U.S. patent application number 11/747063 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-13 for cover insert.
Invention is credited to Stephen Barlow, John Houlihan, George Luchford.
Application Number | 20080277200 11/747063 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39968520 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080277200 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Houlihan; John ; et
al. |
November 13, 2008 |
COVER INSERT
Abstract
A cover insert for spanning a gap between two boards in a
decking, in particular a scaffold decking, to prevent objects from
falling through said gap and causing injury comprises first and
second substantially parallel side walls (10, 11) for fitting into
the gap and a cover portion (7) arranged for covering the space
between the side walls. One of the side walls (10) has a pair of
laterally extending walls (9, 13) extending outwardly in a
direction away from the other of the side walls, the laterally
extending walls (9, 13) being spaced apart for receiving an edge of
one of the boards. A top one of the laterally extending walls (13),
that may be an extension of the cover portion (7), provides a
flange that rests on the top of the board on one side of the gap,
and the cover portion (7) may also extend on the other side to
provide a second flange (14) to rest on the top of the board on the
other side of the gap.
Inventors: |
Houlihan; John; (Hornchurch,
GB) ; Barlow; Stephen; (Basildon, GB) ;
Luchford; George; (Gravesend, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BEYER WEAVER LLP
P.O. BOX 70250
OAKLAND
CA
94612-0250
US
|
Family ID: |
39968520 |
Appl. No.: |
11/747063 |
Filed: |
May 10, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
182/223 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04G 7/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
182/223 |
International
Class: |
E04G 5/00 20060101
E04G005/00 |
Claims
1. A cover insert for substantially covering a gap between a pair
of generally parallel boards, the cover attachment comprising first
and second substantially parallel side walls for fitting into the
gap and a cover portion arranged for covering the space between the
side walls, a first of the side walls having a pair of laterally
extending walls extending outwardly therefrom in a direction away
from the other of the side walls, the laterally extending walls
being spaced apart for receiving an edge of one of the boards.
2. A cover insert according to claim 1, wherein one of said
laterally extending walls extends further than the other away from
the first side wall.
3. A cover insert according to claim 1, wherein at least one of
said laterally extending walls is provided with means for gripping
a surface of said one of the boards.
4. A cover insert according to claim 1, wherein said cover portion
includes drainage holes therein.
5. A cover insert according to claim 1, wherein said cover portion
has a non-slip surface.
6. A cover insert according to claim 1, wherein a first of the
laterally extending side walls comprises a flange extending from a
first edge of the first side wall for at least partly overlying a
top face of a first of the boards.
7. A cover insert according to claim 1, wherein a first edge of the
second side wall is provided with a flange for at least partly
overlying a top face of a second of the boards.
8. A cover insert according to claim 6, wherein said cover portion
is substantially coplanar with the or each of said flanges and/or
with one of the laterally extending walls.
9. A cover insert according to claim 7, wherein said cover portion
is substantially coplanar with the or each of said flanges and/or
with one of the laterally extending walls.
10. A cover insert according to claim 8, further comprising a
second cover portion extending between the two side walls and being
substantially coplanar with the other of the laterally extending
walls.
11. A cover insert according to claim 9, further comprising a
second cover portion extending between the two side walls and being
substantially coplanar with the other of the laterally extending
walls.
12. A cover insert according to claim 1, having a predetermined
length, which may be, for example, between approximately 0.05 m and
approximately 10 m.
13. A cover insert according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined
length of the insert is any one of the following lengths: 2350 mm;
2050 mm; 1750 mm; 583 mm; 1.3 m; 1.8 m; and 2.5 m.
14. A cover attachment system comprising at least one cover insert
according to claim 1.
15. A cover insert according to claim 1, wherein the first and
second side walls and the cover portion form a substantially
longitudinal channel member.
16. A cover attachment system comprising at least one cover insert
according to claim 15 and further comprising at least one
longitudinal member for fitting between the two side walls into the
channel member.
17. A cover attachment system according to claim 16, wherein said
longitudinal member comprises a pair of side elements for fitting
into the channel member substantially parallel to the side walls of
the cover insert and a main surface extending between the pair of
side elements, such that, when in position in the channel member
the main surface is substantially coplanar with a top face of the
boards.
18. A cover attachment system according to claim 16, further
comprising means for fastening the longitudinal member to the
channel member.
19. A scaffold utilizing a cover attachment system according to
claim 14.
20. A scaffold utilizing a cover attachment system according to
claim 16.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a cover insert for
substantially closing off gaps in decking, particularly gaps
between scaffolding planks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Sixty percent of workers in the construction industry use
scaffolding every day. Scaffolding may abut the outside or inside
of a building structure in order to provide convenient access to
features of the building structure that are above ground level, for
construction, maintenance or repair work. Typically, a scaffold
comprises three types of tubular element. Upright tubes called
standards form two or more vertical planes that are substantially
parallel to the surface of the building structure. Horizontal tubes
called ledgers lie within a plane formed by the standards and
connect consecutive standards together. Horizontal tubes called
transoms are supported by the ledgers and are substantially
perpendicular to the building structure, connecting two or more
planes of standards. These scaffold tubes are fastened together to
form a three-dimensional framework. Access to the building
structure is provided by decking comprised of parallel boards, such
as lengths of plank supported by the transoms.
[0003] One of the most common causes of injury to construction
workers is falling objects. Scaffolding safety measures include the
use of toe boards, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,830, to
prevent small objects from being kicked off the decking, and
netting or guard meshes, such as that described in Belgian patent
1000428, for preventing larger objects from falling. Another route
by which objects may fall from scaffold decking is through gaps
between the planks. Health and safety regulations require that
these gaps are minimized, and according to the UK Work at Height
Regulations 2005, there should be no gap exceeding 25 mm in any
working platform where there is a likelihood of falling objects
causing harm.
[0004] Gaps are an inevitable consequence of using standards. Where
consecutive standards share a plane and are thus linked by a common
ledger, and where the decking extends in a direction perpendicular
to the structure either side of that plane, then a gap in the
decking is left between those standards that is too narrow to be
filled by a plank. The minimum width of the gap is equal to the
width of the standards at either end. A common solution to this
problem is to span the gap with plywood, which is fixed to the
decking on either side of the gap with screws. This method is
expensive and time-consuming, because a carpenter is needed to cut,
pre-drill and fix the plywood to the decking. It is also hazardous,
because workers may trip on the plywood edge. Another example of a
way of covering such gaps is disclosed in JP2002174027, which shows
a cover that extends across the gap and includes a pair of legs
that project down into the gap and are biased against the side
edges of the scaffolding boards.
[0005] The present invention therefore seeks to provide a cover
insert, for substantially covering a gap between a pair of
generally parallel boards, especially for gaps between planks used
on scaffolding, which overcomes, or at least reduces the
above-mentioned problems of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a cover insert for substantially covering a gap between
a pair of generally parallel boards, the cover attachment
comprising first and second substantially parallel side walls for
fitting into the gap and a cover portion arranged for covering the
space between the side walls, a first of the side walls having a
pair of laterally extending walls extending outwardly therefrom in
a direction away from the other of the side walls, the laterally
extending walls being spaced apart for receiving an edge of one of
the boards.
[0007] Preferably, one of said laterally extending walls extends
further than the other away from the first side wall. At least one
of said laterally extending walls may be provided with means for
gripping a surface of said one of the boards. The cover portion
preferably includes drainage holes therein and/or may have a
non-slip surface.
[0008] In one embodiment, a first of the laterally extending side
walls comprises a flange extending from a first edge of the first
side wall for at least partly overlying a top face of a first of
the boards. A first edge of the second side wall is preferably
provided with a flange for at least partly overlying a top face of
a second of the boards. The cover portion may be substantially
coplanar with the or each of said flanges.
[0009] In an embodiment, the cover portion is substantially
coplanar with one of the laterally extending walls. A second cover
portion may extend between the two side walls and be substantially
coplanar with the other of the laterally extending walls.
[0010] The cover insert as described above may have a predetermined
length, which may be between approximately 0.5 m and approximately
3 m, and is preferably any one of the following lengths: 2350 mm,
2050 mm, 1750 mm, 583 mm, 1.3 m, 1.8 m, and 2.5 m.
[0011] According to a second aspect, the invention provides a cover
attachment system comprising at least one cover insert as described
above.
[0012] According to a second embodiment, the first and second side
walls and the cover portion preferably form a substantially
longitudinal channel member.
[0013] According to a further aspect, the invention provides a
cover attachment system comprising at least one cover insert of the
second embodiment and further comprising at least one longitudinal
member for fitting between the two side walls into the channel
member.
[0014] Preferably, the longitudinal member comprises a pair of side
elements for fitting into the channel member substantially parallel
to the side walls of the cover insert and a main surface extending
between the pair of side elements, such that, when in position in
the channel member the main surface is substantially coplanar with
a top face of the boards.
[0015] In a still further aspect, the invention provides a scaffold
utilizing a cover attachment system as described above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Several embodiments of the invention will now be more fully
described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, of
which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the
invention in position covering a gap between planks on a
scaffold;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective schematic view of the first
embodiment of a cover insert;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic end view of the embodiment of FIG.
2;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective schematic view of a second
embodiment of a cover insert according to the invention;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective schematic view of a third embodiment
of a cover insert according to the invention;
[0022] FIG. 6 is perspective view of cover insert forming first
part of a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second part of the fourth
embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment in an
assembled state; and
[0025] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a scaffold, having the
assembled fourth embodiment of FIG. 8 in position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] Thus, FIGS. 1-3 show a first embodiment of a cover insert
for spanning a gap between planks on a scaffold. As explained above
and shown in FIG. 1, a scaffold 1 typically comprises upright tubes
called standards 2 and horizontal tubes called transoms 3 which
support a decking formed by parallel boards, such as lengths of
plank 4. Where the planks 4 abut the standards 2, a gap 5 is formed
between the planks 4 due to the planks 4 being longer than the
spacing between the standards 2, which may be 1.8 m, as shown,
according to common practice in the industry in the United Kingdom.
The gap 5 therefore has a width substantially the same as the
diameter of the standards 2, which is commonly 50 mm. According to
a first embodiment of the present invention, the gap 5 is covered
between the standards 2 using several, in this case, three cover
inserts 6. The cover inserts are therefore approximately 583 mm in
length, the distance between the standards being 1.75 m.
[0027] As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the cover inserts 6
includes a top surface element 7, a channel portion 8 and a
laterally extending wall 9 parallel to the top surface element 7.
The channel portion 8 is formed of a pair of longitudinal side
walls 10 and 11 connected at their top edges by the top surface
element 7 which therefore spans between them and a subsidiary cover
portion 12 that extends between the bottom edges of the side walls
10 and 11. The top surface element 7 extends laterally on either
side of the side walls 10 and 11 in the form of side flanges 13 and
14. In this embodiment, the surface element 7 also extends
longitudinally beyond each end of the channel portion 8 to provide
end flanges 15 and 16 at each end. The laterally extending wall 9
is arranged to extend further away from the channel portion 8 than
the side flange 13, as best seen in FIG. 3.
[0028] Side flange 13 and laterally extending wall 9 thus define a
space, together with side wall 10, for receiving an edge of a plank
4. The cover insert 6 can be located in position even when the
planks are already in place because the laterally extending wall 9
is wider than side flange 13, thus allowing the laterally extending
wall 9 to be inserted through the gap 5 and rotated under the plank
4 so that the edge of the plank passes into the space between the
laterally extending wall 9 and the side flange 13 until the two
side flanges 13 and 14 come to rest on the top surface of the two
planks adjacent the gap. The laterally extending wall 9 is also
provided with gripping means, such as raised triangular teeth that
will bite into the plank 4 and prevent sideways movement between
the plank and the cover insert 6.
[0029] The top surface element 7 of cover insert 6 is provided with
drainage holes 17 to allow liquid, for example rain, to drain
through. The top surface element 7 may also be provided with
non-slip characteristics to reduce the chances of users from
slipping on the cover insert. The non-slip characteristics may
include surface shaping to reduce its slipperiness, or may be
provided by a rubber mat attachment (not shown). The top surface
element 7 may also include advertising space to enable the
manufacturer thereof (or others) to include trade marks or other
messages, for example warning messages, thereon.
[0030] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of a cover insert 6,
similar to the first embodiment, but where the cover insert may be
more easily made out of a single sheet of strip metal, for example,
with the same elements as those of the first embodiment having the
same reference numerals. In this case, all the portions can be
formed by folding over an appropriately-sized sheet of metal, for
example steel. As can be seen, the top surface element 7 is
connected to the outer edges of side flanges 13 and 14, which are
themselves formed by folding at the top edges of side walls 10 and
11. However, the subsidiary cover portion 12 and end flanges 15 and
16 (of the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3) do not exist in this
embodiment, so that the end walls 10 and 11 extend to the ends of
the cover insert 6. The cover portion 7, in this embodiment is
slightly convex to allow run-off of water, rather than having
drainage holes provided.
[0031] FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of a cover insert 6, again
similar to the first embodiment, with the same elements as those of
the first embodiment having the same reference numerals. In this
case, however, as in the second embodiment, there are no end
flanges, so that the channel portion 8 extends to the ends of the
cover insert. The cover portion 7 is shown, in this embodiment,
with a "diamond" gripping surface. It will be apparent that many of
the features from the different embodiments can be mixed and
matched as required.
[0032] An advantage of these embodiments of the invention is that
the cover inserts may be manufactured in various lengths suitable
for use with different types of scaffolding. For example, they can
be made of any length between about 5 cm and 10 m, preferably
between about 50 cm and about 5 m. With traditional scaffolding,
for example, 2350 mm lengths could be used for light duty
scaffolds, 2050 mm lengths for general purpose scaffolds, 1750 mm
lengths for heavy duty scaffolds and 583 mm lengths for any
application. With system scaffolding, 1.3 m, 1.5 m or 2.5 m lengths
could be used.
[0033] FIGS. 6-9 show a further embodiment of the invention. In
this embodiment, there is provided a cover attachment system formed
of one or more cover inserts 6, similar to those of the first
embodiment, with the same elements as those of the first embodiment
having the same reference numerals, and a longitudinal member 18
for fitting into the cover insert. As shown in FIG. 6, the cover
insert 6 of this embodiment does not include the cover portion 7 at
the top, but only the subsidiary cover portion 12 so as to define
the channel portion 8 without a top. In this case, however, the
side walls 10 and 11 are provided, on their inner faces, with a
longitudinally extending clipping rim 22 adjacent the subsidiary
cover portion 12.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 7, longitudinal member 18 comprises a cover
portion 19 and two sides 20 and 21. A clip 23 is provided on the
outer face of each side 20 and 21 to securely engage the
longitudinal member to the channel portion 8. The clip 23 may
comprise a rim on the bottom edge of each side 20 and 21 of the
longitudinal member 18 to engage with the clipping rim 22 on each
of the side walls 10 and 11 of the cover insert 6.
[0035] FIG. 8 shows the longitudinal member 18 in position within
the channel portion 8 of cover insert 6 with the clip 23 of the
longitudinal member 18 having engaged with the clipping rim 22 of
the cover insert 6 so as to substantially retain the longitudinal
member 18 within the channel 8, whilst allowing relative
longitudinal movement thereof. In the view of FIG. 8, of course,
the orientation of the cover insert 6 has been reversed compared to
that of FIG. 6. As can be seen, the longitudinal member 18 is of a
height such that, when in position in the channel portion 8, the
cover portion 19 is substantially coplanar with the side flanges 13
and 14 of the cover insert 6. FIG. 9 shows this embodiment in
position covering a gap in a scaffold decking, wherein the ends of
two longitudinal members 18 abut each other within the channel
portion 8 of a cover insert 6, such that the members 18 lie in
series and the inserts 6 are spaced to hold the members 18 in
position. According to this embodiment, three members in series
would have a total length of 1750 mm.
[0036] The cover insert may be made using various materials, and
should be able to bear weights at least as great as those borne by
the surrounding decking. The cover inserts should preferably be
light, flame-retardant, partially flexible, quick and easy to
install, portable and re-usable.
[0037] The drainage holes may be of 2 mm diameter to facilitate
drainage of rain water and reduce wind uplift forces.
[0038] In use, embodiments of the present invention preferably span
gaps of 50 mm width in a decking. Use of the invention is not
limited to gaps between standards, because the invention is
suitable for spanning gaps with other origins in a decking. By
spanning such gaps, the likelihood of objects falling from the
decking is reduced and safety is improved.
[0039] It will be appreciated that although only a few particular
embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, various
modifications and improvements can be made by a person skilled in
the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, although it is envisaged that the boards, or planks,
in the preferred embodiment, are made of wood, it will be apparent
that the invention will work with boards made of plastic or any
other material, and that the thickness of the particular boards or
planks is immaterial, provided the cover insert is made to fit the
particular thickness of the boards with which it is to be used.
* * * * *