Scaffolding and guard rail for use therein

Abstract

 A scaffolding comprises upright elements which are placed at regular distances from each other and which extend in height direction for receiving successive scaffold sections one above another therebetween. The scaffold sections are separated from each other by at least a floor part. The scaffolding is provided with a guard rail having at least one rail element mounted on an exposed side between successive upright elements and bounding the scaffold section on the exposed side. During assembly thereof the guard rail is suspended from already present horizontal scaffold parts by one person by means of one simple operation. The guard rail comprises a locking element which secures the guard rail against unintended release during assembly or disassembly.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a scaffolding, comprising upright elements placed at distances from each other and ledger elements connected thereto for forming successive scaffold sections therebetween, wherein at least one scaffold section is provided with a guard rail comprising at least one rail part extending between successive upright elements and bounding the scaffold section on an exposed side, and at least one upright part with releasable coupling means, which coupling means connect the guard rail releasably to the scaffolding, wherein locking means are provided having a locking body which is adjustable by a user between a release position, in which the guard rail is releasable from the scaffolding, and a locking position in which the guard rail is connected firmly to the scaffolding.

[0002] Such a scaffolding is usually applied during building and maintenance operations on buildings and industrial installations. A scaffolding is here sometimes designed to size and normally erected from the bottom between uprights arranged for this purpose and anchored to a wall. Series of scaffold sections are thus created at successive levels one above another and are separated from each other by floor parts. The floor parts provide at each level a work floor on which the building or maintenance operations can be safely carried out. For safety reasons the work floor in each scaffold section must provide a fall protection on an exposed side remote from the wall. Workers can for this purpose secure themselves to a scaffolding with a personal fall restraint means, although this limits their freedom of movement within the scaffolding, this being perceived as impractical. Partly for this reason there is a real danger of workers becoming careless to greater or lesser extent during work, and not always being properly secured.

[0003] An extremely practical solution for a fall protection incorporated in the scaffolding provides a guard rail which bounds a scaffold section on the exposed side in order to safeguard a worker against an undesirable fall. A problem which presents itself here during the erection of a scaffolding is that such a guard rail must preferably be arranged from an underlying scaffolding to a level lying thereabove since, due to the absence of this rail in the upper-lying scaffold section, it is not yet possible to work safely therein without a line.

[0004] The present invention has for its object, among others, to provide a scaffolding with a guard rail which, owing to its special construction, allows rapid, simple and forced arrangement from a first scaffold level to a level lying thereabove by one person in one operation in an exceptionally practical and ergonomic manner and which is locked here in all directions.

[0005] In order to achieve the stated object the scaffolding of the type stated in the preamble has the feature according to the invention that the locking body engages clampingly in the locking position on a ledger element of the scaffolding counter to a spring tension of spring means and is provided with at least one operating member which enables the user to move the locking body counter to the spring tension from the locking position to the release position. Both assembly and disassembly of the guard rail in the scaffolding can be performed in ergonomic manner by one person, wherein he/she handles the at least one upright part by hand. The clamping engagement of the locking body provides here for a lateral fixation of the guard rail on the associated ledger element, whereby the guard rail cannot be released or shifted relative to the scaffolding as long as the locking body is in the locking position.

[0006] A stable mounting of the guard rail which can be performed quickly and reliably by one person on their own is possible in a particular embodiment of the scaffolding according to the invention characterized in that the guard rail comprises a set of upright parts which is arranged laterally within reach of the user and extends in the height direction over successive scaffold sections, and from which the coupling means and the locking means extend.

[0007] In an embodiment the scaffolding according to the invention is characterized in that the guard rail is suspended from successive horizontal ledger elements at different heights in the scaffolding. A particular embodiment of the scaffolding has for this purpose the feature according to the invention that the coupling means comprise at least one first suspending bracket at the position of the locking means and at least one second suspending bracket extending at a distance thereunder from the upright parts, this distance at least substantially corresponding to a vertical distance between ledger elements of the scaffolding lying one above another.

[0008] In a particular preferred embodiment the scaffolding according to the invention has the feature here that the at least one first suspending bracket comprises a set of first suspending brackets, that the at least one second suspending bracket comprises a set of second suspending brackets and that the first suspending brackets each comprise a first hook body and the second suspending brackets each comprise a second hook body, which hook bodies each engage round a ledger element, and that the second hook bodies are longer than the first hook bodies, in particular at least one and a half times as long, more particularly at least twice as long. Owing to this longer dimensioning the second, lower hook bodies can already be placed into engagement with the lower ledger element while the first hook bodies with the locking means are still completely clear of the scaffolding. The guard rail then supports by means of the lower hook bodies on the scaffolding while the upper hook bodies and the locking means are brought into engagement with the upper ledger element.

[0009] For storage and transport purposes a guard rail according to the invention has the feature that it is nestable with a similar further guard rail. With a view thereto, a further particular preferred embodiment of the scaffolding according to the invention has the feature that the hook bodies of each set are nestable within the hook bodies of a corresponding set of hook bodies of a further guard rail. A further particular preferred embodiment of the scaffolding according to the invention is more particularly characterized here in that the hook bodies of each set extend laterally from the upright parts at a mutual angle of divergence. The hook bodies of an upper-lying set are thus nested easily within the angle of divergence formed by the underlying set. Not only does this provide for a compact, and therefore space-saving stacking, the nesting is also at least laterally self-positioning and the final stacking straight and stable.

[0010] In order to also ensure a self-positioning stacking in a longitudinal direction, a further particular preferred embodiment of the scaffolding according to the invention has the feature that the locking body comprises on a locking side a first and a second main surface which enclose a mutual angle and extend substantially transversely of the ledger element, and that the locking body comprises a cavity accessible on an opposite side for the purpose of receiving at least substantially fittingly therein a corresponding locking body of the further guide rail on its first and second main surface in a mutual stacking. The angled active surface of the locking element thus provides, in co-action with a similarly embodied cavity, for a self-positioning alignment in the longitudinal direction, and thereby for straight and stable mutual stacking and nesting of the relevant guard rails.

[0011] A further particular embodiment of the scaffolding according to the invention has the feature here that at the at least one operating member comprises a first operating arm which is intended and adapted to be manually operable, and a second operating arm intended and adapted to be operable with a foot of the user, wherein both operating arms are pivotable counter to the spring tension together with the locking body about a shared pivot axis directed substantially parallel to the ledger element. The locking of the guard rail can thus be released with the foot as well as with the hand for the purpose of detaching the guard rail from the scaffolding. The guard rail can hereby be operated from different body positions and at different stages by a user, either with the foot or with the hand according to what is most practical. At least one of the two operating arms is particularly connected here via an intermediate arm to a corresponding operating member of further locking means on an opposite side of the guard rail. The locking means on both sides can thus be operated synchronously.

[0012] In a particular embodiment the scaffolding according to the invention has the feature that a width of the rail part is adjustable in that the rail part is arranged adjustably, particularly in that the rail part is laterally slidable, and more particularly telescopic. The guard rail can thus be adapted to different width dimensions of sections in the scaffolding in order to always provide an efficient safety over this whole width.

[0013] The invention also relates to a guard rail of the type as applied in the above specified scaffolding. The invention particularly also relates here to a guard rail for a scaffolding which is nestable with a similar further guard rail. The invention moreover further relates here to a guard rail intended for a scaffolding which has the feature that at least one first suspending bracket thereof comprises a first hook body with a first length and at least one second suspending bracket thereof comprises a second hook body with a second length, that the first hook body and the second hook body extend from a set of upright parts and are arranged at a distance one above another, and that the second hook body is longer than the first hook body, in particular at least one and a half times as long, more particularly at least twice as long.

[0014] The invention will now be further elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment and accompanying figures. Herein:

figure 1

shows a first exemplary embodiment of a guard rail according to the invention for use in a scaffolding;

figures 2A-B

show a side view and front view of an exemplary embodiment of coupling means of a guard rail of figure 1 according to the invention for use in a scaffolding;

figures 3A-B

show a second exemplary embodiment of a guard rail according to the invention in release state and locking state;

figures 4A-B

show an exemplary embodiment of coupling means of the guard rail of figure 2 according to the invention at different stages of locking;

figures 5A-H

show an exemplary embodiment of a scaffolding according to the invention at successive stages of its erection;

figure 6

is a top view of the guard rail of figure 1 during use;

figures 7A-B

show perspective views of two guard rails of figure 1 in non-nested and nested state;

figures 8A-C

show a front view and side view of a guard rail of figure 1 in nested state.

[0015] The figures are otherwise purely schematic and not drawn to scale. For the sake of clarity some dimensions in particular may be exaggerated to a greater or lesser extent. Corresponding parts are designated as far as possible in the figures with the same reference numeral.

[0016] The exemplary embodiment of a guard rail according to the invention 100 shown in figure 1 comprises a push-up frame comprising a set of vertical rail parts 1,2 coupled to three horizontal parts 3,4 and 5 which together form a lying rail element. The horizontal parts 3 and 4 are in turn also mutually connected by vertical parts 6 and 7 (shown in figure 5B). The vertical rail parts 1,2 are provided with coupling means in the form of locking means 8 and suspending brackets 9 on the upper set thereof and suspending brackets 10 on the lower set thereof.

[0017] A horizontal distance A between the two vertical rail parts 1,2 (indicated in figure 5B) is such that it falls within the reach of an average scaffolder, so that he/she can independently handle and arrange the guard rail in ergonomic manner. Because horizontal parts 3,4 extend laterally outside the vertical rail parts 1,2 for handling, this is independent of the overall width of the rail (likewise indicated in figure 5B) so that there are various possibilities, irrespective of an actual scaffold section width.

[0018] The locking means 8 applied in the guide rail of figure 1 are shown in more detail in figures 2A and 2B in respectively side view and front view. Locking means 8 comprises locking body 81, embodied here as single part, first operating arm 82, second operating arm 83, spring means 84 and intermediate arm 85. The first operating arm 82 is formed in this embodiment as a bracket which connects the respective locking means 8 on vertical rail parts 1 and 2 to each other.

[0019] In the shown exemplary embodiments a distance between the upper set of suspending brackets 9 and the lower set of suspending brackets 10 substantially corresponds to a vertical distance between ledger elements 20, 21 of the scaffolding lying one above another. Figures 3A and 3B show that the upper and lower set of suspending brackets 9, 10 are embodied as hook bodies 9, 10 engaging round ledger elements 20, 21, wherein the lower hook bodies 10 are at least twice as long as the upper hook bodies 9. The lower hook bodies can thus be placed first round ledger element 21, while the upper hook elements still lie clear of ledger element 20, as shown in figure 3A. The upper hook bodies 9 can subsequently be placed round ledger element 20, while the guard rail remains supported on the scaffolding until the locking state is reached as shown in figure 3B.

[0020] Figure 4A shows an embodiment wherein hook body 9 has been placed round ledger element 20 during coupling. By moving first operating arm 82 by hand, via intermediate arm 85 and counter to the spring tension of spring means 84, to upright element 1 as far as a stop 86, locking body 81, embodied in this figure as assembly of two locking body parts, is forced at least partially round scaffold element 20 and then snaps under the relevant ledger element 20 into the locking state as shown in figure 4B. The coupling is released by moving second operating arm 83 to upright element 1 using a foot. Locking body 81 is forced back to the release position as shown in figure 4A.

[0021] The application of the described guard rail in a scaffolding is described at successive stages in figures 5A to 5H. From the lowest shown floor level a worker has to be safeguarded against an undesired fall from the scaffolding. For this purpose guard rails are mounted in the scaffold sections in the manner shown in figures 5A to 5H. This method roughly comprises the following steps, corresponding to the figures, of:

(1) Assembling the scaffold to a height of 2 m. (Fig. 5A)

(2) Assembling the push-up frames so that they extend 1 m above the floor at 2 m. (Fig. 5B)

(3) Mounting the scaffold ladder and moving onto the safe work floor at 2 m. (Fig. 5C)

(4) Assembling the following tier. (Fig. 5D)

(5) Assembling the final rails (Fig. 5E)

(6) Releasing the locking with the feet and assembling the push-up frames 1 m above the work floor. (Fig. 5F)

(7) Mounting the diagonal in the first tier. (Fig. 5G)

(8) Placing a scaffold ladder so that it is possible to move onto the safe work floor (Fig. 5H) A scaffolding can thus be wholly erected from the bottom upward without the scaffolder having to work at height unsecured, i.e. without guard rail, for this purpose. This also applies for the dismantling of the scaffold, wherein the method is performed in reverse sequence.

[0022] Figure 6 shows a top view of the displacement of the guard rail according to the invention. The user has his hands on the vertical parts of the framework which, irrespective of a width of the rail, are arranged at a distance from each other such that during displacement of the guard rail the arms of the user can be moved up and downward ergonomically, i.e. as straight as possible in forward direction.

[0023] Figures 7 and 8 show a nestable embodiment of the guard rail according to the invention. A first guard rail 100 is stacked onto a second guard rail 100'. Both the upper set of hook bodies 9, 9' and the lower set of hook bodies 10, 10' of guard rails 100, 100' each extend laterally at a relative angle of divergence α from the upright parts, whereby the hook bodies will nest when stacked. Locking means 8 of the first guard rail 100 comprise on a locking side locking surfaces enclosing an acute angle β and on an opposite side a cavity in which locking means 8' of the second guard rail 100' are fittingly received. Guard rails 100, 100' can thus be stacked very closely together, whereby they take up little space during storage or transport and cannot shift in horizontal or vertical direction relative to each other.

[0024] Although the invention has been further elucidated above with reference to only a single exemplary embodiment, it will be apparent that the invention is by no means limited thereto. On the contrary, many more variations and embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention for a person with ordinary skill in the art. Instead of a fixed push-up frame, a push-up frame can particularly be applied with two axially adjustable end parts, in particular slidable or telescopic end parts. A width of the guard rail is then adjustable and can be modified to a width to be spanned in the scaffold section.

[0025] Furthermore, a guard rail without vertical parts 6, 7 is particularly possible, wherein a first and a subsequent guard rail are placed adjacently of each other such that the horizontal parts 3, 4 of the respective guard rails at least substantially connect to each other.

Claims

1. Scaffolding, comprising upright elements placed at distances from each other and ledger elements connected thereto for forming successive scaffold sections therebetween, wherein at least one scaffold section is provided with a guard rail comprising at least one rail part extending between successive upright elements and bounding the scaffold section on an exposed side, and at least one upright part with releasable coupling means, which coupling means connect the guard rail releasably to the scaffolding, wherein locking means are provided having a locking body which is adjustable by a user between a release position, in which the guard rail is releasable from the scaffolding, and a locking position in which the guard rail is connected firmly to the scaffolding, characterized in that the locking body engages clampingly in the locking position on a ledger element of the scaffolding counter to a spring tension of spring means and is provided with at least one operating member which enables the user to move the locking body counter to the spring tension from the locking position to the release position.

2. Scaffolding as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the guard rail comprises a set of upright parts which is arranged laterally within reach of the user and extends in the height direction over successive scaffold sections, and from which the coupling means and the locking means extend.

3. Scaffolding as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the coupling means comprise at least one first suspending bracket at the position of the locking means and at least one second suspending bracket extending at a distance thereunder from the upright parts, this distance at least substantially corresponding to a vertical distance between ledger elements of the scaffolding lying one above another.

4. Scaffolding as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the at least one first suspending bracket comprises a set of first suspending brackets, that the at least one second suspending bracket comprises a set of second suspending brackets and that the first suspending brackets each comprise a first hook body and the second suspending brackets each comprise a second hook body, which hook bodies each engage round a ledger element, and that the second hook bodies are longer than the first hook bodies, in particular at least one and a half times as long, more particularly at least twice as long.

5. Scaffolding as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the hook bodies of each set are nestable within the hook bodies of a corresponding set of hook bodies of a further guard rail.

6. Scaffolding as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the hook bodies of each set extend laterally from the upright parts at a mutual angle of divergence.

7. Scaffolding as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the locking body comprises on a locking side a first and a second main surface which enclose a mutual angle and extend substantially transversely of the ledger element, and that the locking body comprises a cavity accessible on an opposite side for the purpose of receiving at least substantially fittingly therein a corresponding locking body of the further guide rail on its first and second main surface in a mutual stacking.

8. Scaffolding as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the at least one operating member comprises a first operating arm which is intended and adapted to be manually operable, and a second operating arm intended and adapted to be operable with a foot of the user, wherein both operating arms are pivotable counter to the spring tension together with the locking body about a shared pivot axis directed substantially parallel to the ledger element.

9. Scaffolding as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that at least one of the two operating arms is connected via an intermediate arm to a corresponding operating member of further locking means on an opposite side of the guard rail.

10. Scaffolding as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that a width of the rail part is adjustable in that the rail part is arranged adjustably, particularly in that the rail part is laterally slidable, and more particularly telescopic.

11. Guard rail as applied in the scaffolding as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims.

12. Guard rail for applying in the scaffolding as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the guard rail is nestable with a similar further guard rail.

13. Guard rail for applying in the scaffolding as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that at least one first suspending bracket thereof comprises a first hook body with a first length and at least one second suspending bracket thereof comprises a second hook body with a second length, that the first hook body and the second hook body extend from a set of upright parts and are arranged at a distance one above another, and that the second hook body is longer than the first hook body, in particular at least one and a half times as long, more particularly at least twice as long.

Drawing