GB2351540A

GB2351540A - Sealing plug for scaffolding structure

Info

Publication number: GB2351540A
Application number: GB0007749A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Andrew Rogers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-03-30
Filing date: 2000-03-30
Publication date: 2001-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2020-03-30
Also published as: GB0007749D0; GB2351540B; GB9907371D0

Abstract

A plug (16) for sealing a socket (11) in a wall (10) comprises a shank and a head which defines an annular flange face around the shank. A resilient collar (17) is provided which, in use, engages the annular flange face.

Description

2351540 P10654GB SCAFFOLDING FIXTURE This invention relates to scaffolding

fixtures.

in order to secure scaffolding structures to existing masonry or concrete walls, so-called "Hilti" anchors are commonly used. Such anchors comprise a cylindrical member which is internally screw-threaded at one end (in use, the outer or proximal end) and which is inserted in a pre-formed socket in the wall and secured therein by axially driving an internal wedge or plug which forces apart segments of the remote or distal end of the cylinder into jamming engagement with the masonry. An eye-bolt is then screw-engaged in the cylinder member, the eye thereof receiving and supporting a scaffolding pole.

Where the wall is solid, or at least where the outer-facing skin of a cavity wall has sufficient breadth, the socket is formed to a depth which will accommodate the entire cylinder. However, with most cavity walls, the outer skin has insufficient breadth and the socket must be formed to a lesser depth, with the result that the proximal end of the cylinder extends beyond the wall surface. In either case and when the scaffolding is dismantled, the cylinder member is left in place in the wall where, at least in theory, it is available for re-use at some future occasion. In practice, however, the cylinder members tend to corrode which renders the threads inutile. Additionally, rust stains gradually appear on the wall surface below the anchors; these are unsightly and the adverse visual effect thereof is made worse where the cylinder end protrudes from a cavity wall.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a means of overcoming these disadvantages of existing scaffolding fixtures.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided in combination a plug and a resilient collar for sealing a socket formed in a wall, the plug comprising a shank and a head defiriing a radially- extending annular flange face around the shank and the resilient collar engaging in use against said annular Range face.

The plug may comprise a screw-threaded bolt, the screw thread being adapted for threadedly engaging the cylindrical member of a scaffolding anchor.

2 Preferably, the inner wall surface of the collar is dimensioned to be radially spaced apart from the threaded shank of the bolt, whereby the annular gap thereby defined can where necessary receive the proximal end of the cylinder of the scaffolding anchor. However, the shank of the plug may be frusto-conical and the head may include means for attachment of a plug withdrawal tool. Preferably, the collar is attached to the Range face of the plug or bolt head to form an annular depending skirt surrounding the upper end of the shank. The resilient material is preferably impervious to water and desirably is a synthetic plastics material which may be coloured for decorative purposes or to indicate a particular size or grade.

The outer face of the plug may be domed or flat, according to the requirements dictated by the intended manner of use. Thus, where the cylinder of the scaffolding anchor is embedded in the wall socket with the proximal end recessed behind the plane of the outer wall surface, a cheese-headed - that is, flat-faced - bolt may be selected so that, when fully threadedly engaged with the cylinder, the face, is substantially flush with the wall surface with the resilient collar squeezed radially outwardly to seal the gap between the shank and the socket to prevent ingress of moisture and thus to prevent or at least to delay the onset of corrosion. Alternatively, where the proximal end of the anchor cylinder is flush with or proud of the wall, a dome-headed bolt may provide a more aesthetically-pleasing appearance. Where the proximal end of the anchor cylinder extends beyond the wall surface by an appreciable amount, an auxiliary collar may be placed around the extending end before the bolt is engaged with the cylinder, the auxiliary collar taking up the axial space which would otherwise exist between the wall surface and the lower edge of the resilient annular collar.

In use, the insertion of the plug in the mouth of the socket, for example by screwing down the bolt towards the wall, urges the collar into intimate contact with the wall surface or, as the case may be, with the auxiliary collar, thereby preventing ingress of moisture to the threads. When it is desired to re-use the scaffolding anchor, the bolt is merely unscrewed and the internal threading of the cylindrical member is ready for receiving the eye-bolt and, meanwhile, the wall surface has not been marred by unsightly rust stains.

3 Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure I shows a sectional view of a scaffolding fixture in a solid wall; Figure 2 shows a sectional view of a scaffolding fixture in a cavity wall; Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the sealing of a wall socket without a scaffolding fixture and Figure 4 shows the use of a flat-headed bolt for sealing a scaffolding anchor.

Referring to Figure 1, a wall 10 has a cavity or socket I I formed therein to receive the cylinder or barrel 12 of a conventional scaffolding anchor, secured in place by frusto-conical wedge 13 having been driven towards the blind end of the socket to force apart leaves 14 formed at the distal end and defined by longitudinal slots 15. A dome- headed bolt 16 is then screw-threadedly engaged with the proximal end of the barrel with the imposition of a resilient collar or washer 17 which, under axial pressure, deforms outwardly and is urged into sealing contact with the edge of the socket. An annular space 18 is left between the screw-threaded shank of the bolt and the collar or washer 17.

Referring to Figure 2, the barrel 22 of the anchor extends proud of the wall surface and a collar 23 is placed thereabout, whereby the bolt 24 with annular resilient washer 25 attached thereto is screwed in to urge the washer into sealing engagement with the collar 23. The extreme proximal end of the barrel 22 can, if it extends beyond the collar 23, occupy at least part of the annular space 26, equivalent to the annular space 18 of Figure 1.

In Figure 3, a socket 31 intended for the barrel of a scaffolding anchor, but not in the event used, is sealed by a dome-headed tapered plug 32 the shank 33 of which carries a resilient sleeve 34 for sealing engagement with the lip of the socket. The centre of the domed head of the plug may comprise a tapped hole 38 for insertion of a screwed rod or other tool to withdraw the plug from the socket.

4 In Figure 4, the barrel 12 of the scaffolding anchor is set deeper in the wall (compare with Figure 1) and a flat-headed bolt 41 including a resilient collar 42 is screw-threadedly engaged therein so that the outer face 43 of the bolt is flush with the wall surface and the collar is squeezed radially outwardly into sealing engagement with the surface of the wall socket at 44.

Claims

1. In combination, a plug and a resilient collar for sealing a socket formed in a wall, the plug comprising a shank and a head defining a radially-extending annular flange face around the shank and the resilient collar engaging in use against said annular flange face.

2. The combination of claim 1, in which the shank of the plug is screwthreaded to threadedly engage the cylindrical member of a scaffolding anchor.

3. The combination of claim I or claim 2, in which the inner wall surface of the collar is dimensioned to be radially spaced apart from the shank of the plug, whereby the annular gap thereby defined can receive the proximal end of the cylinder of the scaffolding anchor.

4. The combination of claim 1, in which the shank of the plug is frustoconical.

5. The combination of claim 4, in which the head of the plug includes means for attachment of a plug-withdrawal tool.

6. The combination of any preceding claim, in which the collar is attached to the flange face of the plug head to form an annular depending skirt surrounding the upper end of the shank of the plug.

7. The combination of any preceding claim, including an auxiliary collar which in use can be placed around the extending end of an anchor cylinder before the plug is engaged with the cylinder.

8. The combination of any preceding claim, in which the head of the plug is domed in shape.

9. The combination of claim 1 or claim 2, in which the head of the plug is flat-faced and the resilient collar is in contact with the shank of the bolt.

10. A plug and collar substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any of Figures I to 4.