Patent Publication Number: US-9844842-B2

Title: Scaffolding clip and applicator

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a Divisional application, and takes priority from and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/319,104, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to method for attaching a web, such as a mesh to scaffolding. In a particular application the invention finds use for securing a web, such as a scaffolding mesh or other perimeter containment screening, to scaffolding poles and for removal of scaffold clips from scaffold poles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The installation of scaffolding is time consuming and labor intensive. Often scaffolding is erected to a substantial height. Consequently, a perimeter containment screen, such as a mesh or other webbing, is often fastened to the outside of scaffolding as a safety measure to reduce the likelihood of debris falling to the ground and injuring pedestrians. 
     At present a number of approaches are taken to secure the mesh to the scaffold. One approach is to use a “twist tie” being a bendable piece of wire. The tie is manually inserted through the mesh, thereby piercing it, maneuvered around a scaffold “standard (i.e. the vertical scaffolding pole) and pulled back out of the mesh. The free ends of the tie are then twisted together, thereby securing the mesh to the pole as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     A further approach is to use a rigid “J” shaped metal guide having a concave profile. The guide is forced through the mesh, around the scaffold pole and back out of the mesh. A plastic cable tie is then pushed along the inside of the guide so that it encircles the pole and its ends are then fastened together.  FIG. 2  shows this last arrangement during application whereby the J-shaped guide  1  has been pushed through a mesh  3 , around pole  5  and back out through the mesh. A plastic cable tie  7  has then been pushed into one end of the guide so that it encircles the pole  5  with its free ends on the side of the mesh opposite the pole to be fastened together in order to secure the mesh to the pole  5 . 
     It will be realized that both of the above described approaches to fastening mesh to the scaffolding pole are relatively finicky and time consuming. Where the work is being performed at a height it may also be dangerous since two hands may be required so that the worker must remove both hands from a support, such as ladder for example. 
     It is an object of the present invention to address the above described problem and to provide an improvement, or at least a useful alternative, for securing mesh to scaffolding, than has hitherto been known in the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided method for fastening a web to a scaffolding pole including the steps of:
         locating a fastening clip on a side of the web opposite the pole, the fastening clip having arms to hold the pole therebetween;   pushing the arms through the web and about opposite sides of the pole; and   holding the web to the scaffolding pole with the clip.       

     Preferably the method includes including holding the fastening clip with an applicator.
         The step of holding the fastening clip with the applicator may include receiving an engagement formation of the fastening clip into a socket formed on an end of the applicator.   Preferably the method includes disengaging the applicator from the clip subsequent to piercing the web by application of sufficient force to the applicator to remove the socket from said portion of the clip without overcoming the holding of the web to the scaffolding with the arms.   The arms may be released from the pole to thereby release the web from the scaffolding pole.   Preferably the step of releasing the arms from the pole comprises levering the clip from the pole.   The step of levering the clip from the pole may include a step of inserting a hook of the applicator between the clip and the pole.   Preferably the step of levering the clip from the pole includes pivoting a portion of the applicator about the pole.   An elastomeric band may be disposed between the arms of the scaffolding clip for assisting in holding the web to the scaffolding pole with the arms.   Protective caps may be placed over ends of the arms subsequent to pushing the arms through the web.   According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a scaffolding clip       

     including;
         opposed arms defining a void to receive a scaffolding pole;       

     opposed jaws continuous with respective opposed arms and defining a throat in communication with the void; and
         an attachment formation for engagement with a scaffolding clip applicator.       

     Preferably the opposed jaws diverge outward from the throat. Alternatively, the opposed jaws may converge inward to the throat.
         The attachment formation is preferably configured to bias the opposed arms together. For example it may be coiled. or necked to form a loop.   In a preferred embodiment the leading ends of the jaws are sharpened. for example pointed or provided with a knife edge. to assist in piercing mesh to be fastened to the scaffolding pole.   Preferably the attachment formation defines a space to receive a removal member.   For example the attachment formation may be a coil or loop that defines a space to receive a removal member such as a hook or a catch of a scaffolding clip applicator.       

     Preferably the opposed arms and opposed jaws are formed as a continuous piece.
         Alternatively, the opposed arms may be provided as separate members, pivotally interconnected with a spring included that is arranged to bias the opposed arms together.   In a preferred embodiment of the invention the opposed arms are arcuate.   In another embodiment the opposed arms may include opposing angles. Such a configuration may be useful if the scaffolding pole has a square or rectangular cross section for example.   According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a scaffolding clip applicator arranged to apply a scaffolding clip as described above, including:   an elongate handle;   an engagement formation at an end of said handle, arranged to engage the attachment formation of the scaffolding clip.   Preferably said applicator further includes;   a catch, for example a hook, toward said end, or an opposing end, of the handle to engage the scaffold clip attachment formation; and   a fulcrum fast with the handle for levering the clip away from the pole.   Preferably the fulcrum comprises a heel extending outward from the handle and opposite the catch.   Preferably the catch comprises a hook.   In a preferred embodiment the engagement formation comprises a socket arranged to hold the attachment formation of the scaffolding clip.   According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a scaffolding clip kit including:   at least one scaffolding clip provided together with   a scaffolding clip applicator.   Preferably the kit includes at least one pair of tip protection caps.   The kit may further include one or more elastomeric bands for assisting in fastening web to scaffolding poles.   Preferably the kit includes a container, such as a bucket or the like, to hold the clips, applicator, tip protection caps and elastomeric bands.   According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for fastening a web to a scaffolding pole including the steps of:   holding the fastening clip with an applicator;   locating the web between the pole and the fastening clip;   piercing the web with opposed ends of the clip;   disengaging the applicator from the clip.       

     The method may further include the steps of engaging a portion of the clip opposite the opposed ends with a lever and levering the clip off the pole.
         Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following detailed description, which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The detailed description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The detailed description will make reference to a number of drawings throughout as follows.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a wire tie being inserted through a mesh and around a scaffolding pole in accordance with a fastening system of the prior art. 
         FIG. 2  depicts the fastening of mesh to a scaffolding pole according to a second fastening system of the prior art. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a scaffold clip according to a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a scaffold clip according to a second, preferred, embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a close up of a number of examples of different sharpened leading end shapes of a scaffolding clip according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a scaffold clip according to a third embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a scaffold clip applicator, according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention, loaded with the scaffold clip of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8  is a plan front view of the applicator of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of the top of the applicator of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of a side of the applicator of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 11  is a cross section through the applicator of  FIG. 5  along line A-A. 
         FIG. 12  depicts the applicator of  FIG. 5  in use applying the scaffold clip of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 13  is a top plan view of mesh fastened to a scaffolding pole with the scaffolding clip of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a mesh fastened to a scaffolding pole with the scaffolding clip of  FIG. 4  and in addition with the assistance of an elastomeric band. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a mesh fastened to a scaffolding pole with the scaffolding clip of  FIG. 4  wherein tips of the scaffolding pole have been covered with protective caps. 
         FIG. 16  is a plan view of the arrangement shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the applicator of  FIG. 7  in use removing a scaffold clip. 
         FIG. 18  depicts a scaffold clip according to a further embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 19  is an exploded view of a scaffold hook according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 20  depicts a scaffold clip according to yet another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numbers are used throughout the figures to refer to like items. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown in plan elevation a scaffolding clip  9 , according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The clip  9  of the first embodiment is formed from a single piece of sprung wire and shaped to provide two outwardly diverging opposed jaws  11 ,  13  that define a throat  15 . The throat  15  leads into a pole void  17  for receiving a scaffolding pole. The pole void  17  is defined by opposing arcuate arms  19  and  21  continuous with jaws  11  and  13  respectively. A loop  23  of the wire is formed opposite the throat  15 . As will be explained, the loop  23  comprises an attachment formation for engagement with an applicator tool. In addition to acting as an attachment formation, the loop of wire  23  also forms a biasing spring to oppose arms  21  and  19  being brought apart. The wire loop  23  also defines an eye  35 , which, as will be described later, receives a catch in the form of a removal hook of the applicator for removal of the clip from the pole  5 . In an uninstalled resting state, when no scaffolding pole is engaged, the pole void is undersized relative to the outer diameter of the scaffolding pole. 
       FIG. 4  shows a preferred embodiment of a scaffolding clip  25  according to the present invention. The opposing jaws  11 ,  13  are tipped, in this embodiment, with sharpened outer edge ends  27 ,  29 , to assist with piercing of the mesh  3  in use. The sharpened ends might be formed with other profiles to assist piercing. Some possible profiles for the sharpened ends  27 ,  29 , such as a conical point, are shown in detail in  FIG. 5 . 
     Whereas the attachment formation was provided in the form of a wire loop  23  in the first embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the clip of  FIG. 4  includes an attachment formation in the form of a necked portion of wire  31 . The necked portion  31  comprises a biasing spring, to oppose arms  19  and  21  being brought apart, and defines a space  35  to receive a removal hook. As will be explained in more detail shortly, the spring portions  23  and  31  assist in the application and removal of the clips  9  and  25  in use. 
     While the attachment formation (e.g. item  31  in  FIG. 4  and item  23  in  FIG. 3 ), is preferably provided in the form of a biasing spring, it is not necessarily essential that it be so since the clip may be formed without a dedicated biasing spring as shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 6 . In  FIG. 6  a clip  33  is provided with an attachment formation  37  that is not shaped to act as a biasing spring. Instead the clip  33  of  FIG. 4  simply relies on the inherent spring-like characteristics of interconnected arms  21  and  19  to bias them toward each other subsequent to the pole  5  being received between them. Scaffolding clip  33  of  FIG. 6  is provided with an attachment formation in the form of lug  37 , welded at a position opposite the throat  15 . The lug  37  is formed with an eye  35  to assist in removal of the clip from the scaffolding. As an alternative a hook might be provided instead of a lug in some further embodiments of the invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a perspective view of a scaffold clip applicator tool  39  according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and loaded with a scaffolding clip  25 . It will of course be understood that the applicator tool  39  may be provided with or without the scaffold clip being fitted. Plan views of the front, top and side of the applicator are shown in  FIGS. 8 to 10 , while a cross sectional view is shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     The applicator tool  39  includes a handle  41 , removal hook  43 , removal heel  45  and socket  47  to receive attachment formation  31  of the scaffold clip  25 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a plan elevation of the applicator tool  39  being used to push scaffold clip  25  into mesh  3 , as indicated by arrow  38 , and fasten it around pole  5 . As the clip is pushed onto the mesh its pointed ends  27  and  29  pierce the mesh. Since the leading ends  11  and  13  are divergent, their contact with the opposing sides of the pole forces arcuate arms  21  and  19  apart so that the throat region  15  widens until, the pole is received into the pole void area  17 . Upon more than half the diameter of the pole  5  having been received into the pole void area the throat  15  narrows as the arcuate arms  21  and  19  close around the mesh and the pole. Applicator  39  is then pulled off the attachment formation  31  leaving the scaffold clip  25  gripping the scaffolding pole  5  with the mesh  3  impaled by arms  19  and  21  of the clip  25  as depicted in  FIG. 13 . 
     It will be realized that the socket  47  of the applicator tool comprises an engagement formation for engagement with the attachment formation of the clip, e.g. item  31  of  FIG. 4 . The socket  47  is sized to produce an interference fit with the plug  31  of the scaffold clip  25 , so that the frictional holding force of the plug  31  with the socket  47  is less than the retaining force applied by arms  21  and  19  of the scaffolding clip to the pole  5 . Otherwise, the scaffolding clip must be held and forcibly removed by hand from the applicator socket  47 , which is less preferable. 
     Where the mesh is formed of a non-gripping material, such as Hessian for example, an elastomeric band may be used to assist in securing the mesh  3  to the pole  5 .  FIG. 14  shows such a situation wherein a synthetic rubber band  20  has been interposed between clip  25  and mesh  3  during application of the clip in order to better hold the mesh to the pole. 
       FIGS. 15 and 16  show a further situation wherein a pair of protective rubber caps,  30  and  32  have been secured over the sharpened ends  27 ,  29  of the clip  25 . The caps  30 ,  32  serve to protect workers that might inadvertently brush up against the sharpened ends and so be scratched or otherwise injured. The caps  30  and  32  are interconnected by an integrally formed band  34 . A removal tab  36  is also integrally formed with cap  30  to assist in removal of the caps when the time comes to disengage the scaffolding clip from the pole  5 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 17 , when the time comes to remove the scaffolding clip  25  from pole  5 , hook  43  is passed through the removal eye  35  whilst heel  45 , which comprises a fulcrum, is pressed against the mesh, and thence the pole, below. Downward force is then manually applied to the applicator handle to rotate it in the direction indicated by arrow  49  so that the scaffold clip  25  is pulled, in the direction shown by arrow  51 , off the pole  5 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the applicator  39  that is shown, the hook  43  and heel  45  are formed at the same end of the applicator as socket  47 . It will be realized that in other embodiments they might be formed at an opposite end of the applicator to the socket  47 . 
     Many other variations of the invention are possible. For example,  FIG. 18  shows a clip  53  being a further embodiment of the invention where the jaws  11  and  13  do not diverge outwards from throat  15  but rather are bent, at angles  10  and  12  to converge inward. In this embodiment it is the angles  10  and  16  which actually pierce the mesh during application. Each jaw  11  and  13  is further bent to form returns  12 ,  14  to assist during the removal of clip  53  from a scaffolding pole. 
     A further scaffolding clip  53  according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 19 . Unlike the previous embodiments of the invention, the clip  53  has opposed arms  61  and  63  that are not arcuate. Rather, they are bent to form angles  64  and  66  with a pole void  17  defined therebetween. Such a configuration may be useful where the pole to be attached to has a square or rectangular cross-section, for example. 
     Another variation is shown in exploded view in  FIG. 20  wherein the clip  59  is formed from two separate members  57  and  58 . Each member  57  and  58  is held by a respective pivot bracket  60 ,  62 . The pivot brackets  60 ,  62  are pivotally connected by a pin  61 . A coil spring  65  is mounted about the pin  61 . Ends of the coil spring  67  and  69  abut short ends  71  and  73  of members  57 ,  58 , thereby biasing the short ends apart and the arms  19  and  21  together. Each of the short ends  71  and  73  terminate in overlapping pincers  75  and  77 . The pincers provide an attachment formation for attaching the clip  59  to an applicator tool. They also define an internal region  35  to receive a removal hook  43  of the applicator tool. 
     While the scaffolding clips that have been described herein are preferably made of sprung steel, other substances, be they metal or synthetic, may also be suitable. 
     A plurality of scaffolding clips and a scaffolding clip applicator may be sold together as a kit for fastening webbing, such as retaining mesh, to scaffolding. In a preferred embodiment a kit comprises a container, such as a bucket for example, containing a plurality of scaffolding clips and a scaffolding clip applicator tool. Tip protection caps and elastomeric bands for assisting in fastening non-gripping web to scaffolding poles can also be included in the container to complete the kit. 
     In the present specification and claims, the word “comprising” and its related and derivative terms, including “comprises” and “comprise”, are to be interpreted in an inclusive sense as including each of the stated integers but without excluding the inclusion of one or more further integers. 
     In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.