GB1590522A

GB1590522A - Scaffold board

Info

Publication number: GB1590522A
Application number: GB2099478A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Kwikform Ltd
Current assignee: Kwikform Ltd
Priority date: 1978-05-20
Filing date: 1978-05-20
Publication date: 1981-06-03

Description

(54) IMPROVED SCAFFOLD BOARD (71) We, KWIKFORM LIMITED, a Brit ish Company of Waterloo Road, Birming ham, West Midlands, 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 state ment: This invention relates to an improvement in or modification of the scaffold board described and claimed in our previous patent No. 1,245,942.

According to our previous invention, there is provided a scaffold board comprising a strip metal member of inverted channel configuration in cross section with opposite ends of the channel being closed, the depen dent sides of the channel being formed with opposed edge portions which extend towards one another to provide stiffening for the channel sides as well as downwardly directed abutment faces for engaging with the transom members or other supports for the scaffold board, said opposed edge portions terminating in upstanding stiffening edge flanges, the web of the channel being formed with a number of ribs spaced apart along the length of the channel formed integrally with the metal of the web by being pressed downwardly out of the plane thereof so as to form elongated depressions in the upper surface of the web, each rib extending transversely of the length of the channel and serving not only to stiffen the channel web - but:also to provide non-skid properties to the upper surface of the channel web for a workman moving in a direction along the length of the channel member.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement in or modification of the scaffold board of our patent No.

1,245,942.

According to the present invention, we provide a scaffold board comprising a strip metal member of inverted channel configura tion in cross section with opposite ends of the channel being closed, the dependent sides of the channel being formed with opposed edge portions which extend towards one another to provide stiffening for the channel sides as well as downwardly directed abutment faces for engaging with the transom members or other supports for the scaffold board, said opposed edge portions terminating in upstanding stiffening edge flanges, the web of the channel being formed with a number of ribs spaced apart along the length of the channel formed integrally with the metal of the web being formed upwardly out of the plane thereof so as to form elongated projections in the upper surface of the web, each rib extending generally transversely of the length of the channel and serving not only to stiffen the channel web but also to provide non-skid properties to the upper surface of the channel web for a workman on the channel member.

The ribs may be arranged in rows along the length of the channel, and inclined at an acute angle less than 90 to the length of the channel. The ribs of alternate rows may be substantially at 90 to one another and adjacent spaces between the ribs in the rows either side.

Although the ribs are preferably inclined with respect to the length of the channel member, they may be parallel to or at 90 to the length of the channel.

Where, as is preferred, the metal of which the board is formed is mild steel, a corrosion resistant coating may be applied to the entire surface of the metal so as to protect the scaffold board against corrosion and thus prolong its useful life.

The entire surface of the board may be galvanised and the upper surface of the web provided with an anti-skid surface by shotblasting. The upper surface of the web may be coated with a layer of non-skid material to further improve the non-skid properties of the channel member.

Alternatively, the strip metal may be aluminium alloy, in which case an anti-skid coating may be applied to the web, but protection against corrosion may not be necessary.

At least some of the ribs of the web may be provided with jagged-edged openings, thus the anti-skid characteristics of the web may be enhanced.

One preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a scaffold board according to the invention, Figure 2 is a longitudinal section along the line 2 2 of Figure 1 and Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a scaffold board 5 which is formed from a length of mild steel strip metal, preferably by rolling, to inverted channel configuration so as to provide a horizontal web 12 having integral depending sides 13 The lower edges of the dependent sides are provided with inwardly extending horizontally opposed stiffening edge portions 14 which terminate in upstanding stiffening edge flanges 15. The board may be formed by alternative means such as by pressing between tools and a pressbrake.

The opposite ends of the channel are closed by end members 16 of similar crosssectional shape to the side members 13.

The upper surface of the web 12 is formed with a number of ribs 10 arranged in parallel rows A and B. The ribs of the rows A are inclined at an angle substantially 45 to the length of the board. The ribs of the rows B are also inclined at an angle substantially 45 to the length of the board but are substantially at 90 to the ribs of the rows A.

Although the ribs are preferably inclined to the length of the board, they may alternatively be parallel to or substantially perpendicular to the length of the board.

Also, although the ribs of rows B are preferably substantially at 90 to the ribs of the rows A, all of the ribs may extend generally in the same direction, or be otherwise orientated.

As well as improving the anti-skid properties of the web, the ribs also give the board substantial strength.

The entire surface of the metal is provided with a corrosion resistant coating to prolong its useful life, and the upper web surface is roughened by shotblasting to improve its anti-skid characteristics.

Alternatively, the upper surface of the web may be provided with a coating of non-skid material such as a glue and grit mixture.

If desired, as the ribs are formed in the tipper surface of the web by pressing the force provided to press out the ribs may be such that at least some of the ribs crack during the pressing process so that the ribs formed have jagged-edged openings that enhances the anti-skid characteristic of the web.

The jagged-edged openings may be formed at opposite ends of the ribs and extend transversely thereof or, if greater force is used, may extend longitudinally along the major part of the length of the ribs.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: I. A scaffold board comprising a strip metal member of inverted channel configura tion in cross-section with opposite ends of the channel being closed, the dependent sides of the channel being formed with opposed edge portions which extend toward one another to provide stiffening for the channel sides as well as downwardly directed abutment faces for engaging with the transom members or other supports for scaffold boards, said opposed edge portions terminating in up standing stiffening edge flanges, the web of the channel being formed with a number of ribs spaced apart along the length of the channel formed integrally with the metal of the web being formed upwardly out of the plane thereof so as to form elongated projec tions in the upper surface of the web, each rib extending generally transversely of the length of the channel and serving not only to stiffen the channel web but also to provide non-skid properties to the upper surface of the channel web for a workman on the channel member.

2. A scaffold board according to Claim 1 is made of mild steel.

3. A scaffold board according to.Claim 2 wherein the entire surface of the board is provided with a corrosion resistant coating.

4. A scaffold board according to Claim 3 wherein the web is shot blasted to roughen the surface.

5. A scaffold board according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the ribs are arranged in rows along the length of the channel.

6. A scaffold board according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the ribs are parallel to or at 90t to the length of the channel.

7. A scaffold board according to Claim 5 wherein the ribs of alternate rows may be at an angle of 90 or less to the ribs in the rows either side.

8. A scaffold board according to Claim 5 wherein the ribs are adjacent the spaces between the ribs in the rows either side.

9. A scaffold board according to Claim 1 or Claims 5 to 8 which is made of aluminium alloy.

10. A scaffold board according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper surface of the web is protected with a layer of non-skid material.

11. A scaffold board according to any one of the preceding claims in which at least some of the ribs of the web are provided with jagged-edged openings.

12. A scaffold board 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

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

One preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a scaffold board according to the invention, Figure 2 is a longitudinal section along the line 2 2 of Figure 1 and Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a scaffold board 5 which is formed from a length of mild steel strip metal, preferably by rolling, to inverted channel configuration so as to provide a horizontal web 12 having integral depending sides 13 The lower edges of the dependent sides are provided with inwardly extending horizontally opposed stiffening edge portions 14 which terminate in upstanding stiffening edge flanges 15. The board may be formed by alternative means such as by pressing between tools and a pressbrake.

The opposite ends of the channel are closed by end members 16 of similar crosssectional shape to the side members 13.

The upper surface of the web 12 is formed with a number of ribs 10 arranged in parallel rows A and B. The ribs of the rows A are inclined at an angle substantially 45 to the length of the board. The ribs of the rows B are also inclined at an angle substantially 45 to the length of the board but are substantially at 90 to the ribs of the rows A.

Although the ribs are preferably inclined to the length of the board, they may alternatively be parallel to or substantially perpendicular to the length of the board.

Also, although the ribs of rows B are preferably substantially at 90 to the ribs of the rows A, all of the ribs may extend generally in the same direction, or be otherwise orientated.

As well as improving the anti-skid properties of the web, the ribs also give the board substantial strength.

The entire surface of the metal is provided with a corrosion resistant coating to prolong its useful life, and the upper web surface is roughened by shotblasting to improve its anti-skid characteristics.

Alternatively, the upper surface of the web may be provided with a coating of non-skid material such as a glue and grit mixture.

If desired, as the ribs are formed in the tipper surface of the web by pressing the force provided to press out the ribs may be such that at least some of the ribs crack during the pressing process so that the ribs formed have jagged-edged openings that enhances the anti-skid characteristic of the web.

The jagged-edged openings may be formed at opposite ends of the ribs and extend transversely thereof or, if greater force is used, may extend longitudinally along the major part of the length of the ribs.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: I. A scaffold board comprising a strip metal member of inverted channel configura tion in cross-section with opposite ends of the channel being closed, the dependent sides of the channel being formed with opposed edge portions which extend toward one another to provide stiffening for the channel sides as well as downwardly directed abutment faces for engaging with the transom members or other supports for scaffold boards, said opposed edge portions terminating in up standing stiffening edge flanges, the web of the channel being formed with a number of ribs spaced apart along the length of the channel formed integrally with the metal of the web being formed upwardly out of the plane thereof so as to form elongated projec tions in the upper surface of the web, each rib extending generally transversely of the length of the channel and serving not only to stiffen the channel web but also to provide non-skid properties to the upper surface of the channel web for a workman on the channel member.
2. A scaffold board according to Claim 1 is made of mild steel.
3. A scaffold board according to.Claim 2 wherein the entire surface of the board is provided with a corrosion resistant coating.
4. A scaffold board according to Claim 3 wherein the web is shot blasted to roughen the surface.
5. A scaffold board according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the ribs are arranged in rows along the length of the channel.
6. A scaffold board according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the ribs are parallel to or at 90t to the length of the channel.
7. A scaffold board according to Claim 5 wherein the ribs of alternate rows may be at an angle of 90 or less to the ribs in the rows either side.
8. A scaffold board according to Claim 5 wherein the ribs are adjacent the spaces between the ribs in the rows either side.
9. A scaffold board according to Claim 1 or Claims 5 to 8 which is made of aluminium alloy.
10. A scaffold board according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper surface of the web is protected with a layer of non-skid material.
11. A scaffold board according to any one of the preceding claims in which at least some of the ribs of the web are provided with jagged-edged openings.
12. A scaffold board substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.