Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
STACKABLE SCAFFOLDING FRAMES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to scaffolding frames. More
particularly but not exclusively the present invention relates to stackable
scaffolding
frames.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A scaffold is a temporary erection of timber or steel, used in the
construction, alteration, or demolition of a building, to support or to allow
for the
hoisting and lowering of workers, their tools and materials. Scaffolds are
built by
pre-constructed scaffolding frames. These frames include interconnected
horizontal
and vertical frame members. Usually, the horizontal frame members are evenly
spaced to provide rungs for workers to climb. The vertical frame members are
generally cylindrical in shape.
[0003] The key elements of a scaffold are standards, ledgers and cross
braces. The standards, or uprights, are the vertical tubes that transfer the
entire
mass of the structure to the ground where they rest on a square base plate to
spread
the load. The base plate has a shank in its centre to hold the tube and is
sometimes
pinned to a sole board. Ledgers are horizontal tubes which connect between the
standards. Cross braces are attached to adjacent frames and boards rest on top
of
the horizontal tubes. Guardrails and toolbars can also be mounted to the
scaffolding.
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[0004] Transportation of scaffolding frames is a costly and inconvenient
operation, since scaffolding frames usually take up a lot of space.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a stackable
scaffolding frame.
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a method of making
a scaffolding frame.
[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a scaffold
assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a scaffolding frame comprising:
[0009] a pair of spaced apart elongated vertical members having
respective top and bottom ends thereof; and
[0010] at least one elongated horizontal member mounted at each
longitudinal end thereof to a respective one of the vertical members whereby
each
vertical member defines a respective opposite lateral side of the frame, the
horizontal member comprising a depressed portion near each longitudinal end
thereof,
[0011] wherein when a first such frame is stacked onto a second such
frame, one depressed portion and one vertical member of the first frame
respectively
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engage one vertical member and one depressed portion of the second frame.
[0012] In an embodiment, each depressed portion is adjacent a respective
vertical member thereby defining therewith a nesting portion at each lateral
side of
the frame.
[0013] In an embodiment, one nesting portion at one lateral side of the
first frame and one vertical member at another lateral side of the first frame
respectively engage one vertical member at one lateral side of the second
frame and
one nesting portion at another laterai side of the second frame.
[0014] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is
provided a scaffold assembly comprising a plurality of such scaffolding
frames.
[0015] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method of making such a scaffolding frame, the method comprising:
[0016] providing two elongated vertical members;
[0017] providing at least one elongated horizontal member;
[0018] flattening a portion of the elongated horizontal member near each
longitudinal end thereof; and
[0019] mounting the horizontal member at each longitudinal end thereof to
a respective vertical member.
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[0020] Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention
will become more apparent upon reading of the following non restrictive
description
of illustrative embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with
reference to
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] In the appended drawings, where like reference numerals denote
like elements throughout and in where:
[0022] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a stacked scaffolding frames
in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present
invention;
[0023] Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1;
[0024] Figure 3 is an enlarged view of section 3 of Figure 2; and
[0025] Figure 4 is a front elevational view of Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Generally stated, the present invention provides in accordance with
an embodiment thereof a scaffolding frame comprising horizontal bars connected
to
lateral vertical posts at their opposite ends. Each horizontal bar includes
depressed
portions near their opposite ends.
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[0027] With reference to the accompanying drawings, an illustrative
embodiment will be described so as to exemplify the invention and by no means
limit
the scope thereof.
[0028] Figure 1 shows a plurality of scaffolding frames 10 which are
5 stacked together in order to form a stack 12.
[0029] Turning to Figure 4, the frames 10 of the invention will be
described in greater detail. Since two frames 10 are shown in Figure 4, the
references 10A and 10B will be used for convenience only so as to distinguish
the
elements of each frame 10. Nevertheless, the first and second frames, 10A and
10B, are similarly constructed and in essence refer to frame 10, as such the
additional insignia "A" or "B" can be removed from all the elements detailed
hereinafter since they are only used for convenience.
[0030] Each frame 10A and 10B includes a respective first elongated
lateral vertical member or post 14A and 1413, respectively, and a respective
second
elongated lateral vertical members or post 16A and 16B. A pair of first and
second
lateral posts 14A and 16A or 14B and 1613, respectively, are interconnected by
a
respective first elongated horizontal member or bar 18 and a respective second
elongated horizontal member or bar and 20. It is noted here that the terms
"first" and
"second" are used herein for indicative purposes only. As such, a first bar
18A or
18B is positioned near the top end 22A or 22B of the vertical posts 14A and
16A or
14B and 16B. A second bar 20A or 20B is positioned near the bottom end 24A or
24B of the vertical posts 14A and 16A or 14B and 16B.
[0031] Of course, the skilled artisan will readily appreciate that a lesser or
greater number of horizontal bars can be provided. The skilled artisan will
also
appreciate that the posts 14 and 16 and the bars 18 and 20 of the frame 10 are
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generally tubular structures such as cylindrical hollow tubes that can be made
of
steel or aluminum or any other suitable material. It should be noted that the
vertical
posts 14 and 16 define the lateral sides of the frame 10, whereas the bars 18
and 20
define the top and bottom sides of the frame 10.
[0032] An auxiliary vertical member 26A or 26B is interconnected at its top
and bottom end 25A and 27A or 25B and 27B between the first and second bars
18A
and 20B or 18A and 18B. Auxiliary horizontal members 28A or 28B are
interconnected at their lateral ends 29A or 29B between the auxiliary vertical
member 26A or 26B and the first lateral vertical members 14A or 14B. In this
example, the frame 10 includes three auxiliary horizontal members 28, of
course a
greater or lesser number can be contemplated.
[0033] In the stacks 12 shown in the figures, a first given frame 10, such
as frame 10A in Figure 4, is stacked onto a second given frame 10, such as
frame
10B with the first and second frames 10A and 10B being in inverted with
respect to
each other (i.e. in opposite vertical directions)'. Specifically, the top end
and bottom
ends 22A and 24A of the posts 14A and 16A are respectively in the opposite
direction of the top and bottom ends 22B and 24B of the posts 14B and 16B.
Hence,
a stack of frames 10 is assembled by placing a first frame 10A onto a second
frame
10B in opposite directions as explained herein.
[0034] With reference to Figures 1 and 2 and with keeping in mind that the
horizontal bars 18 and 20 are similarly constructed, each bar 18 or 20
includes
opposite first and second longitudinal ends 30 and 32 respectively mounted to
the
first and second posts 14 and 16 respectively. The cylindrical main body 34
(see
Figure 1) of each bar 18 and 20 includes a depressed portion 33 and 35 near
each
longitudinal end 30 and 32 respectively (see also Figure 4). The depressed
portions
33 and 35 of each horizontal member 18 and 20 is flattened, beveled, recessed,
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grooved, tapered or smaller relative to the rest of the cylindrical main body
thereof
34.
[0035] With respect to Figure 2, each depressed portion 33 and 35 is
adjacent a respective vertical member 14 and 16 thereby defining therewith a
nesting portion 37 and 39 respectively at each lateral side of the frame 10.
[0036] Turning back to Figure 4, the auxiliary horizontal members 28A or
28B include depressed portions 40 and 42 near their respective lateral ends
29A or
29B.
[0037] With reference to Figures 3 and 4, when stacking these frames 10
a first frame 10A is stacked on a second frame 10B, the depressed portions 33A
of
the horizontal bars (only bar 18A is shown here) of the first frame 10A engage
the
vertical post 14B of the second frame 10B. The vertical post 16A of the first
frame
10A engages the depressed portions 35B of the horizontal bars (only bar 20B is
shown here) of the second frame 10B. More specifically, the post 16A of the
first
frame 10A rests in the nesting portions 39 of the second frame 10B, whereas
the
post 14B of the second frame 10B rests in the in the nesting portions 37 of
the first
frame 10A. The following is alternately repeated throughout the stack 12
providing
the staggered configuration shown in the Figures.
[0038] This staggered stacking of the frames 10 provides for taking up
less space while providing a sufficient stability.
[0039] When constructing the frames of the invention portion near the
longitudinal ends 30 and 32 are flattened to provide the depressed portions 33
and
35.
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[0040] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its
application to the details of construction and parts illustrated in the
accompanying
drawings and described hereinabove. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. It is also to be
understood that
the phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of description
and not
limitation. Hence, although the present invention has been described
hereinabove
by way of embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the
spirit,
scope and nature of the subject invention.
