjacent hybrid scaffolding standard member 38 or a traditional standard. As described herein, the second end 26 alternatively has a female connecting portion 36, shown in Figure 2 A on an adjacent hybrid scaffolding standard member 38. The female connecting portion 36 comprises two portions of reduced diameter, 40 and 42, such as to match the profile of the male connecting portion 28, as can be seen in Figure 2B which shows the defined profile of the female connecting portion 36 when viewed from the second end 26 along the longitudinal axis of the standard member 12.

In use, the hybrid scaffolding standard member 12 is detachably attachable to an adjacent hybrid scaffolding standard member 38 by aligning the two hybrid scaffolding standard members along their longitudinal axis such that the profile of the male connection portion 28 matches the profile of the female connecting portion 36, inserting the male connecting portion 26 inside the female connecting portion 36, and rotating the hybrid scaffolding standard members relative to each other such that the two regions of increased diameter, 32 and 34, of the inserted male connection portion 28 underlie the two portions of reduced diameter, 40 and 42, of the female connecting portion 36, thereby attaching the two hybrid scaffolding standard members 12, 38 to each other. By inserting hybrid scaffolding standard member 12 into adjacent hybrid scaffolding standard member 38 and twisting the members 12, 38 by 90° locks and aligns all the ledger member connectors 44 and transom member connectors 46 disposed along the length of the standard members 12, 28, as described in further detail in Figures 3A and 3B.

The skilled person will also understand that instead of the male connecting portion 28 being inserted above the female connecting portion 36 disposed on the second 26 end of the adjacent hybrid scaffolding standard member 38, the female connecting portion 36 could be above the male connecting portion 28. In this way, the female connecting portion 36 could receive an adjustable base jack (not shown) for use on uneven ground. Alternatively, other ways of connecting the hybrid scaffolding standard member 12 with an adjacent hybrid scaffolding standard member 38 are possible.

Referring to Figures 1, 3A and 3B, the hybrid scaffolding standard member 12 comprises a plurality of ledger member connectors 44 extending radially outwards from the external surface of the hybrid scaffolding standard member 12 and disposed in spaced apart arrangement along the length of the hybrid scaffolding standard member 12 at 0.5m increments.

The hybrid scaffolding member 12 further comprises a plurality of transom member connectors 46 extending radially outwards from the external surface of the hybrid scaffolding standard member 12 and disposed in spaced apart arrangement along the length of the hybrid scaffolding standard member, wherein each ledger member connector 44 is longitudinally disposed relative to an associated transom member connector 46 such that, in use, at least one hybrid scaffolding transom member 14 and at least one hybrid scaffolding ledger member 16 is connectable to the hybrid scaffolding standard member 12 in a predetermined arrangement which defines a horizontal alignment plane 48. The ledger member connectors 44 and transom member connectors 46 are orientated at 90° to each other, with the centre of the transom connector 46 being spaced apart from the centre of the transom connector 46 by 48.3mm.

The horizontal alignment plane 48 is an important feature of the present invention as it provides a reference which enables system scaffolding components and traditional scaffolding components to be used in the same scaffolding structure given it is to the front and side elevation of the standard member 12 rather than through the face (centre) of member 12.

The horizontal alignment plane 48 is defined by the lowest point of the hybrid scaffolding transom member 14 and the highest point of the hybrid scaffolding ledger member 16, or vice versa.

The ledger member connectors 44 and the transom member connectors 46 comprise male connector members, 50 and 52, respectively, each having at least one fixing aperture. The drawings shows the ledger male connector member 50 having two fixing apertures 58 and 60 and the transom male connector member 52 having two fixing apertures 54 and 56.

The ledger member connectors 44 and the transom member connectors 46 are circumferentially offset relative to each other by an angle of substantially 90° around the circumference of the hybrid scaffolding standard member 12 with connector 46 spaced apart 48.3mm from connector 46.

Referring to Figure 3A the ledger member connectors 44 and transom member connectors 46 enable two hybrid scaffolding ledger members 16a and 16b and two hybrid scaffolding transom members 14a and 14b to be joined.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4, the hybrid scaffolding transom member 14 comprises a first end 62 and a second end 64. In a first embodiment only the first end 62 comprises a standard member connector 66. In an alternative embodiment, the second end 64 also comprises a standard member connector 68.

The, or each, standard member connector, 66 and 68, is in the form of a female connection receiver. The, or each, female connection receiver comprises a fixing aperture positioned such that when the female connection receiver is engaged with the male connection member 52 of the transom member connector 46, the fixing apertures of the both the standard member connector 66 and the transom member connector 46 are aligned and locked in with male wedge 70.

Referring to Figure 4, with the transom member connector 46 and the standard member connector 66 engaged a wedge 70 is inserted through the aligned fixing apertures to attach the hybrid scaffolding transom member 14 with the hybrid scaffolding standard member 12.

Similarly, the hybrid scaffolding ledger member 16 and 22 comprises a first end 72 and a second end 74. In a first embodiment only the first end 72 comprises a standard member connector 76, as referred to in 22. In an alternative embodiment, the second end 74 also comprises a standard member connector 78, as referred to in 16.

The, or each, standard member connector, 76 and 78, is in the form of a female connection receiver. The, or each, female connection receiver comprises a fixing aperture positioned such that when the female connection receiver is engaged with the male connection member 50 of the ledger member connector 44, the fixing apertures of the both the standard member connector 76 and the ledger member connector 44 are aligned. Referring again to Figure 4, the hybrid scaffolding ledger member 16 is attached to the hybrid scaffolding standard member 12 in the same manner as described with reference to the attachment hybrid scaffolding 14 above, with reference to Figure 4.

In use, the hybrid scaffolding ledger member 16 may also include an indent or indicia (not shown in Figure 1) every 2m to indicate a node point for receiving vertical traditional standards.

Referring to Figure 5, according to another aspect of the present invention a hybrid scaffolding member coupler 100 comprises a first scaffolding member holder 102 and a second scaffolding member holder 104. The hybrid scaffolding member coupler 100 enables traditional scaffolding members (i.e., traditional standards, transoms and ledgers) to be used in the same scaffolding structures as system couplings as shown in Figures 1 to 4 and described above creating a stronger connection at every node point due to a load bearing fitting being used, rather than single couplers with no slip resistance or load bearing capacity.

The first scaffolding member holder 102 is operable to hold a scaffolding transom member 114 and the second scaffolding member holder 104 is operable to hold a scaffolding standard member 112, such that the scaffolding transom member 114 and the scaffolding standard member 112 are attached and coupled to each other. The scaffolding transom member 114 has a longitudinal axis 106 and the scaffolding standard member 112 has a longitudinal axis 108.

Couplers 100 are required for scaffolding to turn around comers. They can also be used at internal node points to make a stronger load bearing connection.

The first scaffolding member holder 102 comprise a collar having a base 110 and a force exerting member in the form of a lever 116 having a hinged end 118 and a free end 120. A threaded pin 122 extends from the base 110. The free end 120 of the lever 116 is free to travel along the threaded pin 122 to, in use, exert a force onto the scaffolding transom member 114 to hold the scaffolding transom member 114 in the hybrid scaffolding member coupler 100. The lever 116 is retained in a holding position using a retaining nut 124 engaged with the threaded pin 122. It is also possible to replace the retaining nut 124 with a threaded fastener (not shown) that engages with an internal thread (not shown) in pin 122 in order to prevent snagging hazards caused by pin 122 which can often protrude clear of the coupler 100.

In Figure 5, the second scaffolding member 104 is partially hidden. However, it can be noted that a base 126, a threaded pin 128 extending from the base, a lever 130 having a free end 132 free to travel along the threaded pin 128, and a retaining nut 134 which engages with the threaded pin 128 to retain the lever 130 in a holding position to hold the scaffolding standard member 112 in the hybrid scaffolding member coupler 100.

It can be noted that the plane of the force exerted by the lever 130 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 134 of threaded pin 128, extends above the longitudinal axis 106 by 24.15mm of the scaffolding transom member 114 held in the first scaffolding member holder 102. This enables the scaffolding transom member 114 to be positioned in a predetermined arrangement which maintains the same horizontal alignment plane 48, as also defined for the system couplings shown in Figures 1 to 4 and described above. The skilled person will appreciate that coupler 100 can be used in conjunction with identical couplers 100 and/or with traditional tube and fitting couplers (not shown).

As described above, the hybrid scaffolding member coupler 100 can be used to couple a transom member 114 with a standard member 112 and maintain the required horizontal alignment plane 48 in accordance with the present invention.

A standard traditional coupler 136 can be used in conjunction with the hybrid scaffolding member coupler 100 to couple a ledger member 138 and maintain the required horizontal alignment plane 48.

Referring to Figures 6A and 6B, a hybrid support transom 200 comprises a base portion 202 having a first end 204 and a second end 206. Each end 204 and 206 has a scaffolding member receiver, 208 and 210, respectively.

The hybrid support transom 200 further comprises opposing scaffolding board receiving slots 212 and 214, extending across the width of the hybrid support transom 200. In use, the hybrid support transom 200 is disposed between two fixed ledger scaffolding members 216 and 218 and rotated such that the ledger scaffolding members are received within the scaffolding member receivers 208 and 210, respectively, and the hybrid support transom 200 is supported between the two fixed ledger scaffolding members 216 and 218 and tightened in place with a collar and pin fixture (not shown).

The ends of scaffolding boards 220 are then placed in the scaffolding board receiving slots 212 and 214 of adjacent hybrid support transoms 200 and supported therebetween to provide a supported work platform relative to the horizontal plane 48, as described above. This reduces or obviates altogether the need for board clips and prevents trap ends and/or warping at the ends which is a trip hazard.

Referring to Figure 7, a scaffolding guardrail 300 comprises a guardrail member 302 and a guardrail coupling 304 for detachably attaching the guardrail member 302 to a scaffolding standard member 312. Coupling 304 has the same structure as the female connector 66 shown in Figure 4 with a wedge 70 which can be secured with one hammer blow.

The guardrail coupling 304 comprises a joint 306 having a first ball joint 308 and a second ball joint 310. The first and second ball joints, 308 and 310, allow rotation of the guardrail member 302 around its own axis and in any other direction.

In use, the scaffolding guardrail 300 allows an operative to provide for required topping out angles and to obtain a twist for Van Theil connections. The advanced handrail is hooked into a connector on a system standard.

Figure 8 illustrates further detail of one pair of ledger member connectors 44 and transom member connectors 46 being disposed along the length of the hybrid scaffolding standard member 12. In this preferred embodiment, the ledger male connector member 50 having two fixing apertures 58 and 60 and the transom male connector member 52 having two fixing apertures 54 and 56. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the apertures 54, 56 and 58, 60 being provided as elongate slots in a direction that is generally parallel to a tangent of the radius of the hybrid scaffolding standard member 12.

Figure 8 shows that the ledger member connectors 44 and transom member connectors 46 each having sloping inward side walls 140 and an arcuate cut-out 142 that enable another scaffolding member, such as a hybrid scaffolding standard member 12 or vertical traditional standards to abut thereagainst in a spaced-apart configuration in the arcuate quadrant formed by the two orthogonally positioned arcuate cut-outs 142, as best shown in Figure 8B.

To provide additional load-bearing support, a support bracket 144 is provided at the underside of the ledger member connectors 44 and transom member connectors 46, as best shown in Figure 8C.

To limit lateral movement of the standard member connector 66, 68 when it is engaged with the male connection member 52 of the transom member connector 46, and the standard member connector 76, 78 when it is engaged with the male connection member 50 of the ledger member connector 44 and locked in with the wedge 70, a recessed section 146 can be provided on the upper surfaces of the male connector members 50, 52 around the slotted apertures 54, 56 and 58, 60, respectively. This being shown as a dashed line 146 in Figures 8B and 11.

Figure 9 illustrates further detail of the standard member connector 66, 76 disposed at the first ends 62, 72 of the hybrid scaffolding transom member 14 or hybrid scaffolding ledger member 16, respectively. As described herein, a standard member connector 68, 78 can also be formed at the opposite, second end 64, 74 of the hybrid scaffolding transom member 14 or hybrid scaffolding ledger member 16, but this is not shown in Figure 9 for reasons of clarity.

In a preferred embodiment, the standard member connector 66, 76 is formed or defined as a V-shape when in plan view from above (Figure 9D) or below (Figure 9c) and having a distal end which tapers to a truncated apex. The standard member connector 66, 76 having two projections 148a, 148b which define a slot 150 therebetween along the diameter of the hybrid scaffolding transom member 14 or hybrid scaffolding ledger member 16. It is through this slot 150 that the generally flat male connector members 50, 52 can be received (as shown in Figures 4 and 11).

Running perpendicular to the slot 150 formed between the two projections 148a, 148b, and generally in line with the hybrid scaffolding standard member 12 to which it is connected, is a channel 152 which is dimensioned to receive the wedge 70. The channel 152 being formed from a first slotted aperture 154 on projection 148a to a second aperture 156 on projection 148b.

As will be evident from Figures 8 to 11, when connecting the connector 66, 76 to the male connector members 50, 52, the user simply aligns the slot 150 to the male connector members 50, 52. The connector 66, 76 is then secured in place by tapping the top of the wedge 70 with a hammer so that it drops down across the two projections 148a, 148b through the first slotted aperture 154 on projection 148a and a second aperture 156 on projection 148b. To release the wedge 70, when dismantling the scaffolding, a user simply taps the underside of the wedge 70 with a hammer to release it.

Figure 10 shows further detail of the wedge 70 that is used with the standard member connector 66, 76. To ensure that the wedge 70 cannot fall or become detached or misplaced, it includes a detent 158 which is situated generally towards the bottom of the wedge 70 to keep it in place. The skilled person will appreciate that the first slotted aperture 154 running through projection 148a is narrower in width than the corresponding second slotted aperture 156 running through projection 148b. The bottom detent 158 is able to pass through slot 156 running through projection 148b, but is not able to pass through the slot 154 running through projection 148a.

In a preferred embodiment, the wedge 70 shown in Figure 10 also includes a cut-out 160 which, when the wedge 70 is fully engaged, enables the crosswise hybrid scaffolding transom and ledger members 14, 16 or traditional scaffolding members, such as a traditional ledger 18 and/or traditional transom 20 to abut against each other, or to hybrid scaffolding standard member 12.

Figure 11 illustrates the interconnection of first and second hybrid scaffolding transom members 14a, 14b and first and second hybrid scaffolding ledger members 16a, 16b to a short cutaway section of hybrid scaffolding standard member 12. In the drawing of Figure 11, the wedges 70 are not fully engaged inside the slots 154 for reasons of clarity. The skilled person will understand that the wedge 70 can also include one or more alignment features to facilitate its insertion, and removal, into the channel 152 on the standard member connector 66, 76.

As described above, a scaffolding system and couplings and method of scaffolding, according to the present invention, enables a safe scaffold to be erected relatively quickly and at a relatively low-cost using components and methods from both system scaffolding and traditional scaffolding.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components. The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes” and/or “including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, separately, or in any combination of such features, can be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

The invention is not intended to be limited to the details of the embodiments described herein, which are described by way of example only. It will be understood that features described in relation to any particular embodiment can be features in combination with other embodiments. It is contemplated by the inventor that various substitutions, alterations and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.