INTEGRATED FRAME AND POST SUPPORT SYSTEM

SYSTEME D'ETAYAGE A MONTANTS ET CADRES INTEGRES

English Abstract

An adapter allows shoring frames to be integrated
into a modular scaffolding system and allow for suitable
horizontal and diagonal bracing. The adapter is of reduced
diameter relative to the shoring frame leg and has a
fastening rosette for connecting with the scaffolding
system. The shoring frame legs are of reduced height
relative to a modular scaffold leg and the adapter
addresses the difference and also allows a narrowing of the
leg to meet the modular spacing of the connecting rosettes.

French Abstract

Adaptateur permettant d'intégrer des cadres d'étayage dans un système d'échafaudage modulaire et d'assurer un entretoisement horizontal et diagonal approprié. L'adaptateur est de diamètre réduit par rapport à un montant de cadre d'étayage et a une rosace de fixation pour le raccordement au système d'échafaudage. Les montants des cadres d'étayage sont de hauteur réduite par rapport à un montant d'échafaudage modulaire et l'adaptateur compense la différence et permet aussi un rétrécissement du montant pour rejoindre l'espacement modulaire des rosaces de raccordement.

Claims

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THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An adapter for connecting two vertical support
members and providing for non vertical connection, said
adapter comprising an elongate body having a first end
portion interconnected to a second end portion by a central
section, said central section having a horizontal
connecting structure with a series of connecting ports
distributed thereabouts, and wherein said first end portion
is of a cross section for connection with a scaffold
vertical component and said second end portion is adapted
for connection with a vertical component of significantly
greater cross section, said second end portion being of a
size to define a periphery envelope which overlaps with the
ports of said connecting structure and said connecting
structure is sufficiently spaced from said second end
portion to provide full access to said ports used for non
vertical connection.
2. An adapter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first
end portion is adapted for slide connection over a scaffold
leg spigot.
3. An adapter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
second end portion is adapted for connection with a tubular
shoring leg having a non circular cross section.
4. An adapter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first
end portion is adapted for slide connection over a scaffold
leg spigot and said second end portion is adapted for
connection with a tubular shoring leg having a non circular
cross section.
5. An adapter as claimed in claim 4 wherein said
central section is a tube having a circular cross section.


6. An adapter for connecting two vertical support
members and providing for non vertical connection, said
adapter comprising an elongate body having a first end
portion interconnected to a second end portion by a central
section, said central section having a horizontal
connecting rosette with a series of connecting ports
distributed thereabouts, and wherein said first end portion
is of a cross section for connection with a vertical
component and said first and second end portions are
adapted for connection with a vertical component of
significantly greater cross section than said central
section, said first and second end portions being of a size
to define a periphery envelop which overlaps with the ports
of said rosette and said rosette is sufficiently spaced
from said first and second end portions to provide full
access of said ports used for non vertical connection.
7. An adapter as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first
and second end portions are adapted for connection with a
non circular in cross section vertical component of a
shoring frame.
8. An adapter as claimed in claim 7 wherein each end
portion has a horizontal plate portion for abutting with
the end of a vertical member and a projecting insert for
locating within the end of the vertical member.
9. An adapter as claimed in claim 8 wherein said
projecting insert portion has an 'X' cross section.
10. An adapter as claimed in claim 6 wherein said
adapter has a hollow cylindrical cavity running from one
end portion to the other end portion and which is open at
each end.
11. A modular scaffolding system in combination with a
shoring frame system, said scaffold system comprising
scaffold legs with each leg having a connecting structure
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at one end thereof, horizontal ledgers and diagonals are
securable to connecting structures of adjacent scaffold
legs, each scaffold leg being adapted to connect with
another scaffold leg in a vertical stacked manner and
space, the connecting portions a predetermined modular
distance, said shoring frame system having shoring frames
which cooperate with said modular scaffolding system to
have the same horizontal distance between vertical members
of the shoring frame as between horizontally connected
scaffold legs of said modular scaffold system and can
vertically stack therewith, each shoring frame vertical
member including an associated connecting structure
appropriately positioned to continue the modular spacing of
said modular scaffold system whereby shoring frames can be
used interchangeably with paired scaffold legs of the
modular scaffold system.
12. A modular scaffold system in combination with a
shoring frame system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said
vertical members of said shoring frames are of reduced
length relative to said scaffold legs and adapters form the
connection between vertical stacked scaffold legs and
shoring frame vertical members.
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Description

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TITLE: INTEGRATED FRAME AND POST SUPPORT SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to adapters for use
in connecting vertical standards used in scaffolding and
shoring. The invention also relates to a combination of
scaffolding and shoring frame arrangements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Scaffolding arrangements are commonly used for
providing temporary support for work platforms or other
support surfaces which are removable. One example of a
removable support surface is a bleacher system where
temporary bleachers are set up for a particular event or
activity.

Scaffolding systems basically use vertical leg
members having a connecting member welded thereon. These
vertical members are adapted to connect with like vertical
members in an end to end manner and are adapted to be
connected to adjacent vertical members by either horizontal
supports or diagonal bracing using the connecting member as
part of a releasable securement.

It is also known to use shoring frames which are
basically two vertical leg members normally permanently
connected by horizontal members. For example many shoring
frames have two vertical legs held in a fixed configuration
by two horizontal members and a diagonal brace. Frame
systems are faster to set up and shoring frames are
typically of higher load carrying capacity as the leg
members of a larger cross section.

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Scaffolding systems are basically a modular system
where vertical members are located at a predetermined
spacing and are interconnected by bracing and ledgers to
maintain stability. Frame based shoring systems normally
require less interconnection.

The present invention provides a simple arrangement
for integrating a scaffolding system with a shoring frame
arrangement.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An adapter according to the present invention
allows connection between two vertical support members and
provides for non vertical connection with adjacent support
members. The adapter comprises an elongate body having a
first end portion connected to a second end portion by a
central section. The central section has a horizontal
connecting structure, with a series of connecting ports
distributed thereabout. The first end portion is of a
cross section for connection with a scaffold vertical
component, and the second end portion is an adapter for a
vertical component of a significantly greater cross
section. The second end portion is of a size to define a
periphery envelope which overlaps with the ports of the
connecting structure and the connecting structure is
sufficiently spaced from the second end portion to provide
full access to the ports used for non vertical connection.

According to an aspect of the invention, the first
end portion is adapted for slide connection over a scaffold
leg spigot.

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According to a further aspect of the invention, the
second end portion is adapted for receipt and cooperation
with a tubular shoring leg.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the
first end portion is adapted for slide connection over a
scaffold leg spigot and the second end portion is adapted
for connection with a tubular shoring leg having a non
circular cross section.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the
central section is a tube having a circular cross section.

The present invention is also directed to an
adapter for connecting two vertical support members and for
providing non vertical connection to other members. The
adapter comprises an elongate body having a first end
portion interconnected to a second end portion by a central
section. The central section has a horizontal connecting
rosette with a series of connecting ports distributed
thereabout. The first end portion has a cross section for
connection with a vertical component and the second end
portion is adapted for connection with a vertical component
of significantly greater cross section relative to the
central section. The first and second end portions are of
a size to define a periphery envelope which overlaps with
the ports of the rosette. The rosette is sufficiently
spaced from said first and second end portions, to provide
full access to the ports used for non vertical connection.
According to an aspect of the invention, the first
and second end portions are adapted for connection with a
non circular cross section vertical component of a shoring
frame.
According to a further aspect of the invention,
each end portion of the adapter has a horizontal plate

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portion for butting with the end of a vertical member and
the end portion includes a projecting insert for locating
within the end of the vertical member.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the
adapter has a hollow cylindrical open ended cavity running
from one end portion to the other end portion.

The adapter is also capable of connecting a
scaffold leg and a shoring frame leg in an end to end
manner while allowing for the normal mechanical connection
of horizontal and diagonal bracing used in scaffolding in
the conventional manner.

The adapter can also be used for forming a
connection between two stacked shoring frames while
providing a mechanical connection at the traditional
spacings used in a scaffolding frame arrangement. This
arrangement allows shoring frames and scaffolding systems
to be integrated into a combined system and in this way the
equipment can be more effectively utilized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The preferred embodiments of the invention are
shown in the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bleacher
arrangement;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the bleacher
arrangement;

Figure 3 is a partial exploded perspective view of
an adapter connecting to shoring frame legs;

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Figure 4 is an exploded view showing an adapter for
connection with a shoring frame leg on the bottom and a
scaffold leg above;




Figure 5 shows the adapter of figure 4 used to
connect a scaffold leg located below and;

Figure 6 shows an adapter for insertion in the base
of a shoring frame and allowing connection to a screw
jacket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE
INVENTION

The combination modular scaffold system and shoring
frame system of the present invention will be described for
supporting a temporary bleacher arrangement. The
combination system can be used for any scaffolding or
shoring application and is not limited to bleachers. The
term scaffolding system is used to refer to separate posts
with releasable bracing assembled at the job site. Shoring
frame is being used to refer to two separate posts
connected by horizontal members to form a frame and is
stored as a frame. The temporary bleacher arrangement of
figure 1 shows a bleacher system 2 which is really made up
of a series of bleacher bents generally shown as 6. The
bleacher bent is a complete unit and is adapted to be
supported by a support system generally shown as 4. This
support system can be a scaffold based system, a shoring
frame system or a combination of both. A series of screw
jacks 10 are located at ground level and allow levelling of
the various sections of the supports. It can be seen that
the support system has bottom vertical supports 12 with
associated screw jacks and also has two half vertical
members generally shown as 14. This represents the first

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lift of the support system. The second lift or the second
tier has stacked vertical members 20 and stacked half
vertical members 22. The third lift includes only the half
vertical member 23.




The support systems includes adapters 30 which form
the connection from one lift to the next lift. In
addition, they also allow for mechanical fastening of the
horizontal or ledger members 38 as well as the diagonal
brace members 36. AS can be appreciated from the drawing
the adapters 30 also include a mechanical connecting
structure similar to connecting arrangements used on
scaffolding systems which allow for the mechanical
connection to the adapter. These connecting structures
15 will be referred to as rosettes although other connecting
arrangements can be used. The adapters are of a length to
appropriately vertically space the adapters, such that the
rosettes of vertically spaced adapters are at the same
vertical spacing as found in the rosettes of a scaffold
20 leg.

Figure 2 shows the last row of shoring frames used
to support the rear of the bleachers. Each shoring frame
is shown as 50 and has two tubular shoring legs 51
25 connected by a top horizontal member 52 a bottom horizontal
member 54 and a diagonal brace member 56. These shoring
frames stay together as a frame and the system uses frames
as opposed to individual legs. The frames are relatively
light and simplify initial setup. Shoring frames 50 are
30 typically of a higher load carrying capacity relative to
scaffolding legs with shoring frames bridge 60 can be used
to form a connection between shoring frames for supporting
the bleachers. Thus the higher capacity of the frames
allows the vertical members that would normally be
positioned below the center of the bridge to be deleted.
This again allows the bleacher system to be assembled more
quickly with less equipment.

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The shoring frame legs are of reduced height
relative to a scaffold leg and the adapter corrects this
vertical difference and also narrows the leg to meet the
5 horizontal spacing of rosettes in the scaffold system.

Figure 3 shows adapter 30 used to connect two
shoring frame legs partially shown as 51. The adapter has
a first end portion 31 a second end portion 33 and a
central connecting portion 35. It can be seen that the
central connecting section 35 iS of reduced diameter
relative to the shoring frame legs 51. Each of the ends 31
and 33 include a stop plate 37 for engaging the end 53 of a
shoring frame leg. Each of the ends 31 and 33 are of an X
15 cross section where the legs of the X~s fit in appropriate
corners of the shoring leg 51. Thus the ends 31 can be
inserted in a shoring frame leg and the leg will bottom out
against the stop plate 37. The X configuration provides a
close fit with the leg and thus provides a good connection.
20 In order to maintain this connection lock pins 61 may be
inserted through a hole 63 in the shoring frame legs which
pass through a port 65 in each end portion. In this way
the adapters are pinned to the shoring frame legs either
side of the adapter.

It can be seen from figure 3 that the distance 7
between the stop plates 37 iS fairly substantial and the
rosette 73 is located centrally on the center section 35.
The rosette includes a plurality of securing ports
generally shown as 75 distributed thereabout. This is
similar to the conventional connection used on scaffolding
legs where the rosettes are welded to the scaffolding leg.
The rosette on the adapter 30 allows common connectors
between a scaffolding system and a shoring system to be
used together. It can be seen that a scaffolding system is
modular and the adapter allows conversion of the shoring
frame leg which is of larger diameter, to the diameter of

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the scaffolding leg. The rosettes of the adapters and the
scaffold legs are at the same spacing as used in the
scaffold system. Thus the normal horizontal connecting
members and diagonal bracing members used for the
scaffolding system are used for the combined system. It
can also be appreciated that there is a required vertical
spacing between lifts of the support system. For example a
shoring frame first lift can support a scaffolding lift
thereabove connected by adapters. The adapters are
positioned to maintain the modular spacing between rosettes
as would be the case if both lifts were of scaffold
components. The space 71 is sufficient to allow good
access to the securing ports 75 whereby a wedge member, as
is commonly used with these connectors, can be inserted in
the port and form a good mechanical connection with the
rosette. Similarly there is enough room to have the wedge
removed and thus the adapter provides for smooth
integration of the combined system.

A modified adapter 30a is shown in figure 4 having
a first end 31 similar to figure 3 whereas the second end
33a is in the form of a removable spigot for 83 insertion
in and connection with a scaffolding leg or support leg of
a bleacher bent. One of the stop plates 37 has been
removed and an outwardly stepped shoulder 39 forms the stop
face. Removable spigot 83 is retained by pin 85 and clip
89 to the center section 35. The pin 85 passes through the
port 87 and through the spigot 83 and out the other side of
the center section 35. This arrangement demonstrates how
the end portions can be removably secured to the center
section if desired.

Figure 5 shows an adapter 3Ob with a first end
portion 31 for adapted with a shoring frame leg and the
second end portion 33b being adapted for receiving a spigot
91 inserted in a scaffold leg 93. The second end 33b has a
port 100 which can be aligned with port 101 in the spigot

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91 and the end 33b sleeves onto the spigot and is held on
this spigot due to the ret~;n;ng pin 102. End 33b is
extended and this extension is such that it appropriately
spaces the rosette 75 of the adapter at the appropriate
location as would be the case if two scaffold legs were
stacked one above the other. This provides for the
suitable modularity in the vertical direction and allows
the adaption from scaffold leg to shoring frame leg.

Figure 6 shows a suitable adapter 30c for
connecting a shoring frame leg 51 to a telescopic screw
jack 10. It can be seen that the adapter 30c has a hollow
tubular cavity 110 running through the length thereof for
receiving the screw jack 70. A rosette 73 is provided at
the appropriate location on the central section 35. The
bottom of the central section has a shoulder for engaging
the screw handle 112 and allowing suitable adjustment of
the telescopic jack 10.

Although the invention has been described here in
detail the understood by those skilled in the art that
variations may be made thereto without departing from the .
spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended
claims.

Representative Drawing