HOARDINGS FOR A CONSTRUCTION SITE

Abstract: A transportable hoarding module (25) for a construction site. The hoarding module (25) includes a base which is a concrete slab (15) which provides the module (25) with a built-in counterweight. Embedded in or fixed to the base (15) are side panels (13) which extend upwardly from the base (15). Supported by and extending between the side panels (13) is an upper panel or deck (18) which has a walkway portion (21) extending transversely beyond one of the side panels (12). Upper handrails (22) are provided and which are movable between a transport position and an operative position.

Description: HOARDINGS FOR A CONSTRUCTION SITE FIELD OF THE INVENTION Street hoardings or overhead protection in many etropol itian areas are made from timber or steel. They are constructed bit by bit and erected from various uprights, horizontal elements, beams, transoms and deckings. Because building sheds are places over these timber or steel hoardings, they tend to be top heavy and are known to have fallen over in the past. Therefore, counterweights are sometimes required to counterbalance top heavy hoardings. This adds to the complexity normally associated with erecting hoardings. A still further disadvantage of known hoarding constructions is the use of building sheds which are of a generally flimsy and light construction. These sheds require protective covers and cannot be vertically stacked. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages. There is disclosed herein a transportable hoarding module comprising: a base of substantially horizontal planar and rectilinear configuration and formed of concrete; at least two upright low bearing side panels fixed to the base at opposite sides thereof and arranged so as to be generally parallel and co-extensive; an upper substantially horizontal and planar panel, supported by and extending between said side panels and co-operating therewith together with said base to substantially enclose a pedestrian pass * ιe; and a side walkway portion adapted to extend transversely beyond and longitudinally of one of said side panels so as to be generally co-planar with respect to said top panel, or adjacent said top panel and parallel thereto. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred forms of the present invention will now be scribed by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wnerein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hoarding according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a front elevation of a hoarding supporting a shed. Figure 3 is an end elevation of a hoarding incorporating overhead protection for a shed. Figure 4 is an end elevation of a hoarding illustrating pedestrian traffic therethrough. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a hoarding with a folding deck and handrails. Figure 6 is an end elevation of a hoarding with a deck extension and handrails folded flat. Figure 7 is an end elevation of the hoarding of Figure 6, partially 0 deployed. Figure 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is an end elevation showing the device of Figure 8 in a folded configuration. 5 Figure 10 is an end elevation of the device depicted in Figure 8 in a partially unfolded configuration. Figure 11 is an end elevation of the device depicted in Figure 8 in an unfolded configuration. Figure 12 is a perspective view of a modularized hoarding complex 0 according to the present invention. Figure 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating how various construction elements may be made. BEST MODE AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION As shown in Fig. 1, a hoarding 10 according to a preferred form of 5 the present invention comprises a transportable hoarding module 25 consisting of framework 11 which includes side panels 12. The side panels 12 are preferably sheet steel and may be formed from pressed panels or plates and posts 13, 14 as required. A concrete slab 15 is poured about the base 16 of the framework 11. The concrete slab makes 30 the hoarding bottom heavy. In essence, it acts as a built-in counterweight and walking surface. A plurality of transverse beams 17 preferably extend across the sides of the hoarding. A deck surface 18 may then be supported by the beams 17. The deck surface 18 is used to give protection to the interior 35 19 and to support further structures, as required. For example, a shed 20 may be erected on the deck surface 18. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the deck surface 18 may be used to support a walkway 21 and hand rails 22. In addition, a protective cover 23, may be built over the shed 20 or over the shed and walkway. As an alternative the shed 20 could be of sufficient strength so as to not require a protective cover, and could be adapted to be stacked. As shown in Fig. 4, the interior 19 of the hoarding serves as a pedestrian thoroughfare. Note that the walkway 21 may be cantilevered or supported by braces 24 extending between the walkway 21 and the side panels 12 of the hoarding. Fig. 5 shows a hoarding 30 fitted with a folding deck surface 31. Longitudinal hinges 32 allow the width of the deck to be extended. Folding handrails 33 may be fitted to either the deck 31 or to a deck extension 34 with hinges 35. As shown in Fig. 6 the folding handrails 33 and deck extension(s) 34 fold flat against the deck 31 for easy storage. As shown in Fig. 7, the deck extensions and folding handrails deploy to provide a wider, safer deck surface above the pedestrian walkway. The deck extension 34 may be cantilevered as shown in Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 8, a deck surface 40 may be widened or expanded with a combination of sliding and folding surfaces. As previously described, folding hand rails 41 may be attached to the deck surface 40 with hinges 42 or other appropriate attachment means. The hand rails 41 may then be lifted from a folded s .ate in which the hand rail is more or less flush with the deck surface 40 into a perpendicular or upright position in which it can be locked in place to provide a protective guard rail or hand rail. In addition, a lateral extension 43 may be located beneath the deck surface 40 and deployed as required. As shown in Fig. 9, the lateral extension 43 for widening the deck surface 40 may be located beneath the deck surface 40. A folding hand rail or guard rail 44 may be hingedly attached to the lateral extension 43 so that in a stored configuration, the hand rail or guard rail 44 lies flat against the exterior of the deck surface 40. As shown in Fig. 10, when widening of the deck surface 40 is required, the "aterial extension 43 is pulled from beneath the deck surface 40. The folding guard rail or hand rail 44 is then placed into an upright and locked position. As shown in Fig. 11, once the lateral extension 43 is fully deployed, it may be supported with an optional cantilever 45. The cantilever 45 may be hingedly supported by either the lateral extension 43 or by the side wall 46 of the hoarding. Note that the hoarding of the present invention gives many of the requirements that are required on building sites in that each of the components may be modularized, giving quick erection and cost savings. For example, and as shown in Figure 12, four discrete modules may be combined to result in a complex of hoardings. As shown in this example, tunnel hoardings 50 combined with extensible deck surfaces 51 (with or without hand rails 52), modularized site offices 53 and overhead platforms 54 can be erected, quickly and economically into a wide array of configurations. Figure 13 further illustrates how these four basic components can be combined. While the present invention has been described with reference to particular construction details and materials, these should be understood as having been provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope or spirit of the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. A transportable hoarding module comprising: a base of substantially horizontal planar and rectilinear configuration and formed of concrete; at least two upright low bearing side panels fixed to the base at opposite sides thereof and arranged so as to be generally parallel and co-extensive; an upper substantially horizontal and planar panel, supported by and extending between said side panels and co-operating therewith together with said base to substantially enclose a pedestrian passage; and a side walkway portion adapted to extend transversely beyond and longitudinally of one of said side panels so as to be generally co-planar with respect to said top panel, or adjacent said top panel and parallel thereto. 2. The transportable hoarding module of claim 1, wherein said walkway portion is movable between a transport position located generally between said side panels, and an operative position extending beyond said one side panel . 3. The transportable hoarding module of claim 2, wherein said walkway portion is pivotally moved between its transport and operative positions. 4. The transportable hoarding module of claim 2, wherein said walkway portion is slidably moved between its transport and operative positions. 5. The transportable hoarding module of claim 1, further including a deck supported on said top panel and providing said walkway portion. 6. The transportable hoarding of claim 4, wherein said deck is provided with handrc. <s. 7. The transportable hoarding module of claim 2, further including a first handrail extending along said upper panel so as to be generally co-extensive with respect to the other side panel to said one side panel, a second hand rail fixed to said walkway portion adjacent the longitudinal extremity thereof so as to extend longitudinally with respect thereto, the handrails being movable between a transport position wherein they are generally oriented horizontally, and an operative position wherein they extend generally normal to said upper panel, with said handrails being arranged so as to be generally co-extensive and parallel . 8. The transportable hoarding module of claim 7, wherein the handrails are pivotally movable between their transport and operative positions. 9. The hoarding module of claim 2, wherein said side panels are formed of sheet steel providing generally planar portions extending between vertical posts formed integral therewith or fixed thereto. 10. A transportable hoarding module, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: PRESTON JOHN CLEMENT, PRESTON, JOHN, CLEMENT
Applicants: PRESTON JOHN CLEMENT, PRESTON, JOHN, CLEMENT
Application year: 1991
Main classification: E04G21
IPC codes: E04B1, E04G21