GB1601897A - Scaffolding fixings - Google Patents

Description

(54) SCAFFOLDING FIXINGS (71) We, PRESS COMPONENTS LIMITED a British Company of Green Lane, Walsall WS2 8JH, England, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to scaffolding fixings of the kind for detachably connecting tubes at right angles to each other.

The particular fixing with which the invention is concerned is of the kind in which a first tube, normally used in an upright position, is provided with a socket or spigot formation and a second tube, to be connected to the upright tube so as to extend horizontally therefrom, has, at its end, a part engageable in the socket or with the spigot formation. In most fixings of this kind which are already known, the part on the second, normally horizontal tube is engaged in the socket or spigot by simple downward movement and is retained therewith by gravity.

Most known fixings of this kind are however complex and relatively expensive to produce. Furthermore, many are subject to the disadvantage that the fixing does not necessarily secure the tubes in rigid relationship so that there is a tendency that a tendency that any structure in which the tubes are incorporated is not immovable and secure to support a workman.

It is the object of this invention to provide a scaffolding fixing which is simple to produce and which is capable, reliably, of providing a secure, rigid fixing.

According to the invention there is provided a scaffolding fixing between two tubes wherein one of the tubes, normally disposed vertically in use, carries a socket and the other tube normally horizontal in use, has a flattened end portion forming a tongue which has a slot extending transversely of the length of that tube from one edge of the tongue and tapered with the narrower end of the slot remote from said edge of the tongue, the spacing of the slot from the end of the tongue being such that when engaged in the socket on the said one tube, that end engages the said one tube within the socket to hold the tubes rigidly together.

The engagement of the end of the tongue against the said one tube, may be direct engagement or through a further part fixed to the said one tube.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a scaffolding fixing constructed in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side-elevation view thereof.

The drawings show a first tube 10 normally mounted in a vertical position as shown and a second tube 11 normally mounted horizontally and therefore at right angles with respect to the axis of the tube 10. The tubes would form part of a scaffolding structure and though not illustrated the tube 10 would normally be provided with means for attachment thereto of four of the horizontal tubes 11. One of these is the tube 11 shown and another would extend in the opposite direction from the other side of the tube 10. The other two tubes would be co-planar and disposed at opposite sides of the tube 10. Furthermore, normally one opposed pair of the horizontal tubes would be in a plane spaced from a plane of the other two tubes. The spacing is in many cases determined by the height of a platform for supporting a workman, such a platform being formed by boards resting on the tube or tubes 11.

The drawing however illustrates only one connection between the vertical tube 10 and one horizontal tube 11 all the others being identical.

The tube 10 has secured to it a generally channel shaped member 12. The free edges of this are welded at 13 to the exterior of the tube 10 and the base wall of the channel is inclined to the axis of the tube 10. This is also clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

The base wall of the channel is, furthermore, indented or cut away so that the side walls of the channel extend above the upper extremity of the said end wall. Such indentation is identified by numeral 14. The side walls of the member 12 are parallel as well as being substantially upright when the tube 10 is also in its upright position.

The horizontal tube 11 is over the major part of its length circular in section as is the tube 10. However, at its end illustrated the tube 11 is flattened to form a tongue 15.

This is of rectangular configuration having out of the extremity of the tube a straight end 16. Generally centrally of the tongue there is provided a tapered slot 17 opening to the lower edge of the tongue. The slot has one wall parallel with the edge 16 of the tube tongue and the other wall which is nearer to the edge 16 inclined so that the narrower end of the slot is its closed upper end.

The slot wall inclination is complementary to the inclination of the base of the channel shaped member 12. As shown in Figure 2 the portion of the tongue between the slot 17 and the end of the tongue on the tube 11 occupies the interior of the member 12 which forms a socket for it. The complementary inclined surfaces of the slot 17 and of the base of the member 12 are in engagement and as the tube 15 is moved downwardly, the edge 16 of the tongue tends to be moved into engagement with the portion of the tube 10 within the socket formed by the member 12 and such engagement takes place before the lower edge of the indentation 14 reaches the closed end of the slot 17. This condition is illustrated in Figure 2.

The tubes are in the condition shown in Figure 2 held firmly together without movement either horizontally or vertically.

Horizontal swinging movement is prevented by engagement of the tongue between the two sides of the member 12 and swinging movement in a vertical plane is prevented by engagement of the end of the tongue against the tube 10.

In an alternative construction, a part (not shown) is interposed between the tube 10 and the end of the tube 11, said part being fixed onto the wall of the tube 10 within the socket, to form a part of said tube.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A scaffolding fixing between two tubes wherein one of the tubes, normally disposed vertically in use, carries a socket and the other tube normally horizontal in use, has a flattened end portion forming a tongue which has a slot extending transversely of the length of that tube from one edge of the tongue and tapered with the narrower end of the slot remote from said edge of the tongue, the spacing of the slot from the end of the tongue being such that when engaged in the socket on the said one tube, that end engages the said one tube within the socket to hold the tubes rigidly together.

2. A scaffolding fixing as claimed in claim 1 in which the socket is generally channel shaped with its edges fixed to the said one tube, the base of the channel, in use, entering the slot in the tongue.

3. A scaffolding fixing as claimed in either claim 1 or 2 in which the socket has, in a wall spaced from said one tube to which it is fixed, an indentation into which, in use, a portion of the tongue adjacent to the slot enters to locate the said other tube angularly with respect to the axis of said one tube.

4. A scaffolding fixing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the socket is tapered with its narrower end, in use, downwardly, the taper of the slot being of complementary taper, whereby the end of the tongue is, in use, forced against that portion of the said one tube within the socket.

5. A scaffolding fixing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the engagement of the end of the tongue against the said one tube is on a further part fixed to and forming part of the said one tube.

6. A scaffolding fixing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. walls of the channel extend above the upper extremity of the said end wall. Such indentation is identified by numeral 14. The side walls of the member 12 are parallel as well as being substantially upright when the tube 10 is also in its upright position. The horizontal tube 11 is over the major part of its length circular in section as is the tube 10. However, at its end illustrated the tube 11 is flattened to form a tongue 15. This is of rectangular configuration having out of the extremity of the tube a straight end 16. Generally centrally of the tongue there is provided a tapered slot 17 opening to the lower edge of the tongue. The slot has one wall parallel with the edge 16 of the tube tongue and the other wall which is nearer to the edge 16 inclined so that the narrower end of the slot is its closed upper end. The slot wall inclination is complementary to the inclination of the base of the channel shaped member 12. As shown in Figure 2 the portion of the tongue between the slot 17 and the end of the tongue on the tube 11 occupies the interior of the member 12 which forms a socket for it. The complementary inclined surfaces of the slot 17 and of the base of the member 12 are in engagement and as the tube 15 is moved downwardly, the edge 16 of the tongue tends to be moved into engagement with the portion of the tube 10 within the socket formed by the member 12 and such engagement takes place before the lower edge of the indentation 14 reaches the closed end of the slot 17. This condition is illustrated in Figure 2. The tubes are in the condition shown in Figure 2 held firmly together without movement either horizontally or vertically. Horizontal swinging movement is prevented by engagement of the tongue between the two sides of the member 12 and swinging movement in a vertical plane is prevented by engagement of the end of the tongue against the tube 10. In an alternative construction, a part (not shown) is interposed between the tube 10 and the end of the tube 11, said part being fixed onto the wall of the tube 10 within the socket, to form a part of said tube. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A scaffolding fixing between two tubes wherein one of the tubes, normally disposed vertically in use, carries a socket and the other tube normally horizontal in use, has a flattened end portion forming a tongue which has a slot extending transversely of the length of that tube from one edge of the tongue and tapered with the narrower end of the slot remote from said edge of the tongue, the spacing of the slot from the end of the tongue being such that when engaged in the socket on the said one tube, that end engages the said one tube within the socket to hold the tubes rigidly together.

2. A scaffolding fixing as claimed in claim 1 in which the socket is generally channel shaped with its edges fixed to the said one tube, the base of the channel, in use, entering the slot in the tongue.

3. A scaffolding fixing as claimed in either claim 1 or 2 in which the socket has, in a wall spaced from said one tube to which it is fixed, an indentation into which, in use, a portion of the tongue adjacent to the slot enters to locate the said other tube angularly with respect to the axis of said one tube.

4. A scaffolding fixing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the socket is tapered with its narrower end, in use, downwardly, the taper of the slot being of complementary taper, whereby the end of the tongue is, in use, forced against that portion of the said one tube within the socket.

5. A scaffolding fixing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the engagement of the end of the tongue against the said one tube is on a further part fixed to and forming part of the said one tube.

6. A scaffolding fixing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.