FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the building construction industry and in particular to cantilevered loading platforms that allow the loading of building materials in between constructed flows of a building under construction or refurbishment 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

In this specification unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.

During the construction of a multi level building, there is a need to facilitate the supply and removal of building materials to and from each level of the building. Due to the volume, weight and size, the building material is typically delivered to each level using an on site tower crane which picks up the material and places it on a loading platform that is secured to the end of a level of the building. The materials delivered can then be used in the construction of each level. Similarly material to be removed is placed on the loading platform and removed by the tower crane. The material can then be moved to a desired location by the tower crane.

One prior art method includes the construction of a platform which protrudes from a level of a building on two large steel beams. A platform is placed in between the beams and the weight of the platform is supported by the beams. While this method generally provides a cheap solution it has large limitations.

The first major limitation is that the steel beams are heavy which makes the weight of the decks about 3tonnes. This limits the distance from the crane where they can be installed. This is because as a tower crane's capacity is reduced the further the distance a load is taken from the cranes centre. This also reduces the capacity of the load put onto the platform as the weight of the platform plus the load is transmitted onto the building structure. The second major limitation is that the platforms cannot be located directly above one another as a platform below another platform is inaccessible to lowering loads onto with the tower crane. Therefore the platforms are staggered about the building which means the builder must leave staggered penetrations in the protective scaffold around the job. This also means a crane operator, who may not be in view of the platform he is working on, must remember where each platform on each floor is located. The large size of the platforms also makes them difficult to transport, store and move around. To overcome the staggered platform scenario described above a platform which rolls back inside itself and into the building was developed. This allowed a platform to be fixed to a floor of the building. An inside portion of the platform would remain fixed and secured to the inside of the building with an extendable portion of the platform being rolled outside the building to allow the loading of materials thereon. When not required, the extendable portion can be rolled in allowing delivery of materials to other floors of the building without causing an obstruction.

There are still disadvantages with the extendable platform. Each platform is still extremely heavy weighing about 3 tonnes and each platform must be installed as a single unit on each floor which increases costs and the number of complete platforms required.

The prior art platforms also require large capacity tower cranes on building sites to allow the lifting of the heavy platforms. Large capacity cranes are expensive and there is a need at some sites to use smaller more cost effective cranes.

Within this specification the terms inboard and outboard are used with reference to a building as follows. Items that are designated as inboard are disposed, when in use, within the perimeter of the relevant floor or level of the building. Items that are designated as outboard project from the building when in use and are disposed outside of that perimeter. The terms are also used to designate the relevant position of items at a point in time. Such items may be movable between an inboard position and an outboard position.

It is an object of the present invention in its preferred embodiment to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a loading platform for use on a building, the platform including: a first portion that is securely attachable to a level of the building; and a second portion that is securely attachable to the first portion, the second portion having a substantially horizontal support surface that extends across an edge of the floor for supporting a load.

Preferably the first portion is substantially inboard. More preferably the second portion is substantially outboard.

Preferably the first portion is selectively detachable and reattachable to the level of a building. Preferably the second portion is selectively detachable and reattachable to the first portion.

Preferably the second portion is adapted to support a load that includes building materials.

Preferably the building includes a plurality of levels.

Preferably the first portion is secured to the floor of the selected level.

Preferably the first portion is secured to the roof of the selected level.

Preferably the first portion is secured to the floor and roof of the selected level.

Preferably the second portion includes a truss structure that supports the load.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a building having a plurality of levels, the building including: a plurality of first portions of a loading support platform securely attached respectively to each of the plurality of levels; at least one second portion of the support platform that is securely attachable to at least one of the second portions, the second portion having a substantially horizontal support surface that extends across an edge of the floor for supporting a load.

Preferably the second portion is selectively detachable and reattachable to a selected one of the first portions.

Preferably the second portion is adapted to support a load that includes building materials.

Preferably each respective first portion is secured to the respective floor of each respective level.

Preferably each respective first portion is secured to the respective roof of each respective level.

Preferably each first portion is secured to the respective floor and roof of each respective level.

Preferably each second portion includes a truss structure that supports the load.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing a loading support platform for use on a building, the method including the step of: providing a first portion that is securely attachable to a floor of the building; and providing a second portion that is securely attachable to the first portion, the second portion having a substantially horizontal support surface that extends across an edge of the floor for supporting a load.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

Figure lis a side view of a loading platform according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of a loading platform according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a side view of a loading platform according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a cut away top view of the loading platform of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side view of the loading platform of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a section view of the loading platform of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a close up view of a section of the loading platform of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is another section view of the loading platform of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a view of the connection of the inboard and outboard portions shown at different degrees of rotation; and

Figure 10 shows portions of the loading platform of Figure 5;

Figure 11 shows various strut or prop arrangements according to the invention;

Figure 12 shows a cutting schedule according to the invention;

Figures 13a - g show an animation of the loading platform;

Figure 14 shows a view of a platform according to the invention; and

Figure 15a - L show an animation of the engagement and disengagement of the outboard and inboard according to the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a side view of a construction site having a building 101 under construction. The building includes a plurality of building levels 102, 103 and 104. Level 102 is ground level and can be accessed from the ground or street level.

Levels 103 and 104 are raised off the ground and cannot be easily accessed for the supply and removal of building materials. Accordingly, the preferred embodiment of the invention provides access to supply and remove building materials from each level.

The preferred embodiment of the invention provides a loading platform 105 for use on the levels of the building. The platform includes a first inboard portion 106a that is securely attachable to any of the levels of the building. It is preferred that each level of the building includes a respective first inboard portion as shown in Figure 1 where inboards 106b and 106c are attached to levels 103 and 102 respectively.

A second outboard portion 107a is securely attachable to any of the first inboard portions. In Figure 1 the outboard portion 107a is shown securely attached to inboard portion 106a. The outboard portion 107a has a substantially horizontal support surface 108 that extends across an edge of the floor 104 for supporting a load that is placed on the support surface 108.

As would be understood the first inboard portion is substantially disposed within the perimeter of the relevant floor on which it is placed or installed. That is, it does not protrude in any significant way outside the perimeter of the floor on which it is installed and as such does not inhibit the movement of building materials or the operation of cranes in any manner.

The second outboard portions project from the building when in use and are disposed outside of the perimeter of the relevant floor. In this way building materials are able to be delivered to and disposed on from the second outboard portions.

The first portions 106a, 106b and 106c are selectively detachable and reattachable to the level of a building. That is, they can be installed on all required levels of the building and can be removed when required or when the necessary construction or building on the relevant floor is completed. In some instances the inboard portions are moved and installed on a new floor once work on a completed floor has been completed so as to minimise the number of inboard portions required. In some embodiments the inboard portions are installed at different ends on each different level.

As would be understood the second outboard portion 107a is selectively detachable and reattachable to any of the inboard portions 106a, 106b and 106c. The building site may include a plurality of second portions similar or the same as 107a and each one may be installed simultaneously on a respective inboard portion if desired, although this would limit the delivery and removal of building materials and it is preferable that only one outboard portion be attached to an inboard portion in any one working area. This ensures that materials can be removed and delivered easily. The outboard portion 107a is adapted to support any desired and suitable load. Under normal conditions the load includes building materials such as tools, equipment, bricks, cement, woodwork, rubble and the like. It would be understood that the load can be any suitable load that needs to be delivered or removed from the floor.

It would be understood that embodiments of the invention can be used on buildings including any number of levels.

The inboard portions 106a, 106b and 106c are secured to the each level such that they will not move under normal loading conditions of the inboard or attached outboard portions. In securing the inboard portion any suitable securing means can be used. It is preferable that the inboard portions are secured using one or more extendable struts that are connected on either end and on both sides of the inboard. The struts are preferably telescopically extendable and are extended once the inboard is in place. The struts secure the inboard portion to the level of the building on which it is placed. That is, the strut secures the inboard to the floor and ceiling of the level on which it is installed. In other words, the strut secured the inboard between two levels or "floors" of a building under construction.

In other embodiments the inboard can be secured by bolts or other means to the floor and/or ceiling/roof of each level.

Figure 2 shows a level 200 of a multi level building under construction. Inboard portion 201 is installed and secured to one end 202 of level 200. Outboard portion 203 is secured to inboard portion 201. The inboard portion is secured to the level by means of pairs of struts 204 and 205. It would be understood that the pair of struts 204 and 205 each have a strut installed on either side of the inboard portion however only one side can be seen in Figure 2. That is, four struts are used to secure the inboard to the level. It would be understood that the struts can be positioned as necessary on the inboard portion. In some embodiments the struts are fixedly connected to the inboard and their position cannot be changed relative to the inboard. As would be understood, when the inboard portion 201 is to be removed, possible to be moved to another level or at the completion of the constructions the struts are simply moved into the unextended position which allows the struts to be removed or at least allows the inboard portion to be moved or removed.

In some embodiments aspects of the invention include rubbish or debris chutes are attached temporarily or permanently to the inboard or outboard portions so as to aid the removal of some debris or rubbish.

It is preferred that the cantilevered loading platforms according to the invention are constructed from steel although other suitable material may be used. Embodiments of the invention facilitate the loading of building materials in between the constructed floors of a building under construction or refurbishment where the crane cannot access. Platforms according to the invention are preferably installed with an on site tower crane. Preferred embodiments of platforms according to the invention have main structural members of a truss type design instead of a universal beam. The truss design gives the tension strength required with much lighter materials which reduces the total deck self weight. The outboard is removable from the section which is inside the building known as the inboard. This way the outboard deck can be located on which ever floor is desired so long as an inboard section is located there. In the preferred embodiment the platform is broken down in 6 manageable components making it easy to store and transport. As such, it is preferable that the first inboard portion and the second outboard portion include a truss structure that supports the load.

It would be understood that aspects of the invention extend to a building having a plurality of levels. The building can have a plurality of first portions of a loading support platform securely attached respectively to each of the plurality of levels. At least one second portion of the support platform is securely attachable to at least one of the second portions, the second portion having a substantially horizontal support surface that extends across an edge of the floor for supporting a load. As would be understood, the second portion is selectively detachable and reattachable to a selected one of the first portions.

A further embodiment of the invention provides a method of providing a loading support platform for use on a building, the method including the step of: providing a first portion that is securely attachable to a floor of the building; and providing a second portion that is securely attachable to the first portion, the second portion having a substantially horizontal support surface that extends across an edge of the floor for supporting a load.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of a loading platform secured to a level 301 of a building under construction. Inboard portion 303 is secured to the level 301 using strut pairs 304 and 305 which can be telescopically extended to secure the inboard portion between the ceiling and floor of level 301. In this embodiment the outboard portion 303 extends past the perimeter 306 of the level 301 by 1.2 metres. In some embodiments the inboard does not extend past the perimeter. As can be seem from the Figure, the total length of the inboard portion is 4.8m with the portion inside the perimeter of the building being 3.6 metres. As would be understood these lengths can be amended as required.

Outboard portion 302 is securely attached to the inboard portion 303 and provides a secure and level platform on which to load or remove building material. In this embodiment the length of the outboard portion is 3 metres and the thickness of the platform itself is 200 millimetres.

Figure 4 shows a top view of the loading platform of Figure 3 where the ceiling 401 has been cut away.

Figure 5 shows a side view of the loading platform of Figure 3. As can be seen, the outboard portion 302 includes a floor 401 upon which a load can be placed. Similarly inboard portion 303 includes a floor 402 upon which a load can be placed. Railing 403 and 404 extends above the respective floors 401 and can be used by a person on standing or walking along the platform. The railing 403 and 404 is also part of a truss structure which provides strength to the platform. The truss structure used is Pratt truss design that uses vertical beams for compression and horizontal beams to respond to tension. As can be seen, the truss includes vertical parts 405a, 405b, 405c, 405d, 405e, 405f and 405g. The horizontal beams include the railing 403, 404 and floors 401 and 402. Strut sections 406a, 406b, 406c, 406d, 406e and 406f extend between the floor and rail to form the required triangular truss.

Figure 7 is a close up view of the attachment of the outboard in inboard portions. The outboard portion includes male lugs 701 and the inboard includes engagable female lugs into which the male lugs engage. A locking pin 703 locks the outboard and inboard lugs together.

Figure 9 is a view of the connection of the inboard and outboard portions shown at different degrees of rotation.

Figure 10 shows portions of the loading platform of Figure 5.

Figure 11 shows various strut or prop arrangements that securely attach the inboard portion to the required level.

Figure 12 shows a cutting schedule for an embodiment of the invention.

Figures 13a - g show an animation of the outboard portion disengaging from the inboard portion.

Figure 14 shows a further view of a platform according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figures 15a - L show an animation of the engagement and disengagement of the outboard and inboard. This shows the engagement and disengagement of the respective male and female portions.

In use, a system according to the invention works by having an inboard deck on each floor where materials are to be delivered or removed. An Inboard deck consists of 2 structural truss frames standing vertically, running perpendicular to the edge of the building, parallel to each other and 2.4m apart. Each of these is held into position via 2 props located at the innermost end. These two sections will be 4.8m long and protrude from the building by 1.2m (the width of one bay of scaffold) and therefore have a 3.6m inboard measurement. These frames are connected at the bottom of the protruding section by a floor plate. They will also have gates to prevent falling from the floor when an outboard deck is not in place. The top of the trusses has a female lug arrangement on the outermost point.

When it is necessary to load or remove materials from a particular floor the outboard deck attachment must be fitted. The outboard deck consists of 2 truss frames for the sides, 3m long standing vertically, parallel and 2.4m apart. They are connected by a floor section and the deck also has gates fitted to it. It is assembled and maintained as one unit. The sides have a male lug attachment protruding from them which engage the female lugs on the inboard deck. The outboard deck is connected to the crane and lifted to which ever floor is required. The crane operator or dogman is standing on the inboard floor plate inside the safety gates he/she then lowers the outboard deck until the male connectors on the outboard engage the female connectors on the inboard. A pin is inserted on each side to connect the lugs. The crane is lowered and the outboard deck is suspended via the pins connecting it to the inboard deck. The crane operator or dogman can then open the gates and commence working from the outboard deck.

Other Advantages of the embodiments of the invention are that the components can be modular thus making it easier to change the size of the deck required. Typically several sizes such as 2.4m or 3m in length are available in the building industry however each one is a whole separate unit. Embodiments according to the invention are adapted so that to change the overall dimensions of the platform only 2 or 3 of the 6 main components will need to be swapped. That is, the outboard may be supplied in a plurality of sections each being mutually engagable with each other and at least one being engagable with the inboard portion. One portion may also be designated as an end section which includes a gate, loading zone or the like. As such, the number of middle sections can be varied and increased and decreased according to the required outboard length. As such the outboard will be extended out with the required number of sections, preferably middle sections, until the required length is reached. A further advantage is that other protruding attachments can be added to the inboard section as opposed to a deck. A large rubbish bin for example or even a crane attachment that could access materials on an outboard deck on a floor below.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.