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(11) | EP 2 230 356 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Hoarding system |
| (57) A re-usable hoarding system (1) comprises a plurality of spaced-apart, steel floor
plates (2) securable, in a releasable manner, to a support structure (5); a corresponding
plurality of steel posts (9), each adapted to be releasably secured at a lower end
thereof to one of the floor plates (2), with at least one upright channel (13) provided
by each post (9); and at least one self-supporting timber panel (15), of such width
that upright edges (14) of the panel (15) are locatable in opposed channels (13) defined
by two adjacent posts (9).
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Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates to a hoarding system which provides the ability for reuse, rather than the hoarding simply being scrapped, as is usually the current procedure.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Building sites conventionally require the erection of perimeter hoarding around the site, of length depending on the size of the site, the hoarding remaining in place for whatever number of months or years are involved to complete the building work. The hoarding serves of course primarily as a barrier to any unauthorized persons entering the site, which invariably presents hazards such as open excavations, as well as deterring theft of building materials and plant. For relatively large building projects, a site may require 1000/3000 linear metres or more of hoarding, and a cost of GB£100,000 to GB£200,000 is not unusual.
[0003] The most widely used system in the UK is to dig post holes for timber posts at suitable spaced-apart locations, to insert the lower ends of a timber post into each hole and to pour in flowable concrete. After allowing the concrete to cure, timber rails are nailed across the posts and plywood panels are nailed to the rails. The panels may carry information and/or be in the house colour(s) of a particular building contractor. However, after completion of building operations, the majority of items of the hoarding are generally scrapped.
[0004] As an alternative to the timber system described above, steel hoarding systems are also known, where the posts are either in-set into the ground, or which require a weight - usually a concrete block - to act as a counterbalance for each post.
Object of the Invention
[0005] A basic object of the present invention is the provision of a hoarding system that is repeatedly reusable.
Summary of the Invention
[0006] According to the present invention there is provided a reusable hoarding system comprising:-
- (i) a plurality of spaced-apart, steel floor plates securable, in a releasable manner, to a support structure;
- (ii) a corresponding plurality of steel posts, each adapted to be releasably secured at a lower end thereof to one of the floor plates, with at least one upright channel provided by each post; and
- (iii) at least one self-supporting timber panel, of such width that upright edges of the panel are locatable in opposed channels defined by two adjacent posts, to retain the panel between two adjacent posts.
Advantages of the Invention
[0007] The hoarding system in accordance with the invention avoids the use of timber posts, avoids the need to excavate receiving holes for the lower ends of the posts, avoids the need to have flowable concrete available, avoids the need to delay completion of panel fitting, usually involving a second site visit, until the concrete has set, avoids the conventional damage to the panels by nailing, and avoids the need to confine these components to a scrap skip when the hoarding is no longer required following completion of building operations.
[0008] On the contrary, the hoarding in accordance with the invention is simply dismantled in toto when no longer required, and transported by vehicle either to a new site or to storage.
Preferred or Optional Features of the Invention
The Floor Plates
[0009] Each floor plate comprises a planar, rectangular base plate provided, in the vicinity of each corner, with a through hole, whereby the floor plate may be releasably secured to a support structure by bolts and nuts.
[0011] From each floor plate extends upwardly a steel fixing strut to which a lower end of a steel post is releasably attachable.
[0013] The fixing strut is fabricated to channel section from a face plate and a pair of parallel gussets.
[0015] The fixing strut is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart through holes, and the lower end of each post is provided with a corresponding number of similarly spaced-through holes, whereby the lower ends of a post are releasably securable to its floor plate by bolts and nuts.
The Steel Posts
[0016] Each steel post provides two opposed channels, whereby the edges of two adjacent panels are retained in the channels of a common post.
[0017] Each steel post comprises a primary, inner component providing one half of the or each channel, and an outer component or facia plate providing the other half of each channel.
The Support Structure
[0018] As a suitable support structure - such as a concrete floor or plinth in satisfactory condition - would rarely be found on any particular site, the support structure to which the floor plates are releasably securable is conveniently provided by a plurality of concrete blocks, each to receive one floor plate and each of suitable weight to provide a free-standing hoarding system, as the block needs to resist wind loading on the hoarding. The provision of a plurality of concrete blocks also provides the solution to soft ground mounting of the hoarding.
[0019] Each block is provided with at least two rolled steel profiles embedded in the concrete, such as Halfen™ channels.
[0022] If Halfen™, or similar channels are provided, the floor plate is seated on top of the block and T-bolts engaged in the Halfen™ channels pass through the base plate.
[0023] The channels of each post are defined between a vertically extending flange of the post proper, a facia plate which is releasably secured to the post. Thus, the edges of the panels are presented to the post flanges, and then the facia plates are fitted to sandwich the edges of the panels between the flanges.
[0024] To ease handling, each concrete block is provided with spaced-apart, parallel apertures/pockets/tunnels for the tines of a fork lift truck and/or with lifting eyes for crane lifting to and from a delivery vehicle to the location required, the latter being pre-marked out in conventional manner.
The Timber Panels
[0029] The panels are of so-called photo-ply material, whereby images, usually in colour are electronically applied to the board.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0031] In the accompanying drawings included by way of example only,
Figure 1 is a front elevation of an assembled hoarding system in accordance with the invention, showing three block supported posts retaining two timber panels;
Figure 2 is a front elevation of one block supported post before the fitting of a panel(s);
Figure 3A is an exploded side elevation of Figure 2, showing how the components are assembled;
Figures 3B and 3C are plan views of Figure 3A before and after the securing of a post, and the adjacent edges of two adjacent panels;
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are plan views of portions of the assembled hoarding for, respectively, two straight (in-line) panels; two panels defining an external corner; two panels defining an internal corner; two panels defining a convex curve, and two panels defining a concave curve;
Figures 9, 10 and 11 are respectively a top plan, front elevation and side elevation of floor plate for straight, convex or concave panels;
Figures 12, 13 and 14 are respectively a top plan, front elevation and side elevation of floor plate for internal corner panels;
Figures 15, 16 and 17 are respectively a top plan, front elevation and side elevation of floor plate for external corner panels;
Figures 18 and 19 are a front elevation and top plan (to a larger scale) of a steel post primary, inner component;
Figures 20 and 21 are a front elevation and top plan (to a larger scale) of a steel post outer component;
Figures 22 and 23 are a front elevation and top plan (to a larger scale) of a steel post of an outer post component for an internal corner;
Figures 24 and 25 are a front elevation and top plan (to a larger scale) of a steel post of an outer post component for an external corner;
Figures 26, 27 and 28 are respectively a plan, front elevation and side elevation of a block to which a selected floor plate is releasably attached by T-bolt the heads of which are engaged in the two, parallel Halfen™ channels; and
Figure 29 exemplifies nineteen blocks and posts showing how straight panels, internal corner panels, external corner panels, convex panels and concave panels may be assembled to define a hoarding structure in accordance with the invention matching the perimeter of any particular building site.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
[0032] In the drawings is illustrated a re-usable hoarding system 1 comprising a plurality of planar, rectangular floor plates 2 of steel provided at selected spaced-apart locations.
[0033] Each floor plate 2 is provided, in the vicinity of each corner, with a through hole 3, whereby the floor plate 2 may be releasably secured to a support structure in the form of a similar plurality of spaced-apart concrete blocks 4, by bolts and nuts 5, with the through holes 3 elongated to provide for positional adjustment.
[0034] To each floor plate 2 is attached, by welding, a steel fixing strut 6 which extends upwardly. A lower end 7 of a steel post 8 is releasably attachable, by nuts and bolts to a floor plate 2.
[0035] The fixing strut 6 is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart through holes 9, and the lower end 7 of each post 8 is provided with a corresponding number of similarly spaced-through holes 10, whereby the lower ends 7 of a post 8 is releasably securable to its floor plate 2 by bolts and nuts 11.
[0036] Each steel post 8 defines and provides two opposed channels 12, whereby opposite edges 13 of two self-supporting panels 14 may be engaged, and retained in the channels 12 of two adjacent posts 8. In detail each steel post 8 comprises a primary, inner component 15 (Figures 18 and 19) which is stepped, providing one half of the or each channel 12, and an outer component or facia plate 16 (Figures 20 and 21) providing the other half of each channel 12.
[0037] Each concrete block 4 is of suitable weight to provide a free-standing hoarding system 1, as the blocks 4 need to resist wind loading on the hoarding.
[0038] Each block 4 is provided with at least two rolled steel profiles 17 - typically Halfen™, or similar channels - embedded in the concrete, which profiles 17 are bonded to the concrete by anchors 18, with the floor plate 2 seated on top 19 of the block 4 and T-bolts engaged in the Halfen™ channels 17 pass through the base plate 3.
[0039] In detail the channels 12 of each post 8 are defined between a vertically extending flange 20 (Figures 18 and 19) of the inner component 16 and the facia plate 21 which is releasably secured to the post 9. Thus, the edges 13 of the panels 14 are presented to the post flanges 20, and then the facia plates 21 are fitted to sandwich the edges 13 of the panels 14 between the flanges.
[0040] To ease handling, each concrete block 5 is provided with spaced-apart, parallel apertures/pockets/tunnels 22 for the tines of a fork lift truck and/or with lifting eyes 23 for crane lifting to and from a delivery vehicle to the location required, the latter being pre-marked out in conventional manner.
[0041] The panels 14 are of industry-standard rectangular form - typically 8' x 4' of a long-life multi-ply construction and are weatherproofed.
[0042] Figure 29 illustrates how the hoarding system 1 in accordance with the invention may be employed for the construction of rectangular hoarding 1A, with 90° outer corners 24, and 90° inner corners 25, concave hoarding 1 B, or convex hoarding 1C, in whatever combination is appropriate for a particular building site.
(i) a plurality of spaced-apart, steel floor plates (2) securable, in a releasable manner, to a support structure (4);
(ii) a corresponding plurality of steel posts (8), each adapted to be releasably secured at a lower end (7) thereof to one of the floor plates (2), with at least one upright channel (12) provided by each post (8); and
(iii) at least one self-supporting timber panel (14), of such width that upright edges (13) of the panel (14) are locatable in opposed channels (12) defined by two adjacent posts (8).