The present invention relates to scaffolding and more particularly to a foldable scaffolding module which can be combined with a number of like modules to form a scaffolding structure.

There is disclosed in Australian Patent No. 573,384 a scaffolding module comprising front and rear pairs of uprights interconnected by rigid platforms which are spaced vertically within the module. The platforms are pivotally connected to the uprights to form a parallelogram structure which enables the module to be folded from its erected condition to a collapsed condition in which the front and rear pairs of uprights are adjacent and the platforms extend generally parallel to the uprights. The collapsed condition is used for transportation and storage of the module. A scaffolding structure can quickly be erected from a number of like modules by erecting the modules from their collapsed configuration and connecting the modules in stacked and side-by-side relation.

Although the modules provide an effective scaffolding system, the modules lack versatility in that the platforms constitute an integral part of the structure and special modules need to be constructed to accommodate accessories such as ladders, staircases and chutes. In addition, in the folded condition, the overall length of the module is increased by the depth of the platforms and this increased length may sometimes cause difficulties in storage and /or transportation.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a scaffolding module capable of stacking with a like module, said module being foldable from an erected configuration to a reduced-volume collapsed configuration for transportation and storage, said module comprising four substantially coextensive upright members which in the erected configuration lie at the respective corners of a rectangle and in the collapsed configuration lie in adjacent parallel relationship, wherein two of said members are connected to form a substantially rigid frame and the other upright members are pivotally connected to the frame for swinging movement relative to the

frame between the erected configuration and the collapsed configuration in which the said other upright members lie in side by side relation adjacent the rigid frame, and vertically spaced platform frames mounted to the rigid frame and movable between a stored configuration in which the platform frames lie substantially parallel to the rigid frame and an erected configuration in which the platform frames extend transversely to the rigid frame at vertically-spaced positions and maintain the said other upright members in the erected condition, said platform frames being arranged to support rigid work platforms. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a scaffolding module capable of stacking with a like module, said module being foldable from an erected configuration to a reduced-volume collapsed configuration for transportation and storage, said module comprising four substantially co-extensive upright members which in the erected configuration lie at the respective corners of a rectangle, wherein two of said upright members are connected to form a first rigid frame and the other two upright members are connected to form a second rigid frame, said first and second rigid frames being connected by members which extend transversely to the upright members in the erected configuration and which are collapsible to permit rectilinear movement of the second frame towards the first frame in a direction transversely to the plane of the second frame to define the collapsed configuration of the module, said module further comprising vertically spaced work platforms for spanning the first and second frames in the erected configuration of the module. According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a scaffolding module capable of stacking with a like module, said module being foldable from an erected configuration to a reduced-volume collapsed configuration for transportation and storage, said module comprising four substantially coextensive upright members which in the erected configuration lie at the respective corners of a rectangle and in the collapsed condition lie in adjacent parallel relation, wherein two of said upright members are connected to form a first rigid frame which lies at the front of the module in the erected configuration, and the other upright members are pivotally connected to the

rigid frame by transverse connecting members which swing about axes parallel to the upright members to permit the said other upright members to swing into the collapsed configuration, said module further comprising pairs of vertically spaced work platforms pivotally mounted about axes parallel to the transverse members, the work platforms of each pair being at the same level in the module, with one platform of said pair being pivotal from a storage position to an operative position in which it is supported to form a work platform for the module, and the other work platform of the pair is pivotal into an operative position extending outwardly from a side of the erected module to span a lateral gap between two laterally-spaced adjacent modules.

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

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding scaffolding module in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; Figures 2 to 4 are views illustrating the manner in which the module is moved from its collapsed to its erected configuration;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the module in greater detail;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view showing a detail of the construction of the module;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a folding scaffolding module in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

Figures 8 and 9 are views illustrating the manner in which the module of Figure 7 is moved from its collapsed to its erected configuration; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a folding scaffolding module in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a folding scaffolding module in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 12 shows the module of Figure 11 erected into a reduced depth configuration;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a folding scaffolding module in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention;

Figure 14 shows the module of Figure 13 in its collapsed condition; and

Figure 15 shows the module of Figure 13 in its erected condition by in a different configuration.

Each of the folding scaffolding modules to be described herein is capable of being stacked with a like module whereby a multi-storey scaffolding structure covering the front of a building can be erected by erecting a multiplicity of the modules in side-by-side and stacked relationship. The module at the bottom of each stack may be provided with adjustable feet or may be supported on a suitable base structure with adjustable feet. The adjacent modules are clamped together within the structure in order to achieve the necessary structural integrity. Each module can be folded to a reduced-volume collapsed configuration for transportation and storage, erection of the module on site involving a simple unfolding operation. In the erected condition, each module is covered at the front by means of a mesh, but at the rear and sides is open and substantially unobstructed to permit access of personnel from the adjacent building and from one module to the laterally adjacent module.

The folding scaffolding module shown in Figure 1 comprises a rigid front frame 2 defined by opposed uprights 4, 6 and transverse cross members 8, the frame 2 being covered by a protective mesh 10. Opposed side frames 12 each consisting of a rear upright 14 and forwardly-projecting transverse members 16 are each pivotally connected to the front frame 2 at the forward ends of the transverse members 16 so that the side frames 12 can each swing inwardly from the position shown in Figure 1 to a collapsed configuration shown in Figure 2 in which the side frames 12 lie in planes closely adjacent to that of front frame 2 with the two rear uprights 14 lying one beside the other. The pivotal connection between each transverse member 16 and the front frame 2 is shown in detail in Figure 6.

The front frame 2 carries a series of vertically-spaced open rectangular frames 18 each capable of accommodating a removable platform 20. For this purpose, at least the opposed shorter sides of each open frame 18 are preferably constructed of angle section to provide inwardly-projecting horizontal flanges on which the removable platform 20 can be supported. Each open frame 18, is pivotally connected to the adjacent cross member 8 of

the front frame 2 in the manner shown in Figure 6, so that each open frame 18 can swing about a horizontal axis from a stored position in which the open frame 18 extends substantially vertically in the plane of the front frame 2 to an erected position in which the open frame 18 extends perpendicularly to the front frame 2 to be supported at its rear end by engagement with brackets 19 on the rear uprights 14. Preferably, the frame 18 carries spring clips 18a at its rear side to snap into engagement with the brackets 19 and thereby prevent inadvertent release of the frames 18 and also to ensure structural integrity of the module. The removable platforms 20 can be stored in the module by hooking onto the protective mesh 10 in positions such that they will lie within the edges of a respective one of the open frames 18 when these are folded into their stored positions.

The collapsed condition of the module is illustrated in Figure 2. To erect the module, the side frames 12 are swung outwardly and then the open frames 18 are swung downwardly to be clipped onto the brackets 19 on the rear uprights 14 whereby to form a rigid structure. The platforms 20 can then be dropped into the open frames 18 in order to complete the module. The use of the removable platforms 20 enables platforms to be omitted at selected locations in order to accommodate stairs or other accessories such as chutes. As it is likely that only a relatively small proportion of platforms will need to be omitted in an overall scaffolding structure, it is preferred that each platform 20 is mounted within its open frame 18 in such a manner that the platform 20 can be swung together with the frame 18 between its erected and stored positions, with a releasable connection being provided to permit removal of the platform 20 from the frame 18 when required.

Figure 6 also illustrates a modified form of the platform 20, comprising individual boards 20a which can be stored by clipping to the uprights 4, 6 of the front frame. Some or all of the boards 20a can be omitted from the frame 18 in the erected module either to provide a partial platform or to omit the platform to accommodate accessories.

The module described above permits increased versatility due to the provision of the removable platforms, and the folding mechanism is such that in the collapsed condition of the module, there is no increase in overall length.

Even although certain of the platforms may be removed from the module, the structural integrity of the module is maintained by means of the co-operation between the side frames and the open rectangular frames.

The foldable scaffolding module shown in Figures 7 to 9 comprises rigid front and rear frames 30, 32 each comprising uprights 34 interconnected by transverse members 36, only those of the rear frame being visible in the drawings. The front frame 30 carries protective mesh 36. The front and rear frames are connected at each side of the module by pairs of lateral bracing bars 38, each pair of bracing bars 38 being located at a level corresponding to a different one of the vertically-spaced platforms within the module. Each bracing bar 38 is composed of a number of pivotally-connected segments whereby the bars can be folded from the rectilinear configuration shown in Figure 7 in which the bars maintain the module in its erected configuration, and a folded configuration as shown in Figure 8 in which the module is in a collapsed configuration with the front and rear frames 30, 32 lying one adjacent the other and with segments 38a of the bracing bars 38 in juxtaposed parallel relationship. In the rectilinear configuration of the bracing bars, the segments 38a of the bars 38 are in stable aligned relationship interconnected at a central pivot 40 and folding is achieved by displacing the central pivots 40 upwardly.

Each of the bracing bars 38 is of angled construction with an inwardly- directed lower flange which supports a platform 42. The platforms 42 may be rigid removable platforms as described in connection with the first embodiment, but preferably, and as shown, each platform is composed of a series of segments 44 connected together in concertina fashion whereby the platform itself can be extended from a folded storage configuration adjacent the front frame 30 to an erected configuration in which the platform extends across the module from the front frame 30 to the rear frame 32. This has the advantage that the platform 42 remains permanently mounted within the module but space cay be provided within the module for staircases and other accessories simply by retaining a platform in its concertina folded state adjacent the front frame 30 as shown for the top platform in Figure 7. It will also be noted that in the collapsed configuration of the module, there is, like

the module of Figure 1, no increase in overall length.

The embodiment of Figure 10 is a variation of that of Figures 7 to 9 in which each platform is split centrally to consist of two separate sections 50 each associated with a different one of the two segments forming the bracing bars 38. The sections 50 of the platform remain attached to their associated bracing segments so as to fold with the bracing segments during folding of the module to its collapsed condition. The platform sections 50 are removably attached to the bracing segments in order to permit selective removal of one or both sections of each platform to provide space for a staircase or other accessories.

The embodiment of Figures 11 and 12 represents a further variation of the module of Figures 7 to 9. In this embodiment the bracing bars 38 are each of telescopic construction in order to permit adjustment in the overall depth of the module in its erected configuration. Each platform 42 can be adapted to the reduced depth of the erected scaffold by unfolding the platform from its concertina state in such a manner as to span the reduced depth, with all of the platform segments 44 being in a flattened state with the exception of the forward segments 44a which may remain folded in order to accommodate the reduced depth, as shown in Figure 12. The bracing bars 38 also comprise pivotally-connected segments to permit folding of the module in the manner described in relation to the module of Figure 7, one or more of these segments being of telescopic construction to permit the depth variation described above.

The module shown in Figures 13 to 15 comprises rigid front and rear frames 60, 62 each comprising uprights 64 interconnected by cross members 66 at the level of each of the platforms. The two frames 60, 62 are interconnected by transverse members 68 also at the level of the platforms. The transverse members 68 are pivotally connected to the front and rear frames 60, 62 for pivotal movement about vertical axes so that folding of the module into its flattened collapsed configuration is achieved by a swivel movement of the transverse members whereby the module "lozenges" into the configuration shown in Figure 14 in which the rear frame 62 lies to one side of the front frame 60. The transverse members 68 at one side of the module

each support a rigid platform 70 for use in the module. The platform 70 is pivotally mounted on the member 68 for pivotal movement about the axis of the member between a raised storage position in which the platform 70 extends vertically and a horizontal position in which the platform extends horizontally in the erected module and hooks onto the transverse member 68 at the opposite side of the module. A second, like, platform 72 is also similarly attached to the opposite transverse member 68 for pivotal movement between a raised storage position and a horizontal position. When in its horizontal position this second platform 72 can hook onto the transverse member of an adjacent module spaced from the first module, thus spanning the gap between the two modules. In this manner, the completed scaffolding structure can be erected using a reduced number of modules as laterally- adjacent modules do not have to be placed in juxtaposed relationship but instead are spaced by the width of one module. The module is folded with each of the platforms 70, 72 pivoted to its vertical storage configuration and the folded condition of the module does not result in any increase in length.

The platforms 70 in the erected module act to rigidify the module. Certain of the platforms in the erected module may, however, be retained in their vertical storage position in order to provide space within the module for the passage of stairways and other accessories. The platforms, when in their stored positions will also act as vertical walls at the sides of the module and which may be useful for safety purposes.

The embodiments have been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.