Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a connector, in particular a connector for scaffolding; more particularly but not exclusively a connector for connecting two scaffold lengths.

Background

Increasing numbers of properties in many societies are in need of upkeep, or are being renovated.

In order to renovate, renew or build external features of properties, particularly at height, it is often necessary to use scaffolding.

Scaffolding is formed of a plurality of parts, which are all interconnected so as to form a stable and secure structure.

It can be difficult sometimes to form effective joints or splices between scaffolding parts. In particular, particularly when working at height, it can be problematic to form a splice between two coaxial scaffold lengths, or poles. This splice needs to ensure strength, make sure that the poles remain coaxial and thereby provide flexibility so as to also avoid using unnecessary and perhaps unavailable without disruption.

Currently, a scaffolder or user uses existing lengths, coupled with a short bolted bipartite hinged sleeve around the splice, and four swivel couplers to brace splices. It is a struggle for one person to use this method.

Prior Art

CN 107882320 (HE) discloses a scaffold steel pipe joint. The scaffold steel pipe joint comprises a lower chuck and an upper chuck. Each of the lower chuck and the upper chuck is composed of two symmetrically arranged semi-circular covered edges, one ends of the covered edges are movably connected through hinge pins, the other ends of the covered edges are provided with flanging joint bodies, threaded holes are formed in the flanging joint bodies, and bolts are connected with the interiors of the threaded holes; and the lower chuck is connected with the upper chuck through a line spacing adjusting rod, a tooth-shaped positioning block is arranged between the two flanging joint bodies symmetrically arranged on the upper chuck, the tooth-shaped positioning block is provided with a tooth-shaped face, and a tooth-shaped adjusting face matched with the line spacing adjusting rod is arranged on one side, corresponding to the tooth shaped face, of the line spacing adjusting rod. According to the scaffold steel pipe joint, the structure is simple, the scaffold steel pipe joint is composed of the two chucks, up- down adjustment of the chucks mutually connected by the line spacing adjusting rod is achieved, therefore the different positions of two butt-joint steel pipes can be connected, stable connection between the steel pipes is ensured, and the safety effect is improved.

CN 202416844 (CHEN) discloses a butting fastener for a construction lifting scaffold, in particular a butting fastener special for a construction attached lifting scaffold. The butting fastener comprises a central spindle, a left half fixing plate, a right half fixing plate and a steel pipe; the left half fixing plate and the right half fixing plate are connected through bolts and nuts; the central spindle and the steel pipe are arranged between the left half fixing plate and the right half fixing plate; and the central spindle is arranged in the steel pipe. The butting fastener overcomes the defects that labour, time and materials are wasted, and weight is increased in the prior art, and is simple and practical in structure.

GB 1 064944 (SMALLWOOD) comprises a straight and rigid body and two registering couplings which are fixed upon and spaced apart lengthwise of the body and each of which is adapted to receive and grip a corresponding one of the adjacent end portions of two axially aligned tubes or like cylindrical members located parallel to the body. In the construction shown each coupling comprises a base which is welded or otherwise secured in a hole formed in the body, the base having two tongues at opposite sides, each tongue being of hook shape. Each coupling also includes a substantially L shaped cover, a T bolt, a nut and a washer. The cover has a transverse slot 8 formed in one arm thereof by which the cover is engaged with the tongue. The head of the T bolt engages the tongue with the stem passing through an aperture in the tongue. The stem of the T bolt passes through a hole in the second arm of the cover and the cover is clamped to the cylindrical member, received between it and the base, by the nut which engages the threaded end of the T bolt. The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a connector for scaffolding, comprising an elongate body with four or more clamps permanently fixed to the body, wherein more than one of the clamps are provided on one side of the body, and more than one of the clamps are provided on the other side of the body, and the connector comprises a safety line arranged to secure the body to the scaffolding.

In this way the body may be used to connect two parts of scaffolding, typically two scaffold lengths, together. The clamps may be envisaged to stand off the body enough to prevent fouling with a coupling sleeve around the joint or splice.

It may be envisaged that the connector may be a part of a system or apparatus comprising two connectors with bodies having different lengths, wherein two connectors of different lengths may be envisaged to be used to either side of a splice.

In some embodiments the body may comprise a scaffold tube or length, or have a composition similar or identical to a scaffold length, namely comprising an elongate cylinder of mild steel or similar.

Advantageously, the clamps are permanently fixed to the body. For example, the clamps may be welded to the body. For example, the clamps may comprise fixed and moveable jaws, and a threaded locking means. In particularly advantageous embodiments, the fixed jaws of the clamps are permanently fixed to the body.

As a result, the connector can be advantageously used by a single user; this is in contrast to known connectors where at least two people are required before the connectors secure the scaffolding components. This is enabled by permanently affixing the multiple clamps either side of the elongate body to secure the relative position of the clamps to the body; at the same time the elongate body is safely secured to the scaffolding by the safety line to further enable single user operation. This provides a particular useful combination of features that makes single use possible. The clamps may be envisaged to be provided in pairs, wherein two clamps may be attached to a first scaffold length. Two clamps may be attached to a second scaffold length, and the body may thereby comprise a further scaffold length which may run alongside or parallel the scaffold lengths.

The clamps may be envisaged to provide two points of attachment to each scaffold length. In this way it may be envisaged that the clamps securely attach the body to each scaffold length, maintaining axial alignment, with no chance of non-axial attachment between the scaffold lengths and body.

The safety line may be envisaged to provide a means of securing the body to the scaffold, or one or more of the scaffold lengths.

The safety line may be envisaged to be provided with a securement means. This securement means may comprise the means by which the safety line secures to the body or a clamp. The safety line may also comprise one or more anchors.

Such anchor or anchors is envisaged to be a means of connecting the safety line to the scaffold.

The safety line may therefore be envisaged to be provided with a line, which line is envisaged to extend between the anchor and the securement means.

The anchor may be envisaged to comprise a clip means which may be envisaged to allow the anchor to clip onto or over the scaffold, or a length thereof. For example the anchor may comprise a resiliently deformable part. The anchor may comprise a spring or elastomeric part.

The anchor may thereby comprise a temporary anchor, for example comprising a loop, which loop may be passed around the scaffold and the safety line passed subsequently through the loop to provide a slipknot.

In some embodiments the temporary anchor may comprise a carabiner clip means or similar, with a moveable jaw. This jaw may be sprung and/or provided with a locking sleeve. This locking sleeve may comprise a threaded and/or sliding sleeve over the movable jaw.

In some embodiments the securement means may comprise a carabiner clip means or similar, with a moveable jaw. This jaw may be sprung and/or provided with a locking sleeve. This locking sleeve may comprise a threaded and/or sliding sleeve over the movable jaw.

In some embodiments the safety line may comprise an inelastic cord. In other embodiments the safety line may comprise a chain.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a first embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure

1;

Figure 5 shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

Figure 6 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 5; and Figure 8 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 5.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures there is shown embodiments of the device 99, 199 generally comprising a connector for scaffolding, comprising an elongate body 2, 32 with four clamps 1, wherein two of the clamps are provided on one end of the body, and more than one of the clamps are provided on the other end of the body, and the connector further comprises a safety line 9 arranged to secure the body 2 to the scaffolding (not shown).

The central gap between the clamps is large enough to be attached around a standard sleeve coupler, wherein the clamps elevate the body sufficiently to avoid fouling with the sleeve.

In particular reference to the first pictured embodiment, the device comprises an elongate pole body 2 of a similar or identical formation and dimensions to a standard scaffold pole, wherein the ends of the body are each provided with a clamp located at the end, and another clamp located at a small distance from the end and the end clamp.

In this example, the four clamps 1 are identical and are welded to the pole body 2.

The clamps 1 comprise a fixed jaw 13, which is welded to the body, and a moveable jaw 12, which pivots on the fixed jaw 13.

The moveable jaw 12 may be closed down and locked onto the fixed jaw 13 using a pivoting threaded member with a nut 11, which travels on the member to lock the moveable jaw 12 down onto the fixed jaw 13 after the scaffold length has been inserted between them, in a manner known in the art.

In this example, the safety line 9 comprises an elastic bungee cord or wire rope 19, which has bound loops at either end. A cord enables more flexibility whereas an inelastic rope provides greater reliability and predictability. A first end, proximal the body, has a carabiner 3, with a sliding lock sleeve. The carabiner is arranged to clip onto a metal hoop 4 through a perforation in the end of the body. This combines with the movement inherent with the carabiner to allow for articulation.

The distal end of the cord 19 has a second carabiner 5, which is the same as the proximal end, and is passed through the loop on the end of the cord.

In particular reference to the second pictured embodiment, the device comprises a longer elongate pole body 2 of a similar or identical formation and dimensions to a standard scaffold pole, wherein the ends of the body are each provided with a clamp 1 located at the end, and another clamp 1 located at a small distance from the end and the end clamp.

The connector of the present invention thereby replaces commonly used ties for large scaffolding structures so as to be securely connected by just a single user.

The clamps and body are formed in toughened steel zinc plated steel.

The two embodiments can be mounted together, in use.

In an example, one device with body length of 460mm and another device with body length of 750mm can be mounted together on a joint around the sleeve to create a stronger splice.

In use, a user may perform the following steps, for example:

1. Insert the two scaffold tubes into the sleeve and tighten the nuts.

2. With the safety cord clipped on, attach the 460mm embodiment around the splice.

3. Tighten the nuts and un-clip the safety cord.

4. To strengthen the splice, attach the 750mm embodiment around the 460mm embodiment and the sleeve. The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.