Background of the Invention A major cause of injury on building sites for example are the protruding nits and bolts on scaffold couplers, which present a hazard to operatives working in the vicinity. Said nuts and bolts are also exposed to the elements and to debris ; such as concrete and mortar which makes them prone to corrosion and difficult to dismantle and re-assemble.

The objects of this invention are to provide an effective system of protection for the operatives, a reduction in exposure and a means of identification and warning of any insecurity. Other objects, advantages and remarkable features will come to light upon reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

There is disclosed a releasably secured cover to protruding bolts, nuts and other hazardous protrusions, which offers protection from personal injury and also gives protection to the threads of said nuts and bolts.

Summary of the invention In its broadest independent aspect, the invention provides a releasable protective cover so sized and shaped as to fit over a hazardous protrusion such as for example the threaded end of a bolt: wherein the cover incorporates impact cushioning means; and further comprises a tether for linking the cover to the object from which the protrusion extends.

This is particularly advantageous because it contributes to operators'safety by protecting an operator from harm and accident if and when operators inadvertently impact against the cover. This configuration is also particularly advantageous because it protects the protrusion such as the bolt from harmful exposure to the elements and possible subsequent corrosion. It will also deter unqualified persons from tampering with the equipment.

In a first subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's broadest aspect, the cover has a recessed portion for mating with the protrusion and the inner surface of the recess is equipped with means, selected from the group comprising a screw thread, a spring loaded insert, and a one way array of internal protrusions, for enhancing the grip of the cover in use.

Each one of these optional features of the invention is advantageous in the manner in which they improve the grip of the cover to the protrusion.

In a further subsidiary aspect, the tether is a releasable snap-fit on or around the cover.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which.

Brief Description of the Figures Figure 1 is a perspective view of a protective cover 1 placed in relation to an open scaffold coupler 2 with a retaining ring 3 to secure it to the coupler and a blind recessed hole to fit over the bolt 4 and nut 5 of the coupler.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cover taken along the line A-A of figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cover as in figure 2 with a female threaded lower body 6 and the retaining ring omitted.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cover as in figure 2 with a slip ring 7 incorporated to allow the body to be screwed on to the bolt.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cover as in figure 2 with a flexible split female thread 8 to the lower body to provide a push fit onto the threaded bolt.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cover as in figure 2 with an inner lining of angularly inward fibres 9 facing away from the open end of the cover to provide a push fit onto the threaded bolts.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cover as in figure 1 with an elliptical blind hole and a flexible split female thread 8 to the lower body to provide a grip fit to the threaded bolt when the lower body is depressed and released over the bolt.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the cover as in figure 2 with an elliptical blind hole housing a spring loaded grip 10 to provide a grip fit to the threaded bolt when the lower body is depressed and released over the bolt.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the cover as in figure 2 with two elliptical rings 11 and 12 moulded above and below each other into the wall of the smaller diameter hole to form a concentric circular passage for the bolt when depressed and gripping the thread when released.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Referring to the drawings, a cover of moulded latex, rubber, foam, plastic or similar malleable material is formed with a recessed blind hole of suitable length and diameter to closely fit over the nut and bolt of a standard scaffold coupler. The outside surface may be formed as a serrated grip 13. A retaining ring and connector may be incorporated to attach it to the coupler when the cover is not in use, in order to prevent loss. To utilise the cover the retaining ring may be located on to the bolt of the coupler and the nut and washer are replaced, leaving the cover loose. The coupler is then located onto the scaffold tube and the nut fully tightened. The cover is then pushed or screwed onto the bolt to fully cover all the exposed bolt and nut. The placing of the cover may be used also to indicate that the scaffolding operations have been completed and is safe to use. To this end, colour marking by way of high visibility or fluorescent paint or dye may be added in the moulding process. Reclaimed rubber from used tyres may also form a source of raw material. One preferred material to be used is that sold under the brand name NEOPRENE. The material selected causes preferably a cushioning effect on impact and may be selected to be particularly resistant to sunlight and/or frost damage.

It is also envisaged that the tether of the cover is of sufficient length to allow the tether to be placed over a standard scaffolding beam whilst being retained by the bolt so that the cover remains out of the way of the bolt and nut whilst the scaffolding is being dismantled and/or mounted.