A lapboard for a safety deck

Abstract

A lapboard for a safety deck assembly, the safety deck assembly comprising a upper deck formed of one or more decking panels having a substantially planar upper surface and an elevated support assembly comprising a number of elongate legs, a base for each elongate leg to form a foot, a head for each elongate leg to at least partially support a decking panel relative to an upper end of the leg, the lapboard comprising a substantially planar upper surface and at least one receiving opening formed in an underside of the lapboard to receive a portion of the head to locate the upper surface of the lapboard substantially coplanar with the upper surface of the decking panels, the lapboard being smaller in width than the decking panels.

1 . A lapboard for a safety deck assembly, the safety deck assembly comprising a upper deck formed of one or more decking panels having a substantially planar upper surface and an elevated support assembly comprising a number of elongate legs, a base for each elongate leg to form a foot, a head for each elongate leg to at least partially support a decking panel relative to an upper end of the leg, the lapboard comprising a substantially planar upper surface and at least one receiving opening formed in an underside of the lapboard to receive a portion of the head to locate the upper surface of the lapboard substantially coplanar with the upper surface of the decking panels, the lapboard being smaller in width than the one or more decking panels. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A lapboard as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the lapboard has a width of approximately 800 mm to 900 mm. 
     
     
         4 . A lapboard as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of strengthening ribs provided on an underside of the lapboard. 
     
     
         5 . A lapboard as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the strengthening ribs are provided in a regular array. 
     
     
         6 . A lapboard as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the strengthening ribs extend substantially perpendicularly to an underside of the substantially planar upper surface. 
     
     
         7 . A lapboard as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the strengthening ribs form a number of open cells on the underside of the lapboard. 
     
     
         8 . A lapboard as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a receiving opening is provided at each corner of the lapboard. 
     
     
         9 . A lapboard as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least one receiving opening is defined by one or more strengthening ribs provided on an underside of the lapboard. 
     
     
         10 . A lapboard as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a set of four receiving openings is provided at each corner region of the underside of the lapboard with one of the four receiving openings located at a corner. 
     
     
         11 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A lapboard as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the lapboard is formed in a single piece. 
     
     
         16 . A safety deck assembly comprising a upper deck formed of one or more decking panels having a substantially planar upper surface and an elevated support assembly comprising a number of elongate legs, a base for each elongate leg to form a foot, a head for each elongate leg to at least partially support a decking panel relative to an upper end of the leg, and at least one lapboard as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A safety deck assembly as claimed in  claim 16  comprising a number of decking panels to form a substantially planar deck spaced from a floor using the elongate legs. 
     
     
         18 . A safety deck assembly as claimed in  claim 16  or  claim 17  wherein the base and the head have the same configuration used inverted relative to one another mounted relative to opposite ends of each of the elongate legs to form a foot at a lower end and a head at an upper end for locating the decking panels/lapboard. 
     
     
         19 . A safety deck assembly as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the base and the head each include a main opening defined by a receiving collar to receive a portion of a respective elongate leg. 
     
     
         20 . A safety deck assembly as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the main opening is provided with a base wall to support a respective end of the elongate leg. 
     
     
         21 . A safety deck assembly as claimed in  claim 20  wherein a number of bearing formations are provided on the head spaced about the receiving collar so that the bearing formations support at least one decking panel/lapboard relative to the head. 
     
     
         22 . A safety deck assembly as claimed in  claim 21  wherein each bearing portion has a support surface to abut a portion of a decking panel/lapboard. 
     
     
         23 . A safety deck assembly as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the support surfaces are planar and spaced from the receiving collar. 
     
     
         24 . A safety deck assembly as claimed in  claim 21  wherein at least one of the bearing formations of each head is received, at least partially, in an opening in the underside of a decking board/lapboard to locate the decking board/lapboard relative to the head. 
     
     
         25 . A safety deck assembly as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the bearing formation is received within the opening in the underside of a decking board/lapboard to minimise lateral movement of the decking board/lapboard relative to the head.