GB2229754A - Temporary track or support assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A temporary track or support assembly comprises a plurality of support elements (19) spaced apart along an axis and coupled together by elongate flexible elements (14, 15) e.g. ropes so that the assembly may be rolled or folded up along its length. The assembly, therefore, can be laid out along its axis when in use with the support elements resting across two adjacent parallel supports. In a preferred embodiment, (as shown in Fig. 4), the support elements are in telescopic form. <IMAGE>

Description

SUPPORTING ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a supporting assembly for use in the loft or the like of a building.

Often it is necessary to carry out work in the loft of a home or other building. Usually, the loft space present an array of parallel, spaced joists to which the ceilings of the rooms below are secured. The ceilings themselves comprise plaster or boards secured to the lower edges of the joists, but are incapable of supporting any significant weight. Thus, if any work is to be carried out in the loft, the weight of persons and equipment involved must be supported on the joists and not on the ceilings between the joists. Often there is a risk, for example, of a person's foot being placed inadvertently onto the ceiling instead of onto the top of a joist, with the consequent risk of breaking a hole through or otherwise damaging the ceiling.Although planks could be taken into the loft and laid across the joists to support the necessary weight, very often access into the loft (e.g. through docrs, up staircases and around corners in passageways) is limited and makes it difficult to introduce planks into the loft.

I have now devised a supporting assembly for use in the loft or the like of a building, which supporting assembly seeks to overcome these difficulties.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a supporting assembly for use in a loft space or the like of a home or other building, which assembly comprises a plurality (and typically a multiplicity) of support elements spaced apart along an axis and coupled together so that the assembly may be rolled or folded up along its length, the assembly being such that it may be laid out along its axis when in use with the support elements resting across two adjacent parallel joists and with the elements disposed whereby they may perform their supporting function.

Thus, the supporting assembly of the invention can be rolled or folded up for storage or for carrying into and out of a loft or the like. Then, once in the loft, the assembly can be readily laid out over two adjacent joists, with each support element having its opposite ends resting on the respective joists and a support face uppermost. The support elements generally are constructed and arranged so that the assembly when laid out in the above manner and its individual support elements provide firm support of adequate width for persons and their equipment in the loft.

Also, in accordance with this invention, there is provided a supporting assembly when laid out in a loft space or the like of a building, which assembly comprises a plurality of support elements spaced apart along an axis and coupled together so that the assembly may be rolled or folded up along its length, the assembly being laid out with the support elements resting across two adjacent parallel joists and with the elements disposed whereby they may perform their supporting function.

The support elements may comprise elongate elements having a flat face which is uppermost in use and which typically may be of a rectangular shape. For example, the support elements may be elongate flat elements such as wooden slats. Preferably, any gap between each adjacent pair of elements e.g. slats, is equal to or less than the width of each element measured along the axis of the assembly when laid out.

The support elements may be coupled together by one or more elongate flexible elements, such as rope, webbing or chain, to which the support elements are secured. In such an arrangement the flexible elements may be split into sections, with each section including at or adjacent one or both ends means to link the sections together. For example, the linking means may be one or more studs at or adjacent one end of one section which co-operate with one or more apertures at or adjacent one end of a second section. Alternatively, the support elements may be pivotally coupled directly to each other.

Preferably, at least some of the support elements are provided with means for locating the assembly while in its working position or for aligning the assembly relative to the supporting joists whilst the assembly is being laid out. For example, the support elements may be provided with locating projections on their undersides adjacent their opposite ends. The supporting assembly also may be provided with means for securing it to the joists on which it is laid in use. Furthermore, the supporting assembly may incorporate a power cable and a socket to facilitate the provision of electric powe for a light, electric drill or other powered unit.

In a particular preferred embodiment of the assembly of the invention the support elements may be in telescopic form. Thus, preferably the elements are rectangular section metal support elements, at least one of which may be hollow, and more preferably ones in which the metal is aluminium. Preferably also, the support elements each comprise first and second portions, one slidable within the other whereby the length of support element may be varied. In such an embodiment a first portion may be slidable within a second portion to provide a telescopic effect and means may be provided to restrict movement to prevent the portions separating. For example, the first or inner portion may include pins slidable in slots in the second or outer portion to provide said restricting means.

The above embodiment is useful in avoiding the need to provide alternative supporting assemblies to accommodate variations in joist spacing and/or an assembly with fixed support elements long enough to accommodate all joist spacings. For example, joists in the U.K. typically may be spaced at about 400 mm or about 600 mm and both spacings can be accommodated using telescopic elements.

Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of supporting assembly in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 1 when laid out and resting across two adjacent joists in the loft; Figure 3 is a plan view of another form of a supporting assembly in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a support element of the assembly of Figure 3; and Figure 5 shows details of one form of flexible element.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a supporting assembly 10 for use in the loft of a home or other building. The assembly comprises a plurality of support elements 12, 13 e.g. wooden slats, secured to a pair of elongate flexible elements 14, 15 such as ropes and spaced along an axis A of the assembly. The support elements 12 may be 5 cms in width measured in the direction of axis A and spaced apart by the same distance. The supporting assembly may be rolled up along its length for storage and for carrying it into or out of the loft space.

In use, the supporting assembly 10 may be carried in its rolled up condition into the loft and then positioned across two adjacent joists (Figure 2). The assembly is then unrolled e.g. by pushing it, to lay it out as shown in Figure 2, with the support elements 12, 13 resting by their opposite ends on the joists 17, 18.

Projections 16 can be provided on the undersides of at least some of the slats adjacent their ends, which projections co-operate with the jcists to centre the assembly between the joists as it unrolls. Once in its working or laid out condition, the assembly provides through the flat upper faces 19 of the support elements a firm support for persons wishing to carry out work in the loft space, and also provides support for the equipment which they need. The supporting assembly is easily and readily put into place and dispenses with the need to bring planking etc. into the loft before work can be undertaken. It also overcomes the need for the person to balance himself and rest his equipment directly on the joists.

Once the work has been carried out and any equipment and materials removed from the loft, the assembly 10 can be rolled up and carried out of the loft. In order to roll the assembly up, it may be provided with a cord or line which can be drawn from one end to cause the assembly to be rolled up from the other end towards the end at which the user is pulling the line.

The supporting assembly also may comprise a plurality of slats pivotally coupled together. Thus, each pair of slats may have integral rigid extensions which interengage pivotally to couple each slat to the next. In this arrangement, preferably the engaged extensions co-operate together to provide a degree of inherent directional constraint when the assembly is being unrolled.

The supporting assembly has been described for temporary use, being rolled up and removed once the required work has been carried out in the loft.

However, if desired the assembly can be secured in place once laid out, to provide a permanent fixture for working or as a storage area. A number of assemblies can be used to provide extensive permanent flooring in a loft and, in particular, the assembly described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2 is especially suitable for that purpose, typically when the support elements are woodeD slats. Furthermore, the assembly as illustrated in the drawings allows for ready inspection of cables, pipes etc. situated below it through the gaps between its slats, which is not possible with conventional loft boarding.

Turning now to Figures 3 and 4, the support elements 21, 22 there shown are in telescopic form.

Typically elements 21, 22 may be rectangular section aluminium elements comprising a first portion 23 slidable within a second portion 24. As shown in Figure 4 the extent to which first portion 23 is slidable within second portion 24 is limited by pins 25, 26 on portion 23 sliding in slots 27, 28 in portion 24. By providing support elements in telescopic form variations in joist spacing may readily be accommodated.

With regard to Figure 5, that shows an arrangement whereby the webbing by which the support elements are coupled (and consequently the supporting assembly) may be split into sections. Thus, as shown, the webbing carrying its associated support elements may be provided as two or more interlocking sections 31, 32, which include means such as studs 33, 34 and key-hole apertures 35, 36, whereby the sections may be linked together or separated. Typically, a 6 ft assembly say may be split into 3 x 2 ft sections to be linked when used.

It will be appreciated that the supporting assembly may be introduced without difficulty into a loft and laid out readily to provide support for persons wishing to carry out work in the loft, and for their equipment and materials. The assembly can be readily rolled up again and carried out of the loft after work has been completed (or it may be left in position as permanent flooring), yet provides safe support whilst it is in use and overcomes the difficulties of working on the joists alone or of introducing planking etc. into the loft space. It will also be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the specific details described above and that numerous variations may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

Claims (24)

1. A supporting assembly for use in a loft space or the like of a home or other building, which assembly comprises a plurality of support elements spaced apart along an axis and coupled together so that the assembly may be rolled or folded up along its length, the assembly being such that it may be laid out along its axis when in use with the support elements resting across twc adjacent parallel joists and with the elements disposed whereby they may perform their supporting function.

2. A supporting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support elements comprise elongate elements having a flat face which is uppermost in use.

3. A supporting assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the support elements are elongate flat elements.

4. A supporting assembly according to claim 3, wherein the support elements are wooden slats.

5. A supporting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein any gap between each adjacent pair of elements is equal to or less than the width of each element measured along the axis of the assembly when laid out.

6. A supporting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support elements are coupled together by one or more elongate flexible elements.

7. A supporting assembly according to claim 6, wherein the elongate flexible element or elements comprise rope, webbing or chain to which the support elements are secured.

8. A supporting assembly according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the flexible elements are split into sections, with each section including at or adjacent one or both ends means to link the sections together.

9. A supporting assembly according to claim 8, wherein the linking means comprise one or more studs at or adjacent one end of one section which co-operate with one or more apertures at or adjacent one end of a second section.

10. A supporting assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the support elements are pivotally coupled directly to each other.

11. A supporting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least some of the support elements are provided with means for locating the assembly while in its working position or for aligning the assembly relative to the supporting joists whilst the assembly is being laid out.

12. A supporting assembly according to claim 11, wherein the support elements are provided with locating projections on their undersides adjacent their opposite ends.

13. A supporting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, which includes means for securing it to the joists on which it is laid in use.

14. A supporting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, which incorporates a power cable and a socket to facilitate the provision of electric power for an electrically powered unit.

15. A supporting assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, or any one of claims 5 to 14 when not dependent on claim 4, wherein tbe support elements are in telescopic form.

16. A supporting assembly according to claim 15, wherein the elements are rectangular section metal support elements, at least one of which is hollow.

17. A supporting assembly according to claim 16, wherein the metal is aluminium.

18. A supporting assembly according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the support elements each comprise first and second portions, one slidable within the other whereby the length of support element may be varied.

19. A supporting assembly according to claim 18, wherein a first portion is slidable within a second portion to provide a telescopic effect and means are provided to restrict movement to prevent the portions separating.

20. A supporting assembly according to claim 19, wherein the first portion includes pins slidable in slots in the second portion to provide said restricting means.

21. A supporting assembly according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described.

22. A supporting assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, Figures 3 and 4, or Figures 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

23. A supporting assembly when laid out in a loft space or the like of a building, which assembly comprises a plurality of support elements spaced apart along an axis and coupled together so that the assembly may be rolled or folded up along its length, the assembly being laid out with the support elements resting across two adjacent parallel joists and with the elements disposed whereby they may perform their supporting function.

24. A supporting assembly according to claim 23 having one or more of the features of any one of claims 2 to 22.