JP7500396B2 - Scaffolding board for stepping stools - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a scaffolding board for platforms that is erected on two platforms spaced apart to form a work platform.

Traditionally, step stools for working at height have been well known, and a wide variety of step stools are available. Among these step stools, cubic step stools, which are made of synthetic resin and have an overall outline shape roughly like a rectangular parallelepiped or cube, are very popular, as they are compact, easy to use, and have excellent stability when set up.

The applicant has provided such a cubic step stool with a distinctive folding structure (Patent Document 1), which has been well received.

Japanese Patent No. 5400752

Cubic step stools are compact and easy to use, but the surface area that the top plate can support the user's feet is small, making it difficult to work at height over a wide area. For this reason, the step stool proposed by the present applicant (Patent Document 1) is designed to expand the surface area of the top plate by connecting multiple step stools in sequence.

On the other hand, the top of the cubic platform is open on all four sides, so it is easy to place two platforms at a distance from each other and erect a scaffolding board between them, making it possible to create a work floor with a large area.

In view of the above, the present invention provides an erection scaffolding board that forms a work platform by erecting it on two platform platforms spaced apart from each other.

The present invention is thus configured as a means for forming a work platform by erecting the scaffold board on two platforms arranged at a distance from each other, and comprises a scaffold board body provided with a floor board, vanes protruding from both ends of the scaffold board body, and a locking mechanism including a locking rod provided in the space below the floor board of the scaffold board body, and when the vanes are placed on the top board of the platforms, the tip of the locking rod is advanced from a retreated position located in the space below the floor board to an advanced position protruding below the vanes, thereby locking the vanes with the locked parts of the platforms, and the upward movement of at least the vanes is prevented by this locking. The locking rod is configured to prevent the locking rod from moving forward, and the locking rod has a rod main body supported so that it can move back and forth between a retracted position and an advanced position, and a locking part at the tip of the rod main body, which is arranged in parallel with the rod main body at an axial distance (L), and is supported so that it can rotate about an axis between a rest position in which the locking part is positioned to the side of the rod main body, and an operating position in which the locking part is positioned below the rod main body. The locking mechanism is provided with a control means that holds the locking rod in the rest position when the locking rod is retracted to the retracted position, and holds the locking rod in the operating position when the locking rod is advanced to the advanced position.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is configured such that when the vanes of the scaffolding board are placed on the top plate of the platform, the vanes are prevented from moving sideways via the unevenness provided on the vanes and the top plate.

It is preferable that the locking rod is resiliently biased in the forward direction by a biasing means such as a spring.

Preferably, when the locking rod is in the actuated position, an operating piece is provided extending upward from the tail end of the rod body, and a window is provided to allow the operating piece to be operated by the user's fingertips from above the floorboard, and the control means is provided with a receiving portion that receives the operating piece when the locking rod is advanced to the forward position, and a guide groove that restricts the operating piece from both sides in the forward direction.

Moreover, preferably, when the locking rod is in the rest position, a stop piece is provided extending laterally from the tail end of the rod body, and the control means provides an engagement portion that engages with the stop piece to prevent the locking rod from advancing when the locking rod is retracted to the retracted position and rotated to the rest position.

According to the present invention, the scaffold board 1 can be erected on two platforms 6, 6 spaced apart to form a work floor with a large working area. In this case, the scaffold board 1 forms a work floor that cannot fall off by connecting the two platforms 6, 6, so that it is possible to provide a work floor for safe work.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the top surface of a scaffolding board according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the underside of the scaffolding board. This is a perspective view showing an example of use in which a scaffolding board is installed on a platform. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a locking or fixing means between the scaffolding board and the platform. 1A shows an embodiment of the locking rod and the locking mechanism, in which (A) is an oblique view showing the locking rod retracted to a retracted position as a rest position, and (B) is an oblique view showing the locking rod advanced to an advanced position as an actuated position. 1A and 1B show a control unit constituting a locking mechanism, in which FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the top surface, and FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the control unit, broken away so that the receiving portion of the operating piece can be seen, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the control unit, broken away so that the engaging portion of the stop piece can be seen. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the scaffolding board showing the locking rod retracted to the retracted position in the resting position. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the scaffolding board, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A, showing the state in which the locking rod has been retracted to the retracted position in the resting position. This is a plan view of the scaffolding board showing the state in which the locking rod is in the operating position and advanced to the forward position. FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the scaffolding board when the locking rod is in the operating position and advanced to the forward position, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

(Basic structure)
As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the scaffolding board 1 is formed so as to be longer in the girder direction X with respect to the girder direction X and the gable direction Y, and is composed of a scaffolding board main body 2 having a floor plate 2a, wing plates 3, 3 protruding from both ends of the scaffolding board main body 2 in the girder direction X, and a locking mechanism 5 including a locking rod 4 provided in the space below the floor plate 2a.

The scaffolding board body 2 is formed by arranging an intermediate frame 2c between the girder frames 2b, 2b on both the left and right sides, connecting the lower side to a connecting plate 2d extending in the gable direction Y, and laying a floor plate 2a on the upper side. A locking mechanism 5 including the locking rod 4 is arranged in the lower space formed between the intermediate frames 2c, 2c.

The wing plate 3 is integrally formed with a wing piece portion 3a that protrudes almost flush from the top surface of the scaffolding board main body 2, an end plate portion 3b that covers and seals the end surface of the scaffolding board main body 2 in the girder direction X, and a connecting plate portion 3c that connects the frames 2b and 2c from below at the end in the girder direction X.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the scaffolding board 1 is configured to provide a work platform by being erected on two spaced apart platforms 6, 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the cubic platform 6 proposed by the applicant in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is shown, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this.

The platform 6 has a top plate 7 with dimensions that are approximately the same as the dimensions of the wing 3 of the scaffolding board 1 in the gable direction, and is provided with an engaging portion 8 that engages the engaging portion 4b of the tip of the engaging rod 4 when the tip of the engaging rod 4 is advanced with the wing piece portion 3a of the scaffolding board 1 placed on the side edge of the top plate 7. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the engaging portion 8 is formed by a recess in the side portion of the top plate 7, and the engaging portion 4b of the engaging rod 4 is engaged with the engaging portion 8, thereby preventing the wing 3 placed on the top plate 7 from moving upward.

In this case, it is preferable to provide a convex portion 9 and a concave portion 10 that can be freely engaged with each other while the wing piece portion 3a is placed on the side edge of the top plate 7 of the step stool 6, and to configure it so that the engagement prevents the wing piece 3 from moving sideways. In the illustrated embodiment, lower step surfaces 10a and holes 10b are provided at the four corners of the top plate 7, and pins 9b are vertically attached to both ends of the wing piece portion 3a via seats 9a that protrude from the underside. In this way, the seats 9a are fitted into the step surfaces 10a, and the pins 9b are inserted into the holes 10b, preventing the wing piece 3 from moving sideways, but this is not limited to a specific configuration.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the wing piece portion 3a of the wing plate 3 has a window hole 3d near the pin 9b so that the hole 10b and other parts of the top plate 7 can be seen through when the wing piece portion 3a is installed on the top plate 7.

(Lock Rod and Lock Mechanism)
As shown in Figure 5, the locking rod 4 includes a rod main body portion 4a, a locking portion 4b formed by bending the tip of the locking rod 4 so as to be arranged parallel to the rod main body portion 4a at an axial distance (L), and an operating piece 11 and a stop piece 12 provided near the tail end.

As shown in Figures 8 to 11, the locking mechanism 5 is composed of a support means 13 for the locking rod 4 and a control means 15. The support means 13 is provided in the space below the floor plate 2a and is composed of multiple support pieces 13a that support the rod body portion 4a of the locking rod 4 so that it can slide freely in the longitudinal direction (beam direction X) and rotate freely around the axis.

As a result, the locking rod 4 is supported to be able to move freely between a retracted position P1 where the locking portion 4b is located and stored in the space below the floorboard 2a, and an advanced position P2 where the locking portion 4b protrudes below the wing piece portion 3a as described above and locks onto the locking portion 8 of the platform 6.

A biasing means 14 consisting of a spring that biases the rod body portion 4a in the forward direction is provided between the multiple support pieces 13a, and in the illustrated embodiment, a compression coil spring is inserted around the rod body portion 4a.

The locking rod 4 is supported by a support means 13 so that the rod body 4a can rotate freely around the axis, and can rotate between a rest position Q1 in which the locking portion 4b is positioned to the side of the rod body 4a, and an operating position Q2 in which it is positioned downward.

The control means 15 controls and holds the locking rod 4 in a resting position Q1 with the locking portion 4b positioned to the side when the locking rod 4 is retracted to the retracted position P1, as shown in FIG. 5(A), and controls and holds the locking rod 4 in an operating position Q2 with the locking portion 4b positioned downward when the locking rod 4 is advanced to the advanced position P2, as shown in FIG. 5(B).

The control means 15 is composed of an integrally molded unit as shown in Figures 6 and 7, and includes a housing 16 that penetrates the floor plate 2a and is inserted into the lower space, and a flange 17 that is fixed to the upper surface of the floor plate 2a with a rivet or the like, and has a window 18 that allows the user to operate the inside of the housing 16 with their fingertips from above the floor plate 2a.

(Operation piece and stop piece)
The operation piece 11 is formed so as to extend upward from the tail end of the rod body 4a when the locking rod 4 is in the operating position Q2. Therefore, when the locking rod 4 is in the rest position Q1, the operation piece 11 is disposed sideways.

When the locking rod 4 is in the rest position Q1, the stop piece 12 is formed to extend laterally from near the tail end of the rod body 4a. When the locking rod 4 is in the operating position Q2, the stop piece 12 is configured to be positioned facing downward.

(Retracted and resting positions)
5(A), 8 and 9, when the locking rod 4 is retracted to the retracted position P1 and set to the resting posture Q1, the housing 16 of the control means 15 is provided with an engaging portion 19 that prevents the locking rod 4 from advancing by engaging with the stop piece 12. In this case, it is preferable to provide a restricting portion 20 facing the underside of the stop piece 12 on the engaging portion 19, thereby preventing the locking rod 4 from rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow M in FIG. 5(A), that is, the locking rod 4 from rotating in the direction toward the operating posture Q2.

In the rest position Q1, the operating piece 11 is placed on the receiving portion 21 provided on the control means 15 in a state in which it is positioned on the opposite side to the stop piece 12 engaged with the engaging portion 19, and downward rotation (rotation in the opposite direction of the arrow M) is prevented.

When the locking rod 4 is moved to the retracted position P1 and placed in the rest position Q1, the locking portion 4b at the tip is conveniently stored in the space below the floor plate 2a of the scaffold board 1. This allows multiple scaffold boards 1 to be conveniently stacked when storing or transporting.

(Forward position and working position)
5(A), when the operating piece 11 is pinched with the fingertips and the locking rod 4 is moved against the biasing means 14 in the direction of the arrow R, the stop piece 12 is disengaged from the restricting portion 20, and the locking rod 4 is made rotatable in the direction of the arrow M. In this state, the operating piece 11 is placed on the receiving portion 21, and therefore cannot be rotated in the opposite direction of the arrow M.

Then, by raising the operating piece 11, the rod body 4a is rotated in the direction of the arrow M, and released from the user's fingertip, as shown in Figures 5(B), 10, and 11, the locking rod 4 is moved forward by the biasing means 14 toward the forward position P2 in the operating position Q2, and the locking portion 4b at the tip passes under the end plate portion 3b of the blade 3 and protrudes.

The operating piece 11 advances by entering a guide groove 22 provided in the control means 15 and is received in a receiving portion 23 at the end of the guide groove 22, and the locking rod 4 is stopped at this position, which is the advanced position P2. At this time, the operating piece 11 is restricted in the forward direction from both sides by the guide groove 22, so the locking rod 4 is prevented from rotating around the axis of the rod main body portion 4a.

In the illustrated example, a stop means for stopping the locking rod 4 at the forward position P2 is formed by abutting the support piece 13a with a fixing device 14a fixed to the rod body portion 4a as a spring receiving member (see Figs. 10 and 11). However, in addition to the configuration shown in the illustration, a stop means for stopping the locking rod 4 at the forward position P2 may be formed by receiving the operating piece 11 with the receiving portion 23.

As shown in Figure 11, when the locking rod 4 is moved in the backward direction from the forward position P2 and held at the backward position P1, it moves a distance (N) until the tip of the locking portion 4b is stored in the space below the floor plate 2a. Therefore, with respect to this distance (N), the distance (n1) at which the operating piece 11 escapes from the guide groove 22 and the distance (n2) at which the stop piece 12 subsequently passes through the restricting portion 20, that is, the moving distance (n1 + n2) until the rod main body portion 4a becomes rotatable, should be set so that n1 + n2 > N.

As a result, while the locking rod 4 moves the distance (N) from the forward position P2 to the retracted position P1, the locking portion 4b is held in the operating position Q2 and does not rotate toward the resting position Q1. Therefore, there is no risk of the locking portion 4b rotating and colliding with the end plate portion 3b or the connecting plate portion 3c of the blade 3, resulting in damage. As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting plate portion 3c of the blade 3 may be provided with a notch 3e facing the locking portion 4b.

(Action)
According to the scaffolding board 1 configured as described above, by mounting it on two steps 6, 6 spaced apart from each other, it is possible to form a work floor with a large working area.

As shown in Figure 4, the vane 3 is placed on the top plate 7 of the platform 6, and the lateral movement of the vane 3 is prevented via the uneven parts 9 and 10. When the locking part 4b of the locking rod 4 is advanced to the forward position P2 and locked with the locked part 8 of the platform 6, the vane 3 is prevented from moving upward. In this way, the scaffolding board 1 that connects the two platforms 6, 6 and cannot fall off provides a work floor for safe work.

The locking rod 4 has a locking portion 4b at its tip, which is bent and arranged parallel to the rod body 4a at an axial distance (L), and is freely rotatable around its axis between a rest position Q1 in which the locking portion 4b is positioned to the side of the rod body 4a and an operating position Q2 in which it is positioned downward.

Therefore, when the scaffold board 1 is retracted to the retracted position P1 in the resting position Q1, the locking rod 4 can be suitably stored in the space below the floor plate 2a of the scaffold board 1.

Furthermore, by advancing the locking rod 4 to the forward position P2 while in the operating position Q2, the locking portion 4b can be protruded to a position spaced a sufficient distance below the wing piece portion 3a. In other words, as shown by the symbol S in FIG. 11, a sufficient separation distance S can be ensured between the upper support portion (wing piece portion 3a) that locks to the top plate 7 of the footstool 6 and the lower support portion (locking portion 4b) that is located on the side of the footstool 6 and locks to the locked portion 8, making it possible to form a stable and strong support state.

The locking rod 4 is controlled by the control means 15 to maintain the resting position Q1 in the retracted position P1 and to maintain the operating position Q2 in the advanced position P2. Furthermore, the locking rod 4 is restricted to maintain the operating position Q2 while moving a distance (N) between the retracted position P1 and the advanced position P2, and the rotation of the rod main body portion 4a around the axis is prevented, thereby protecting the locking portion 4b from damage, etc.

1 Scaffolding board 2 Scaffolding board main body 2a Floor board 2b Girder frame 2c Intermediate frame 2d Connecting plate 3 Wing board 3a Wing piece portion 3b End plate portion 3c Connecting plate portion 3d Window hole 3e Notch 4 Locking rod 4a Rod main body portion 4b Locking portion 5 Locking mechanism 6 Step 7 Top board 8 Locked portion 9 Convex portion 9a Seat material 9b Pin 10 Convex portion 10a Step surface 10b Hole 11 Operation piece 12 Stop piece 13 Support means 13a Support piece 14 Pressing means (spring)
14a Fixture 15 Control means 16 Housing 17 Flange 18 Window 19 Engagement portion 20 Restriction portion 21 Receiving portion 22 Guide groove 23 Receiving portion P1 Retracted position P2 Advanced position Q1 Rest position Q2 Activated position

Claims (4)

The scaffold board is a scaffold board that forms a work platform by being erected on two platform stools arranged at a distance from each other, and is composed of a scaffold board body (2) equipped with a floor plate (2a), wing plates (3) protruding from both ends of the scaffold board body, and a locking mechanism (5) including a locking rod (4) provided in the space below the floor plate (2a) of the scaffold board body,
With the vane (3) placed on the top plate (7) of the step (6), the tip of the locking rod (4) is advanced from a retreated position (P1) located in the space below the floor plate (2a) to an advanced position (P2) protruding below the vane (3) to be locked to the locked portion (8) of the step, thereby preventing at least the vane (3) from moving upward.
The locking rod (4) includes a rod body portion (4a) supported so as to be freely advanced and retreated between a retreated position (P1) and an advanced position (P2), and a locking portion (4b) at a tip end arranged in parallel with the rod body portion at an axial distance (L), and is supported so as to be freely rotatable about an axis between a rest position (Q1) in which the locking portion (4b) is positioned to the side of the rod body portion (4a) and an operating position (Q2) in which the locking portion (4b) is positioned below the rod body portion (4a);
The locking mechanism (5) is provided with a control means (15) for holding the locking rod (4) in the rest position (O1) when the locking rod (4) is retracted to the retracted position (P1), and for holding the locking rod (4) in the operating position (Q2) when the locking rod (4) is advanced to the advanced position (P2). The scaffolding board for a platform as described in claim 1, characterized in that, when the vanes (3) of the platform board are placed on the top plate (7) of the platform (6), the vanes are prevented from moving sideways via the uneven portions (9, 10) provided on the vanes and the top plate. When the locking rod (4) is in the actuated position (Q2), an operation piece (11) is provided extending upward from the tail end of the rod body portion (4a), and a window portion (18) is provided to enable the operation piece to be operated by a user's fingertip from above the floor board (2a);
The scaffolding board for a step stool as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control means (15) is provided with a receiving portion (23) that receives the operating piece (11) when the locking rod (4) is advanced to the forward position (P2), and a guide groove (22) that restricts the operating piece in the forward direction from both sides. When the locking rod (4) is in a rest position (Q1), a stop piece (12) is provided extending laterally from the tail end of the rod body portion (4a),
The scaffolding board for a step stool as described in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the control means (15) is provided with an engagement portion (19) that engages with the stop piece (12) to prevent the locking rod (4) from advancing forward when the locking rod (4) is retracted to the retracted position (P1) and rotated to the rest position (Q1).

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