Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SCAFFOLDING BOARD WITH DETACHABLE HOOK FITTING
Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a scaffolding board including a section with a
substan-
tially flat surface for persons staying on this surface, and including a
fitting with hooks
at the end of the section for securing the assembled scaffolding board on a
transverse
beam, where the fitting includes at least one lug, and where the section
includes at
least one opening spaced apart from the end of the section for accommodating a
lug in
the opening, and where the fitting furthermore includes a flat part between
the at least
one lug and the hooks for bearing against the underside of the section.
Description of Prior Art
Scaffolding boards of the type with a board surface, which has a downwards
facing L-
shaped side member at each longitudinal side for substantially constituting a
total C-
shaped cross-section, are known. Such a scaffolding board is shown on Fig. 1.
At each end of such a scaffolding board, by means of rivets or hooks there is
fastened
a set of hooks that engage in over transverse scaffolding beams. When making
scaffolding boards, it is important to minimise the time for making and the
number of
manufacturing steps for competitive reasons.
Furthermore, from GB-A-1 400 973 it is known witli a scaffolding board of the
type
mentioned in the introduction. The scaffolding boards described in this
publication are
held in place as the fitting is saddle-shaped, so that it is symmetric at both
sides of the
transverse beam and thereby loaded on both sides of the transverse beam. If
one scaf-
folding board is removed, the weight on one side of the transverse beam will
cause the
fitting to be twisted about the transverse beam, and in the worst case, the
lug may be
twisted out of the opening. This constitutes a hazard and is therefore a
drawback
which is connected with the prior art scaffolding board.
Description of the Invention
It is therefore the intention of the invention to provide a scaffolding board
which re-
lieves the drawbacks associated with prior art scaffolding boards, and which
require
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fewer resources in the manufacturing thereof than prior art scaffolding
boards.
This purpose is fulfilled by a scaffolding board of the kind mentioned in the
introduc-
tion, which is peculiar in that the opening is provided in the surface, and
that the lug is
resting on the edge of the opening.
The making of such a scaffolding board is simple and requires fewer resources
than by
prior art scaffolding boards, which is described more closely in the
following. The
section of the scaffolding board can be made in long runs, e.g. by extrusion,
and
adapted to the correct length for scaffolding boards. The scaffolding boards
may op-
tionally be provided with a pattern of holes and projections in order to
reduce weight
and to prevent people walking on the scaffolding board from slipping on the
surface.
Fittings can be made separately, with hooks on one side of a flat part and
lugs on the
other side of the flat part. These fittings are passed into the end of the
section, and the
lugs are provided in corresponding openings in the section. Under load, where
the
hooks grip over the transverse beam and workers are standing on the
scaffolding
board, the fitting is thereby locked to the section, which will be effected
irrespectively
whether scaffolding boards are disposed in succession, resting on the
transverse beam,
and irrespectively whether possible succeeding scaffolding boards have about
the
same weight. Thus there will be no risk that a twist turning the fitting about
the trans-
verse beam occurs. Thus it is possible to avoid the risk that the lug is
twisted out of the
opening. In this way, assembly of the scaffolding board is rapid and easy. In
addition,
it is possible to replace a set of hooks if this would appear necessary.
The fitting has typically two lugs, and the section has two corresponding
openings for
receiving the two lugs. In a concrete embodiment, the fitting has an angular
part which
is rectangular in relation to the flat part in order to at least partly cover
the end of the
section. In addition, the hooks may be fastened to this angular part. This
measure
makes the fitting very stable in transverse direction, and the mounting is
very simple.
In one embodiment, the section includes a pair of sectional side members, and
the fit-
ting includes a pair of side pieces for bearing against the inner side of the
side mem-
bers of the section. In this way it is ensured that the fitting is held
securely in the sec-
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tion without any lateral slipping of the fitting in the section. Besides, the
side members
of the section can be provided with means for a fixing device for fixing the
fitting in
relation to the section. For example, the means for a fixing device may
include holes
for accommodating screw bolts in the holes. The fitting and the section will
typically
each have two holes for accommodating screw bolts in the holes. Two bolts in
each
end are only half as many screw bolts or screws traditionally used in
scaffolding
boards according to prior art. This means saving of time and costs compared
with prior
art. Besides, this entails that the scaffolding board achieves stability
against outwards
bending of the side members under load from above.
Alternatively, the fixing device may include a snap lock, where a resilient
safety tab is
acting as a barb against separation of the fitting from the section. This form
in particu-
lar ensures very rapid assembly of the scaffolding board.
In another embodiment, the section has a surface which is connected with L-
shaped
side members at a right angle from the surface in order to constitute an edged
C-
section. Such C-sections are easy to make and suited as scaffolding boards.
In order to prevent that a worker on a scaffolding board according to the
invention
stumbles over the lugs, in a fiu-ther embodiment the openings for the lugs may
have an
edge which is lowered under the level of the surface so that the lugs, after
being re-
ceived in the openings, do not substantially project above the level of the
scaffolding
board.
The fitting may furthermore include a plate which is pivotably connected to
the fitting
and which, after placing the hooks on a beam, by action may engage under the
beam
and prevent that the hooks can be lifted off the beam.
As it appears from the above, the invention provides for a number of
advantages
which are not described in the prior art to the same extent. The advantages
include
simple construction, rapid and easy assembly and separation, fewer components,
good
load distribution between fitting and section, and increased security during
use.
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Short Description of the Drawing
The invention is described more closely with reference to the drawing, where
Fig. 1 shows a drawing of a scaffolding board according to prior art in
various per-
spective views;
Fig. 2 shows a drawing of a scaffolding board according to the invention in
three
perspective views;
Fig. 3 shows a photo of two scaffolding boards according to the invention as
seen
from above and from below.
Detailed Description of the Invention
On Fig. 1 is shown a draughting of a scaffolding board 1 according to prior
art in three
different perspective views, namely as cross-section 1, longitudinal section
and as seen
from above. The board has a board surface 2 two downwards facing L-shaped
sections
as side members 3 with back 5 and bottom flange 6 in order thereby to
constitute an
assembled and more or less sharp-edged C-shaped cross-section. Scaffolding
boards
are typically provided with holes 4 so that dust and rain do not accumulate on
the sur-
face 2. At each end of such a scaffolding board, a set of hooks 9, which grip
in over
transverse scaffolding beams 10, are fastened by means of rivets or screws 7
and suit-
able fittings 8. Asseinbling the scaffolding board during manufacturing
requires sev-
eral steps, where several fittings 8 and several screws 7 are assembled into a
unit.
In the scaffolding board according to the invention, as shown in perspective
view on
Fig. 2, each set of hooks 9 are welded onto a fitting 11 which is fastened to
the scaf-
folding board 1. Fig. 2A shows one end of the scaffolding board as seen
towards this
end, Fig. 2B shows the end of the scaffolding board as seen from the side, and
Fig. 2C
a part of the scaffolding board seen obliquely from below.
In comparison, photos of scaffolding boards according to the invention are
shown on
Fig. 3, from above in Fig. 3A and from below in Fig. 3B.
The fitting 11 has a flat part 16 which is seen best on Fig. 2C and which
after mount-
ing is bearing on the underside 17 of the C-section 1' and an angular part 18
on which
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the hooks 9 are welded. The fitting 11 furthermore includes a set of curving
lugs 13 in
continuation of the flat part 16 for engaging corresponding openings 12 in the
surface
of the scaffolding board 2. For assembling the scaffolding board 1, the
fitting 11 with
the hooks 9 is inserted in the end of the C-section 1' of the scaffolding
board at an
5 angle, where the hooks 9 are pointing obliquely downwards in relation to the
C-
section 1'. With this orientation, the curving lugs 13 are passed into the
openings 12,
after which the fitting 11 is tilted upwards until the upper edge of the flat
part 16 be-
tween the lugs 13 and the hooks 9 rest against the lower edge 17 of the C-
section 1'. At
the same time, each of the lugs 13 will rest on the edge 15 of the respective
opening
12. When the hooks 9 rest on a beam, the load on the scaffolding board 1 from
above
will prevent the lugs 13 from sliding out of the openings 12. Thereby is
achieved a
rapid assembly of the fittings 11 prefabricated by machine with hooks 9 and
the C-
sections 1' of the scaffolding boards 1.
The system has further advantages, such as increased security. For example, a
down-
wards directed load on the scaffolding board 1 after mounting with the hooks 9
on
respective beams only entails a load on the lugs 13 in the openings 12, but no
load on
possible screws, bolts or other fittings, as known from prior art.
For further securing, the C-section 1' and the fitting 11 are, however, only
provided
with a fixing device, in this case holes 14, 14' in the side members 3 of the
section 1',
see Fig. 2B, and in the corresponding side pieces 19 of the fitting 11, see
Fig. 2C, in
which bolts may be fastened. Thereby increased stability is achieved which
counter-
acts deflection of the side meinbers 3 under load from above, for example when
a
worker moves on the board. This fixing device may also be achieved with self-
tapping
screws, or even with a snap lock where a resilient safety tab can act as a
barb against
separation of the two assembled parts, i.e. the C-section 1' and the fitting
11. In par-
ticular, a snap lock may minimise the assembling time for the board.
As there is no load on this fixing device under load from above on the
scaffolding
board, the dimensioning is not critical. Moreover, loosing a bolt or a screw
through the
holes 14, 14' will not imply any hazard, as the scaffolding plank will still
be intact and
fulfil its function without risk to the workers walking on the board.
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In order to minimise the risk of a worker on the scaffolding board stumbling
over the
lugs 13, the part 15 of the opening 12 where the lug 13 engages the surface 2
of the
scaffolding board may be recessed. In that case, during mounting the fitting
is not to
be tilted with the lugs 13 into the openings 12, but the fitting may be slid
into the end
of the C-shaped section 1' of the scaffolding board Lultil the lugs 13 engage
the re-
cessed part of the opening 12. In this way, the top side of the lugs 13 would
be at level
with the top side 2 of the scaffolding board. By such a combination of
fittings 11 and
C-section 1', the height of the fitting 11 may be adapted to the imier height
of the C-
section, as there is no need for tilting the fitting 11 during assembly.
Furthermore, it
will provide a good distribution of the forces under load from above. In that
case also
there will be no load on the fixing device, e.g. bolts or screws through the
holes 14,
14', or alternatively a snap lock.
If the scaffolding board 1 is provided with projections and holes as shown on
Fig. 3A
and the projections have a height approximately corresponding to the height of
the lug
13 wllen this is provided in the opening 12, these openings will provide for
the lug not
acting as an edge that is easily stumbled over.
As it appears from Fig. 3B, the scaffolding boards may be provided with a
safety de-
vice so that the hooks are retained around a beam on which they rest. In this
case, the
safety device is a plate which is pivotably connected to the fitting, and
which by cor-
rect positioning grips in under the beam and prevents the hooks from being
lifted off
the beam.
