Patent Application
20150184401
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an access flooring for a scaffolding having an access door which closes an access opening in the access flooring and which is supported in an opening manner on the access flooring in a state connected to the access flooring.
2. Background of the Invention
On a scaffolding, construction workers and/or craftsmen must often change working level within the scaffolding in order to carry out their work. This may be the case, for example, when they have finished their work at one level and wish to continue this work at an adjacent level. This may also be the case when they have to leave their working level temporarily, for example, in order to obtain additional building material. Since ladders which are leaned against the scaffolding initially have to be newly orientated in the event of a change of the working level and can further readily fall over, a plurality of known scaffoldings have so-called access floorings. These are working platforms which are securely anchored in the scaffolding and on which the construction workers and/or craftsmen can safely stand and work. Furthermore, portions of those working platforms have access floorings having an access opening. Workers can reach the desired working level via the access openings by means of ladders from a working level which is located above or below. In order to prevent a worker and/or objects from being able to inadvertently fall through an access opening and the worker from injuring himself and/or other workers becoming injured, access floorings are provided with an access door which is closed after use by the relevant worker. However, workers may forget to close an access door. The personal safety on building sites is greatly impaired by such open access doors, which must be avoided.
EP2102431 B1 discloses an access flooring for a scaffolding which has a flexible hatch type door which is constructed in a self-closing manner in order to increase personal safety. Unlike known access doors, the flexible hatch type door is not in the form of a plate which is flexurally rigid in the direction of the two plane axes thereof but instead comprises a plate which can be deformed in a flexibly resilient manner and which has individual reinforcement inserts. The reinforcement inserts are spaced apart from each other and are countersunk into the flexibly resilient material parallel with each other so that the flexible plate has a plurality of longitudinal segments which are connected to each other in a flexibly resilient manner, that is to say, are articulated to each other resiliently. When the door is completely folded back (opened), complete and automatic closure of the flexible door cannot—not least as a result of the inherent weight of the longitudinal segments thereof—be safely ensured. As a result of the constructive structure thereof, the flexible door further has complex and difficult handling. For instance, the door cannot be opened simply by pressing against any surface portion at the lower side, but instead has to be folded back extensively by means of pressure with a plurality of body parts or a reaching arm movement in order to completely release an access opening closed by the door for the passage of an operator. Furthermore, the access flooring is cost-intensive to produce and involves a risk to the safety of users because damaged or even broken reinforcement inserts of the flexible door cannot be recognized or cannot readily be recognized from the outer side.
US2007/0125601 A1 discloses an access flooring, in which the access flooring is connected to an access door via a resilient element. Details of the resilient element or the opening limits of the access door are not described in US2007/0125601 A1.
EP2080852 A1 discloses an access flooring having an access door, the opening angle of the access door being limited by at least one tension rod. To this end, the tension rod has a stop face which is positioned on a stop counter-face at the maximum opening angle of the access door. The known access flooring is constructed in a relatively complicated manner as a result of the tension rod arrangement.
GB1,033,233 A discloses a hinge which can be pivoted at one end through up to 360°.
EP1124030 A2 discloses a hinge for a car door, the hinge comprising a bendable plate.
GB1,106,128 A further discloses a hinge for a swing door. GB1,106,128 A teaches to construct the hinge in such a manner that no resistance occurs when the swing door is opened.
FR2895429 A1 discloses an access flooring. The access flooring has an access door which is connected to the access flooring by a conventional hinge. The opening movement of the access door is limited by a stop.
DE2939265 A1 discloses a wall hatch. When the wall hatch is opened, a resilient element of the wall hatch is uniformly extended.
DE10208831 A1 discloses an access flooring, a resilient hinge which is not described in greater detail connecting the access flooring to an access door.
DE202007011081 U1 discloses another access flooring which is connected to an access door by means of a resilient hinge which is not described in greater detail.
Finally, DE202008003128 U1 discloses an access flooring, in which an access door is connected to the access flooring via a hinge profile-member. The hinge profile-member allows an opening angle of the access door of more than 90°.
Therefore, an object of the invention is to further increase the personal safety on a scaffolding in connection with access floorings and to further improve the handling of the access door of such an access flooring.
This object is achieved in that, in a region in which the access door is connected to the access flooring, there is arranged at least one resiliently deformable element which becomes deformed when the access door is opened and there is produced by the deformation in the resiliently deformable element a force (=restoring force) which is directed counter to the opening movement of the access door. The force which is produced in the resilient element and which is directed counter to the opening movement of the access door increases according to the invention (during the opening of the door) abruptly at an opening angle near a perpendicular position of the access door. That is to say, if the access door is orientated almost perpendicularly relative to a horizontal orientation, the (restoring) force which is applied by the resilient element to the access door increases with respect to the horizontal orientation of the access door at or from the opening angle of the access door near the perpendicular position thereof by a multiple, for example, by two-fold, three-fold or by an even higher value, with respect to the value of the restoring force which has been produced up to an opening angle near the perpendicular position of the access door. The force may increase in particular in a stepped manner or in a substantially stepped manner in the region of the opening angle of the access door near the perpendicular position thereof. The characteristic line of the resiliently deformable element has in this case in the region of the opening angle near the perpendicular position of the access door a non-constant extent. An abrupt increase of the force is also present when the force increases from the opening angle of the access door near the perpendicular orientation thereof, with further increasing opening angles of the access door, continuously or exponentially with respect to the value of the restoring force which has been produced up to the opening angle near the perpendicular position of the access door. In the last case mentioned, the resiliently deformable element has a progressive characteristic line. This ensures in a generally advantageous manner that the access door of the access flooring closes automatically in a reliable and rapid manner after opening, that is to say, when no more external force (of an operator) acts on the access door. The (defined/predetermined) opening angle near the perpendicular position of the door is between 75° and 87°, in particular approximately 85°. The force produced in the resiliently deformable element is preferably small up to the opening angle of the access door near the perpendicular position thereof. The access door is preferably constructed in a flexurally rigid manner in the direction of the two plane axes thereof, that is to say, in the direction of the longitudinal axis and in the transverse axis thereof. That is to say, the access door is constructed as a board or plate. It will be understood that the board or plate may have a multi-layered construction or a frame. It is thereby possible, on the one hand, to visually identify in a simplified manner possible damage to the access door, in particular a crack or breakage of the access door. On the other hand, the access door can be readily operated completely by an operator by pressing against any lower-side surface portion in order to completely release the access opening for the passage of the operator. Consequently, the use of an access flooring according to the invention in a scaffolding increases the personal safety substantially because active closure of the access opening by persons is unnecessary and therefore also cannot be forgotten. The danger that a construction worker may fall through an open access opening of an access flooring and become seriously injured is minimized or may be excluded if the object according to the invention is not defective. Safety provisions often require that the access openings in access floorings automatically close after use. This is readily complied with by the access flooring according to the invention. The access door of the access flooring is particularly simple and safe to handle.
An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the region in which the access door is connected to the access flooring extends over an edge side of the access door. The substantially rectangular form of the access door uses the available surface-area of the access flooring to the best possible extent and makes it easier, in conjunction with an access opening which is adapted to the access door, for a person to climb through the access flooring. In accordance with the arrangement of the at least one resiliently deformable element, the access door can be opened either in the longitudinal direction or in the transverse direction relative to the access flooring. Since the resiliently deformable element extends only over an edge side of the access door, the person climbing through the access flooring has the greatest possible freedom of movement and is not impeded by the resilient element during the climbing action.
In another embodiment, the edge of the access opening has an edge formation, in which the access door is inserted, and wherein the edge formation is constructed in such a manner that the surface of the upper side of the access door forms without any step a plane with the surface of the upper side of the access flooring. Advantageously, when the door is closed, a person cannot remain stuck with his foot or an object to be transported on an edge of the access door and consequently stumble or trip, which further increases the personal safety of the access flooring according to the invention. The edge formation of the access opening further ensures that the inserted access door is carried by the edge of the access opening of the access flooring along a portion of the edge thereof. The inherent weight of the access door in the closed state and optionally an additional weight force of an object located on the access door or a person on the access flooring is discharged and consequently the resilient element is relieved in respect of those weight forces. An embodiment which has the edge formation along the entire edge of the access opening is particularly advantageous since the weight force is transmitted to the access flooring in the most uniform manner possible and the flexible element is no longer loaded when the access door is closed.
In another embodiment, the at least one resiliently deformable element is in the form of an elongate profile-member of a flexibly resilient and/or visco-resilient material. Elongate profile-members of a flexibly resilient and/or visco-resilient material, such as, for example, natural rubber or silicone rubber, can be produced in a cost-effective manner in many different forms. Such profile-members having a respective formulation can be kept for a long time, are rust-resistant and resistant to weather influences and UV radiation. On the basis of the material used and the construction thereof, elongate profile-members of a flexibly resilient and/or visco-resilient material involve a lower risk of injury owing to becoming jammed, for example, in comparison with helical compression springs. In a further advantageous manner, the resilient restoring force can readily be adjusted by the material selection and/or the cross-sectional shape of the elongate profile-member in the event of the deformation thereof, and therefore the restoring force of the access door in dependence of the opening angle thereof.
In a development of another embodiment, the elongate profile-member has a substantially rectangular cross-section. Such a profile-member can readily be connected, in various manners, both to the access door and to the access flooring. For example, screw type and/or adhesive connections are possible. Rectangular profile-members are available in a very cost-effective manner with extremely different dimensions as bar goods and can readily be adapted to access openings with different dimensions simply by being cut.
In another embodiment of the access flooring according to the invention, the elongate profile-member has an at least partially V-like or W-like or zig-zag-like or wave-like cross-section. Such a cross-section can ensure that the force necessary for opening the access door is small for opening angles until near a perpendicular position of the access door, for example, less than or equal to 80 degrees, and increases abruptly for larger opening angles. The access door of such an access flooring can advantageously be opened with a very small force application by a person climbing through, for example, simply by pressing with his hand or head if the person is climbing upwards from below through the access opening.
According to the invention an additional resiliently deformable element can make it easier to open an access door in accordance with an auxiliary opening means if such an element is compressed as a result of the inherent weight of the access door when the access door is closed and discharges that force stored in the resiliently deformed element again when the access door is opened and consequently the opening of the access door is further facilitated. If the access door is opened in a practically perpendicular manner, the restoring force increases abruptly, which ensures rapid closure of the access door. If elongate profile-members, in particular with an at least partially zig-zag-like or wave-like cross-section, are used, there may also be used to produce those profile-members materials which have only a low level of resilience because, as a result of the use of such cross-sections, the effective path length of the deformable region and therefore the flexibility of the elongate profile-member increases greatly in the transverse direction. However, the outer dimensions of the cross-section profile-member of the resiliently deformable element which is used here increase only slightly.
In a development, the access flooring according to the invention is characterized in that the access door has, along a portion of the edge thereof, a first groove in which the elongate profile-member engages with a first part-region, and in that the access flooring has, along a portion of the edge of the access opening which is opposite the first groove along the portion of the edge of the access door, a second groove in which the elongate profile-member engages with a second part-region, and wherein the elongate profile-member is retained both in the first groove along the portion of the edge of the access door and in the second groove of the access flooring along the portion of the edge of the access opening. The use of a first groove along the portion of the edge of the access door and a second groove along the portion of the edge of the access opening ensures a very space-saving arrangement of the elongate profile-member. The part-regions of the elongate profile-member which engage in the first and second groove completely disappear in the access door and the access flooring. If the first and/or second groove is/are arranged within a larger groove, additional part-regions of the elongate profile-member which are not retained by the access door or the access flooring can be received in the larger groove, respectively. This results in an additional space saving and the flexible element is further protected from damage by the access door and/or the access flooring.
It is preferable for the elongate planar profile-member to be secured in the first groove along the portion of the edge of the access door and in the second groove of the access flooring along the portion of the edge of the access opening by rivets and/or by screws and/or by adhesive connections and/or by undercuts. The elongate profile-member which is secured both in the first groove and in the second groove thus cannot inadvertently slip out of the first groove and/or the second groove when the access door is opened. If the profile-member is secured in the first groove and the second groove by means of screw connections and/or rivet connections and/or undercuts, it can rapidly be changed in the event of a defect, for example, caused by a fatigue fracture.
A another development of the access flooring according to the invention is characterized in that the elongate profile-member is subjected to material deformation when the access door is opened, and in that one or more cavities are at least partially formed in the region of the material deformation. As a result of cavities in the region of the material deformation, it is possible to influence the force required to open the access door in accordance with the opening angle. If a more rigid material is used to produce the elongate profile-member, the cavities formed in the profile-member can reduce the force required to open the access door. By the number, form and position of the cavities being selected in a suitable manner, for example, it is possible for only a comparatively small force to have to be applied up to almost perpendicular opening of the access door and the restoring force to increase greatly only in the case of a perpendicular position of the access door.
In a development of the last embodiment of the access flooring mentioned, the at least one cavity is closed at least partially in the direction of the longitudinal sides of the elongate profile-member. By means of a cavity which is closed in the direction of the longitudinal sides of the elongate profile-member, dirt, for example, falling stones, sand, mortar or dripping paint, is reliably prevented from being introduced into the cavity and from being able to block it, which could impair the function of the cavity of the elongate profile-member when the access door is opened.
In another development of the access flooring according to the invention, the at least one cavity is at least partially formed by an indentation which extends in the longitudinal direction of the elongate profile-member in the surface of a longitudinal side. As a result of indentations which extend in the longitudinal direction of the elongate profile-member, for example, in the form of notches on a lower side of the elongate profile-member, it is possible to reduce the application of force necessary to deform the profile-member and consequently to open the access door. In contrast to cavities which are completely or partially closed in the longitudinal direction, it is also possible to bring about indentations at the surface of the profile-member after the production thereof with relatively little complexity.
In another embodiment, the region in which the access door is connected to the access flooring has a flexible cover, which covers the at least one resiliently deformable element. As a result of such a flexible cover, both the resiliently deformable element itself and the connection region between the access door and the access flooring are optimally protected from occurrences of contamination which make it more difficult or impossible to open the access door, or which can damage the hinge of the access door. For example, a hand or a foot of a person in the vicinity of the door is also prevented from becoming jammed, which further improves the safety of the access flooring.
Additional advantages of the invention will be appreciated from the description and the drawings. The features set out above and those set out below may also be used according to the invention individually per se or together in any combination. The embodiments shown and described are not intended to be understood to be a conclusive listing but are instead of exemplary character for describing the invention.
The invention is illustrated in the drawings and is explained in greater detail with reference to embodiments. In the drawings:
Alternatively to
The access flooring 10 may further have a ladder (not illustrated) which is secured during transport and storage of the access flooring 10 under the access door 14 and the floor of the access flooring 10 in a releasable and/or pivotable manner. After the access flooring 10 has been fitted in a scaffolding, the ladder can be folded out from the access flooring 10 in order to reach the access flooring 10 from a flooring underneath.
The illustration in
The elongate profile-member 50 in
A possibility for connecting an access flooring 106 to an access door 108 by means of an elongate profile-member 110 having a rectangular cross-section is illustrated in
As illustrated in
In a similar manner, as illustrated in
As shown in
The cover 164 may also be configured in such a manner that the restoring force produced by the elongate profile-member 156 cooperates with a restoring force which is produced by the cover 164. The cover 164 acts counter to an undesirable introduction of contamination, such as, for example, stones or material chips, into the gap formed between the access door 162 and the access flooring 160.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2012 216 504.5 | Sep 2012 | DE | national |
This continuation application claims priority to PCT/EP2013/069227 filed on Sep. 17, 2013 which has published as WO 2014/041184 A1 and also the German application number 10 2012 216 504.5 filed on Sep. 17, 2012, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein with these references.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2013/069227 | Sep 2013 | US |
| Child | 14659510 | US |
