Floor deck member for scaffolding

Abstract

A floor deck member ( 1; 30 ) for scaffolding ( 24 ), wherein the floor deck member at each end has a mounting area ( 2, 3; 33, 34 ) designed to rest on a scaffold beam ( 25; 26 ), and downwardly projecting supporting pieces ( 2′, 3′; 33′, 34 ′) at each end to limit movement of the floor deck member ( 1; 30 ) relative to opposing scaffold beams ( 25, 26 ) when these support the floor deck member. The floor deck member has a plurality of elongate reinforcing profiled members ( 4, 5, 6; 37, 38, 39 ) which are embedded in longitudinal ribs ( 7, 8, 9; 35, 35′, 35 ″) on the underside of the floor deck member, wherein support ribs ( 10, 11; 36, 36 ′) are arranged between adjacent ribs ( 7, 8, 9; 35, 35′, 35 ″). A walk surface ( 12, 31, 32 ), the ribs ( 7, 8, 9: 35, 35′, 35 ″) and the support ribs ( 10, 11; 36, 36 ′) are unitarily made of a composite plastic material, the respective end portions ( 4′, 5′, 6′; 37′, 38′, 39 ′) of said profiled members ( 4, 5, 6; 37, 38, 39 ′) forming said mounting area when bearing against respective ones of the opposing scaffold beams ( 25; 26 ).

1 . A floor deck member ( 1 ;  30 ) for scaffolding ( 24 ), wherein the floor deck member at each end has a mounting area ( 2 ,  3 ;  33 ,  34 ) designed to rest on a scaffold beam ( 25 ;  26 ), 
 wherein the floor deck member has a plurality of elongate reinforcing profiled members ( 4 ,  5 ,  6 ;  37 ,  38 ,  39 ) which are embedded in longitudinal ribs ( 7 ,  8 ,  9 ;  35 ,  35 ′,  35 ″) on the underside of the floor deck member;    wherein between adjacent ribs ( 7 ,  8 ,  9 ;  35 ,  35 ′,  35 ″) there are arranged support ribs ( 10 ,  11 ;  36 ,  36 ′); and    wherein a walk surface ( 12 ,  31 ,  32 ), the ribs ( 7 , 8 , 9 :  35 ,  35 ′,  35 ″) and the support ribs ( 10 ,  11 ;  36 ,  36 ′) of the floor deck member are unitarily made of a composite plastic material,    characterised in that respective end portions ( 4 ′,  5 ′,  6 ′;  37 ′,  38 ′,  39 ′) of said profiled members ( 4 ,  5 ,  6 ;  35 ,  35 ′,  35 ″) form said mounting area when bearing against respective ones of the opposing scaffold beams ( 25 ;  26 ), and that supporting pieces ( 2 ,  3 ;  33 ′,  34 ′) are arranged at each end of the floor deck member and designed to limit movement of the floor deck member ( 1 ;  30 ) relative to opposing scaffold beams ( 25 ;  26 ) when these support the floor deck member via the mounting areas ( 2 ,  3 ;  33 ,  34 ).    
   
   
       2 . A floor deck member for scaffolding as stated in  claim 1 , characterised in that the plastic material is composed of polyolefin material, for example, copolymer polypropylene, with an added mineral material, the plastic material also having an expansion material added thereto during moulding.  
   
   
       3 . A floor deck member for scaffolding as stated in  claim 2 , characterised in that the proportion of the mineral material is 10-40%, preferably 20%.  
   
   
       4 . A floor deck member for scaffolding as stated in  claim 3 , characterised in that the mineral material is dolomite.  
   
   
       5 . A floor deck member for scaffolding as stated in  claim 2 , characterised in that the expansion material is added in an amount of 1-5% by weight, preferably 2% by weight.  
   
   
       6 . A floor deck member for scaffolding as stated in  claim 1 , characterised in that the reinforcing profiled members ( 4 ″,  5 ″,  6 ″) in the floor deck member are capable of being joined to reinforcing profiled members in a longitudinal direction in an intermediate or adjacent floor deck member ( 13 ).  
   
   
       7 . A floor deck member for scaffolding as stated in  claim 1 , characterised in that the floor deck member can be split into at least two parts ( 19 ,  16 ) for insertion of one or more extension pieces ( 13 ), which have a plurality of elongate reinforcing profiled members ( 17 ,  18 ,  19 ) that are embedded in longitudinal ribs ( 20 ,  21 , 22 ) on the underside of the extension piece, and where a walk surface ( 23 ), the ribs ( 20 - 22 ) and optional support ribs ( 24 ,  25 ) of the extension piece are unitarily made of said composite material, and that the extension piece forms a mechanical connection with adjacent floor deck member parts ( 1 ;  15 ;  16 ) when joined between the reinforcing profiled members ( 4 ″,  5 ″,  6 ″) of the floor deck member part and the reinforcing profiled members ( 17 - 19 ) of the extension piece.