GB2119848A

GB2119848A - Scaffolding fitting

Info

Publication number: GB2119848A
Application number: GB08306194A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Horace Raymond Davies
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-05-08
Filing date: 1983-03-07
Publication date: 1983-11-23
Also published as: GB8306194D0; GB2119848B

Abstract

This invention relates to a scaffolding fitting of the kind having a body portion 11, a cover portion 14 pivotally connected at 10 to the body portion and a bolt 16 and nut 17 for releasably connecting the body portion and the cover portion in a closed position in which an elongate scaffolding member placed between them will be clamped between seatings formed in said body and cover portions. A pad 19 having a concave surface 21 is pivotally mounted on the bolt 16 so as to be movable relative thereto between an operative position (shown) in which it will project into the space between the body portion and the cover portion to clampingly engage a scaffolding member of relatively smaller diameter and an inoperative position in which it does not project into said space to allow a member of relatively larger diameter to be engaged. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Scaffolding fitting This invention relates to a scaffolding fitting of the kind which includes a body portion having a seating for an elongate scaffolding member and a cover portion which also has a seating for the elongate scaffolding member and which is pivotally connected to the body portion so as to pivotable relative thereof between an open position in which in use the elongate scaffolding member can be placed in position between the body portion and the cover portion and a closed position in which said seatings of the body portion and the cover portion engage the elongate scaffolding member, there being also provided releasable fastening means for clamping the body portion and the cover portion together in said closed position in order to secure the elongate scaffolding member in position.

The elongate scaffolding members commonly used in conjunction with such fittings comprise lengths of tubing of circular cross-section and the aforesaid seatings are therefore shaped to accommodate such tubing. It may however be desired to provide a fitting which is able to accommodate tubing of two different external diameters and which at the same time will be able to clamp securely either size of tubing and accordingly it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved fitting which can be used effectively with either of two alternative sizes of scaffolding tubing.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a scaffolding fitting of the kind specified wherein said releasable fastening means comprises a bolt and associated nut and wherein there is provided a pad which is formed with a concave surface and which is pivotally mounted on said bolt so as to be movable relative thereto between an operative position in which it projects into the space between the body portion and the cover portion and in which said concave surface is adapted to engage and grip the exterior surface of an elongate scaffolding member and an inoperative position in which it does not project into said space.

The aforesaid pad may, in a convenient construction, be provided with a strap portion which projects from that side of the pad opposite to a side in which said concave surface is formed, the pad then being assembled to the associated bolt so that the latter extends through the strap portion. Preferably, the strap portion is integral with the pad in which case the pad may be formed as a metal casting.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view showing one example of a scaffolding fitting in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawing there is shown therein a scaffolding fitting which, as depicted, is a coupling adapted to connect together a pair of elongate scaffolding members such as a pair of scaffolding tubes of circular cross-section. The fitting shown comprises two identical halves which are pivoted together by means of a pivot 10 but it is of course to be understood that description of one half of the coupling will suffice.

There is thus provided in each half a body portion 11 which is shaped to provide a seating 12 adapted to receive and engage a part of the exterior surface of a scaffolding member. Said body portion is pivoted at one end by means of a pivot 1 3 to a cover portion 14 which is also formed with a seating 1 5 adapted to engage a part of the exterior surface of the scaffolding member. Releasable fastening means are also provided for securing the cover portion 14 to the body portion 11 and as shown said releasable fastening means comprises a bolt 1 6 which is pivotally connected to that end of the body portion 11 opposite to the pivot 13, and a nut 17.

The end of the cover portion 14 opposite to its pivoted end is formed with a slot into which the outer end of the bolt 1 6 can extend and a washer 1 8 is provided to engage the outer surface of the cover portion 14 adjacent to said slot.

There is also provided as shown a pad 19 which may be formed in mild steel or any other convenient material but which is conveniently formed as a casting having an integrally formed strap portion 20 of generally part-circular configuration. The interior surface of said strap portion 20 provides an opening which is somewhat larger than the diameter of the bolt 16 so that the pad can be mounted on the bolt as shown in the drawing in which position it is capable of being swung or pivoted on the bolt between an operative position (as shown) in which the pad projects into the space between the body portion 11 and the cover portion 14 and an inoperative position (not shown) in which the pad will be turned through an angle of approximately 1800 relative to the position shown in the drawing so that it does not project into the aforesaid space between the body portion and the cover portion. The side 21 of the pad 1 9 opposite to the side having said strap portion 20 is formed to a concave configuration so that when the pad is in its operative position as shown said concave surface 21 is adapted also to engage a part of the exterior surface of a scaffolding tube inserted between the body portion and the cover portion. In this position of the pad therefore the scaffolding fitting is adapted to support and engage a scaffolding tube of a relatively smaller external diameter and such a tube can of course be clamped firmly into position by tightening the nut 1 7 on the bolt 16. With such an arrangement therefore the scaffolding tube will be firmly and securely clamped in position.

Alternatively, when it is desired to use a scaffolding tube having a greater external diameter, the pad 1 9 will be turned on the bolt 1 6 so that it no longer projects into the space between the body portion 11 and the cover portion 14 and tightening of the nut 1 7 on the bolt 1 6 will then result in engagement of the larger scaffolding tube by the aforesaid seatings 1 2 and 1 5 so that again the larger scaffolding tube will be securely and firmly clamped in position. Furthermore by mounting the pad 19 on the bolt 1 6 as above described it can readily be removed from the fitting if desired by removing the nut 17.Alternatively of course such a pad 1 9 can be applied to existing fittings of the above described type by first removing the nut 17 and then passing the bolt 16 through the strap portion 20.

The above-described scaffolding fitting is intended as previously mentioned, for use as a coupler in a scaffolding structure. A scaffolding fitting in accordance with the invention can however be used in other applications. For example, one half of the above-described fitting can be pivotally mounted on a flattened end of a scaffolding member forming a brace, the body portion of such fitting being pivotally connected to the flattened end of the brace whilst the pivoted cover portion of the fitting is adapted, by the provision of the above-mentioned pad, to secure said end of the brace to scaffolding members either of two alternative external diameters. The other end of the brace would also be flattened and be provided with a similar fitting so that both ends of the brace can be connected to a scaffolding structure as may be desired

Claims

1. A scaffolding fitting of the kind specified wherein said releasable fastening means comprises a bolt and associated nut and wherein there is provided a pad which is formed with a concave surface and which is pivotally mounted on said bolt so as to be movable relative thereto between and operative position in which it projects into the space between the body portion and the cover portion and in which said concave surface is adapted to engage and grip the exterior surface of an elongate scaffolding member and an inoperative position in which it does not project into said space.

2. A scaffolding fitting as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said pad is provided with a strap portion which projects from that side of the pad opposite to a side in which said concave surface is formed, the pad being assembled to the associated bolt so that the latter extends through the strap portion.

3. A scaffolding fitting as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the strap portion is integral with the pad.

4. A scaffolding fitting of the kind specified substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.