Supporting frame

Abstract

A trestle frame 101 supports a cylindrical leg 102 of support member 103. A crosspiece 104 defines a first foot 111 at a first end and a second foot 112 at a second end, with a raised central portion

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is the first application for a patent directed towards the invention and the subject matter. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a supporting frame and in particular to a frame for supporting a cylindrical leg of a support member BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known to provide a frame for supporting a cylindrical leg of a support member, as disclosed in GB 2 424 239. A crosspiece defines a first foot at a first end, a second foot at a second end and a raised central portion between the first foot and the second foot. A sleeve is located above the central position and this sleeve is supported by a first strut connected to the crosspiece and by a second struct connect to the crosspiece. A cylindrical tube is inserted within the sleeve and is supported by the crosspiece. This cylindrical tube is configured to receive a cylindrical leg of a support member. The cylindrical leg is then secured in place by a bolt. In GB 2 424 239, two frames of this type are provided to establish a builder’s trestle. Two trestles of this type may be used to support a platform, planks or scaffolding tubes or any other similar elements used within a building environment. The cylindrical legs support a crossbar and to establish stability, the crosspieces of each frame are substantially normal to this crossbar. Such a configuration provides a less-than-ideal shape when storing or transporting the trestle and if a more efficient storage or transportation arrangement is required, it would be necessary to disassemble the frames from the supporting cylindrical legs, thereby creating a time-consuming exercise and increasing the risk of essential components being lost. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a frame for supporting a cylindrical leg of a support member, as set out in claim 1. Embodiments of the invention will be described, byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The detailed embodiments show the best mode known to the inventor and provide support for the invention as claimed. However, they are only exemplary and should not be used to interpret or limit the scope of the claims. Their purpose is to provide a teaching to those skilled in the art. Components and processes distinguished by ordinal phrases such as “first” and “second” do not necessarily define an order or ranking of any sort. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a frame for supporting a cylindrical leg embodying the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates the apparatus of Figure 1 after being configured for storage or transportation; Figure 3 illustrates an example of a compression spring deployed as a spring-loaded securing assembly in an embodiment; Figure 4 shows a tube extension for attachment to a main section of the cylindrical tube to facilitate assembly; Figure 5 shows a first sub-assembly; Figure 6 shows an enlarged view of a spigot identified in Figure 5; Figure 7 shows the deployment of a tube extension; Figure 8 shows a cross-section of the frame; Figure 9 shows an enlarged cross-section of the spring-loaded securing assembly identified in Figure 8; Figure 10 illustrates attachment of a cylindrical tube to the tube extension identified in Figure 4; Figure 11 shows the assembly of a support apparatus; Figure 12 shows the apparatus in its first configuration to facilitate transportation; Figure 13 shows the apparatus being transported in a first configuration; Figure 14 shows deployment of the apparatus to a second configuration; Figure 15 shows an enlarged view of the operation shown in Figure 14\ and Figure 16 shows a first support apparatus and a second support apparatus supporting a platform. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 1. A frame 101 is provided for supporting a cylindrical leg 102 of a support member 103 Referring to the frame 101, a crosspiece 104 has a raised central portion 105 supported by a first foot 111 and a second foot 112. A sleeve 113 is located above the central portion 105, supported by a first strut 121 connected to the crosspiece 104 and by a second strut 122 connected to the crosspiece 104. A cylindrical tube 123 is inserted within the sleeve 113 and is supported by the crosspiece 104. The cylindrical tube 123 is configured to receive the cylindrical leg 102 of the support member 103. The cylindrical tube 123 is secured to the crosspiece 104. However, as described with reference to Figure 3 to Figure 9, a spring-loaded securing assembly is provided for securing the cylindrical tube 123 to the crosspiece 104, while allowing movement of the cylindrical tube to a displaced position away from the crosspiece, to facilitate rotation of the cylindrical tube 123 relative to the crosspiece 104. Furthermore, a locking mechanism is provided for preventing rotation of the cylindrical tube 123 when the cylindrical tube is not in a displaced position. In an embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 1, the first strut 121 is welded to the crosspiece 104 at the position of the first foot 111 and, similarly, the second strut 122 is welded to the crosspiece at the position of the second foot 122 Figure 2 The apparatus of Figure 1 is shown in Figure 2, after being configured for storage or transportation. To reconfigure the apparatus for operational use, force is applied in the direction of a first arrow 201. In this way, the frame 101 is held in position in contact with the floor. Force is then applied in the direction of a second arrow 202, against the spring-loaded securing assembly, to displace the cylindrical tube 102 relative to the frame 101. Rotational movement is then possible in the direction of a third arrow 203 such that, temporarily, the apparatus is in an unstable state. A locking mechanism, described with reference to Figure 3 to Figure 6, ensures that, in this embodiment, only two stable states are possible, such that the frame is taken from the configuration shown in Figure 2 back to the configuration shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 In an embodiment, the spring-loaded securing assembly comprises a compression spring 301. The compression spring 301 is configured to be compressed when moving the cylindrical tube to the displaced position, as described with reference to Figure 2. In an embodiment, the compression spring 301 has an external diameter of approximately thirty millimetres and a free length of approximately fifty-five millimetres. In an embodiment, it is made from stainless steel and has squared and ground ends. Figure 4 In an embodiment, the cylindrical tube is constructed from a main section and a tube extension 401 to facilitate assembly. As shown in Figure 4, the tube extension 401 has an upper end 402 with a first internal diameter connected to a second portion 403 having an internal diameter that is smaller than the internal diameter of the upper portion 402. In this way, the main section of the cylindrical tube 123 is received within the upper portion 402 but cannot enter the lower portion 403. The tube extension 401 and the main section are then connected together by deploying a bolt through a connection hole 404. The lower end of the tube extension 401 includes at least two slots and in an embodiment comprises four slots. A first slot 411 is shown in Figure 4 and in the embodiment of Figure 4, the four slots provided in the tube extension are equally displaced around the lower circumference to provide for stable locking at ninety-degree locations; as described with reference to Figure 2. Figure 5 A first subassembly 501 for the frame 101 is shown in Figure 5. This comprises the crosspiece 104, the sleeve 113, the first strut 121 and the second strut 122. In addition, a spigot 502 extends upwards from the raised central portion 105 of the crosspiece 104. The spigot 502 engages with the tube extension 401 to facilitate rotation of the frame 101. The spring 301 surrounds the spigot 502 which is then itself surrounded by the tube extension 401. Figure 6 An enlarged view of the spigot 502 is shown in Figure 6. In this embodiment, the spigot 502 is hollow and includes a hole 601 which also extends through the raised central portion 105 of the crosspiece 104; thereby providing a securing hole at the position of the hollow spigot. A securing element, such as a bolt, is inserted through the securing hole in the crosspiece 104 and through the hole 601 in the spigot. The securing element is secured to a lower side of the crosspiece 104; as described with reference to Figure 7 to Figure 9. The securing member is then configured to restrain an upper end of the compression spring. In this way, it is possible for the tube extension 401 to move vertically away from the crosspiece 104 by a sufficient displacement to facilitate rotation of the frame. In an embodiment, at least one lug extends from the spigot. In the example shown in Figure 6, four lugs extend from the spigot 501 identified as a first lug 611, a second lug 612, a third lug 613 and a fourth lug 614. As described with reference to Figure 4, the lower end of the tube extension includes two or more slots, including a first slot 411. In the example shown in Figure 4, the tube extension includes four slots, with each slot receiving a respective lug such that, in a first configuration, the first lug 611 may engage within the first slot 411. This may result in the configuration shown in Figure 2. Vertical force is then applied in the direction of arrow 202 to displace the tube extension 401 away from the crosspiece 104; resulting in the lugs no longer being received within their respective slots. A ninety-degree rotation is then possible as illustrated by the third arrow 203, to achieve the configuration described with reference to Figure 1. The deployment of the invention means that the first configuration facilitates storage and transportation, as described with reference to Figure 12 and Figure 13, whereas the second configuration facilitates deployment as described with reference to Figure 14 to Figure 16. Figure 7 Having established the frame subassembly 501, the spring 301 is deployed around the spigot 502 and the tube extension 401 is then deployed around the spring. To achieve this, the tube extension 401 should not be too long such that, when being deployed, the tube extension 401 does not interfere with the sleeve 113. Figure 8 A cross-section of the frame 101 is shown in Figure 8. The bolt 701 enters the hole in the crosspiece 104 via a first washer 711. The bolt 701 extends beyond the height of the spring 301 to be secured by a threaded nut 712 which in turn applies compression to the spring 301 via a second washer 722 and a third washer 723. Figure 9 An enlarged cross-section of the spring-loaded securing assembly is shown in Figure 9. The spring-loaded securing assembly secures the cylindrical tube 123 to the crosspiece 104, while allowing movement of the cylindrical tube to a displaced position away from the crosspiece 104, to facilitate rotation of the cylindrical tube 123 relative to the crosspiece 104. Furthermore, the locking mechanism, described with reference to Figure 5 to Figure 7, prevents rotation of the cylindrical tube when the cylindrical tube is not in the displaced position. Having located the bolt 701, the threaded nut 712 may be lowered into position and then tightened by means of a box spanner that enters into the tube extension 401 via the sleeve 113. When secured in position, as illustrated in Figure 9, it is possible for force to be applied to the tube extension 401 in the direction of a displacement arrow 901. This force is resisted by the spring 301 such that after rotation, lugs 611 to 614 of the locking mechanism engage within respective slots including the first slot 411. Figure 10 After the threaded nut 712 has been located upon the bolt 701, the cylindrical tube 123 is attached to the tube extension 401. The diameter of the cylindrical tube 123 is substantially similar to that of the lower portion 403 of the tube extension 401. It is therefore received within the upper portion 402 but cannot extend into the lower portion 403. The cylindrical tube 123 also includes holes that align with the connection holes 404. In this embodiment, the tube extension 401 is secured to the cylindrical tube 123 by means of a connection bolt 1001 secured by means of a connection nut 1002; and including a bolt side washer 1003 and a nut-side washer 1004. Figure 11 The frame described with reference to Figure 3 to Figure 10 facilitates the establishment of a support apparatus as shown in Figure 11. The support apparatus comprises a support member 1101 having a first cylindrical leg 1111 and a second cylindrical leg 1112. The first cylindrical leg 1111 is supported by a first frame 1121 and the second cylindrical leg 1112 is supported by a substantially similar second frame 1122. In an embodiment, a connecting bar 1123 is located between the cylindrical tube of the first frame 1121 and the cylindrical tube of the second frame 1122. In an embodiment, a first pin 1131 extends from a first end of the connecting bar 1123 and a second pin 1132 extends from a second end of the connecting bar 1123. Each pin (1131,1132) extends through first aligned holes 1141 in a cylindrical tube and second aligned holes 1142 in a cylindrical leg to support the respective cylindrical leg. In an embodiment, each cylindrical leg includes a plurality of pairs of aligned holes to facilitate height adjustment. Figure 12 For the apparatus described with respect to Figure 11, the frames may be rotated to a first configuration to facilitate transportation as illustrated in Figure 12. In this configuration, the support apparatus is substantially flat, thereby significantly reducing the space occupied in the loading region 1201 of a transportation vehicle. To achieve this configuration, it is not necessary to use any additional tools or dismantle the apparatus in any way. Figure 13 As illustrated in Figure 13, the flat configuration of the apparatus also facilitates transportation and manual deployment. This is achieved by performing a method of constructing a frame for supporting a cylindrical leg of a support member. A spring-loaded securing assembly is positioned within a cylindrical tube. The cylindrical tube is inserted within a sleeve 113 such that the cylindrical tube 102 is supported by a crosspiece 104. The cylindrical tube is configured to receive a cylindrical leg 1111 of a support member 1101. The crosspiece defines a first foot at a first end, a second foot at a second end and a raised central portion 105 between the first foot and the second foot. The sleeve 113 is located above the central portion 105 and is supported by the first strut 121 connected to the crosspiece and is also supported by the second strut 122 also connected to the crosspiece. A springloaded securing assembly is secured to the crosspiece and the cylindrical tube is arranged in a first configuration such that the cylindrical tube is locked in position by a locking mechanism. Upon arrival on site, the cylindrical tube is displaced away from the locking mechanism against force exerted by the spring-loaded securing assembly, whereafter the locking mechanism is engaged with the cylindrical tube in an alternative configuration. Figure 14 An example of deploying the apparatus, to transform the apparatus from the second configuration (storage) to the second configuration (deployment), will be described with reference to Figure 14 and Figure 15. In this example, an operative places a foot upon a crosspiece 104 to maintain the position of the frame 501 upon a horizontal surface. Vertical force is then applied in the direction of arrow 1401, such that the slots 411 etc disengage from the lugs 611 to 614. The operative now twists the apparatus in the direction of arrow 1402 until the frame has reached the first configuration, whereafter it locks in this first configuration; achieved by the action of the compression spring 301. Thus, the method comprises displacing the cylindrical tube away from the locking mechanism by displacing the cylindrical tube against the force exerted by the compression spring. Figure 15 An enlarged view of the operation described with reference to Figure 14 is shown in Figure 15. The lifting and twisting operation has raised the tube extension 401 such that, when between locked configurations, the lugs 611 to 614 are not engaging within slots 411 but are resting upon the bottom edge of the tube extension 401. This condition persists until ninety degrees of rotation has been achieved, whereupon the action of the spring forces slots 411 etc. to engage lugs 611 etc. Figure 16 It is also possible to provide a configuration for facilitating activities of an operative, comprising a platform 1601, a first support apparatus 1611 and a second support apparatus 1612. The first support apparatus 1611 is displaced from and aligned with the second support apparatus 1612. The platform 1601 is located on the first support apparatus and upon the second support apparatus 1612.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. A frame for supporting a cylindrical leg of a support member, comprising:a crosspiece defining a first foot at a first end, a second foot at a second end and a raised central portion between said first foot and said second foot;a sleeve located above said central portion, wherein said sleeve is supported by a first strut connected to said crosspiece and by a second strut connected to said crosspiece;a cylindrical tube inserted within said sleeve and supported by said crosspiece, wherein said cylindrical tube is configured to receive a cylindrical leg of a support member;a spring-loaded securing assembly for securing said cylindrical tube to said crosspiece while allowing movement of the cylindrical tube to a displaced position away from the crosspiece, to facilitate rotation of the cylindrical tube relative to said crosspiece; anda locking mechanism for preventing rotation of the cylindrical tube when said cylindrical tube is not in said displaced position.

2. The frame of claim 1, wherein:said first strut is connected to the crosspiece at the position of said first foot; andsaid second strut is connected to the crosspiece at the position of said second foot.

3. The frame of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein:said spring-loaded securing assembly comprises a compression spring; andsaid compression spring is configured to be compressed when moving said cylindrical tube to said displaced position.

4. The frame of claim 3, comprising a tube extension, wherein:said spring-loaded securing assembly is located within said tube extension; andsaid tube extension is attached to an end of said cylindrical tube.

5. The frame of claim 3, comprising a spigot extending from said central portion of the crosspiece, wherein:said compression spring is positioned around said spigot; anda lower end of said tube extension is located around said compression spring.

6. The frame of claim 5, wherein:said spigot is hollow;said central portion includes a securing hole at the position of said hollow spigot;a securing element is inserted through said securing hole and said spigot;said securing member is secured to a lower side of said crosspiece; and said securing member is configured to restrain an upper end of said compression spring.

7. The frame of claim 6, wherein:said securing member comprises a bolt;said bolt is arranged to be inserted from said lower side of said crosspiece through said spigot;the upper end of said spring is secured by a washer and a nut; and said nut is engaged upon said bolt.

8. The frame of any of claims 5 to 7, wherein:said securing member comprises at least one lug extending from saidspigot;the lower end of said tube extension includes two or more slots;said at least one lug is received within a first one of said slots in a first configuration; andsaid at least one lug is engaged in an alternative one of said at least two slots in a second configuration.

9. The frame of claim 8, wherein:said first configuration facilitates storage and transportation; andsaid second configuration facilitates deployment and use of apparatus supported by the frame.

10. The frame of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein:four circumferentially evenly displaced lugs extend from said spigot;four slots are provided in said lower end of said tube extension; and rotation from a first engagement to the next available engagement results in a rotation of substantially ninety degrees.

11. A support apparatus, comprising a support member having a first cylindrical leg and a second cylindrical leg, wherein:said first cylindrical leg is supported by a first frame according to any of claims 1 to 10; andsaid second cylindrical leg is supported by a second frame according to any of claims 1 to 10.

12. The support apparatus of claim 11, comprising a connecting bar located between the cylindrical tube of said first frame and the cylindrical tube of said of said second frame.

13. The support apparatus of claim 12, comprising a first pin extending from a first end of said connecting bar and a second pin extendingfrom a second end of said connecting bar, wherein:each said pin extends through first aligned holes in a cylindrical tube and second aligned hole in a cylindrical leg to support the respective cylindrical leg.

14. The support apparatus of claim 13, wherein each cylindrical leg includes a plurality of pairs of aligned holes to facilitate height adjustment.

15. A configuration for facilitating activities of an operative, comprising a platform, a first support apparatus according to any of claims 11 to 14 and a second support apparatus according to any of claims 11 to 14, wherein:said fist support apparatus is displaced from and aligned with said second support apparatus; andsaid platform is located on said first support apparatus and said second support apparatus.

16. A method of constructing a frame for supporting a cylindrical leg of a support member, comprising the steps of:positioning a spring-loaded securing assembly within a cylindrical tube; inserting said cylindrical tube within a sleeve, wherein:said cylindrical tube is supported by a crosspiece and is configured to receive a cylindrical leg of a support member;said crosspiece defines a first foot at a first end, a second foot at a second end and a raised central position between said first foot and said second foot; andsaid sleeve is located above said central portion and is supported by a first strut connected to said crosspiece and is supported by a second struct connected to said crosspiece, further comprising the steps of:securing said spring loaded securing assembly to said cross piece;arranging said cylindrical tube in a first configuration such that saidcylindrical tube is locked in position by a locking mechanism;displacing said cylindrical tube away from said locking mechanism against force exerted by said spring loaded securing assembly; andengaging the locking mechanism with the cylindrical tube in an alternative configuration.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of displacing the cylindrical tube away from the locking mechanism comprises displacing said cylindrical tube against force exerted by a compression spring.

18. The method of claim 16 or claim 17, wherein said step of positioning a spring-loaded securing assembly within a cylindrical tube comprises:positioning said spring-loaded securing assembly within a tube extension; andattaching said tube extension to an end of said cylindrical tube.

19. The method of claim 17, comprising the steps of:positioning said compression spring around a spigot extending from the central portion of the crosspiece; andlocating a lower end of the tube extension around the compression spring.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising the steps of:inserting a securing element through a securing hole at the position of said spigot, wherein said spigot is hollow and said securing element also passes through said spigot;securing the securing member to a lower side of the crosspiece; and restraining an upper end of the compression spring by said securing member.

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