IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A SCAFFOLDING

Description

[0001] THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to scaffolding, and in particular relates to a scaffolding connection and scaffolding components incorporating elements of the scaffolding connection.

[0002] Many types of scaffolding connection have been proposed previously to form a connection between vertical scaffold elements or "standards", and horizontal scaffold elements such as "ledgers" and "transoms". Separate clamps have been proposed to connect to tubular scaffolding elements, but the clamps may not grip the tubes adequately if not tightened properly, and may easily become lost. Integrally formed connectors have been proposed, but prior proposed integrally formed connectors may be expensive to manufacture, may provide insufficient rigidity and may provide a scaffolding system that is relatively complex to construct.

[0003] Such a connection is known from US-A-4 140 414.

[0004] There is a need for a scaffolding connection which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and which provides a rigid connection between two scaffold components. Also there is a need for a scaffold connection that can be easily assembled, especially when located at a position above the head of the scaffolding erector.

[0005] The present invention seeks to provide an improved scaffolding connection and components incorporating elements of the scaffolding connection, together with a method of creating a scaffolding connection.

[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a scaffolding connection comprising a vertical scaffold member provided with a slot, a horizontal scaffold member provided with a shaft dimensioned to be inserted in the slot and carrying an engagement element dimensioned or adapted to be dimensioned so that part of the engagement element has greater dimension than the width of at least part of the slot to engage inner walls adjacent the slot, and wedge means to bias the said part of the engagement element against said inner walls to form a connection between the scaffold members; the wedge means comprising a wedge element comprising a substantially hollow member mounted on an end element on the horizontal scaffold member, the connection characterised by said wedge element presenting an edge positioned to engage the vertical scaffold member, there being a plurality of projections provided on one of said elements to engage co-operating guiding surfaces provided on the other element, wherein the wedge element is mounted on a substantially planar plate forming part of the end element, the wedge element having two side walls adjacent opposed sides of the plate to guide the wedge element in movement in a plane parallel with the plane of the plate; said guiding surfaces being inclined; the connection being configured such that rotation of the horizontal scaffold member by 180° urges the guide surfaces into contact with the projections and hence causes the wedge element, solely under the influence of gravity, to move in a direction having a component aligned with the longitudinal axis of said horizontal scaffold member to a position in which a substantially rigid connection between said scaffold members is created.

[0007] Conveniently the said projections comprise at least one set of projections including a first projection and a second projection provided on the end element of the horizontal scaffold member, the first projection being located to engage a first guiding surface provided on the wedge element, and the second projection being located to engage a second guiding surface provided on the wedge element, the first and second guiding surfaces being substantially parallel.

[0008] Advantageously, the first and second guiding surfaces are of corresponding shape and aligned.

[0009] Preferably, the edge of the wedge element positioned to engage the vertical scaffold member comprises two substantially linear surfaces that are horizontally spaced apart.

[0010] Conveniently, the first guiding surface provided on the wedge element is an outer peripheral surface of part of the wedge element, and the second guiding surface provided on the wedge element is an edge of a slot provided in part of the wedge element

[0011] Advantageously, the first and second guiding surfaces are arranged in alignment such that they are located are substantially vertically above the other, when the connection is made up.

[0012] Preferably, the first and second guiding surfaces are vertically spaced apart by a distance greater than the maximum transverse cross-sectional dimension of the horizontal scaffold member.

[0013] Conveniently, a slot is provided in part of the wedge element, the slot being inclined relative to the edge of the wedge element positioned to engage the vertical scaffold member.

[0014] Advantageously, the first guiding surface and the second guiding surface are inclined relative to the edge of the wedge element positioned to engage the vertical scaffold member.

[0015] Preferably, the said slot is provided, at the end thereof which is closest to the said edge of the wedge element positioned to engage the vertical scaffold member, with an inclined recess which is inclined towards the said edge of the wedge element.

[0016] Conveniently, the wedge element comprises a substantially hollow member mounted on a substantially planar plate forming part of the end element of the horizontal scaffold member, the plate carrying two sets of oppositely directed projections on opposed sides of the plate, the wedge element having two parallel side walls adjacent said sides of the plate, the said side walls, when viewed from opposed sides of the wedge element, being of mirror image configuration, the said guiding surfaces being provided on each of said side walls.

[0017] Advantageously, the wedge element is formed of sheet metal, the sheet metal defining an upper part of the wedge element and two depending side walls, these said side walls being provided with the guiding surfaces adapted to co-operate with the projections, the lower edges of the side walls being secured together.

[0018] Preferably, the said lower edges of the side walls are secured together with a welded tab.

[0019] Conveniently, the wedge element comprises a substantially hollow member mounted on a substantially planar plate forming part of the end element of the horizontal scaffold member, the plate carrying a pair of projections extending in the plane of the plate, the wedge element having two side walls adjacent opposed sides of the plate, the said guiding surfaces extending between said side walls of the wedge element.

[0020] Advantageously, the wedge element comprises a metal casting.

[0021] Preferably, the end element of the horizontal scaffold member is an element carrying a plug dimensioned to be received within the horizontal scaffold member to mount the end element on the horizontal scaffold member.

[0022] Conveniently, the engagement element comprises a head carried by the shaft having a major axis extending perpendicularly to the axis of the horizontal scaffold member.

[0023] Advantageously, the engagement element comprises a disc having a face orthogonal to the axis of the horizontal scaffold member.

[0024] Preferably, the vertical scaffold member is provided with a plurality of said slots.

[0025] Advantageously, the slots are position at 25cm intervals along the length of the vertical scaffold member.

[0026] Conveniently, the slots are arranged in groups of orthogonal slots.

[0027] According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for creating a scaffolding connection between a vertical scaffold member and a horizontal scaffold member, the vertical scaffold member being provided with at least one scaffold member slot, the horizontal scaffold member being provided, at one end thereof, with a shaft dimensioned to be inserted in the scaffold member slot and carrying an engagement element dimensioned so that part of the engagement element has a greater dimension than the width of at least part of the scaffold member slot to engage the walls adjacent the scaffold member slot, the horizontal scaffold member also being provided, adjacent the engagement element, with a wedge element, the wedge element having two substantially planar parts which are located adjacent two opposed parallel faces of a plate element secured to the horizontal scaffold member, one element being provided with a plurality of projections, and the other element being provided with guiding surfaces adapted to co-operate with the projections of the adjacent element, the guiding surfaces being linear and being inclined relative to an edge part of the wedge element, the method comprising the steps of initially locating the horizontal scaffold element with the plate element being positioned so that the said opposed parallel faces are substantially horizontal, inserting said engaging element through said slot and rotating the horizontal element so that the plate element has the opposed parallel faces thereof substantially vertical and permitting the wedge element to fall, under the force of gravity with the projections on one element engaging the guiding surfaces of the other element to move the wedge to bring one edge thereof into engagement with the said vertical scaffold member.

[0028] Preferably, the said plate element is provided with said projections and the wedge element is provided with the guiding surfaces, one guiding surface being constituted by a wedge slot inclined relative to said edge of the wedge, the method comprising the intermediate step, to be performed after the horizontal scaffold member has been located with the engagement element inserted in the scaffold member slot, of rotating the horizontal scaffold member so that the wedge element extends beneath the said plate element with one projection being received in the end of the slot which is closest to said edge of the wedge element.

[0029] Conveniently, the said slot is provided with a recess at the end of the slot closest to the said edge of the wedge element, the recess being inclined towards the said edge of the wedge element, the method comprising the step of applying an upward force to the wedge element when the wedge element is in the wedging position, causing the wedge to move generally upwardly being guided by the co-operating projections and guiding surfaces, and permitting the wedge to rotate about the guide means contained within the wedge slot when the wedge is being moved to such an extent that the said guide means within the slot is located at the bottom part of the slot and subsequently permitting the wedge to fall with the guide means located in the said recess to dis-assemble the connection.

[0030] Advantageously, said plate element is provided with said projections and a retaining projection, the wedge element being provided with the guiding surfaces and a wedge slot inclined relate to said edge of the wedge, the method comprising the intermediate step, to be performed after the horizontal scaffold member has been located with the engagement element inserted in the scaffold member slot, of rotating the horizontal scaffold member so that the wedge element extends beneath the said plate element with the retaining projection being received in that end of the wedge slot which is closest to said edge of the wedge element.

[0031] Preferably, the said wedge slot is provided with a recess at the end of the wedge slot closest to the said edge of the wedge element, the recess being inclined towards the said edge of the wedge element, the method comprising the step of applying an upward force to the wedge element when the wedge element is in the wedging position, causing the wedge element to move generally upwardly being guided by the co-operating projections and guiding surfaces, and permitting the wedge element to rotate about the retaining projection received within the slot when the wedge element is being moved to such an extent that the retaining projection within the slot is located at the bottom part of the slot and subsequently permitting the wedge element to fall with the retaining projection located in said recess to dis-assemble the connection.

[0032] In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating part of a vertical scaffold member and an end part of a horizontal scaffold member to be connected to the vertical scaffold member, immediately prior to connection, with the horizontal scaffold member being provided with part of a scaffolding connection in accordance with one embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a metal stamping used to form a wedge element of the first embodiment,

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the metal stamping when formed to constitute the wedge element,

FIGURE 4 is a side view showing the wedge element mounted on the end of the horizontal member as shown in Figure 1 to form part of a scaffolding connection,

FIGURE 5 shows a horizontal scaffold member provided with part of a scaffolding connection as shown in Figure 4 being offered up to a vertical scaffold member of the type shown in Figure 1,

FIGURE 6 shows the horizontal scaffold member of Figure 4 when engaged with the vertical scaffold member and moved to a first position,

FIGURE 7 corresponds to Figure 6 and shows the horizontal scaffold member when rotated by 180°,

FIGURE 8 corresponds to Figure 7 and shows the wedge element in a lowered and clamped position,

FIGURE 9 is a top perspective view of the scaffolding connection shown in Figure 8,

FIGURE 10 illustrates the scaffolding connection of Figures 8 and 9 when the wedge element is moved towards the release position,

FIGURE 11 is a view corresponding to Figure 10 showing the wedge element in the release position,

FIGURE 12 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 showing a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 13 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 showing a further embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 14 is an end view of a wedge element, forming a further part of the scaffolding connection illustrated in Figure 13;

FIGURE 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 14;

FIGURE 16 is a top plan view of the wedge element of Figures 14 and 15;

FIGURE 17 is a side view showing the wedge element mounted on the end of the horizontal member as shown in Figure 13 to form part of a scaffolding connection, the horizontal member being engaged with a vertical scaffold member and moved into a first position;

FIGURE 18 corresponds to Figure 17 and shows the horizontal scaffold member having been rotated by 180°, and the wedge element in a lowered and clamped position; and

FIGURE 19 illustrates the scaffolding connection of Figure 18 when the wedge element is moved towards a released position.

[0033] Referring initially to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a vertical scaffold member or standard 1 is illustrated in the form of a plain tube provided with a plurality of axially extending parallel sided slots or openings 2 formed in the side wall of the tube. The slots or openings 2 are provided in a plurality of groups 4 of openings. The groups of openings may be spaced apart by a regular distance of, for example, 25cm. Each group of openings may comprise four openings, the openings being arranged orthogonally around the tube. The openings may all be at the same height, although in each group of openings some openings may be slightly axially off-set relatively to the other opening in order to enhance the strength of the tube in the region of the openings.

[0034] Figure 1 also illustrates part of a horizontal scaffold element in the form of a transom or ledger 5. The transom or ledger 5 is in the form of a conventional scaffold tube provided with an end piece 6. The end piece 6 is adapted to engage one of the apertures or openings 2 and, is also adapted to carry a wedge (as will be described hereinafter in greater detail), which is adapted to engage the exterior of the vertical scaffold tube 1 to form a secure scaffold connection.

[0035] The end piece 6 is in the form of a casting. The casting incorporates a plug portion 7 adapted to be received within the open end of the tube 5, the plug portion 7 supporting a plate 8 which has two opposed parallel sides 9, 10 which, in the position illustrated in Figure 1, are vertical. Protruding from each of the two sides are two horizontal guide pins. The guide pins 11, 12 protruding from the side 9 are visible in Figure 1, but corresponding guide pins protrude from the surface 10. The guide pin 11 is above and located to the side of the pin 12 furthest from the plug 7.

[0036] A shaft 13 extends from the plate 8 in alignment with the axis of the horizontal scaffold tube 5. The shaft 13 carries, at its end, a transversely extending head 14. Thus the head has a width, in the orientation shown in Figure 1, which is greater than the distance between the opposed sides of the shaft 13. The diameter of the shaft 13 is less than the width of the slot 2. Thus the head has a major axis extending perpendicularly to the axis of the horizontal scaffold tube 5.

[0037] At this stage it is to be appreciated that the head 14 is dimensioned to be inserted through an opening 2 as formed in the side wall of the vertical scaffold tube 1. This is achieved by rotating the horizontal scaffold element through 90° so that the axis of the head 14 is aligned with the axis of the aperture or slot 2, the plate 8 then being horizontal. The head 14 may then be inserted through the aperture 2 and the horizontal scaffolding element 5 may again be rotated through 90° so that the head 14 again resumes its initial horizontal position. The portions of the head which extend to either side of the shaft 13 will again engage against the inner surface of the vertical scaffold tube 1 in the regions adjacent the edges of the slot or aperture 2, thus preventing the head 14 from being withdrawn back out through the slot or aperture 2. The head 14 thus acts as an engagement element.

[0038] As mentioned above, it is intended that a wedge is to be mounted on the end piece 6.

[0039] Figure 2 illustrates a flat metal stamping 20 which presents a first planar region 21 defining a "tick"-shaped aperture or opening 22, and a second planar region 23 which defines a second "tick"-shaped aperture or opening 24. The stamping of Figure 2 is substantially symmetrical about a substantially central horizontal line, and it is to be appreciated that the stamping may be folded so that the planar regions 21 and 23 are parallel, but spaced apart. Thus an intermediate region 25 between the regions 21 and 23 is bent to be arcuate having an extent of 180°, as can be seen from Figure 3, and a tab region 26 extending from the region 21 is folded to extend horizontally being welded, by a weld 27, to the free edge of the region 23.

[0040] It is to be appreciated that the two apertures 22 and 24 are thus in alignment. The side walls constituted by the planar regions 21, 23 of the wedge are of mirror image configuration when viewed from opposite sides of the wedge.

[0041] The curved region 25 of the stamping intermediate the planar regions 21 and 23 is provided with an arcuately recessed edge 28. The purpose of this recess will become clear from the following description.

[0042] The stamping, when folded and welded as described, constitutes a wedge element 30. The wedge element 30 is adapted to be mounted, as shown in Figure 4, on the plate 8 of the end element 6. The region 23 of the stamping forming the wedge, which has a plane condition, abuts the face 9 of the plate 8, with the projecting pin 11 being received in the tick-shaped opening 24, and the second guide pin 12 engages part of the exterior of the wedge element 30. Similarly, the region 21 of the stamping, which is planar, engages the face 10 of the plate 8. The wedge is thus guided, by the engagement of the two planar regions 21, 23 with the planar faces 9, 10 of the plate 8, to move in a plane which is parallel with the plane of the plate 8.

[0043] In the orientation shown in Figure 4 the wedge element presents a substantially flat front edge. At the lower end of the front edge 31 the periphery of the wedge defines a rearwardly inclined region 32. The tab 26 extends horizontally across the width of the wedge element 30, at the lower-most part of the wedge element. The rear edge of the wedge element 30 comprises a lower-most vertically extending region 33 which merges with an outwardly and rearwardly inclined region 34. The region 34 in turn merges with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined contact region 35. This region is adjacent the pin 12. The rear edge of the wedge element terminates with a vertically upwardly extending region 36.

[0044] It is to be appreciated that, as a consequence of the presence of the arcuate recess 28 in the intermediate region 25, when the wedge element is formed from the stamping 20, the forward-most or front edge 31 of the wedge element is constituted solely by the forward-most edge of the planar region 21 and the forward-most edge of the planar region 23. The edges of these regions are linear and are parallel and are spaced apart.

[0045] The tick-shaped aperture 24 defines a first relatively long guide slot 40 which is inclined to the vertical, and which extends substantially parallel with the guide surface 35 provided on the rear of the wedge element. The slot 40 is dimensioned to receive the pin 11 as a sliding fit. Thus the edges of the slot act as guide surfaces. At the lower-most end of the guide slot 40, which is the end closest to the front edge of the wedge, is an upwardly and forwardly inclined retaining recess 41. The recess 41 is thus inclined towards the front edge of the wedge. The corner region 42 between the guide slot 40 and the retaining recess 41 is cut-away and rounded. The guide surface 35 on the rear of the wedge is spaced from the front edge, by a distance greater than the distance between the front edge and the guide slot 40.

[0046] It is to be appreciated that when the wedge element 30 has been mounted on the plate 8, the wedge element may slide freely relative to the plate 8, because the planar regions 21 and 23 are spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the plate 8. When the wedge element is in the position illustrated in Figure 4, the wedge element may move up and down in a vertical plane, because of the co-operation between the regions 21 and 23 of the stamping 20, and the adjacent planar faces 9 and 10 of the plate 8. Movement of the wedge is also guided by the engagement of the pin 11 within the guide surfaces defined by the edges of the guide slot 40, and the corresponding engagement of the pin 12 with the guide surface 35, formed on the rear edge of the wedge. Because the guide surface 35 is parallel with the guide slot 40, the wedge is constrained to move in a direction which is parallel with the axis of the guide slot 40. The wedge cannot tilt or topple about the axis defined by the guide pin 11.

[0047] It is envisaged that a transom 5, as shown in Figure 5, will be provided with an end piece 6 and wedge element 30 as described above at each end of the transom.

[0048] The transom may be intended to be mounted simultaneously to two standards, such as the standard 1. A transom may have to be mounted to the standard 1 at a position located above the head of the scaffolding erector.

[0049] In order to secure the transom to the standards, the scaffolding erector would initially rotate the transom so that the end pieces 14 on the shafts 13 extend vertically. The wedge element 30 will then lie substantially horizontally. The end piece 14 on the shaft 13 can then be inserted through an aperture 2 into the hollow interior of the standard 1. The transom 5 may then be rotated by 90°, so that the main part of the wedge element 30 lies below the transom. This will result in the wedge element falling until the guide pin 11 reaches the junction between the guide slot 40 and the retaining recess 41. The guide pin 11 thus pivotally supports the wedge element 30 which hangs down below the end piece 6.

[0050] Subsequently the operative rotates the transom by 180°. This moves the wedge element 30 to a position in which the main part of the wedge element extends upwardly above the plate 8 of the end piece 6. The wedge element begins to fall and the pin 11 strikes the rounded corner 42 between the guide slot 40 and the retaining recess 41. This is shown in Figure 7. As the wedge continues to fall, due to the configuration of the corner 42, the guide pin 11 enters the guide slot 40 and the guide pin 12 comes into contact with the parallel guide surface 35. Thus as the wedge continues to move downwardly, the wedge is forced to move along an axis which is parallel with the axis of the guide slot 40. Under the force of gravity the wedge will fall to an engagement position as shown in Figure 8. As the wedge falls under the force of gravity, the wedge is constrained to move along an axis parallel with the axis of the guide slot 40 and the engagement surface 35. The front edge 31 of the wedge element 30 is maintained vertical, but moves in a direction which has a component aligned with the axis of the ledger 5. The front face 31 of the wedge thus comes into engagement with the exterior surface of the standard 1 adjacent the aperture 20 through which the shaft 13 extends. The wedge will, solely under the influence of gravity, move to a position in which a substantially rigid connection or joint is created.

[0051] It is to be appreciated, therefore, that the scaffolding erector has, simply by inserting the head 14 provided on the shaft 13 through an appropriate aperture 2 and rotating the ledger, created a substantially rigid connection between the ledger and the standard.

[0052] The erector may then hammer the wedge element 30 downwardly to create a very secure connection, as shown in Figure 9. It can be seen, from Figure 9, that the recess 28 formed in the intermediate region 25 is such that there is no contact between the intermediate region 25 and the outer surface of the standard or ledger 1. Thus the only contact between the wedge element 30 and the ledger 1 is at the front edge 31 of each of the regions 21 and 23. Since these regions are spaced apart and parallel, the wedge will make a secure wedging engagement with the standard 21. The wedge also has a front edge of substantial vertical height.

[0053] When the described scaffold connection is to be released, the lower part of the wedge element 30, constituted by the tab 26, is struck with a hammer providing a generally upward movement to the wedge element 30. Because of the engagement of the pin 11 within the guide slot 40, the wedge element tends to move upwardly in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of the guide slot 40. Thus the wedge element 30 moves upwardly with a movement which has a vertical component, and a component directed towards the left, as shown in the accompanying drawings. The wedge element moves upwards until the guide pin 11 reaches the bottom of the slot 40 at the junction between the slot 40 and the retaining recess 41. This terminates the upward movement of the wedge element 30. However, the component of movement directed towards the left, as shown in the accompanying drawings, causes the wedge element to rotate anti-clockwise about the axis defined by the pin 11. This rotation is facilitated by the fact that the rearwardly inclined region 32 beneath the vertical front face 31 of the wedge element 30 is configured to permit this leftward or anti-clockwise pivoting of the wedge element 30 without the wedge element reengaging the standard before the wedge element has effected a substantial rotational movement. When the rearwardly inclined region 32 does engage the standard 1, the retaining recess 41 is substantially vertical and is directly above the pin 11. The wedge element then again falls under the force of gravity, but as the wedge element falls, the pin 11 is received within the retaining recess 41, as shown in Figure 11. Thus the wedge element 30 is retained in position in which there is no wedging effect between the wedge and the standard. The ledger may then be removed from the standard simply by rotating the ledger to bring the head 14 into alignment with the respective aperture 2, and by withdrawing the ledger with a transverse, horizontal movement.

[0054] The described scaffolding connection is straightforward to manufacture, and provides a connection which is very straightforward and easy to assemble, and very easy and straightforward to dis-assemble.

[0055] In the embodiments described above, each slot 2 formed in the standard is an elongate parallel side slot, and the head 14 provided on the end piece 6 is of a corresponding configuration. Figure 12 shows a modified embodiment of the invention in which each slot 50 is provided with a relatively large, substantially round upper portion 51, and a centrally located downwardly extending parallel sided extension 52 of the opening. In this embodiment the head provided on the shaft 13 of the end piece 6 is of disc form 53, and is dimensioned to be inserted into the relatively large round upper part 51 of the slot 50. The shaft 13 has a diameter such that it may be accommodated within parallel sided extension 52 of the opening. It is to be appreciated that in this embodiment it is not essential to rotate the transom to secure engagement between the head 53 and the interior of the hollow standard 1.

[0056] Referring now to Figure 13 of the accompanying drawings, an alternative embodiment of the present invention will be described, with components or parts common to the first embodiment described above, being identified by the same reference numerals as used above.

[0057] Figure 13 illustrates a vertical scaffold member or standard 1 generally identical to the standard 1 illustrated in Figure 1 of the above-described embodiment. The standard 1 again takes the form of a plain tube provided with a plurality of axially extending parallel-sided slots or openings 2 formed in the side wall of the tube. The slots or openings 2 are again provided in a plurality of groups 4 of openings, each group of openings preferably comprising four openings, the openings being arranged orthogonally around the tube.

[0058] Figure 13 also illustrates part of a horizontal scaffold element in the form of a transom or ledger 5 similar to that illustrated in Figure 1. A transom or ledger 5 again takes the form of a scaffold tube provided with an end piece 106. The end piece 106 is adapted to engage one of the apertures or openings 2 formed in the side wall of the standard 1 and, is also adapted to carry a wedge element (as will be described hereinafter in greater detail), which is adapted to engage the exterior of the standard 1 to form a secure scaffold connection.

[0059] The end piece 106 is in the form of a casting, and incorporates a plug portion 107 supporting a substantially planar plate 108 which has two opposed parallel sides 109, 110, which, in the position illustrated in Figure 13, are vertical. Protruding from each of the two sides of the plate 108, is a horizontal retaining projection in the form of a retaining pin 111. The retaining pin 111 protruding from side 109 of the plate 108 is aligned with the retaining pin 111 protruding from the other side 110 (not shown).

[0060] It should be noted that the flat plate 108 of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 13 does not carry pairs of guide pins 11, 12 as in the case of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 11. Instead, the plate 108 of the Figure 13 embodiment is fitted with a pair of guide projections 112, 113, each projecting generally away from the transom 5 in the plane of the plate 108. The guide projections 112 and 113 are aligned and located such that one of the guide projections 112 is substantially vertically above the other guide projection 113 in the orientation illustrated in Figure 13. The first, uppermost guide projection 112 presents an outwardly directed upper projection surface 114, whilst the second, lowermost guide projection 113 presents an outwardly-directed lower projection surface 115. Each of the projection surfaces 114, 115 are generally planar and are inclined relative to the vertical, as can be seen, for example, in Figure 18. As will also be apparent from Figure 18, the upper projection surface 114 is substantially parallel to the lower projection surface 115.

[0061] The uppermost corner 198 of the plate 108 (as illustrated in Figure 13) is chamfered so as to define a bearing surface 199, immediately adjacent the uppermost guide surface 114. The bearing surface 199 is inclined relative to the uppermost guide surface 114.

[0062] A shaft 116 extends from the plate 108 in alignment with the axis of the horizontal scaffold tube 5 and carries, at its end, a transversely-extending head 117. The shaft 116 and the head 117 of this embodiment are substantially identical to the shaft 13 and the head 14 of the previously-described embodiment and interact in an identical manner with the openings 2 of the vertical scaffold tube 1, and so will not be described in more detail again.

[0063] As mentioned above, it is intended that a wedge element is to be mounted on the end piece 106. Figure 14 and Figure 15 illustrate a metal casting which forms the wedge element 118 of this embodiment of the invention. The wedge element 118 comprises a pair of spaced-apart side walls 119, 120 which may be generally parallel with one another but which, in the arrangement illustrated, are slightly divergent as can be seen clearly in Figure 16. The side walls 119 and 120 are substantially planar over most of their extent, although, as can be seen in Figure 14, in the vertically central region of the wedge element 118, the side walls 119, 120 are flared outwardly at 121, 122 respectively. This outward flaring of the side walls 119, 120 provides a convenient finger or hand grip on the wedge element 118, which a person operating the arrangement can use to grasp the wedge element and manually manipulate it. The outwardly flared side walls also help to improve the overall strength of the wedge element 118.

[0064] As can be seen from Figure 15, the wedge element 118 present a substantially linear front edge 123 which is defined by the forwardmost edges 124, 125 of the side walls 119, 120. The forwardmost edges 124, 125 of the side walls are generally planar.

[0065] At the upper and lower regions of the wedge element 118, the side walls 119, 120 are joined together by arcuate front faces 126, 127, the radius of curvature of which is substantially equal to the radius of the lowermost surface of the vertical scaffold tube 1. In the central region of the ridge element 118, there is no front face, such that the side walls 119, 120 and the upper and lower front faces 126, 127 define a central aperture 128 through the wedge element 118.

[0066] As clearly illustrated in Figure 14, the outwardly flared wall regions 121, 122, define a widened region 128a of the central aperture 128. The width of this widened region is preferably slightly greater than the distance between the outermost ends of the retaining pins 11 carried by the plate 108. Alternatively, the width of the widened aperture region 128a is slightly less than the distance between the outermost ends of the retaining pins 111, in which case, the wedge element is configured such that the side walls 119, 120 are resiliently deformable and can be manually pulled apart in the region of the aperture 128 so as to widen the region 128a to a degree sufficient for its width to become greater than the distance between the outermost ends of the retaining pins.

[0067] As illustrated most clearly in Figure 15, between the side walls 119, 120, in the upper and lower regions of the lower element 118, extend upper and lower guiding surfaces 129, 130 respectively. The upper and lower guiding surfaces 129, 130 are generally planar and are inclined, by substantially the same angle, relative to the flat front edge 123 of the wedge element. As illustrated most clearly in Figure 18, with the front edge 123 of the wedge element oriented vertically, and with the ledger 5 oriented horizontally, the guide surfaces 129, 130 of the wedge element and the projection surfaces 114,115 of the plate 108 make a substantially equal angle to the vertical.

[0068] As illustrated in Figure 15, the upper guide surface 129 is located substantially vertically above the lower guide surface 130, with both guide surfaces being generally parallel to one another. As will become apparent, the upper guide surface 129 is configured to co-operate with the upper guide projection 112 of the end piece 106 and the lower guide surface 130 is configured to co-operate with the lower guide projection 113 of the end piece 106.

[0069] Immediately below the uppermost guide surface 129 and contiguous therewith, there is provided a bearing surface 200 which is inclined relative to the uppermost guide surface 129 and to the front edge 123 of the wedge element. The angle between the bearing surface 200 of the wedge element and the uppermost guide surface 129 is substantially equal to the angle between the guide surface 199 of the plate 108 and the uppermost projection surface 114. As will be described in more detail hereinafter, the two aforesaid bearing surfaces 199 and 200 co-operate with one another.

[0070] As also illustrated in Figure 15, through each of the side walls 119, 120, there is provided a "tick"-shaped aperture or opening 131, the opening 131 of each side wall 119, 120 being aligned. It will be appreciated that the side walls of the wedge element are of mirror image configuration when viewed from opposite sides of the wedge element.

[0071] The wedge element 118 is adapted to be mounted, as shown, for example, in Figures 17 and 18, on the plate 108 of the end piece 106. Each side wall 119, 120 of the wedge element 118 is located generally adjacent a respective face 109, 110 of the plate 108, with the respective retaining pin 111 being received in each tick-shaped opening 131. The widened central aperture region 128a allows the retaining pins 111 to be received therethrough and hence accommodated within the tick-shaped opening, so as to mount the wedge element 118 on the plate 108. It is to be appreciated that the retaining pins 111 project from the plate 108 by a distance sufficient to retain the wedge element substantially captively on the plate 106, unless the pins are aligned with the widened central aperture region 128a, in which case, the wedge element can be removed from the plate 108. (In the embodiment described above, where the side walls 119,120 are resiliently deformable, the wedge element 118 remains captively mounted on the plate 108 unless the side walls 119,120 are pulled apart so as to widen the aperture region 128a by an amount sufficient to allow passage of the retaining pins 111 therethrough).

[0072] The tick-shaped openings 131 define a first relatively long guide slot 132 which is inclined relative to the front edge 123 by an angle equal to the angle which the guide surfaces 129,130 make to the front edge 123. The slot 132 is dimensioned to receive the retaining pin 111 as a sliding fit. At the lowermost end of the guide slot 132, which is the end closest to the front edge 123 of the wedge element 118, is an upwardly and forwardly-inclined retaining recess 133. The retaining recess 133 is thus inclined towards the front edge 123 of the wedge element 118. The corner region 134 between the guide slot 132 and the retaining recess 133 is cut away and rounded.

[0073] It is to be appreciated that when the wedge element 118 has been mounted on the plate 108, the wedge element may slide freely relative to the plate 108, because the planar region of the side walls 119, 120 are spaced apart by a distance slightly greater (at their closest point) than the thickness of the plate 108. When the wedge element is in the position illustrated in Figure 18, the wedge element may move up and down in a vertical plane, because of co-operation between the upper and lower guide surfaces 129, 130 and the upper and lower guide projections 112, 113 respectively. It will be noted, in this regard, that with the transom 5 orientated horizontally, and the front edge 123 of the wedge element 118 orientated vertically, the projection surfaces 114,115 of the projections 112, 113 and the guide surfaces 129, 130, are all inclined to the vertical by the same angle. Movement of the wedge element is also guided by the engagement of the retaining pins 111 within the guide slots 132.

[0074] As previously, it is envisaged that a transom 5, will be provided with an end piece 106 and a wedge element 118, as described above, at each end of the transom.

[0075] In order to secure the transom to a pair of spaced-apart standards, a scaffolding erector, in a generally identical manner as described previously in connection with the earlier embodiment, would initially rotate the transom so that the transversely-extending heads 117 on the shafts 116 extend vertically. The wedge elements 118 will then lie substantially horizontally. The head 117 on each shaft 116 can then be inserted through a respective opening 2 into the hollow interior of the standard 1. The transom 5 may then be rotated by 90°, so that the main part of the wedge element 118 lies below the transom. This will result in the wedge element 118 falling until the retaining pin 111 reaches the junction between the guide slot 132 and the retaining recess 133. The retaining pin 111 thus pivotally supports the wedge element 118 which hangs down below the end piece 106. This condition is illustrated in Figure 17.

[0076] Subsequently, the scaffolding erector rotates the transom by 180°. This moves the wedge element 118 to a position in which the main part of the wedge element extends upwardly above the plate 108 of the end piece 106. The wedge element thus begins to fall under the force of gravity and the retaining pin 111 strikes the rounded corner 134 between the guide slots 132 and the retaining recess 133. As the wedge element continues to fall, due to the configuration of the rounded corner 134, the retaining pin 111 enters the guide slot 132 and the guiding projections 112, 113 of the end plate come into contact with the parallel guide surfaces 129, 130 of the wedge element. At the same time as the retaining pin 111 strikes the rounded corner 134, the bearing surfaces 199, 200 of the plate 108 and the wedge element 118 respectively, engage one another. Due to the angle of inclination of the bearing surfaces 199, 200 relative to the uppermost projection surface 114 and the uppermost guide surface 129, the wedge element is thus guided such that as it continues to move downwardly, the wedge element is forced to move along an axis which is parallel with the axis of the guide slot 132 and also parallel to the axes of the guide surfaces 129,130. It is envisaged that an alternative embodiment may have no tick-shaped opening 131 or retaining pins 111, in which case the wedge element 118 would be guided so as to move along an axis parallel to the guide surfaces 129, 130, solely by virtue of the bearing surface 200 of the wedge clement 118 striking the bearing surface 199 of the plate 108.

[0077] Under the force of gravity, the wedge element will fall to an engagement position as shown in Figure 18. As the wedge element falls under the force of gravity, the wedge element is constrained to move along an axis parallel with the axis of the guide slot 132 and the guide surfaces 129,130. The front edge 123 of the wedge element 118 is maintained substantially vertical, but moves in a direction which has a component aligned with the axis of the ledger 5. The front edge 123 of the wedge element thus comes into engagement with the exterior surface of the standard 1 adjacent the aperture 2 through which the shaft 116 extends. The wedge element will, solely under the influence of gravity, move to a position in which a substantially rigid connection or joint is created.

[0078] It should be appreciated, therefore, that by following a procedure generally identical to that described above in connection with the earlier-described embodiment, the scaffolding erector has, simply by inserting the head 117 on the shaft 116 through an appropriate aperture 2 and rotating the ledger 5, created a substantially rigid connection between the ledger 5 and the standard 1.

[0079] The scaffolding erector may then hammer the wedge element 113 downwardly to create a very secure connection, in a manner similar to that described previously in connection with the previous embodiment. It will be appreciated that the upper and lower arcuate front faces 126,127 of the wedge element and the front edges 124,125 of the side walls 119,120 engage the outer surface of the standard or ledger 1, such that the wedge element makes a secure wedging engagement with the standard 1. It will also be appreciated from the drawings, that the front edge 123 of the wedge element is of substantially greater vertical height relative to the dimensions of the transom 5.

[0080] When the above-described scaffold connection of the second embodiment is to be released, the lower part of the wedge element 118 is struck with a hammer, providing a generally upward movement to the wedge element 118. Because of the engagement of the retaining pin 111 within the guide slot 132, and because of the engagement between the guiding projections 112, 113 and the respective guiding surfaces 129,130, which are parallel to the guide slot 132, the wedge element 118 tends to move upwardly in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of the guide slot 132. The wedge element 118 thus moves upwardly with a movement which has a vertical component, and a component directed towards the left, as shown in the accompanying drawings. The wedge element moves upwards until the retaining pin 111 reaches the bottom of the slot 132 at the junction between the slot 132 and the retaining recess 133. This terminates the upward movement of the wedge element 118, at which point, the upper guiding projection 112 has become completely disengaged from the upper guiding surface 129, and the lower guiding projection 113 has similarly become completely disengaged from the lower guiding surface 130. The component of movement directed towards the left, as shown in the accompanying drawings, thus causes the wedge element to rotate anti-clockwise about the transverse axis (into the page) as defined by the retaining pin 111. The wedge element then again falls under the force of gravity, but as the wedge element falls, the retaining pin 111 becomes received within the retaining recess 133, as shown in Figure 19, in a generally similar manner to the previously disclosed embodiment as illustrated in Figure 11. Thus, the wedge element 118 is retained in a position in which there is no wedging effect between the wedge element and the standard 1. The ledger 5 may then be removed from the standard 1 simply by rotating the ledger to bring the head 117 into alignment with the respective opening 2, and by withdrawing the ledger with a transverse, horizontal movement.

[0081] The wedge elements 30,118 in the above-described embodiments of the invention have a substantial vertical length, and the length of the front edges 31,123 respectively which engage the standard when the wedge elements are in their respective clamping positions is at least twice the diameter of the associated ledger 5. This provides a joint which is very resistant to any tendency of the ledger to rotate about a horizontal axis co-incident with the aperture 2 through which the shafts 13,116 pass. The connection provided by the arrangement of Figures 13 to 18 is particularly strong because the guide surfaces 129,130 engage the guide projections 112,113 at positions spaced apart by more than the diameter of the ledger 5.

[0082] Because the wedge elements present two horizontally spaced apart regions 21, 23, 124,125 each of which has a linear edge which is forced into contact with the outer surface of the standard, the resultant connection is very resistant to any tendency of the ledger to rotate, in a horizontal plane, about a vertical axis coincident with the aperture 2 through which the shafts 13,116 pass. Thus the scaffolding connection is very strong.

[0083] It is to be noted that the standard 1 described above is a simple scaffold tube with apertures, slots or openings formed in the side wall thereof. The scaffold tube is not provided with any additional component which is welded or secured thereto. This minimises the manufacturing costs for the scaffold tube. Whilst the described scaffold tube utilised for this standard 1 is of round cross-section, it is to be appreciated that a tube of any appropriate cross-section, such as square cross-section, or octagonal cross-section may be used if desired.

[0084] Whilst it is preferred to use a simple embodiment, of the type described, in which the end pieces 6,106 carry a fixed shaft which in turn carries a fixed head, it would be possible to utilise a head of adjustable size, the head thus being of reduced size as it passes through the slot into the hollow interior of the standard, and then being mechanically enlarged.

[0085] In the present specification "comprise" means "includes or consists of" and "comprising" means "including or consisting of".

Claims

1. A scaffolding connection comprising a vertical scaffold member (1) provided with a slot (2), a horizontal scaffold member (5) provided with a shaft (13) dimensioned to be inserted in the slot (2) and carrying an engagement element (14) dimensioned or adapted to be dimensioned so that part of the engagement element (14) has greater dimension than the width of at least part of the slot (2) to engage inner walls adjacent the slot (2), and wedge means to bias the said part of the engagement element (14) against said inner walls to form a connection between the scaffold members (1,5); the wedge means comprising a wedge element comprising a substantially hollow member mounted on an end element (6) on the horizontal scaffold member, the connection characterised by said wedge element (3) presenting an edge (31) positioned to engage the vertical scaffold member (1), there being a plurality of projections (8,11) provided on one of said elements (6,30) to engage co-operating guiding surfaces (35,40) provided on the other element, wherein the wedge element is mounted on a substantially planar plate forming part of the end element (6), the wedge element (30) having two side walls adjacent opposed sides of the plate to guide the wedge element (30) in movement in a plane parallel with the plane of the plate; said guiding surfaces (35,40) being inclined; the connection being configured such that rotation of the horizontal scaffold member (5) by 180° urges the guiding surfaces (35,40) into contact with the projections (8,11) and hence causes the wedge element (30), solely under the influence of gravity, to move in a direction having a component aligned with the longitudinal axis of said horizontal scaffold member (5) to a position in which a substantially rigid connection between said scaffold members (1,5) is created.

2. A scaffolding connection according to Claim 1, wherein the said projections comprise at least one set of projections including a first projection (8) and a second projection (11) provided on the end element of the horizontal scaffold member, the first projection (8) being located to engage a first guiding surface (35) provided on the wedge element (30), and the second projection (11) being located to engage a second guiding surface (40) provided on the wedge element (30), the first and second guiding surfaces (35,40) being being substantially parallel.

3. A scaffolding connection according to Claim 2, wherein the first and second guiding surfaces (35,40) are of corresponding shape and aligned.

4. A scaffolding connection according to any preceding Claim, wherein the edge (31) of the wedge element (30) positioned to engage the vertical scaffold member (1) comprises two substantially linear surfaces that are horizontally spaced apart.

5. A scaffolding connection according to any one of claims Claim 2 to 4, wherein the first guiding surface (35) provided on the wedge element (30) is an outer peripheral surface of part of the wedge element (30), and the second guiding surface (40) provided on the wedge element (30) is an edge of a slot provided in part of the wedge element.

6. A scaffolding connection according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the first and second guiding surfaces (35,40) are arranged in alignment such that they are located one substantially vertically above the other, when the connection is made up.

7. A scaffolding connection according to Claim 6, wherein the first and second guiding surfaces (129,130) are vertically spaced apart by a distance greater than the maximum transverse cross-sectional dimension of the horizontal scaffold member (5).

8. A scaffolding connection according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein a slot (40) is provided in part of the wedge element (30) the slot (40) being inclined relative to the edge (31) of the wedge element (30) positioned to engage the vertical scaffold member (1).

9. A scaffolding connection according any one of Claims 5 to 8, wherein the first guiding surface (35) and the second guiding surface (40) are inclined relative to the edge (31) of the wedge element (30) positioned to engage the vertical scaffold member (1).

10. A scaffolding connection according to Claim 9 when dependent upon Claim 5 or Claim 8, wherein the said slot (40) is provided, at the end thereof which is closest to the said edge (31) of the wedge element (30) positioned to engage the vertical scaffold member (1), with an inclined recess (41) which is inclined towards the said edge (31) of the wedge element (30).

11. A scaffolding connection according to any, preceding Claim, wherein the planar plate forming part of the end element (6) of the horizontal scaffold member (5) carries two sets of oppositely directed projections (8,11) on opposed sides of the plate, and the said side walls, when viewed from opposed sides of the wedge element (30), being of mirror image configuration, the said guiding surfaces (35,40) being provided on each of said side walls.

12. A scaffolding connection according to Claim 11, wherein the said wedge element (30) is formed of sheet metal, the sheet metal defining an upper part of the wedge element and two depending side walls, these said side walls being provided with the guiding surfaces (35,40) adapted to co-operate with the projections (8,11), the lower edges of the side walls being secured together.

13. A scaffolding connection according to any one of Claim 12, wherein the said lower edges of the side walls are secured together with a welded tab (26).

14. A scaffolding connection according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the planar plate forming part of the end element (6) of the horizontal scaffold member (5) carries a pair of projections (112,113) extending in the plane of the plate, and the said guiding surfaces (112,113) extend between said side walls of the wedge element (118).

15. A scaffolding connection according to Claim 14, wherein the wedge element (118) comprises a metal casting.

16. A scaffolding connection according to any one of preceding Claim, wherein the end element (6) of the horizontal scaffold member is an element carrying a plug dimensioned to be received within the horizontal scaffold member (5) to mount the end element (6) on the horizontal scaffold member (5).

17. A scaffolding connection according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the engagement element (14) comprises a head carried by the shaft (13) having a major axis extending perpendicularly to the axis of the horizontal scaffold member (5).

18. A scaffolding connection according to any one of Claims 1 to 16, wherein the engagement element comprises a disc (53) having a face orthogonal to the axis of the horizontal scaffold member (5).

19. A scaffolding connection according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the vertical scaffold member (1) is provided with a plurality of said slots (2).

20. A scaffolding connection according to Claim 19, wherein the slots (2) are positioned at 25cm intervals along the length of the vertical scaffold member (1).

21. A scaffolding connection according to Claim 19 or 20, wherein the slots (2) are arranged in groups of orthogonal slots.

22. A method of creating a scaffolding connection between a vertical scaffold member (1) and a horizontal scaffold member (5), the vertical scaffold member (1) being provided with at least one scaffold member slot (2), the horizontal scaffold members (5) being provided, at one end thereof, with a shaft (13) dimensioned to be inserted in the scaffold member slot (2) and carrying an engagement element (14) dimensioned so that part of the engagement element (14) has a greater dimension than the width of at least part of the scaffold member slot (2) to engage the walls adjacent the slot (2), the horizontal scaffold member (5) also being provided, adjacent the engagement element (14), with a wedge element (30), the wedge element (30) having two substantially planar parts which are located adjacent two opposed parallel faces of a plate element secured to the horizontal scaffold member (5), one element being provided with a plurality of projections (8,11) and the other element being provided with guiding surfaces (35,40) adapted to co-operate with the projections (8,11) of the adjacent element, the guiding surfaces (35,40) being linear and being inclined relative to an edge part (31) of the wedge element (30), the method comprising the steps of initially locating the horizontal scaffold member (5) with the plate element being positioned so that the said opposed parallel faces are substantially horizontal, inserting said engaging element (14) through said scaffold member slot (2) and rotating the horizontal scaffold member (5) so that the plate element has the opposed parallel faces thereof substantially vertical and permitting the wedge element (30) to fall, under the force of gravity with the projections (8,11) on one element engaging the guiding surfaces (35,40) of the other element to move the wedge (30) to bring one edge (31) thereof into engagement with the said vertical scaffold member (1).

23. A method according to Claim 22, wherein the said plate element is provided with said projections (8,11) and the wedge element (30) is provided with the guiding surfaces (35,40), one guiding surface being constituted by a wedge slot (40) inclined relative to said edge (31) of the wedge (30), the method comprising the intermediate step, to be performed after the horizontal scaffold mcmber (5) has been located with the engagement element (14) inserted in the scaffold member slot (2), of rotating the horizontal scaffold member (5) so that the wedge element (30) extends beneath the said plate element with one projection (11) being received in the end of the wedge slot (40) which is closest to said edge (31) of the wedge element (30).

24. A method according to Claim 23, wherein the said wedge slot (40) is provided with a recess (41) at the end of the slot (40) closest to the said edge (31) of the wedge element (30), the recess (41) being inclined towards the said edge (31) of the wedge element (30), the method comprising the step of applying an upward force to the wedge element (30) when the wedge element (30) is m the wedging position, causing the wedge (30) to move generally upwardly being guided by the co-operating projections (8,11) and guiding surfaces (35,40), and permitting the wedge (30) to rotate about the guide means (11) contained within the slot (40) when the wedge (30) is being moved to such an extent that the said guide means (11) within the wedge slot (40) is located at the bottom part of the wedge slot (40) and subsequently permitting the wedge (30) to fall with the guide means (11) located in the said recess (41) to dis-assemble the connection.

25. A method according to Claim 22, wherein said plate element is provided with said projections (8,11) and a retaining projection, the wedge element (30) being provided with the guiding surfaces (8, 40) and a wedge slot (40) inclined relative to said edge (31) of the wedge (30), method comprising the intermediate step, to be performed after the horizontal scaffold members (5) has been located with the engagement element (14) inserted in the scaffold member slot (2), of rotating the horizontal scaffold member (5) so that the wedge element (30) extends beneath the said plate element with the retaining projection (11) being received in that end of the wedge slot (40) which is closest to said edg (31) of the wedge element (30).

26. A method according to Claim 25, wherein the said wedge slot (40) is provided with a recess (41) at the end of the slot (40) closest to the said edge (31) of the wedge element (30), the recess (41) being inclined towards the said edge (31) of the wedge element (30), the method comprising the step of applying an upward force to the wedge element (30) when the wedge element (30) is in the wedging position, causing the wedge element (30) to move generally upwardly being guided by the co-operating projections (8,11) and guiding surfaces (35,40), and permitting the wedge element (30) to rotate about the retaining projection (11) received within the wedge slot (40) when the wedge element (30) is being moved to such an extent that the retaining projection (11) within the wedge slot (40) is located at the bottom part of the slot and subsequently permitting the wedge element (30) to fall with the retaining projection (11) located in said recess (41) to dis-assemble the connection.

Ansprüche

1. Gerüstverbindung, umfassend ein vertikales Gerüstteil (1), das mit einem Schlitz (2) versehen ist, ein horizontales Gerüstteil (5), das mit einem Schaft (13) versehen ist, der zum Einführen in den Schlitz (2) dimensioniert ist und ein Eingreifelement (14) trägt, das so dimensioniert oder dimensionierbar ist, daß ein Teil des Eingreifelements (14) eine größere Abmessung als die Breite von wenigstens einem Teil des Schlitzes (2) aufweist, um Innenwände benachbart zum Schlitz (2) einzugreifen, und ein Verkeilmittel zum Vorspannen von besagtem Teil des Eingreifelements (14) gegen genannte Innenwände zur Ausbildung einer Verbindung zwischen den Gerüstteilen (1, 5); wobei das Verkeilmittel ein Verkeilelement umfaßt, das ein im wesentlichen hohles Teil umfaßt, das an einem Endelement (6) an dem horizontalen Gerüstteil montiert ist, wobei die Verbindung dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, daß genanntes Verkeilelement (3) eine Kante (31) bietet, die zum Eingreifen des vertikalen Gerüstteils (1) positioniert ist, eine Anzahl von Vorsprüngen (8, 11) an einem von genannten Elementen (6, 30) zum Eingreifen von zusammenwirkenden Führungsflächen (35, 40), die an dem anderen Element vorgesehen sind, vorgesehen ist, wobei das Verkeilelement an einer im wesentlichen planaren Platte montiert ist, die einen Teil des Endelements (6) bildet, das Verkeilelement (30) zwei Seitenwände aufweist, die sich benachbart zu gegenüberliegenden Seiten der Platte befinden, um das Verkeilelement (30) bei Bewegung in einer Ebene parallel zur Ebene der Platte zu führen; wobei genannte Führungsflächen (35, 40) geneigt sind; die Verbindung so konfiguriert ist, daß eine Drehung des horizontalen Gerüstteils (5) um 180 ° die Führungsflächen (35, 40) in Kontakt mit den Vorsprüngen (8, 11) zwingt und somit bewirkt, daß sich das Verkeilelement (30), lediglich unter dem Einfluß von Schwerkraft, in eine Richtung mit einer Komponente, die mit der Längsachse von genanntem horizontalen Gerüstteil (5) in gerader Linie verläuft, zu einer Position bewegt, in der eine im wesentlichen starre Verbindung zwischen genannten Gerüstteilen (1, 5) erzeugt wird.

2. Gerüstverbindung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß genannte Vorsprünge wenigstens einen Satz von Vorsprüngen umfassen, der einen ersten Vorsprung (8) und einen zweiten Vorsprung (11) enthält, die an dem Endelement des horizontalen Gerüstteils vorgesehen sind, wobei der erste Vorsprung (8) zum Eingreifen einer an dem Verkeilelement (30) vorgesehenen ersten Führungsfläche (35) angeordnet ist und der zweite Vorsprung (11) zum Eingreifen einer an dem Verkeilelement (30) vorgesehenen zweiten Führungsfläche (40) vorgesehen ist, wobei die ersten und zweiten Führungsflächen (35, 40) im wesentlichen parallel sind.

3. Gerüstverbindung nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die ersten und zweiten Führungsflächen (35, 40) übereinstimmende Gestalt aufweisen und fluchten.

4. Gerüstverbindung nach einem vorangehenden Anspruch, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die zum Eingreifen des vertikalen Gerüstteils (1) positionierte Kante (31) des Verkeilelements (30) zwei im wesentlichen lineare Flächen umfaßt, die horizontal voneinander im Abstand angeordnet sind.

5. Gerüstverbindung nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die an dem Verkeilelement (30) vorgesehene erste Führungsfläche (35) eine Außenrandfläche eines Teils des Verkeilelements (30) ist und die an dem Verkeilelement (30) vorgesehene zweite Führungsfläche (40) eine Kante eines in einem Teil des Verkeilelements vorgesehenen Schlitzes ist.

6. Gerüstverbindung nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die ersten und zweiten Führungsflächen (35, 40) so ausgerichtet sind, daß sie eine im wesentlichen vertikal über der anderen bei Herstellung der Verbindung angeordnet sind.

7. Gerüstverbindung nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die ersten und zweiten Führungsflächen (129, 130) um eine Strecke vertikal im Abstand angeordnet sind, die größer als die maximale Querschnittsabmessung des horizontalen Gerüstteils (5) ist.

8. Gerüstverbindung nach Anspruch 6 oder 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein Schlitz (40) in einem Teil des Verkeilelements (30) vorgesehen ist, wobei der Schlitz (40) relativ zur zum Eingreifen des vertikalen Gerüstteils (1) positionierten Kante (31) des Verkeilelements (30) geneigt ist.

9. Gerüstverbindung nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die erste Führungsfläche (35) und die zweite Führungsfläche (40) relativ zur zum Eingreifen des vertikalen Gerüstteils (1) positionierten Kante (31) des Verkeilelements (30) geneigt sind.

10. Gerüstverbindung nach Anspruch 9 in Abhängigkeit von Anspruch 5 oder Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß genannter Schlitz (40) an seinem Ende, das sich am dichtesten an der zum Eingreifen des vertikalen Gerüstteils (1) positionierten Kante (31) des Verkeilelements (30) befindet, mit einer geneigten Aussparung (41) versehen ist, die in Richtung auf die Kante (31) des Verkeilelements (30) geneigt ist.

11. Gerüstverbindung nach einem vorangehenden Anspruch, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die einen Teil des Endelements (6) des horizontalen Gerüstteils (5) bildende planare Platte zwei Sätze von entgegengesetzt gerichteten Vorsprüngen (8, 11) an gegenüberliegenden Seiten der Platte trägt und die Seitenwände, bei Betrachtung von gegenüberliegenden Seiten des Verkeilelements (30), eine spiegelbildliche Konfiguration aufweisen, wobei genannte Führungsflächen (35, 40) an jeder von genannten Seitenwänden vorgesehen sind.

12. Gerüstverbindung nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß genanntes Verkeilelement (30) aus Blech gebildet ist, wobei das Blech einen oberen Teil des Verkeilelements und zwei herabhängende Seitenwände bildet, wobei diese Seitenwände mit den Führungsflächen (35, 40) versehen sind, die gestaltet sind, um mit den Vorsprüngen (8, 11) zusammenzuwirken, wobei die unteren Kanten der Seitenwände aneinander gesichert sind.

13. Gerüstverbindung nach Anspruch 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß genannte untere Kanten der Seitenwände mit einem angeschweißten Streifen (26) aneinander gesichert sind.

14. Gerüstverbindung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die einen Teil des Endelements (6) des horizontalen Gerüstteils (5) bildende planare Platte ein Paar Vorsprünge (112, 113) trägt, die sich in der Ebene der Platte erstrecken, und sich genannte Führungsflächen (112, 113) zwischen genannten Seitenflächen des Verkeilelements (118) erstrecken.

15. Gerüstverbindung nach Anspruch 14, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Verkeilelement (118) ein Metallgußteil umfaßt.

16. Gerüstverbindung nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Endelement (6) des horizontalen Gerüstteils ein Element ist, daß einen Stecker trägt, der zur Aufnahme in dem horizontalen Gerüstteil (5) zur Montage des Endelements (6) an dem horizontalen Gerüstteil (5) dimensioniert ist.

17. Gerüstverbindung nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Eingreifelement (14) einen von dem Schaft (13) getragenen Kopf mit einer Hauptachse umfaßt, die sich senkrecht zur Achse des horizontalen Gerüstteils (5) erstreckt.

18. Gerüstverbindung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 16, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Eingreifelement eine Scheibe mit einer zur Achse des horizontalen Gerüstteils (5) orthogonalen Fläche umfaßt.

19. Gerüstverbindung nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das vertikale Gerüstteil (1) mit einer Anzahl von genannten Schlitzen (2) versehen ist.

20. Gerüstverbindung nach Anspruch 19, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Schlitze (2) in Intervallen von 25 cm entlang der Länge des vertikalen Gerüstteils (1) positioniert sind.

21. Gerüstverbindung nach Anspruch 19 oder 20, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Schlitze (2) in Gruppen von orthogonalen Schlitzen angeordnet sind.

22. Verfahren zur Herstellung einer Gerüstverbindung zwischen einem vertikalen Gerüstteil (1) und einem horizontalen Gerüstteil (5), wobei das vertikale Gerüstteil (1) mit wenigstens einem Gerüstteilschlitz (2) versehen ist, das horizontale Gerüstteil (5) an einem Ende desselben mit einem Schaft (13) versehen ist, der zum Einführen in den Gerüstteilschlitz (2) dimensioniert ist und ein Eingreifelement (14) trägt, das so dimensioniert ist, daß ein Teil des Eingreifelements (14) eine größere Abmessung als die Breite von wenigstens einem Teil des Gerüstteilschlitzes (2) zum Eingreifen der Wände benachbart zum Schlitz (2) aufweist, wobei das horizontale Gerüstteil (5) auch, benachbart zum Eingreifelement (14), mit einem Verkeilelement (30) versehen ist, wobei das Verkeilelement (30) zwei im wesentlichen planare Teile aufweist, die benachbart zu zwei gegenüberliegenden parallelen Seiten eines an dem horizontalen Gerüstteil (5) gesicherten Plattenelements angeordnet sind, wobei ein Element mit einer Anzahl von Vorsprüngen (8, 11) versehen ist und das andere Element mit Führungsflächen (35, 40) versehen ist, die zum Zusammenwirken mit den Vorsprüngen (8, 11) des benachbarten Elements gestaltet sind, wobei die Führungsflächen (35, 40) linear sind und relativ zu einen Kantenteil (31) des Verkeilelements (30) geneigt sind, wobei das Verfahren die Schritte umfaßt:

Anfängliches Anordnen des horizontalen Gerüstteils (5), wobei das Plattenelement so positioniert wird, daß genannte gegenüberliegende parallele Seiten im wesentlichen horizontal sind, Einführen von genanntem Eingreifelement (14) durch genannten Gerüstteilschlitz (2) und Drehen des horizontalen Gerüstteils (5) so, daß die gegenüberliegenden parallelen Seiten des Plattenelements im wesentlichen vertikal sind und das Verkeilelement (30) unter der Schwerkraft fallen kann, wobei die Vorsprünge (8, 11) an einem Element die Führungsflächen (35, 40) des anderen Elements eingreifen, um den Keil (30) zu bewegen und eine Kante (31) desselben in Eingriff mit genanntem vertikalen Gerüstteil (1) zu bringen.

23. Verfahren nach Anspruch 22, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Plattenelement mit genannten Vorsprüngen (8, 11) versehen ist und das Verkeilelement (30) mit den Führungsflächen (35, 40) versehen ist, wobei eine Führungsfläche von einem Verkeilschlitz (40) gebildet wird, der relativ zu genannter Kante (31) des Keils (30) geneigt ist, wobei das Verfahren den Zwischenschritt, der durchzuführen ist, nachdem das horizontale Gerüstteil (5) mit dem in dem Gerüstschlitz (2) eingeführten Eingreifelement (14) angeordnet worden ist, des Drehens des horizontalen Gerüstteils (5) derart, daß sich das Verkeilelement (30) unter genanntem Plattenelement erstreckt, wobei ein Vorsprung (11) in dem Ende des Keilschlitzes (40) aufgenommen ist, das sich am dichtesten an genannter Kante (31) des Verkeilelements (30) befindet, umfaßt.

24. Verfahren nach Anspruch 23, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß genannter Verkeilschlitz (40) mit einer Aussparung (41) an dem Ende des Schlitzes (40) versehen ist, das sich am dichtesten an genannter Kante (31) des Verkeilelements (30) befindet, wobei die Aussparung (41) in Richtung auf genannte Kante (31) des Verkeilelements (10) geneigt ist, wobei das Verfahren den Schritt des Ausübens einer nach oben gerichteten Kraft auf das Verkeilelement (30), wenn sich das Verkeilelement (30) in der Verkeilposition befindet, umfaßt, wodurch bewirkt wird, daß sich der Keil (30) mit Führung durch die zusammenwirkenden Vorsprünge (8, 11) und Führungsflächen (35, 40) allgemein nach oben bewegt, und sich der Keil (30) um das in dem Schlitz (40) enthaltene Führungsmittel (11) drehen kann, wenn der Keil (30) in einem Maße bewegt wird, daß genanntes Führungsmittel (11) in dem Keilschlitz (40) an dem unteren Teil des Keilschlitzes (40) angeordnet ist, und nachfolgend der Keil (30), wobei das Führungsmittel (11) in der Aussparung (41) angeordnet ist, zum Lösen der Verbindung fallen kann.

25. Verfahren nach Anspruch 22, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß genanntes Plattenelement mit genannten Vorsprüngen (8, 11) und einem Haltevorsprung versehen ist, wobei das Verkeilelement (30) mit den Führungsflächen (8, 40) und einem relativ zu genannter Kante (31) des Keils (30) geneigten Verkeilschlitz (40) versehen ist, wobei das Verfahren den Zwischenschritt, der durchzuführen ist, nachdem das horizontale Gerüstteil (5) mit dem in den Gerüstteilschlitz (2) eingeführten Eingreifelement (14) angeordnet worden ist, des Drehens des horizontalen Gerüstteils (5) derart, daß sich das Verkeilelement (30) unter dem Plattenelement erstreckt, wobei der Haltevorsprung (11) in dem Ende des Keilschlitzes (40) aufgenommen ist, das sich am dichtesten an genannter Kante (31) des Verkeilelements (30) befindet, umfaßt.

26. Verfahren nach Anspruch 25, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß genannter Keilschlitz (40) mit einer Aussparung (41) an dem Ende des Schlitzes (40) versehen ist, das sich am dichtesten an genannter Kante (31) des Verkeilelements (30) befindet, wobei die Aussparung (41) in Richtung auf genannte Kante (31) des Verkeilelements (30) geneigt ist, wobei das Verfahren den Schritt des Ausübens einer nach oben gerichteten Kraft auf das Verkeilelement (30), wenn sich das Verkeilelement (30) in der Verkeilposition befindet, umfaßt, wodurch bewirkt wird, daß sich das Verkeilelement (30) mit Führung durch die zusammenwirkenden Vorsprünge (8, 11) und Führungsflächen (35, 40) allgemein nach oben bewegt, und sich das Verkeilelement (30) um den in dem Verkeilschlitz (40) aufgenommenen Haltevorsprung (11) drehen kann, wenn das Verkeilelement (30) in einem Maße bewegt wird, daß der Haltevorsprung (11) in dem Verkeilschlitz (40) an dem unteren Teil des Schlitzes angeordnet wird, und das Verkeilelement (30) nachfolgend mit in genannter Aussparung (41) angeordneten Haltevorsprung (11) zum Lösen der Verbindung fallen kann.

Revendications

1. Raccord d'échafaudage comprenant un élément d'échafaud vertical (1) doté d'une fente (2), un élément d'échafaud horizontal (5) doté d'une tige (13) dimensionnée de manière à s'insérer dans la fente (2) et supportant un élément d'engagement (14) dimensionné ou conçu pour être dimensionné de telle sorte qu'une partie de l'élément d'engagement (14) présente une dimension supérieure à la largeur d'au moins une partie de la fente (2) afin d'engager les parois internes adjacentes à la fente (2), et des moyens formant coin permettant d'incliner ladite partie de l'élément d'engagement (14) contre lesdites parois internes pour former un raccord entre les éléments d'échafaud (1, 5) ; le moyen formant coin comprenant un élément formant coin comprenant un élément sensiblement creux monté sur un élément d'extrémité (6) sur l'élément d'échafaud horizontal, le raccord étant caractérisé en ce que ledit élément formant coin (3) présente un bord (31) placé de manière à s'engager avec l'élément d'échafaud vertical (1), une pluralité de saillies (8, 11) étant prévue sur l'un desdits éléments (6, 30) pour engager des surfaces de guidage coopérantes (35, 40) prévues sur l'autre élément, dans lequel l'élément formant coin est monté sur une plaque sensiblement plane faisant partie de l'élément d'extrémité (6), l'élément formant coin (30) ayant deux parois latérales adjacentes aux côtés opposés de la plaque pour guider l'élément -formant coin (30) en mouvement dans un plan parallèle au plan de la plaque ; lesdites surfaces de guidage (35, 40) étant inclinées ; le raccord étant configuré de telle sorte que la rotation de l'élément d'échafaud horizontal (5) de 180° pousse les surfaces de guidage (35, 40) pour qu'elles entrent en contact avec les saillies (8, 11) et donc provoque le déplacement de l'élément formant coin (30), uniquement sous l'influence de la gravité, dans un sens dont une composante est alignée avec l'axe horizontal dudit élément d'échafaud horizontal (5) jusqu'à une position dans laquelle un raccord sensiblement rigide entre lesdits éléments d'échafaud (1, 5) est créé.

2. Raccord d'échafaudage selon la revendication 1, dans lequel lesdites saillies comprennent au moins un ensemble de saillies comportant une première saillie (8) et une deuxième saillie (11) prévues sur l'élément d'extrémité de l'élément d'échafaud horizontal, la première saillie (8) étant placée de manière à engager une première surface de guidage (35) prévue sur l'élément formant coin (30), et la deuxième saillie (11) étant placée de manière à engager une deuxième surface de guidage (40) prévue sur l'élément formant coin (30), les première et deuxième surfaces de guidage (35, 40) étant sensiblement parallèles.

3. Raccord d'échafaudage selon la revendication 2, dans lequel les première et deuxième surfaces de guidage (35, 40) présentent une forme correspondante et sont alignées.

4. Raccord d'échafaudage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le bord (31) de l'élément formant coin (30) placé de manière à s'engager avec l'élément d'échafaud vertical (1) comprend deux surfaces sensiblement linéaires qui sont espacées horizontalement.

5. Raccord d'échafaudage selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 4, dans lequel la première surface de guidage (35) prévue sur l'élément formant coin (30) est une surface périphérique externe d'une partie de l'élément formant coin (30), et la deuxième surface de guidage (40) prévue sur l'élément formant coin (30) est un bord d'une fente prévue dans une partie de l'élément formant coin.

6. Raccord d'échafaudage selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 4, dans lequel les première et deuxième surfaces de guidage (35, 40) sont alignées de manière à être situées sensiblement verticalement l'une au-dessus de l'autre, lorsque le rapport est effectué.

7. Raccord d'échafaudage selon la revendication 6, dans lequel les première et deuxième surfaces de guidage (129, 130) sont espacées verticalement d'une distance supérieure à la dimension en coupe transversale maximale de l'élément d'échafaud horizontal (5).

8. Raccord d'échafaudage selon la revendication 6 ou la revendication 7, dans lequel une fente (40) est prévue dans une partie de l'élément formant coin (30), la fente (40) étant inclinée par rapport au bord (31) de l'élément formant coin (30) placé de manière à engager l'élément d'échafaud vertical (1).

9. Raccord d'échafaudage selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 8, dans lequel la première surface de guidage (35) et la deuxième surface de guidage (40) sont inclinées par rapport au bord (31) de l'élément formant coin (30) place de manière à engager l'élément d'échafaud vertical (1).

10. Raccord d'échafaudage selon la revendication 9, qui dépend de la revendication 5 ou de la revendication 8, dans lequel ladite fente (40) est dotée, au niveau de son extrémité située le plus près dudit bord (31) de l'élément formant coin (30) placé de manière à engager l'élément d'échafaud vertical (1), d'un évidement incliné (41) qui est incliné vers ledit bord (31) de l'élément formant coin (30).

11. Raccord d'échafaudage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la plaque plane faisant partie de l' élément d'extrémité (6) de l'élément d'échafaud horizontal (5) supporte deux ensembles de saillies dirigées dans des sens opposés (8, 11) sur les côtés opposés de la plaque, et lesdites parois latérales, lorsqu'elles sont vues depuis les côtés opposés de l'élément formant coin (30), présentant une configuration d'image inversée, lesdites surfaces de guidage (35, 40) étant prévues sur chacune desdites parois latérales,

12. Raccord d'échafaudage selon la revendication 11, dans lequel ledit élément formant coin (30) est composé d'une feuille de métal, la feuille de métal définissant une partie supérieure de l'élément formant coin et deux parois latérales dépendantes, lesdites parois latérales étant dotées des surfaces de guidage (35, 40) conçues pour coopérer avec les saillies (8, 11), les bords inférieurs des parois latérales étant fixés l'un à l'autre.

13. Raccord d'échafaudage selon la revendication 12, dans lequel lesdits bords inférieurs des parois latérales sont fixés l'un à l'autre à l'aide d'une languette soudée (26).

14. Raccord d'échafaudage selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10, dans lequel la plaque plane faisant partie de l'élément d'extrémité (6) de l'élément d'échafaud horizontal (5) supporte une paire de saillies (112, 113) s'étendant dans le plan de la plaque, et lesdites surfaces de guidage (112, 113) s'étendent entre lesdites parois latérales de l'élément formant coin (118).

15. Raccord d'échafaudage selon la revendication 14, dans lequel l'élément formant coin (118) comprend une pièce métallique moulée.

16. Raccord d'échafaudage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'élément d'extrémité (6) de l'élément d'échafaud horizontal est un élément supportant une cheville dimensionnée de manière à être reçue à l'intérieur de l'élément d'échafaud horizontal (5) pour monter l'élément d'extrémité (6) sur l'élément d'échafaud horizontal (5).

17. Raccord d'échafaudage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'élément d'engagement (14) comprend une tête supportée par la tige (13) ayant un axe majeur s'étendant perpendiculairement à l'axe de l'élément d'échafaud horizontal (5).

18. Raccord d'échafaudage selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 16, dans lequel l'élément d'engagement comprend un disque (53) ayant une face orthogonale à l'axe de l'élément d'échafaud horizontal (5).

19. Raccord d'échafaudage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'élément d'échafaud vertical (1) est doté d'une pluralité desdites fentes (2).

20. Raccord d'échafaudage selon la revendication 19, dans lequel les fentes (2) sont placées à des intervalles de 25 cm le long de l'élément d'échafaud vertical (1).

21. Raccord d'échafaudage selon la revendication 19 ou 20, dans lequel les fentes (2) sont agencées en groupe de fentes orthogonales.

22. Procédé de création d'un raccord d'échafaudage entre un élément d'échafaud vertical (1) et un élément d'échafaud horizontal (5), l'élément d'échafaud vertical (1) étant doté d'au moins une fente d'élément d'échafaud (2), l'élément d'échafaud horizontal (5) étant doté, au niveau de l'une de ses extrémités, d'une tige (13) dimensionnée de manière à être insérée dans la fente d'élément d'échafaud (2) et supportant un élément d'engagement (14) dimensionné de telle sorte qu'une partie de l'élément d'engagement (14) présente une dimension supérieure à la largeur d'au moins une partie de la fente d'élément d'échafaud (2) afin d'engager les parois adjacentes à la fente (2), l'élément d'échafaud horizontal (5) étant également doté, de manière adjacente à l'élément d'engagement (14), d'un élément formant coin (30), l'élément formant coin (30) ayant deux parties sensiblement planes qui sont situées de manière adjacente à deux faces parallèles opposées d'un élément de plaque fixé à l'élément d'échafaud horizontal (5), un élément étant doté d'une pluralité de saillies (8, 11), et l'autre élément étant doté de surfaces de guidage (35, 40) conçues pour coopérer avec les saillies (8, 11) de l'élément adjacent, les surfaces de guidage (35, 40) étant linéaires et inclinées par rapport à une partie de bord (31) de l'élément formant coin (30), le procédé comprenant les étapes consistant à placer initialement l'élément d'échafaud horizontal (5) avec l'élément de plaque positionné de telle sorte que lesdites faces parallèles opposées sont sensiblement horizontales, à insérer ledit élément d'engagement (14) dans ladite fente d'élément d'échafaud (2) et à faire tourner l'élément d'échafaud horizontal (5) de telle sorte que l'élément de plaque présente des faces parallèles opposées sensiblement verticales et à permettre à l'élément formant coin (30) de tomber, sous la force de gravité, les saillies (8, 11) d'un élément engageant les surfaces de guidage (35, 40) de l'autre élément pour déplacer le coin (30) et amener un bord (31) de celui-ci en engagement avec ledit élément d'échafaud vertical (1).

23. Procédé selon la revendication 22, dans lequel ledit élément de plaque est doté desdites saillies (8, 11) et l'élément formant coin (30) est doté des surfaces de guidage (35, 40), une surface de guidage étant composée d'une fente formant coin (40) inclinée par rapport audit bord (31) du coin (30), le procédé comprenant l'étape intermédiaire, devant être effectuée une fois que l'élément d'échafaud horizontal (5) a été placé avec l'élément d'engagement (14) inséré dans la fente d'élément d'échafaud (2), consistant à faire tourner l'élément d'échafaud horizontal (5) de telle sorte que l'élément formant coin (30) s'étend en dessous dudit élément de plaque, une saillie (11) étant reçue dans l'extrémité de la fente formant coin (40) située le plus près dudit bord (31) de l'élément formant coin (30).

24. Procédé selon la revendication 23, dans lequel ladite fente formant coin (40) est dotée d'un évidement (41) à l'extrémité de la fente (40) située le plus près dudit bord (31) de l'élément formant coin (30), l'évidement (41) étant incliné vers ledit bord (31) de l'élément formant coin (30), le procédé comprenant l'étape consistant à appliquer une force dirigée vers le haut sur l'élément formant coin (30) lorsque l'élément formant coin (30) se trouve dans la position de coin, ce qui provoque le déplacement du coin (30) généralement vers le haut en étant guidé par les saillies coopérantes (8, 11) et les surfaces de guidage (35, 40) et permet aux bords (30) de tourner autour du moyen de guidage (11) contenu dans la fente (40) lorsque le coin (30) est déplacé de telle sorte que ledit moyen de guidage (11) situé à l'intérieur de la fente formant coin (40) est situé au niveau de la partie inférieure de la fente formant coin (40) et permet ensuite au coin (30) de tomber, le moyen de guidage (11) étant situé dans ledit l'évidement (41) pour démonter le raccord.

25. Procédé selon la revendication 22, dans lequel ledit élément de plaque est doté desdites saillies (8, 11) et d'une saillie de retenue, l'élément formant coin (30) étant doté des surfaces de guidage (8, 40) et d'une fente formant coin (40) inclinée par rapport audit bord (31) du coin (30), le procédé comprenant l'étape intermédiaire, devant être effectuée une fois que l'élément d'échafaud horizontal (5) a été placé avec l'élément d'engagement (14) inséré dans la fente d'élément d'échafaud (2), consistant à faire tourner l'élément d'échafaud horizontal (5) de telle sorte que l'élément formant coin (30) s'étend en dessous dudit élément de plaque, la saillie de retenue (11) étant reçue dans l'extrémité de la fente formant coin (40) située le plus près dudit bord (31) de l'élément formant coin (30).

26. Procédé selon la revendication 25, dans lequel ladite fente formant coin (40) est dotée d'un évidement (41) à l'extrémité de la fente (40) située le plus près dudit bord (31) de l'élément formant coin (30), l'évidement (41) étant incliné vers ledit bord (31) de l'élément formant coin (30), le procédé comprenant l'étape consistant à appliquer une force dirigée vers le haut sur l'élément formant coin (30) lorsque l'élément formant coin (30) se trouve dans la position de coin, ce qui provoque le déplacement de l'élément formant coin (30) généralement vers le haut en étant guidé par les saillies coopérantes (8, 11) et les surfaces de guidage (35, 40), et permet à l'élément formant coin (30) de tourner autour de la saillie de retenue (11) reçue à l'intérieur de la fente formant coin (40) lorsque l'élément formant coin (30) est déplacé de telle sorte que la saillie de retenue (11) située à l'intérieur de la fente formant coin (40) est située au niveau de la partie inférieure de la fente et permet ensuite à l'élément formant coin (30) de tomber, la saillie de retenue (11) étant située dans ledit évidement (41) pour démonter le raccord.

Drawing