Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2~80703
The pre.sent inventi~n relates to a kick.board for
scaffolding.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A kickboard is attached to a planking on a scaffolding to
prevent tools, materials and the like from falling over the
edge of the scaffolding. The most commonly used form of
kickboard is a wooden 2 x 6 or 1 x 6 nailed to the planking or
clamped to vertical support members by means of scaffold
fittings. An impediment to the introduction of an alternative
form of kickboard of universal application is the difference
in spacing of structural support elements in scaffolding of
differing sizes and originating from differing manufacturers.
SUMMARY OF TH~ INVENTION
What is required is a kickboard of universal application.
According to the present invention there is provided a
kickboard for scaffolding of the type having horizontal support
members and planking which extends between the horizontal
support members. The kickboard is comprised of an elongate
body having a first side, a second side, a top edge, and a
bottom edge. Means is provided for attaching the bottom edge
of the elongate body to the planking. A plurality of rod
guides are spaced at intervals along and project from the
second side. A rod is received in each of the rod guides. The
rods are tele~copically extendable in relation to the rod
guides. Each rod has a first end and a second end. Stop means
are positioned adjacent the second end thereby preventing the
rods from being withdrawn from the rod guides. The first end
has attachment means such that the rods telescopically extend
to permit the first end to attach to a horizontal support
member thereby providing lateral support to the elongate body.
The kickboard as described is adjustable to suit
scaffolding of varying sizes or which originate from differing
- manufacturers. All scaffolding has horizontal support members
which are positioned at varying heights above the planking to
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which a kickboard i8 normally secured. The use of rods which
are telescopically eY.tendible from rod guides permits the
kickboard to accommodate a wide range of height differences,
The rods provide necessary lateral support to the elongate
body, so the elongate body does not bend over laterally when
struck by a blow or when equipment is leaned up against it,
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is an end elevation view of a kickboard
constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention.
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a kickboard constructed
in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, a kickboard for scaffolding
generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be
described with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2.
Referring to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a portion of
a scaffolding system to which kickboard 10 attaches, The
components illustrated are a longitudinal horizontal support
member 12, a vertical support member 13, a transverse
horizontal support member 14 and planking 16 which extends
between transverse horizontal support member 14 and a like
transverse horizontal support member which is not shown in this
view, Transverse horizontal support member 14 is attached to
a rosette 18 by wedges 20. Referring to FIGURE 2, kickboard
10 consist~ of an elongate body 22 having a first side 24, a
second side 26, a top edge 28, and a bottom edge 30. Means is
provided for attaching bottom edge 30 to planking 16. This
consists of a flange element 32 projecting from first side 24
adjacent bottom edge 30, Flange element 32 has a plurality of
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apertu~es 34. Referring to FIGUR~ 1, apertures 34 ~which are
not clearly visible in this view) are adapted to receive
fasteners 36 whereby bottom edge 30 of elongate body 2~ is
attached to planking 16. A plurality of rod guides, generally
identified by reference numeral 38, are spaced at intervals
along and project from second side 26 of elongate body 22.
Rod guides 38 consist of two tabs 40 and 42 in spaced apart
relation. Referring to FIGURE 2, tabs 40 and 42 have axially
aligned openings 44 and 46. Referring to FIGURE 1, a rod 48
extends through axially aligned openings 44 and 46 in each of
rod guides 38. Rods 48 are telescopically extendable in
relation to rod guides 38. Each rod 48 has a first end 50 and
a second end 52. Second end 52 of each of the rods 48 i8
crimped such that second end 52 will not pass through axially
aligned openings 44 and 46 of rod guides 38. Rods 48 are
thereby permanently affixed to rod guides 38 and cannot be
withdrawn. It is preferred that an intermediate stop 54 also
be provided on rod 48 to limit the lower range of movement of
rod 48 with respect to rod guide 38. Intermediate stop 54 is
similarly established by crimping rod 48. It is preferred that
first end 50 of rod 48 be hook-like with a projecting "trigger"
11. Projecting "trigger" 11 serves to assist in release of
hook first end 50 from rod 48 when disassembling the
scaffolding. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art
that having first end 50 in the form of a hook is of assistance
in adapting to structural differences between brands of
scaffolding. There is a difference between manufacturers in
the relative positioning of planking 16 and horizontal support
members 14. Hook shaped first end 50 will be oriented inwardly
toward planking 16 or outwardly away from planking 16 depending
upon the positioning of horizontal support member 14.
The use and operation of kickboard 10 will now be
described with reference to FIGURFS 1 and 2. Elongate body 22
is placed with bottom edge 30 resting upon planking 16.
Kickboard 10 can be attached either longitudinally,
tran~versely, or both to planking 16 depending upon the need
. .
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to prevent objects from falling off planking 16. Fasteners 36
are then inserted through apertures 34 to secure bottom edge
30 of elongate body 22 to planking 16. Rods 48 are then
telescopically extended from rod guides 38 to permit hook-like
S first ends 50 to be attached to longitudinal horizontal support
member 12. The presence of fasteners 36 prevent bottom edge
30 of elongate body 22 from moving when struck by a blow. The
presence of rods 48 provides lateral support to elongate body
22 to prevent elongate body from bending laterally in response
to a blow or when equipment is leaned against kickboard 10.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
kickboard 10 can be adjusted to suit a wide variety of sizes
of scaffolding or to suit scaffolding configuration~
originating from a variety of manufacturers. It will also be
apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be
made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention. For example, to increase
their strength, the elements identified as flange 32 and tab
40 have been constructed to extend the entire length of body
22, it will be apparent that both could be sectioned into
smaller units.
