GB2182971A

GB2182971A - A scaffolding bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2182971A
Application number: GB08627120A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Mitchell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-11-14
Filing date: 1986-11-13
Publication date: 1987-05-28
Also published as: GB8627120D0; GB2182971B; IE851216L

Abstract

A scaffolding bracket for supporting one end of a scaffolding plank on a ladder is of rigid generally L-shaped form with a plank support portion (2) joined to a ladder engaging portion (3) with an obtuse angle between the said portions. The free end (7) of the ladder engaging portion (3) has a hook (8) for mounting the bracket on a rung of an inclined ladder such that the ladder engaging portion (3) rests against at least two rungs of the ladder and the plank support portion (2) extends generally horizontally away from the ladder, the free end (4) of the plank support portion (2) having means (5) for retaining a scaffolding plank between it and the ladder engaging portion (3). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A scaffolding bracket This invention relates to a scaffolding bracket for use with a ladder to enable one end of a scaffolding plank to be supported on the ladder, with the other end of the plank being supported in a similar manner on an adjacent ladder.

When carrying out general maintenance work or repairs to the sidewalls of buildings, for example houses, it is often necessary to erect scaffolding so that sufficient height can be obtained to carry out the work. However, the use of scaffolding is expensive, time consuming and is usually a permanent fixture until the work is completed which is undesirable.

The other method used to obtain sufficient height is to simply use a ladder or an extension ladder. However, it is extremely difficult and dangerous to carry out any type of general maintenance or repair work on a ladder since the user is often preoccupied with his safety in actually staying on the ladder.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive means of adapting a pair of ladders to be used as a safe form of scaffolding.

According to the invention there is provided a scaffolding bracket for supporting one end of a scaffolding plank on a ladder, the bracket being of rigid generally L-shaped form comprising a plank support portion joined to a ladder engaging portion with an obtuse angle between the said portions, the free end of the ladder engaging portion having means for mounting the bracket on a rung of an inclined ladder such that the ladder engaging portion rests against at least two rungs of the ladder and the plank support portion extends generally horizontally away from the ladder, the free end of the plank support portion having means for retaining a scaffolding plank between it and the ladder engaging portion.

In a preferred form of the invention, the bracket is integrally formed and the obtuse angle between the plank support portion and ladder engaging portion is approximately 115 .

Also preferably, the free end of the plank support portion is adapted by means of an integrally formed upturned toe portion to retain the scaffolding plank between it and the ladder engaging portion. The inclusive angle formed between the toe portion and the plank support portion is preferably 135 .

The mounting means preferably comprises a hook member forming an extension of the upright portion and bent rearwardly and downwardly relative to the base portion.

The hook member preferably has a curved part with a radius of curvature of about 16mm.

In another embodiment of the invention, the bracket is provided with a handrail support comprising a rigid elongate member one end of which is adapted to be located on the toe portion of the bracket, and the other end having a loop portion for engaging a handrail such that, in use, a handrail can be located between a pair of supports mounted on respective brackets on respective spaced apart ladders.

Embodiments of 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 bracket according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a pair of brackets of Fig. 1, shown in an in use position on a pair of ladders, and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the bracket of Fig. 1 in an in use position and also showing a handrail support member.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar numerals have been used to indicate like parts, there is shown therein a scaffolding bracket according to an embodiment of the invention generally indicated at 1. The bracket 1 is integrally formed and comprises a rigid generally 'L' shaped bracket having a plank support portion 2 and a ladder engaging portion 3 extending upwardly at an angle from the support portion 2. The inclusive angle formed between the portion 2 and the portion 3 is approximately 115 . The free end 4 of the portion 2 is adapted by means of an upturned integral toe portion 5 to retain a scaffolding plank 6 between the toe portion 5 and the portion 3. The free end 7 of the portion 3 has an integral hook member 8 which forms an extension of the portion 3 and is bent rearwardly and downwardly relative to the portion 2.

In use, a pair of ladders 9 are leant at substantially the same angle of inclination against a wall 10 on which it is desired to carry out maintenance work. A bracket 1 is mounted on each of the ladders 9 at a suitable height by engaging the hook member 8 on an appropriate rung 11 (Fig. 2) of each of the ladders. It will be noted that the length of the ladder engaging portion 3 is sufficient so as to span the distance between at least two adjacent rungs 11 and 12 of each of the ladders.

The respective ends of the plank 6 are then supported on the support portions 2 of the brackets 1 as shown. The plank 6 is safely retained between the toe portion 5 and the ladder engaging portion 3 of each bracket 1.

The user can readily climb one of the ladders 9 and on to the plank 6 so that the maintenance work to the wall 10 can be carried out.

After use, it is a simple matter to remove the plank 6 and the brackets 1 for storage.

It will be noted that with the inclusive angle between the plank support portion 2 and the ladder engaging portion 3 being 115 , then for the plank support portion 2 to be substantially horizontal in use, the ladders 9 must each be leaned against the wall 10 so as to make an angle of 65" with the ground. It will of course be appreciated that the plank support portion 2 and the ladder engaging portion 3 may be constructed from separate members which are pivotable (and lockable) with respect to each other so that the angle between them is selectively variable, thus permitting the ladders 9 to be leaned against the wall 10 at any desired angle.

In Fig. 3 there is shown another embodiment of the invention in which the bracket 1 is provided with a handrail support which comprises a rigid elongate arm 15. One end 16 of the arm 15 is adapted by means of a hollow boss portion 17 to be located on the toe portion 5. The other end 18 of the arm 15 is formed as a loop 19.

In use, an arm 15 is located on each of a pair of brackets 1 which are being used with spaced apart ladders. An elongate handrail 20 is then passed through and is supported in the loop 19 of the arms 15 and the handrail 20 can provide support for the user. In addition, to ensure that the arm 15 is securely located on the toe portion 5, a suitable locking mechanism may be provided.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein which may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A scaffolding bracket for supporting one end of a scaffolding plank on a ladder, the bracket being of rigid generally L-shaped form comprising a plank support portion joined to a ladder engaging portion with an obtuse angle between the said portions, the free end of the ladder engaging portion having means for mounting the bracket on a rung of an inclined ladder such that the ladder engaging portion rests against at least two rungs of the ladder and the plank support portion extends generally horizontally away from the ladder, the free end of the plank support portion having means for retaining a scaffolding plank between it and the ladder engaging portion.

2. A scaffolding bracket as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the bracket is integrally formed, and the obtuse angle between the plank support portion and the ladder engaging portion is about 115 degrees.

3. A scaffolding bracket as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the mounting means at the free end of the ladder engaging portion comprises a hook member formed by bending the said free end outwardly and downwardly relative to the in use position of the bracket.

4. A scaffolding bracket as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the hook member has a curved part with a radius of curvature of about 16mm.

5. A scaffolding bracket as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the retaining means at the free end of the plank support portion comprises an upturned toe pOrtiOn.

6. A scaffolding bracket as claimed in any preceding Claim, further including a handrail support including a rigid elongate member having one end adapted to be secured at the free end of the plank support portion and the other end adapted to support a handrail.

7. A scaffolding bracket substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A construction of scaffolding comprising a pair of ladders inclined against a common wall at substantially the same angle of inclination, a pair of brackets as claimed in any preceding Claim mounted on respective ladders at substantially the same height, and a scaffolding plank extending across and supported by the two brackets.