Scaffolding system

Claim 2

A scaffolding system comprising spaced tubular uprights, jointing pieces insertable in said uprights, braces insertable in said upright, connecting beams and ties extending between said uprights, and fastening means for interconnecting said uprights and said connecting beams, characterized in that the uprights are in the form of tubes with non-circular openings in the wall thereof, said fastening means comprising locking hooks on said beams, said locking hooks being generally complementary in cross section to said non-circular openings and oriented such that said locking hooks are insertable in said openings and rotatable with said beams after insertion to engage the walls of the opposed uprights, each said beam including a supporting portion at each end thereof adapted to engage the upright in order to maintain the engagement after the beam and the locking hook have been rotated into engagement and inwardly projecting stiffening and guide flanges extending over the entire length of the uprights and adapted to guide said jointing pieces and said braces inserted in the tubes, while maintaining a spacing between the tube wall and any jointing pieces and braces inserted in the tube which is sufficient for accommodating that part of the locking hook which projects into the tube.

Claim 3

A scaffolding system as claimed in claim 1, including a catch which is displaceably mounted at the end of the connecting beam and is adapted, after the connecting beam and the upright have been interconnected, to be moved into locking engagement with said upright to prevent rotation of the connecting beam relative to the upright.

Claim 4

A scaffolding system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the holes of the upright comprise a hole portion for receiving the catch.

Claim 5

A scaffolding system comprising spaced tubular uprights, jointing pieces insertable in said uprights, braces insertable in said uprights, connecting beams and ties extending between said uprights, and fastening means for interconnecting said uprights and said connecting beams, characterized in that the uprights are in the form of tubes with holes in the wall thereof, said fastening means comprising locking hooks insertable in said openings, and inwardly projecting stiffening and guide flanges extending over the entire length of the uprights and adapted to guide said jointing pieces and said braces inserted in the tubes, while maintaining a spacing between the tube wall and any jointing pieces and braces inserted in the tube which is sufficient for accommodating that part of the locking hook which projects into the tube, said fastening means for interconnecting uprights and connecting beams being in the form of bayonet joints and each comprising one of the holes in the upright, the locking hook being secured to the end of the connecting beam and rotatable together therewith, and a catch which is displaceably mounted at the end of the connecting beam and is adapted, after the connecting beam and the upright have been interconnected, to be moved into locking engagement with said upright to prevent rotation of the connecting beam relative to the upright, said holes of the bayonet joints in the upright being non-circular, said holes of the upright comprising a hole portion for receiving the catch, said connecting beam having a portion, at least at one end, which is so formed that the locking hook can be moved further into the hole in the upright than is necessary for bayonet engagement when the bayonet joint is closed, said connecting beam having a supporting portion which is adapted to rest against the upright in order to maintain said engagement after the connecting beam and the locking hook have been rotated into engagement.

Claim 6

A scaffolding system comprising spaced tubular uprights, jointing pieces insertable in said uprights, braces insertable in said uprights, connecting beams and ties extending between said uprights, and fastening means for interconnecting said uprights and said connecting beams, characterized in that the uprights are in the form of tubes with holes in the wall thereof, said fastening means comprising locking hooks insertable in said openings, and inwardly projecting stiffening and guide flanges extending over the entire length of the uprights and adapted to guide said jointing pieces and said braces inserted in the tubes, while maintaining a spacing between the tube wall and any jointing pieces and braces inserted in the tube which is sufficient for accommodating that part of the locking hook which projects into the tube, said fastening means for interconnecting uprights and connecting beams being in the form of bayonet joints and each comprising one of the holes in the upright, the locking hook being secured to the end of the connecting beam and rotatable together therewith, and a catch which is displaceably mounted at the end of the connecting beam and is adapted, after the connecting beam and the upright have been interconnected, to be moved into locking engagement with said upright to prevent rotation of the connecting beam relative to the upright, said holes of the bayonet joints in the upright being non-circular, said holes of the upright comprising a hole portion for receiving the catch, said connecting beam having a portion, at least at one end, which is so formed that the locking hook can be moved further into the hole in the upright than is necessary for bayonet engagement when the bayonet joint is closed, said connecting beam having a supporting portion which is adapted to rest against the upright in order to maintain said engagement after the connecting beam and the locking hook have been rotated into engagement.

Claim 7

A scaffolding system as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the supporting portion is in the form of a shoulder secured to the connecting beam and projecting from the end portion thereof.

Claim 8

A scaffolding system as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the locking hook projecting from the connecting beam has shoulder surfaces for engaging the inner and outer sides of the wall portion of the uprights adjacent the holes of the bayonet joints.

Claim 9

A scaffolding system as claimed in any one of claim 1 and 4 characterized in that the uprights are in the form of a tube of polygonal, preferably octagonal cross-section.