GB2028961A

GB2028961A - A scaffolding frame structure

Info

Publication number: GB2028961A
Application number: GB7928533A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: VENNING C
Current assignee: VENNING C
Priority date: 1978-08-21
Filing date: 1979-08-16
Publication date: 1980-03-12
Also published as: GB2028961B

Abstract

A scaffolding assembly comprises a standard 1 as a first frame member and a ledger 2, a transom 3 and a diagonal bracing member 4 as second frame members. The first frame member has a fixed flange 5 with apertures 5a. The second frame members have colinear terminal pins 7, with one pin 7 of each frame member being selectively located in one of the apertures 5a. A slidable plate 6 provided with apertures 6a engages over the other pins 7 of the second frame members so as releasably to hold the second frame members in the required position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A frame structure The present invention relates to frame structures, particularly but not exclusively scaffolding assemblies.

According to the present invention there is provided a frame structure comprising first and second frame members, said first frame member having a fixed locating means having a plurality of angularly spaced location positions at one of which the second frame member is located, and a holding member which is movable along the first frame member and which releasably holds the second frame member at said selected position.

Preferably the locating means at least partly supports the second frame member. This support may be provided by a portion of the second frame member resting on the locating means, and the holding member will preferably be held in position under gravity.

The locating means is preferably provided with a plurality of angularly spaced apertures within one of which a first terminal pin of the second frame member is inserted to locate said second member at a selected angular position with respect to the first member. Preferably also the holding member, which may be a plate, has a plurality of angularly spaced apertures one of which accommodates a second terminal pin of the member whereby the second member is held In position.

When the holding member and locating means are both apertured it is convenient that they have a like-plurality of similarly disposed apertures. and that the first and second pins of the second frame member are colinear for location in these apertures.

In a scaffolding assembly, the first frame member may be a standard and the second frame members may be lodgers, transoms or bracing members The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view of a portion of a scaffolding assembly in accordance with the invention.

As shown in the drawing, a portion of a scaffolding assembly comprises a vertical first frame member, or standard, 1 and three second frame members, namely a ledger 2, a transom 3 and a bracing member 4.

The standard has fixed thereon, e.g. by welding, a circular flange 5 with angularly spaced apertures 5a and is further provided with a holding member 6 in the form of an annular plate which is slidable along the standard 1. The holding member 6 has apertures 6a arranged in like manner to the apertures 5a of the flange 5.

The ledger 2, transom 3 and bracing member 4 each have two terminal locating pins 7 which may be welded or otherwise affixed to their ends, and which are of similar diameter to the apertures 5a and 6a.

To assemble the scaffold, the holding member 6 is held away from the flange 5 and one pin 7 of each of the second frame members 2, 3 and4 is inserted in a selected aperture 5a of the flange 5 so as to provide the desired angular spacing between the three second frame members. Finally, the holding member 6 is slid down the standard 1 so that the free pins 7 engage in the corresponding apertures 6a in the holding member 6.

It will of course be appreciated that both ends of the ledger 2, transom 3 and bracing member 4 are provided with pins 7 and that each standard 1 will have more than one flange 5 and associated holding member 6. Consequently an arrangement of ledgers and transoms may be readily provided at different horizontal levels and rigidity will be imparted to the scaffolding assembly by the bracing members 4 which are mounted between flanges 5 at different levels in the structure. An alternative form of bracing is a diagonal bracing member constructed in similar manner to the illustrated ledger 2 and transom 3 extending horizontally between a ledger 2 and transom 3. If desired, a combination of the illustrated bracing members 4 and horizontal bracing members may of course be used.

As will be clear from the above description, one or more of the second frame members may be removed from the assembly simply by raising the holding member 6 and lifting the end of the appropriate second frame member. Conversely, additional frame members may of course be inserted.

It will be seen from the drawing that the flange 5 at least partly supports the ledgers 2, transom 3 and bracing member 4 and that the holding member 6 is held in position purely under the action of gravity. This arrangement provides a strong and secure joint between the ledger 2, transom 3, bracing member 4 and the standard 1.

It will be seen from the description and drawings that the invention provides a simple and effective scaffolding system which may be erected with the minimum of trouble.

The scaffolding system may of course be provided, as required, with "Hop-up" brackets, custom made stair cases or access ladders, hand rails, toe-boards, etc. Additionally, in a modification (not shown) of the scaffolding system one or more of the ledgers and/or transoms may be telescopically adjustable.

1. A frame structure comprising first and second frame members, said first frame member having a fixed locating means having a plurality of angularly spaced location positions at one of which the second frame member is located, and a holding member which is movable along the first frame member and which releasably holds the second frame member at said selected position.

2. A frame structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locating means at least partly supports the second frame member.

3. A frame structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A frame structure The present invention relates to frame structures, particularly but not exclusively scaffolding assemblies. According to the present invention there is provided a frame structure comprising first and second frame members, said first frame member having a fixed locating means having a plurality of angularly spaced location positions at one of which the second frame member is located, and a holding member which is movable along the first frame member and which releasably holds the second frame member at said selected position. Preferably the locating means at least partly supports the second frame member. This support may be provided by a portion of the second frame member resting on the locating means, and the holding member will preferably be held in position under gravity. The locating means is preferably provided with a plurality of angularly spaced apertures within one of which a first terminal pin of the second frame member is inserted to locate said second member at a selected angular position with respect to the first member. Preferably also the holding member, which may be a plate, has a plurality of angularly spaced apertures one of which accommodates a second terminal pin of the member whereby the second member is held In position. When the holding member and locating means are both apertured it is convenient that they have a like-plurality of similarly disposed apertures. and that the first and second pins of the second frame member are colinear for location in these apertures. In a scaffolding assembly, the first frame member may be a standard and the second frame members may be lodgers, transoms or bracing members The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view of a portion of a scaffolding assembly in accordance with the invention. As shown in the drawing, a portion of a scaffolding assembly comprises a vertical first frame member, or standard, 1 and three second frame members, namely a ledger 2, a transom 3 and a bracing member 4. The standard has fixed thereon, e.g. by welding, a circular flange 5 with angularly spaced apertures 5a and is further provided with a holding member 6 in the form of an annular plate which is slidable along the standard 1. The holding member 6 has apertures 6a arranged in like manner to the apertures 5a of the flange 5. The ledger 2, transom 3 and bracing member 4 each have two terminal locating pins 7 which may be welded or otherwise affixed to their ends, and which are of similar diameter to the apertures 5a and 6a. To assemble the scaffold, the holding member 6 is held away from the flange 5 and one pin 7 of each of the second frame members 2, 3 and4 is inserted in a selected aperture 5a of the flange 5 so as to provide the desired angular spacing between the three second frame members. Finally, the holding member 6 is slid down the standard 1 so that the free pins 7 engage in the corresponding apertures 6a in the holding member 6. It will of course be appreciated that both ends of the ledger 2, transom 3 and bracing member 4 are provided with pins 7 and that each standard 1 will have more than one flange 5 and associated holding member 6. Consequently an arrangement of ledgers and transoms may be readily provided at different horizontal levels and rigidity will be imparted to the scaffolding assembly by the bracing members 4 which are mounted between flanges 5 at different levels in the structure. An alternative form of bracing is a diagonal bracing member constructed in similar manner to the illustrated ledger 2 and transom 3 extending horizontally between a ledger 2 and transom 3. If desired, a combination of the illustrated bracing members 4 and horizontal bracing members may of course be used. As will be clear from the above description, one or more of the second frame members may be removed from the assembly simply by raising the holding member 6 and lifting the end of the appropriate second frame member. Conversely, additional frame members may of course be inserted. It will be seen from the drawing that the flange 5 at least partly supports the ledgers 2, transom 3 and bracing member 4 and that the holding member 6 is held in position purely under the action of gravity. This arrangement provides a strong and secure joint between the ledger 2, transom 3, bracing member 4 and the standard 1. It will be seen from the description and drawings that the invention provides a simple and effective scaffolding system which may be erected with the minimum of trouble. The scaffolding system may of course be provided, as required, with "Hop-up" brackets, custom made stair cases or access ladders, hand rails, toe-boards, etc. Additionally, in a modification (not shown) of the scaffolding system one or more of the ledgers and/or transoms may be telescopically adjustable. CLAIMS

3. A frame structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the locating means has a plurality of angularly spaced apertures providing said location positions, and said second frame member has a first pin which locates in one of said apertures to locate the second member at the selected position.

4. A frame structure as claimed in claim 3 wherein the locating means is a flange.

5. A frame structure as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the holding means has a plurality of apertures and said second frame member has a second pin which locates in one of said apertures in the holding member whereby the second rame member is releasably held in the selected position.

6. A frame structure as claimed in claim 5 wherein the holding means is a plate.

7. A frame structure as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the holding member and the locating means have a like plurality of similarly disposed apertures, and the first and second pins of the second frame member are colinear.

8. A frame structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the holding member is held in position under gravity.

9. A frame structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 is the form of a scaffolding assembly.

10. A scaffolding assembly as claimed in claim 9 comprising standards as the first frame members, and ledgers and transoms as second frame members.

11. A scaffolding assembly as claimed in claim 10 additional comprising diagonal bracing members as second frame members.

12. A scaffolding assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.