GB2287276A - Clip device - Google Patents

Abstract

A clip device (2) for retaining a platform (4) in position on horizontally extending poles (6, 8), comprises a body portion (14) and a pair of spaced spring clip members (16) for clipping onto a horizontally extending pole one on either side of a hook member (12) forming part of the platform (4). Each clip is reinforced by a rib 20. <IMAGE>

Description

A CLIP DEVICE This invention relates to a clip device and, more especially, this invention relates to a clip device for retaining a platform member in position on poles.

Scaffolding has traditionally been used to support workmen at elevated positions alongside buildings or other objects being built or repaired. The scaffolding is erected on site from scaffolding poles and it usually extends along the side of the building or other object being built or repaired.

In more recent years, structures known as towers have been used in place of the traditionally erected scaffolding. The towers may be assembled on site or they may be already assembled. The towers form a safe access structure from which workmen can work.

More specifically, the towers have platform members at desired heights and workman stand on these platform members when they are working. The platform members extend between spaced apart horizontally extending poles forming part of the towers.

The platform members usually each comprise a platform having a pair of hook members at each end.

Each pair of hook members hooks over one of the horizontally extending poles. The platform itself may be made of wood or metal. The platform may be strengthened underneath with a pair of strengthening members and the strengthening members may be provided at each end with one of the hook members. In high winds, there is a possibility that the wind may get underneath the platform member and lift it off its poles. The result could be that the platform member could fall from a height from a tower or other scaffolding structure and this is obviously dangerous. It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce this problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a clip device for retaining a platform member in position on horizontally extending poles which clip device comprises a body portion and a pair of clip members which are for clipping over a horizontally extending pole one on either side of a hook member forming part of the platform member, the clip device being such that when the clip members are clipped to the pole then the clip device fits over the hook member and holds the hook member on the pole.

The clip device of the present invention is simply and inexpensively formed. It is easily located in position over the hook member and, once in position, it is effective in clipping the hook member to its pole.

The clip device is preferably one in which the body portion has a longitudinal axis, and in which the clip member extends transversely to the longitudinal axis.

The clip members are preferably spring clip members. Other types of clip members may however be employed.

The clip members are preferably C-shaped clip members. The C-shaped clip members preferably each have outwardly directed portions for forming a lead-in portion to the clip member. This facilitates clipping of the clip members over the poles. The clip members may be of shapes other than C-shapes if desired.

The clip members may each have an integrally formed reinforcing portion for increasing the resistance of the clip members to being forced to their open position. The integrally formed reinforcing portion may be, for example, an integrally formed rib.

The clip device may be one in which the body portion is a cranked body portion having a top part which passes over the hook member during use of the clip device, and a pair of legs which pass one on either side of the hook member during use of the clip device.

The clip device may be made of any suitable and appropriate materials. Thus, for example, the clip members may be made of spring steel. The body portion may be made of steel bar. Other materials may be employed so that, for example, the body portion could be made of aluminium. Where the clip device is made of materials that are likely to rust, then these materials can be given an anti-rust treatment, for example by being plated with zinc. Other types of anti-rust treatments may be employed.

The present invention also extends to a platform member when provided with one or more of the clip devices. In this connection, the clip devices will usually be separate from the platform member but they may be secured to the platform member if desired.

The present invention still further provides a scaffolding work structure when provided with a platform member and one or more of the clip devices. The scaffolding work structure is preferably a tower but it may be another type of structure if desired.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a platform member positioned on a pair of horizontally extending poles and retained in position by two of the clip devices of the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of one of the clip devices shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an end view of the clip device as shown in Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a clip device 2 for retaining a platform member 4 in position on a pair of horizontally extending poles 6, 8.

The platform member 4 comprises a platform 10 and a pair of hook members 12 at each end of the platform 10 as shown in Figure 1.

The clip device 2 comprises a body portion 14 and a pair of clip members 16 which are for clipping over an appropriate pole 6, 8 such that the clip members 16 extend one on either side of a chosen hook member 12.

The clip device 2 is such that when the clip members 16 are clipped to one of the poles 6, 8, then the clip device 2 fits over the hook member 12 and holds the hook member 12 on the chosen pole 6, 8. The clip device 2 is such that the body portion 14 has a longitudinal axis. The clip members 16 extend transversely to the longitudinal axis as can best be seen from Figure 1.

The clip members 16 are spring clip members which are made of spring steel. The clip members 16 are C-shaped as can best be seen from Figure 3. As can also be seen from Figure 3, the clip members 16 each have outwardly directed portions 18 for forming a lead in portion to the clip members 16. This facilitates pushing the clip members 16 over the poles 6, 8.

The clip devices 2 are such that the body portion 14 of each clip device 2 is provided with an integrally formed reinforcing portion in the form of a rib 20, see Figures 2 and 3. The ribs 20 increase the resistance of the clip members 16 to being forced open and this increases their springyness and helps to avoid workmen over opening the clip members 16 and possibly thereby damaging them.

The body portion 14 of each clip member 2 is cranked as can best be seen from Figures 1 and 2. The body portion 14 thus has a top part 22 and a pair of legs 24 which pass one on either side of a hook member 12 during use of the clip device 2. As can best be seen from Figure 2, the legs 24 have outwardly turned end portions 26 which are rivetted by rivets 28 to the clip members 16.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the body portion 14 and/or the clip member 16 may be differently shaped than shown in the drawings.

Claims (11)

1. A clip device for retaining a platform member in position on horizontally extending poles, which clip device comprises a body portion and a pair of clip members which are for clipping over a horizontally extending pole one on either side of a hook member forming part of the platform member, the clip device being such that when the clip members are clipped to the pole then the clip device fits over the hook member and holds the hook member on the pole.

2. A clip device according to claim 1 in which the body portion has a longitudinal axis, and in which the clip member extends transversely to the longitudinal axis.

3. A clip device according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the clip members are spring clip members.

4. A clip device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the clip members are C-shaped clip members.

5. A clip device according to claim 4 in which the Cshaped clip members each have outwardly directed portions for forming a lead-in portion to the clip member.

6. A clip device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the clip members each have an integrally formed reinforcing portion for increasing the resistance of the clip members to being forced to their open position.

7. A clip device according to claim 6 in which the integrally formed reinforcing portion is an integrally formed rib.

8. A clip device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body portion is a cranked body portion having a top part which passes over the hook member during use of the clip device, and a pair of legs which pass one on either side of the hook member during use of the clip device.

9. A clip device for retaining a platform member in position on horizontally extending poles, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A platform member when provided with one or more of the clip devices as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

11. A scaffolding work structure when provided with a platform member as claimed in claim 10.