Platform end access for a builders' trestle system

Abstract

A bracket 10 for use with a builders’ trestle comprising a keeper 12 for releasably latching a gate leaf closed. The bracket can non-rotatably engage an upright 36 of a trestle by embracing opposing sides while leaving safety rail attachment points 40 on one of the sides exposed so that safety rails can be attached. In use, the bracket extends away from the upright in a direction parallel to the transom 38 of the trestle. The bracket may have a frame which forms a safety barrier between the upright and gate leaf, in use, and preferably is adjustable in width. Further disclosed is a system of trestles comprising the bracket, an access staircase and a gate leaf with the bracket attached to an end-most trestle.

Claims

1. Assembled or as a kit of parts:(a) a builders’ trestle or stand having a transom for supporting a work platform5 and an upright extending above the transom, the upright having two opposed sides at which safety rail attachment points are provided, the transom extending normal to a plane passing through the upright and the attachment points; and(b) a bracket configured in use to non-rotatably engage the upright by embracing the two opposed sides while leaving the safety rail attachment points on at least one of10 those sides exposed for the attachment of safety rails;the bracket when so engaged extending away from the upright in a direction parallel to the transom;the bracket comprising a keeper for releasably holding a gate leaf in a closed position substantially parallel to the transom.15 2. An assembly or kit as claimed in claim 1, in which the keeper comprises anupwardly extending stop over which the gate leaf can be lifted to release it from the closed position.

3. An assembly or kit as claimed in claim 2, in which the upwardly extending stop is a first stop and the keeper comprises a further, upwardly extending stop on an20 opposite side of the bracket to the first stop.

4. An assembly or kit as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the bracket comprises a frame forming a safety barrier between the upright and the gate leaf in use.

5. An assembly or kit as claimed in claim 4, in which the frame lies opposite to the stopfs], to prevent the gate leaf from opening outwardly of the work platform.25 6. An assembly or kit as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the frame comprises afirst stile adapted to lie adjacent to the upright in use and a second stile opposite to the stop(s).

7. An assembly or kit as claimed in any of claims 2 -6, in which the or each stop comprises an upwardly open channel.30 8. An assembly or kit as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the bracketcomprises a downwardly extending spigot receivable in a hollow upper end of the upright to support the bracket thereon.

9. An assembly or kit as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the bracket is of adjustable width.

10. An assembly or kit as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the bracket comprises a ladder supporting arm.5 11. An assembly or kit as claimed in any preceding claim, and further comprising:(c) an anti-flip bracket engageable with the trestle transom for supporting the ends of boards forming the work platform; the anti-flip bracket further comprising a support from which the upper end of an access staircase can be suspended.

12. A system of builders' trestles comprising an assembly or kit as defined in any of 10 claims 1 - 9, the system further comprising an access staircase, and a safety gate leaf.

13. A system of builders’ trestles as defined in claim 12, in which the bracket, access staircase and safety gate leaf are attached to an endmost one of the trestles.

14. A system of builders’ trestles comprising an assembly or kit as defined in any of claims 1 - 9, the system further comprising an access staircase, a safety gate leaf, and15 an anti-flip bracket with a support for the access staircase.

15. A system of builders’ trestles as defined in claim 14, in which the bracket, antiflip bracket, access staircase and safety gate leaf are attached to an endmost one of the trestles.

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