Abstract:
The present invention discloses a lipped tray, intended for use on scaffold towers and adapted to hold builders&#39; tools in use. The tray incorporates on each of its two opposite side edge regions a means which, when the tray is in use, locates the tray between horizontally successive rails of the tower in a manner which also causes the tray to engage with one at least of those rails and be supported, in use, by each of them.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a scaffold tray adapted for holding tools and for use on a scaffold tower. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    When tradesmen work on scaffolding towers, they require a safe and secure surface on which to place their tools and materials. If a tool falls from a scaffold tower, it can cause a large amount of damage to an object or a person below. Therefore, tools need to be safely positioned while not in use, but also need to be readily available to the tradesman. Furthermore, when the tradesman has completed their work, the tray until needs to be removed from the scaffold tower before the scaffold tower is disassembled. 
         [0003]    Known to the applicant are the following published patent specifications; 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,020,972 A (Hockett) 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,710 A (Baldwin) 
         [0006]    These two documents relate to trays that fit onto conventional ladders. Both devices rely upon two hooks engaging a horizontal bar of the ladder, and the tray portion being maintained in a substantially horizontal position by way of a leg of the tray extending perpendicularly to the horizontal bar and extending in a generally vertical direction. Neither of the trays disclosed in these documents are suitable for use on scaffolding. 
         [0007]    At present whilst scaffolding towers must include kick boards at low level (foot level) on the working platform, there is no similar protection at working height. 
         [0008]    Also known are: 
         [0009]    CN 1572994 A (Gibson et al) 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,904,041 (Medgebow) 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,881 (De Long) 
         [0012]    Gibson discloses a domestic scaffold unit having a utility tray attached to it. The tray pivots about a substantially horizontal rung and is supported from the underside by support links. The tray is intended to remain fixed onto the unit although it can be replaced should it become damaged. 
         [0013]    Medgebow discloses a tray attachment for a lipped commercial kitchen table, the tray comprising two adjacent hooked portions along one of its sides that hook onto the lipped edge of the table. The tray rests against the side of the table and provides a shelf for supporting various kitchen utensils. The tray is easily disengaged from the table by lifting the edge furthest from the lipped table. The tray can slide horizontally along the side of the table. 
         [0014]    De Long discloses a hospital bed tray comprising a flat tray and a supporting arm. One edge of the tray rests on top of a bed railing of the bed, whilst the opposite edge is connected on the underside of the tray to the supporting arm. The supporting arm is permanently attached to the bed railings and the tray collapses by folding the supporting arm and allowing the tray portion to be positioned vertically parallel to the railings. 
         [0015]    None of the three disclosures are intended for use on scaffolding towers and would not be suitable for such use. 
         [0016]    Further known to the applicant are: 
         [0017]    GB 2438496 (Atkins) 
         [0018]    GB2325487 (Nolan et al) 
         [0019]    Nolan discloses a receptacle having a curved lip at the top to engage a scaffolding pole. The receptacle hangs vertically down from a first horizontal scaffolding pole and is able to slide horizontally along the said first pole. The receptacle extends in a downward direction and is supported by a second horizontal scaffold pole positioned parallel to and beneath the first. The second scaffold pole restricts movement of the receptacle if the wind blows at the receptacle from the tool-holding direction, however, wind blowing at the reverse of the receptacle may swing the receptacle, making it unstable. The receptacle replies upon the distance between the scaffolding poles for stability and the wind blowing in the correct direction in order to hold the tools in a stable position. On standard scaffold towers, this will result in a very deep receptacle, making it difficult and potentially dangerous for a tradesman to retrieve their tools quickly. 
         [0020]    Atkins discloses a receptacle of a similar construction to Atkins. The receptacle comprises a curved lip at the top which engages a horizontal scaffolding pole. The receptacle in Atkins comprises a curved arm at one edge for engaging a vertical scaffold pole in order to stabilise the receptacle. This allows the device to be shallower than that disclosed in Nolan, making it easier for the tradesman to access tools placed in the receptacle. However, the receptacle is still vulnerable to strong winds approaching from the back of the device. Furthermore, the device requires the use of a vertical scaffold pole in order to be at its most stable, thereby limiting the locations in which it might be positioned. 
         [0021]    None of these documents provide a fully satisfactory solution to the problems outlined above. 
         [0022]    The invention takes these known documents as its starting point. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    Accordingly, the present invention provides a lipped tray, intended for use on scaffold towers and adapted to hold builders&#39; tools in use, and characterised by the feature that it incorporates on each of its two opposite side edge regions a means which, when the tray is in use, locates the tray between horizontally successive rails of the tower in a manner which also causes the tray to engage with one at least of those rails and be supported, in use, by each of them. 
         [0024]    Preferably, the means for engagement comprises one or more recessed regions in the underside of the tray. 
         [0025]    When the tray is in use, it will generally be positioned at a substantial height above ground level. It is therefore advantageous if the tray has means to resist any inadvertent disengagement, in use, of the tray from the, or each, pole. Such means reduce the likelihood of the wind disengaging the tray, or a person from knocking the tray and it disengaging. 
         [0026]    It is preferable that the recessed region—or at least one such recessed region if there are more than one—is a push-fit onto the pole. It is advantageous if the recessed region—or at least one such region if there are more than one—incorporates a yieldable material which, in use, will facilitate the necessary push-fit of the tray onto the pole. Using a push-fit mechanism that is built into the design of the tray reduces the costs associated with producing a tray with means to resist inadvertent disengagement. Furthermore, the use of a yieldable material reduces the number of movable parts that are vulnerable to wear and fracture. 
         [0027]    In a preferred embodiment, the tray incorporates means to lock the underside of the tray, in use, to the pole. Such a locking means further reduces the likelihood of unintentional disengagement. 
         [0028]    It is advantageous if the locking action is provided by a pull-through strap, and preferably the strap is of a one-way-only kind. More preferably, the one-way-only strap comprises a plastics toothed cable tie of generally known kind Such straps are easy to use and cheap to replace. 
         [0029]    In one embodiment the tray folds, when not in use, for carrying. It is advantageous if the tray folds about its base. Preferably, the tray is provided with cut-outs or indentations in each of its lipped regions which face one another across the fold line of the tray so that, when the tray folds for carrying, the cut-outs or the indentations coincide to form a carrying handle. Such a carrying handle makes the tray easy to carry up scaffolding towers and also allow one to carry the tray in one hand. By folding about the base, the tray is solid when in use, but can be easily folded when not. 
         [0030]    Preferably, the tray is configured so as to stack, when not in use, with identical such trays. This allows for convenient storage of multiple trays. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a perspective view of a scaffold tray according to the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of a second embodiment of a tray according to the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of a third embodiment of a tray according to the present invention; and 
           [0035]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are views of a fourth embodiment of a tray according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0036]      FIG. 1  shows a lipped tray  10 , for use on scaffolding towers, comprising a base portion  12 , having a generally rectangular profile. An upwardly extending lip  14  is provided around the perimeter of the base portion  12 . Along the long sides of the base portion  12  are downwardly extending skirt portions  18  and  20 . 
         [0037]    In the region adjacent to each of the smaller sides  22  and  24  of the base portion  12 , a first recessed arc  26   a  is cut at one end of the skirt portion  18 , and a corresponding recessed arc  26   b  is cut into the skirt portion  20  in a position substantially the same distance from the end of the base  12 . The diameter of the recessed arcs  26   a  and  26   b  is sufficient to receive a scaffolding pole  27 . Corresponding arcs  28   a  and  28   b  (not shown) are provided adjacent to the side  24  of the base from  26   a  and  26   b  in the skirt portions  18  and  20 . 
         [0038]    When in use, the tray  10  is positioned to engage two substantially horizontally successive scaffolding poles, within the arcs  26   a,    26   b,    28   a  and  28   b.  The tray is thus held between the scaffolding poles, creating a substantially horizontal lipped surface for holding tradesman&#39;s tools. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  shows a recessed arc  40  with a diameter greater than the diameter of the scaffolding pole that it is to engage, constructed from a yieldable plastics material. The distance between the two edges  42   a  and  42   b  at the opening  42  to the arc  40  has a distance between them of less than that of the diameter of the scaffolding pole to which is it to engage. The tray  10  engages the scaffolding pole by flexing until the opening to the arc  42  is sufficiently wide enough to allow the pole to be received within the arc  40 . The plastics material then returns to its original shape to engage the pole and reduce the likelihood of the tray  10  disengaging. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  shows a tray  10  having a recessed arc  50  similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 , however, the arc  50  comprises a collar  52  having the same shape as the arc  50  and extending perpendicularly from the skirt portion  18 . The collar  52  comprises a first aperture  54  passing through the collar  52  at one side of the arc opening  50   a,  and a second aperture  56  at the other side of the arc opening  50   b.  The second aperture  56  comprises a tooth (not shown) which extends partially into the aperture. 
         [0041]    When the tray  10  is engaged with the scaffold pole, a first end of a nylon tape comprising an integrated one-way gear rack  60  is fed through the first aperture  54 , and passes through the second aperture  56 . The tooth of aperture  56  engages the one-way gear rack and as the tape  60  passes through the aperture  56 , and reverse movement is restricted by the tooth. The nylon tape  60  comprises a stop mechanism  62  at the other end to the first, to prevent the tape  60  from passing through both apertures. As the tape  60  passes through the apertures, the stop mechanism is pulled adjacent to the collar  52  and the tape  60  is held tightly between the arc opening  50   a  and  50   b.  Therefore, the tape  60  tightens reduces the likelihood of the tray  10  disengaging the scaffolding pole. When it is necessary for the user to disengage the tray  10  from the scaffold pole, the nylon tape  60  is cut at a position between the two apertures  54  and  56 . The nylon tape  60  may a cable tie. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  show a tray  10  having recessed arcs  26   a,    26   b,    28   a  and  28   b  in the skirt portions  18  and  20 , as in  FIG. 1 . The tray of  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  comprises a hinge mechanism  70  substantially equidistant from each end of the base  10 , and cut-out portion  72  in the lip wall portion of each short side of the tray  10 . The hinge mechanism  70  allows for the tray  10  to be substantially folded in half. When the tray  10  has been folded, the cut-out portions  72  coincide to give a convenient position for the user to grip. 
         [0043]    Alternatively, a hinge could be mounted on the top edge, and this arrangement could also include a locking mechanism to prevent it from collapsing whilst allowing the tray halves to fold to allow it to operate as a tool case. 
         [0044]    The tray  10 , may be injection moulded or vacuum moulded. 
         [0045]    Variations and modifications to the illustrated construction may occur to the reader familiar with the art without taking the device outside the scope of the present invention. For example, providing the tray with other types of locking mechanism to reduce the likelihood of disengaging the scaffold pole. 
         [0046]    The tray made be coloured according to the end user. For example, blue for plumbers, red for fire engineers and yellow for electricians. As well as tools, the tray could be adapted to carry materials and/or fittings for the intended task. 
         [0047]    The tray removes the risk of trip hazard whilst working at height on the scaffold platform arising from the operative placing tools and materials on the platform. 
         [0048]    The location method of the tray allows the operative to slide the tray to the required workface, negating the requirement to move the tower and/or moving around the tower. 
         [0049]    The other patent applications referenced—even where similar—are restricted by way of the location/fixing points.