This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making a floor or walkway for providing a temporary working surface for building or decorating or other operations. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable for use by plasterers, painters and decorators for providing a "false floor" somewhat raised with respect to the normal floor of a room in a building, in order to facilitate work on the ceiling and/or upper portions of the walls of the room. The invention has many other applications, as disclosed herein.

There has been a requirement in the building industry for a long time for a means of providing secure false flooring to allow ceiling and wall treatment within a building at heights beyond the normal reach of a person, or otherwise at uncomfortable levels.

For working on ceilings, previous techniques adopted by painters and decorators, plasterers and the like include the use of beer crates or any other readily available movable structure which is strong enough for the purpose, with scaffolding planks extending between these supports to provide the "false floor".

Such a false floor is obviously unstable since the planks are supported at various heights, are not fixed, and are inclined to move during work. Moreover, the planks are unduly springy and flexible, which is disconcerting for the novice. A plasterer has to "set" a floor in accordance with his own usual working pattern and memorise this in order to avoid stumbling between the planks when working.

Other previously used systems include planks layed between chairs or between step ladders or stools. In all these cases working on a platform so-supported is a balancing act at best.

As regards support structures providing working surfaces for use in relation to external walls, previous

proposals include the use of. scaffolding constructed in stages with scaffolding planks used as the base floor before fabrication of the next stage. The headroom between successive stages must be sufficient to allow the free passage of persons of varying height, while still allowing enough of the working face of the wall to be accessible. The top two or three feet of the available surface of the wall in any one stage can only be treated or worked-on if the workman raises his arms above shoulder height or else uses unsecured ladders or stools which are potentially dangerous.

Thus, we have identified a requirement for improved means, preferably providing a simple and effective yet cheap and safe temporary working surface for building or decorating or other purposes, or providing improvements in relation to one or more of these factors or others disclosed herein, or generally.

According to the invention there is provided a method of making a floor or walkway for providing a temporary working surface for building or decorating or other purposes, as defined in the accompanying claims. The invention also provides corresponding apparatus for the same purpose.

In a preferred embodiment, a method of making a floor or walkway for providing a temporary working surface for building or decorating or other purposes comprises the step of providing support means to support plank means at spaced locations on the plank means. At least one plank means is mounted on the support means in a generally horizontal attitude to provide a working surface, and at least one further plank means is caused to co-operate with the first plank means in a generally T-shaped structure in which the further plank means provides vertical stiffness to support loads, for example the weight of a person, placed on the first plank means.

In the embodiment, the plank means are mounted in

generally T-shaped slot means defined by the support means, whereby the plank means are thereby held in said generally T-shaped co-operative configuration.

Also in the preferred embodiment, the generally T- shaped slot means includes not only structure below the plank means, but structure above it to hold the plank means in the co-operative configuration, and the method further comprises the step of causing a load placed on the assembly to cause the structure above the plank means to clamp the upper plank means of said T-shaped structure onto the lower one thereof in said co-operative engagement.

A preferred embodiment further includes the step of making two such support structures and arranging same in generally parallel relationship and forming a floor or partial floor therewith by assembling a series of planks laterally across said two support structures in approximately mutually parallel relationship.

In a preferred embodiment of corresponding apparatus, the support structure defines a generally T-shaped slot means to receive the planks means. The support structure is provided with support leg means and the arrangement is such that the support structure can adopt a working position in which the support structure is tilted with respect to the vertical whereby the part of said support structure above the plank means effects a clamping action between the two plank means forming the elements of the T- shaped structure. The support structure may be adapted to be height-adjustably received on the support leg means. ^'

In another preferred embodiment the support means is in the form of a free-standing structure such as a box or the like formed with structure defining the slot means. The free standing structure is height-adjustable by being formed for stacking co-operation with one or more further such structures.

In a still further preferred embodiment, the individual separate plank means extend through a generally

T-shaped hole in the support means, which is generally in the form of a cradle, and is a loose fit on the planks. The support means has legs and the assembly tends to lean inwards or outwards so as to tighten on the two planks. This inclination adds stability by increasing the clamping effect between the two planks while still resisting downward loads. The greater the loads, the tighter the clamping. Assembly is easily effected, and the size of the planks can vary considerably, variations being taken up by the variable inclination.

In this embodiment, the legs supporting the cradle¬ like support means are adjustable in height. This permits use of the assembly on stairs and uneven ground. The support means is formed as a metal casting or fabrication. The leg may be provided with wheel means to facilitate position adjustment.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-

Fig 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment;

Figs 2, 3 and 4 show elevation views of a support leg assembly and support means, and the two assembled together, respectively;

Figs 5 and 6 illustrate two alternative modes of use of the assembly of Fig 1, Fig 5 corresponding to the Fig 1 position and Fig 6 to an alternative position;

Fig 7 shows the assembly of Fig 1 used in association with another similar assembly and a series of planks to form a temporary working surface;

Figs 8 and 9 show vertical sections through a second embodiment in its extended, maximum-height, working position and in its nested non-working position respectively; and

Fig 10 shows ^' a plan view of the top unit providing support means of the assembly in Fig 8, the direction of viewing being indicated by arrow X in Fig 8-.

As shown in Figs 1 to 5, apparatus 10 for making a floor or walkway 12 for providing a temporary working surface 14 for building or decorating or other purposes comprises a support structure 16 for use with another such support structure 18 to support a first plank means 20 at the spaced locations of the support means 16 and 18.

The support structures 16 and 18 are adapted to receive the first plank means 20 in association with a further or second plank means 22, with which the first plank means 20 co-operates, in a generally T-shaped structure 24, best seen at the left hand end of Fig 1, and at the central portion of the plank means at which they have been shown, for illustration purposes, partly cut away. In this generally T-shaped structure the second or further plank 22 provides vertical stiffness to support loads, for example the weight of a person, placed on the first plank means 20, and thus carried on the surface 14.

The support means 16 and 18 are each in the form of a fabrication of mild steel defining a generally T-shaped slot means 26 to receive the plank means 20, 22. Each of the support structures 16 and 18 is adapted to be height- adjustably received on its own support leg means 28, which is likewise a fabrication of mild steel.

Looking now at the detailed form of the support structures 16 and 18, which are identically constructed, and their support leg means 28, likewise identically constructed, it will be seen from Figs 1 to 4 that these steel fabrications comprise an assembly in which tubular side members 30, 32 of the support structures are slidably received on the uprights 34, 36 of the support leg assembly, these side members being apertured at spaced positions 38 to receive pegs 40 retained by chains 42 for insertion through corresponding apertures 44 in side members 30, 32.

The T-shaped slot 26 is defined by a top bar 46, which is linear, and two side bars 48, 50, which are generally L-

shaped and secured to a bottom bar 52. The whole assembly is secured together by welds 54 at all joints so as to form an extremely strong and rigid structure.

The uprights 34, 36 of the support leg means 28 have a linking base or foot 54, to which they are likewise welded to form a corresponding rigid structure. The base has the slightly upwardly-bowed shape seen in Figs 1, 2 and 4 in order to rest predominantly in the region of its ends on hard ground, while being able to readily sink somewhat in less firm ground, which promotes its mode of action, as described below.

The mode of use is illustrated in Figs 1 and 7. The plank means 20, 22 are in the form of conventional builders' wooden planks and are inserted into the slot 26 by simple endwise insertion, which is readily carried out. The two support structures 16 and 18 and their associated support legs 28 are provided, one at each end of the T- shaped plank assembly, as shown in Figs 1 and 7. As can be seen, the legs 28 slope or tilt inwardly as shown in Figs 1 and 5, but equally they may slope outwardly as indicated in Fig 6. In either mode of assembly, the more the downward loads indicated at 56 are applied to the assembly, the more the legs 28 tends to tilt inwards or outwards as indicated at 58, and thus the more that the structure defining the T- shaped slot 26 clamps the two planks together, particularly the structure constituted by the top bar 46 and the bottom bar 52.

Fig 7 shows the mode of constructing a temporary working surface 60 in which of the assemblies 62 shown in Fig 1 are provided (but shown in Fig 7 with their support leg structures 28 tilting outwardly). The floor or partial floor is formed thereon by assembling a series of planks 64 laterally across the assemblies 62 in mutually parallel relationship. Any suitable number of plank 64 may be employed to produce a complete floor 60 of any desired size within the limits permitted by the assemblies 62.

In the embodiment of Figs 8, 9 and 10 the support means 70 for the plank means (not shown) is in the form of a free-standing structure, in this case in the form of a moulded generally bucket-shaped article formed in a plastics material. This free-standing structure is height- adjustable by being formed for stacking co-operation with a series of other generally bucket-shaped support members 72, 74 and 76.

Support means or member 70 is formed with slots 78 defining a cross in order to receive the upright plank means. Likewise, the top surface of the support member 70 is moulded with bosses 80 defining a slot 82 to receive the horizontal plank means which co-operates with the vertical plank means. In this way, the two plank means co-operate to provide a working surface and resistance against bending, though without the co-operative clamping effect of the preceding embodiment. The assembly can be mounted at any suitable desired height, in the manner illustrated in Fig 8.

Fig 9 shows the nested arrangement of the structure whereby it is extremely compact in its stored configuration, which likewise is of benefit for transport purposes.

Figs 8 and 9 show details of the inter-fitting rib and slot arrangement provided on the stacking structure illustrated, this comprising ribs 84 and corresponding slots 86.

Interestingly, in the above embodiments, there has been disclosed apparatus whereby a floor or walkway can be readily constructed from readily available planking materials using simple and easily-assembled structures for mounting same. A floor or walkway, and a corresponding temporary working surface can be constructed at a variety of chosen working heights. The instability inherent in previously proposed arrangements is avoided. Transportation of the apparatus is relatively simple and

the apparatus is not particularly space-consuming. Considerable advantages accrue for builders, painters, decorators and others.

Amongst other modifications which could be made in the above embodiments, while remaining within the scope of the invention are the following. Firstly, it would be possible to provide a specially formed plank means in which the horizontal and vertical plank components are formed integrally or otherwise secured together to form a one- piece structure. This one-piece structure could be provided with two or more uprights if the support means were suitably modified. The floor or walkway could be used as a temporary walkway extending between two temporary buildings for example. The support means 16 and 18 of Fig 1 could be used on their own, without the leg means 28, and resting on the ground, though of course without the height- adjustment, facility. Considerable variation in the detailed design of the support means could be made, while still holding the plank means in the generally T-shaped arrangment. Where a one-piece plank assembly is provided whether having one or more uprights, corresponding modification of the support means might enable the provision merely of upright slots to support same, and not necessarily a slot to accommodate the horizontal plank means. The tubular side members 30, 32 and the entire support leg means could, with advantage, be constructed from round section tube, and likewise the top bar 46 and the bottom bar 52, in the first embodiment. This modification may well assist the tilting and clamping action. Likewise, the pegs 40 could be arranged for insertion laterally rather than lengthwise of the plank means. Where an intergral plank assembly of two or more uprights and a horizontal are provided, then two slots or sockets could be provided for the uprights, with or without a slot for the horizontal plank. In the embodiment of Figs 8 to 10, in the absence of the clamping effect of the first

embodiment, an intergral upright and horizontal T-shaped plank assembly is to be preferred.