Guard for scaffolding

Abstract

Scaffolding comprising, a scaffold structure, assembled next to yet spaced from an adjacent face of a building structure with a gap therebetween, comprising a plurality of standards extending vertically adjacent the structure, horizontal ledgers extending between standards and tying the standards in a fixed interrelationship, and a platform supported from the standards and/or the ledgers thereby to be conferred a vertical support in a substantially horizontal disposition; and a guard, as a lateral extension to the platform, configured to hinge or otherwise articulate downwardly from the scaffold structure to bear onto the face of the building structure to at least partially span across the gap.

1 . Scaffolding comprising,
 a scaffold structure, assembled next to yet spaced from an adjacent face of a building structure with a gap therebetween, comprising:
 a. a plurality of standards extending vertically adjacent the structure, 
 b. horizontal ledgers extending between standards and tying the standards in a fixed interrelationship, and 
 c. a platform supported from the standards and/or the ledgers thereby to be conferred a vertical support in a substantially horizontal disposition; and 
   a guard, as a lateral extension to the platform, configured to hinge or otherwise articulate downwardly from the scaffold structure to bear onto the face of the building structure to at least partially span across the gap.   
     
     
         2 . Scaffolding as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the guard is configurable between (i) a rotationally secure stowed condition proximal more the scaffold structure and (ii) a deployed position that is rotationally free save for being prevented from rotating beyond where the guard comes to bear onto the building structure. 
     
     
         3 . Scaffolding as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the guard, when in the deployed condition, comprises an upwards facing face contiguous with at least one or more of the platform and the adjacent face of the adjacent building. 
     
     
         4 . Scaffolding as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the guard is substantially rectangular in plan shape and has its two major parallel edges positioned parallel the adjacent face of the building. 
     
     
         5 . Scaffolding as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each said standard includes a plurality of spaced apart rosettes at each of which at least one ledger is able to become removable secured to a said standard, and wherein the guard is supported in a hinged manner from a rosette. 
     
     
         6 . Scaffolding as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said guard includes a hinge assembly that includes a member that is insertable into a slot of a rosette of a said standard to be removably engageable and become supported with a standard. 
     
     
         7 . Scaffolding as claimed in  claim 1  where the guard includes a flexible lip that extends in a manner engaging the face of the building in a compliant manner to prevent objects from falling beyond the guard at said face. 
     
     
         8 . Scaffolding as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the guard includes at least one upstand provided at at least one peripheral edge of the guard to prevent objects from moving off the guard thereat. 
     
     
         9 . Scaffolding comprising a scaffold structure of a plurality of spaced apart upright supports and a platform inwardly of the upright supports to be erected adjacent yet spaced from a building structure and a fringe guard hingedly supported by said scaffold structure and deployed or deployable to extend outwardly of the upright supports from a stowed condition upwardly of its hinge axis to span between the building structure and the scaffold structure. 
     
     
         10 . Scaffolding as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the fringe guard is removably engageable to the upright supports via downwardly insertable projections. 
     
     
         11 . Scaffolding as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the fringe guard comprises flexible members about its periphery configured to cover a gap/s between the fringe guard and one more selected from a) the platform, b) the building structure and c) another adjacent fringe guard. 
     
     
         12 . Scaffolding as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the platform comprises borders extending above and substantially perpendicular to the uppermost surface of the platform about at least part of the platform periphery. 
     
     
         13 . Scaffolding as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the guard comprises a deck and borders extending above and substantially perpendicular to the uppermost surface of the deck at at least part of the guard periphery. 
     
     
         14 . A guard for closing a gap down which items might fall between a scaffold structure and an adjacent building, said guard being panel or platform like in nature with a longitudinal axis to run along the gap horizontally, the lateral extremities of the guard being adapted (1) proximally to the scaffolding, to engage complementary said scaffold structure from above, and (2) distally of the scaffold structure to bear onto the building structure. 
     
     
         15 . A guard as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the guard is configurable between a rotationally secure stowed condition and a rotationally free deployed position. 
     
     
         16 . A guard as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the guard in the deployed position is configured to comprise an upwards facing face contiguous from the scaffolding, across the gap, to the adjacent face of the adjacent building. 
     
     
         17 . A guard as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the guard is removably engageable with the scaffold structure via downwardly insertable projections which engage with the complementary features of the scaffold structure. 
     
     
         18 . A guard as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the downwardly insertable projections comprise pintles to engage with complementary orifices on the guard, that act together to form a hinge parallel the longitudinal direction of the gap. 
     
     
         19 . A guard as claimed in  claim 17  wherein nodal rosettes provide by vertically extending standards of the scaffold structure are used (i) to assist tying of at least vertical standards or standard assemblies of the scaffolding in a fixed interrelationship using bracing members and (ii) to locate and engage the downwardly insertable projections. 
     
     
         20 . A guard as claimed in  claim 14  wherein flexible members are disposed at the guard periphery configured to cover gap/s between the guard and one or more selected from a) the scaffolding, b) the building and c) another adjacent guard. 
     
     
         21 . A guard for closing a gap down which items might fall between a scaffold structure and an adjacent building, said guard being deck like in nature with a longitudinal axis to run along the gap horizontally, the lateral extremities of the guard being adapted (1) proximally to the scaffolding, to be supported by said scaffold structure in an pivotal manner, and (2) distally of the scaffold structure to pivotally come to bear onto the building structure.