Modular scaffold board

Abstract

A modular scaffold board comprising: a plurality of board members of different lengths; and at least one joining member, for joining the board members in an end-to-end fashion. A kit of parts comprising a plurality of board members of different lengths, joining members and end parts for forming modular scaffold boards in a wide variety of lengths is also described.

1 . A kit of parts from which a modular scaffold board of a plurality of different lengths is constructed, the modular scaffold board being suitable for use instead of and/or alongside conventional seasoned wood scaffold boards in a scaffold structure in which the modular scaffold board and/or conventional seasoned wood scaffold boards are arranged to be supported by transoms positioned beneath the modular scaffold board and/or conventional seasoned wood scaffold boards with a predetermined maximum spacing S between the transoms, the kit of parts comprising:
 a plurality board members including board members of at least two different lengths, each board member being shorter than the predetermined maximum spacing S, each board member having a substantially rectangular cross-section in a transverse plane and extending in a longitudinal direction, perpendicular to the transverse plane, and each longitudinal end of each board member comprising at least one hollow intrusion, extending in the longitudinal direction, forming a female connecting part;   at least one joining member, which is a separate component from the board members, configured to join the board members together in an end-to-end fashion, so as to enable construction of the modular scaffold board of a plurality of different lengths, the joining member extending in the longitudinal direction and each longitudinal end of the joining member comprising at least one protrusion, extending in the longitudinal direction, forming male connecting part configured to engage with a respective female connecting part of the plurality of board members; and   a locking mechanism configured to releasably lock the board members and joining members in the joined state;   wherein, when the modular scaffold board is constructed, the male and female connecting parts are configured to provide a connection between board members which gives the modular scaffold board stability under forces exerted in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, such that said stability under said forces is equal to, or surpasses, that of a conventional seasoned wood scaffold board of the same length, such that the modular scaffold board is able to support at least the weight of a person when supported by transoms with the predetermined maximum spacing S, in the scaffold structure.   
     
     
         2 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the each of the plurality of board members has a length less than 1.2 m. 
     
     
         3 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of board members has a length less than 0.9 m. 
     
     
         4 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of board members include board members 1 foot and 3 foot in length. 
     
     
         5 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an overlapping length between the male connecting parts of the at least one joining member and the female connecting parts of the board members, when the modular scaffold board is constructed, is between 1 and 6 inches. 
     
     
         6 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the overlapping length is between 2 and 4 inches. 
     
     
         7 . A kit of parts according to  claim 1 , wherein each board member comprises a plurality of female connecting parts and each joining member comprises a plurality of male connecting parts. 
     
     
         8 . A kit of parts according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one hollow intrusion forming the female connecting part of each board member is a rectangular tube extending from a longitudinal end of the board member to an opposite longitudinal end the board member. 
     
     
         9 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising, at least one end cap, which is a separate component from the board members and the at least one joining member, configured to connect to a longitudinal end of the modular scaffold scaffold board. 
     
     
         10 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the end cap extends in the longitudinal direction and one longitudinal end of the end cap comprises at least one protrusion, extending in the longitudinal direction, forming a male connecting part configured to engage with a respective female connecting part of the plurality of board members. 
     
     
         11 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises an elastic locking member configured to engage with an engagement portion of the board member to which the joining member is joined. 
     
     
         12 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 11 , Wherein an elastic force produced when the elastic locking member is elastically deformed acts to prevent disengagement of the locking member from the engagement portion. 
     
     
         13 . A scaffolding system comprising:
 a plurality of transoms configured to support a scaffold board, such that the transoms have predetermined maximum spacing S there between, and   a modular scaffold board constructed from a kit of parts according to  claim 1 .