Water fall prevention device for suspended scaffolding

Abstract

The present invention aims to provide a water fall prevention device for suspended scaffolding that can more effectively prevent water adhering to the chain from dripping down the scaffolding planks. [Solution] A water-drop prevention device 1 for a suspended scaffolding 12 that prevents water from falling from a scaffolding board 10 suspended by a chain 11 connected to a suspension point, comprising: a partition member 2 provided in the middle of the chain 11 and having an umbrella portion 2a that opens toward the scaffolding board side; a waterproof sheet 3 that covers the upper surface of the scaffolding board 10 and has an opening 3a through which the chain 11 connected to the scaffolding board 10 is inserted; and a chain cover 4 that is cylindrical and covers the periphery of the chain 11, with its lower end connected to the periphery of the opening 3a of the waterproof sheet 3 and its upper end housed within the umbrella portion 2a.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a device for preventing water from falling off a suspended scaffold.

Background Art

[0002] In the maintenance work of structures such as bridges, a suspended scaffold suspended from the structure may be used. The suspended scaffold includes a chain whose upper end is connected to the structure serving as the suspension point, and a scaffold board suspended by the chain.

[0003] In maintenance work, for example, wastewater may be generated along with cleaning work after blasting construction to remove rust from the structure. If this wastewater falls off the suspended scaffold, there is a risk that the wastewater will stain passers-by and passing vehicles, or pollute rivers, seas, etc.

[0004] Therefore, usually, when performing maintenance work on the scaffold board of the suspended scaffold, the upper surface of the scaffold board is covered with a waterproof sheet, and the wastewater is collected and recovered at one location on the waterproof sheet, thereby preventing the wastewater from falling off the scaffold board.

[0005] However, the waterproof sheet covering the upper surface of the scaffold board needs to be provided with holes for passing the chain that suspends the scaffold board. Therefore, when wastewater adheres to the chain, there is a risk that the wastewater will travel along the chain and fall off the scaffold board through the holes.

[0006] Conventionally, in response to such problems, holes were blocked with curing sheets, clay, or fillers to prevent water from falling. However, when blocking the holes with a curing sheet, since the chain is composed of annular chain elements connected in a string-of-beads manner, it is difficult to make the curing sheet adhere closely around the chain element, and a gap is formed between the curing sheet and the chain element, and the wastewater cannot be prevented from falling off the scaffold board. Also, when blocking the holes with clay or fillers, the clay and fillers deteriorate due to exposure to outside air and ultraviolet rays. If the construction period is long, gaps may form between the clay and fillers and the chain, or between the clay and fillers and the waterproof sheet, and there is a risk of water falling through those gaps.

[0007] Therefore, the water-drop prevention device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a suspension fitting connected to the scaffolding board, a rod-shaped water-blocking member provided between the chain and the suspension fitting, and a cylindrical drain cover that covers the periphery of the water-blocking member and the holes in the waterproof sheet, with the upper end of the drain cover in close contact with the outer circumference of the water-blocking member. With this water-drop prevention device, water adhering to the chain flows down the rod-shaped water-blocking member and through the contact area between the water-blocking member and the drain cover to the outer surface of the drain cover, thus preventing water from falling from the scaffolding board through the holes in the waterproof sheet. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-75855 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] However, in conventional water spill prevention devices, although the upper end of the drain cover is tightly attached to the outer circumference of the waterproofing member, since the drain cover and the waterproofing member are separate components, it is impossible to completely eliminate the gap between the drain cover and the waterproofing member. Therefore, even if the water spill prevention device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used, there is a risk that water adhering to the chain may seep into the inside of the drain cover through the opening at the upper end of the drain cover and then drip down from the scaffolding board through the holes in the waterproof sheet.

[0010] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a water fall prevention device for suspended scaffolding that can more effectively prevent water adhering to the chain from falling from the scaffolding planks. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a water-drop prevention device that prevents water from falling from a scaffolding board suspended by a chain connected to a suspension point, and is characterized by comprising: a partition member provided in the middle of the chain and having an umbrella portion that opens toward the scaffolding board; a waterproof sheet that covers the upper surface of the scaffolding board and has an opening through which the chain connected to the scaffolding board is inserted; and a tubular chain cover that covers the periphery of the chain, with its lower end connected to the periphery of the opening in the waterproof sheet and its upper end housed within the umbrella portion. With this configuration, since the upper end opening of the chain cover is housed within the umbrella portion, the upper end opening of the chain cover is located above the lower end of the umbrella portion. Therefore, water adhering to the chain does not reach the upper end opening of the chain cover, and water adhering to the chain does not penetrate the inside of the chain cover through the upper end opening of the chain cover. Furthermore, since the lower end of the chain cover is connected to the periphery of the opening in the waterproof sheet, water does not penetrate into the chain cover from the lower end opening of the chain cover. Therefore, since water adhering to the chain cannot enter the chain cover through either the upper or lower opening, it is possible to prevent water adhering to the chain from dripping down the scaffolding planks through the opening in the waterproof sheet.

[0012] Furthermore, in the water-drop prevention device of the present invention, the umbrella portion may be cone-shaped. With this configuration, the opening of the umbrella portion becomes wider, making it easier to insert the upper end of the chain cover into the umbrella portion for storage, and to fix the chain cover in place while the upper end is stored inside the umbrella portion.

[0013] Furthermore, in the water spill prevention device of the present invention, the chain is divided into a suspension-side chain connected to the suspension point and a scaffolding-side chain connected to the scaffolding board, and the partition member may have a suspension-side connecting portion provided at the upper end of the umbrella portion and connected to the lower end of the suspension-side chain, and a scaffolding-side connecting portion connected to the upper end of the scaffolding-side chain and at least the outer circumference of the upper end covered by the umbrella portion. With this configuration, the partition member is positioned between the suspension-side chain and the scaffolding-side chain, and the suspension-side chain and the scaffolding-side chain are completely separated, so there is no room for a gap to form between the partition member and the chain. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water adhering to the suspension-side chain from passing through the partition member and running down to the scaffolding-side chain.

[0014] Furthermore, in the water-drop prevention device of the present invention, the partition member may be divided into multiple parts and attached to the chain from the side without any gaps. With this configuration, the partition member can be retrofitted to the chain while the scaffolding boards are suspended, so the water-drop prevention device can be installed even on existing suspended scaffolding.

[0015] Furthermore, in the water-fall prevention device of the present invention, the partition member may have a base that is attached to the chain element of the chain from the lateral direction without any gaps, and a divided body that is attached to the base from the left and right directions without any gaps to form an umbrella portion. With this configuration, the partition member can be retrofitted to the chain while the scaffolding board is suspended, so the water-fall prevention device can be installed on existing suspended scaffolding. Also, with this configuration, since the partition member is divided into a base that is attached to the chain element and a divided body that constitutes an umbrella portion attached to the base, the base having a structure for attaching to the chain element without any gaps and the divided body having a connecting structure for connecting them to each other can be manufactured separately. Therefore, a partition member that can be attached to the chain element of the chain from the lateral direction without any gaps can be easily manufactured.

[0016] The water spill prevention device of the present invention comprises a cover protector that is cone-shaped with a hole in the center through which a chain is inserted, placed on a scaffolding board, surrounds the opening of the waterproof sheet, and is housed within a chain cover, and the chain cover may be formed from a tubular sheet material. With this configuration, the cover protector is positioned between the chain and the chain cover and covers the periphery of the chain. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the chain cover, which is made of sheet material, from directly contacting the chain and causing damage or deterioration to the chain cover.

[0017] Furthermore, in the water spill prevention device of the present invention, the lower end of the chain cover may be connected to the periphery of the opening of the waterproof sheet along the outer circumference of the lower end of the cover protector. With this configuration, the lower end of the chain cover can be positioned by aligning it with the outer circumference of the lower end of the cover protector while connecting it to the waterproof sheet, thus improving the work efficiency of connecting the chain cover to the waterproof sheet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention's water-drop prevention device for suspended scaffolding, it is possible to more effectively prevent water adhering to the chain from dripping down from the scaffolding planks. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a suspended scaffolding with the water fall prevention device of the first embodiment installed. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the portion of the suspended scaffold where the water fall prevention device of the first embodiment is attached. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the partition member in the water overflow prevention device of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the portion of the suspended scaffold where the water fall prevention device of the second embodiment is attached. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a magnified perspective view showing the portion of the suspended scaffold where the partition member of the water fall prevention device of the second embodiment is attached. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the base of the partition member in the water falling prevention device of the second embodiment is attached to the chain. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the base of the partition member in the water falling prevention device of the second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the umbrella portion of the partition member in the water falling prevention device of the second embodiment.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals attached through several drawings indicate the same components.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the water falling prevention device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used for a suspended scaffold 12 having a scaffold board 10 and a chain 11 for suspending the scaffold board 10 from a structure such as a bridge as a suspension point, and prevents water adhering to the chain 11 from falling from the scaffold board 10 along the chain 11.

[0022] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the water falling prevention device 1 includes a partition member 2 provided in the middle of the chain 11 and having an umbrella portion 2a opening toward the scaffold board side, a waterproof sheet 3 having an opening 3a through which the chain 11 connected to the scaffold board 10 is inserted and covering the upper surface of the scaffold board 10, and a chain cover 4 that is cylindrical, covers the periphery of the chain 11, has a lower end connected to the periphery of the opening 3a of the waterproof sheet 3, and an upper end housed in the umbrella portion 2a.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the suspended scaffolding 12 of this embodiment comprises a scaffolding board 10 and a plurality of chains 11 that suspend and support the scaffolding board 10. Although not shown in detail, the scaffolding board 10 is constructed with a plurality of joints 10a arranged at predetermined intervals in the width and depth directions, a plurality of beam members 10b stretched between opposing joints 10a, 10a in the width and depth directions, and a plurality of floor members 10c stretched between opposing beam members 10b, 10b. Each chain 11 is connected to each joint 10a. The chains 11 may also be connected to parts of the scaffolding board 10 other than the joints 10a, for example, to the beam members 10b. However, the above-described configuration of the scaffolding board 10 is just one example, and the scaffolding board 10 may also be constructed with, for example, a plurality of beam members arranged in a row in the width direction and floor members stretched between the beam members and connecting the beam members to each other.

[0024] Next, the water overflow prevention device 1 of the first embodiment will be described in detail. In the water overflow prevention device 1 of the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the chain 11 is divided into a suspension-side chain 11a whose upper end is connected to the structure side which is the suspension source, and a scaffolding board-side chain 11b whose lower end is connected to the joint 10a of the scaffolding board 10. The water overflow prevention device 1 of the first embodiment also includes a partition member 2 provided between the suspension-side chain 11a and the scaffolding board-side chain 11b and having an umbrella-shaped portion 2a that opens to the scaffolding board side, a waterproof sheet 3 that covers the upper surface of the scaffolding board 10 and has an opening 3a through which the suspension-side chain 11a is inserted, and a chain cover 4 that is cylindrical and covers the periphery of the suspension-side chain 11a, with its lower end connected to the periphery of the opening 3a of the waterproof sheet 3 and its upper end housed within the umbrella-shaped portion 2a.

[0025] The following describes in detail each part of the water leakage prevention device 1 of the first embodiment. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the waterproof sheet 3 is fixed to the upper surface of the floor material 10c of the scaffolding board 10 and covers the upper surface of the floor material 10c to prevent water from leaking through the gaps in the floor material 10c. The waterproof sheet 3 also has openings 3a formed at positions opposite each joint 10a of the scaffolding board 10. The lower end of the scaffolding board side chain 11b is connected to the joint 10a through the openings 3a. The waterproof sheet 3 of this embodiment is made of polyethylene and is formed by joining multiple sheet pieces together by welding. Since the sheet pieces are joined together by welding, there are no gaps between the sheet pieces, and water leakage can be prevented. The upper surface of the scaffolding board 10 may be covered with a single waterproof sheet 3, but forming the waterproof sheet 3 by joining multiple sheet pieces together makes it easier to carry and install the waterproof sheet 3. The material of the waterproof sheet 3 is just an example and is not particularly limited as long as it can prevent the passage of liquid.

[0026] Next, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the partition member 2 has a cone-shaped umbrella portion 2a with an opening facing downwards towards the scaffolding board side, a suspension-side connecting portion 2b provided at the upper end of the umbrella portion 2a and connected to the lower end of the suspension-side chain 11a via a connecting fitting 13, and a scaffolding board-side connecting portion 2c connected to the upper end of the scaffolding board-side chain 11b via a carabiner 14, with the outer circumference of the upper end covered by the umbrella portion 2a. The suspension-side connecting portion 2b is a teardrop-shaped piece that protrudes from the top of the umbrella portion 2a so as to bulge upwards, and has a mounting hole 2b1. The scaffolding board-side connecting portion 2c has a rectangular plate-shaped projection piece 2c1 extending downwards from the lower side of the top of the umbrella portion 2a, and a teardrop-shaped connecting piece 2c2 that protrudes from the lower end of the projection piece 2c1 so as to bulge downwards, and a hole 2c3 is formed in the connecting piece 2c2.

[0027] The connecting fitting 13 interposed between the lower end of the suspension chain 11a and the suspension connecting portion 2b of the partition member 2 comprises, as shown in Figure 2, a pair of plates 13a, 13a arranged side by side with a gap between them in the front and back, a central rod 13b that passes through the centers of the plates 13a, 13a to connect them, a first connecting pin 13c that passes through the vicinity of the upper ends of the plates 13a, 13a to connect them, a second connecting pin 13d arranged to the right of the first connecting pin 13c in Figure 2 and removably passes through the vicinity of the upper ends of the plates 13a, 13a, and a third connecting pin 13e that removably passes through the vicinity of the lower ends of the plates 13a, 13a.

[0028] The connecting fitting 13 is connected to the lower end of the suspension chain 11a by sandwiching the chain element of the suspension chain 11a between the first connecting pin 13c and the second connecting pin 13d, and by supporting the first connecting pin 13c and the second connecting pin 13d with another chain element connected to the lower end of the chain element sandwiched between the first connecting pin 13c and the second connecting pin 13d. Furthermore, with the suspension connecting portion 2b positioned between the plates 13a, 13a with the third connecting pin 13e removed, the connecting fitting 13 is connected to the suspension connecting portion 2b of the partition member 2 by inserting the third connecting pin 13e, which passes through the plates 13a, 13a, into the mounting holes 2b1 of the opposing suspension connecting portions 2b. In this way, the lower end of the suspension chain 11a is connected to the suspension connecting portion 2b of the partition member 2 via the connecting fitting 13.

[0029] However, the configuration of the connecting fitting 13 described above is merely an example and is not particularly limited as long as it can connect the lower end of the suspension-side chain 11a to the suspension-side connecting portion 2b of the partition member 2. For example, the connecting fitting 13 may be a hook-shaped fitting and hooked into the mounting hole 2b1 of the suspension-side connecting portion 2b. Alternatively, the connecting fitting 13 may be a carabiner and attached to the chain element at the lower end of the suspension-side chain 11a and hooked into the mounting hole 2b1 of the suspension-side connecting portion 2b of the partition member 2, thereby connecting the lower end of the suspension-side chain 11a to the suspension-side connecting portion 2b of the partition member 2. The shape of the suspension-side connecting portion 2b described above is merely an example and is not particularly limited. Furthermore, the configuration of the suspension-side connecting portion 2b can be appropriately changed depending on the method of connection with the suspension-side chain 11a and is not limited to the configuration described above.

[0030] On the other hand, a carabiner 14 is attached to the chain element at the upper end of the scaffolding board side chain 11b, and the upper end of the scaffolding board side chain 11b and the scaffolding board side connecting part 2c are connected by hooking this carabiner 14 into the hole 2c3 of the connecting piece 2c2 in the scaffolding board side connecting part 2c of the partition member 2. In Figure 2, the carabiner 14 is shown with the same shape as the chain element of the scaffolding board side chain 11b, but in reality, the carabiner 14 has a roughly C-shaped body and a gate that is hinged to one end of the body to open and close the opening of the body. Furthermore, the method of connecting the upper end of the scaffolding board side chain 11b and the scaffolding board side connecting part 2c is not particularly limited, and other connecting fittings besides the carabiner 14 may be used, for example, the connecting fitting 13 that connects the lower end of the suspension side chain 11a and the suspension side connecting part 2b of the partition member 2. Note that the shape of the scaffolding board side connecting part 2c described above is just an example and is not particularly limited. Furthermore, the configuration of the scaffolding board side connecting section 2c can be appropriately changed depending on the method of connection with the scaffolding board side chain 11b, and is not limited to the configuration described above.

[0031] Furthermore, the upper end of the cylindrical chain cover 4 is housed within the umbrella portion 2a of the partition member 2. More specifically, the chain cover 4 is formed by rolling a polyethylene sheet material, the same as the waterproof sheet 3, into a cylindrical shape so as to cover the scaffolding board side chain 11b and the scaffolding board side connecting portion 2c, and welding one end of the sheet material in the circumferential direction to the sheet material itself. The upper end of the chain cover 4 is formed by tightly wrapping the sheet material around the protruding piece 2c1 and welding one end of the sheet material in the circumferential direction to the sheet material itself, so that the upper end of the chain cover 4 is kept in close contact with the protruding piece 2c1 and housed within the umbrella portion 2a. In addition, although not shown in the figures, the upper end of the chain cover 4 may be secured to the scaffolding board side connecting portion 2c with tape or rubber to prevent it from shifting downwards and moving outside the umbrella portion 2a.

[0032] As described above, when the upper end opening of the chain cover 4 is housed within the umbrella portion 2a, the upper end opening of the chain cover 4 is positioned above the lower end of the umbrella portion 2a. Therefore, water adhering to the suspension-side chain 11a travels along the connecting fitting 13, the suspension-side connecting portion 2b, and the umbrella portion 2a, and falls from the outer circumference of the lower end of the umbrella portion 2a onto the outer surface of the part of the chain cover 4 not covered by the umbrella portion 2a or onto the waterproof sheet 3. Thus, the water adhering to the suspension-side chain 11a does not reach the upper end opening of the chain cover 4. Consequently, water adhering to the suspension-side chain 11a does not penetrate the inside of the chain cover 4 through the upper end opening of the chain cover 4.

[0033] Furthermore, because the umbrella portion 2a of the partition member 2 is cone-shaped, the opening is wider compared to when the umbrella portion 2a is cylindrical, making it easier to insert the upper end of the chain cover 4 into the umbrella portion 2a for storage, and to fix the upper end of the chain cover 4 in place while it is housed inside the umbrella portion 2a. However, the shape of the umbrella portion 2a is not particularly limited as long as it can accommodate the upper end of the chain cover 4.

[0034] Furthermore, since the lower end of the chain cover 4 is welded to the perimeter of the opening 3a in the waterproof sheet 3, there is no gap between the chain cover 4 and the waterproof sheet 3. Therefore, water cannot penetrate into the chain cover 4 from between the chain cover 4 and the waterproof sheet 3. In this example, the lower end of the chain cover 4 is welded to the waterproof sheet 3, but it may be connected to the waterproof sheet 3 without any gaps by a method other than welding.

[0035] Therefore, not only water that directly adheres to the waterproof sheet 3 during maintenance work, but also water that travels from the suspension chain 11a along the connecting fitting 13 and the outer surface of the umbrella portion 2a, and falls from the outer surface of the lower end of the umbrella portion 2a onto the outer surface of the chain cover 4 that is not covered by the umbrella portion 2a, or onto the waterproof sheet 3, cannot penetrate into the chain cover 4 from between the chain cover 4 and the waterproof sheet 3.

[0036] As described above, in the water spill prevention device 1, the upper end opening of the chain cover 4 is housed within the umbrella portion 2a of the partition member 2, and the lower end of the chain cover 4 is connected to the perimeter of the opening 3a of the waterproof sheet 3. Therefore, water adhering to the suspension-side chain 11a cannot enter the chain cover 4 from either the upper or lower end opening. Thus, the water spill prevention device 1 can prevent water adhering to the suspension-side chain 11a from falling from the scaffolding board 10 through the opening 3a of the waterproof sheet 3.

[0037] In this embodiment, the upper end of the chain cover 4 is in close contact with the protruding piece 2c1 of the scaffolding board side connecting portion 2c of the partition member 2. However, if the upper end opening of the chain cover 4 is housed within the umbrella portion 2a, water will flow down the umbrella portion 2a and will not reach the upper end opening of the chain cover 4. Therefore, if the state in which the upper end opening of the chain cover 4 is housed within the umbrella portion 2a is maintained, it is not necessary to make the upper end of the chain cover 4 in close contact with the protruding piece 2c1 of the scaffolding board side connecting portion 2c.

[0038] In this embodiment, the partition member 2 is made of metal, but the material of the partition member 2 is not particularly limited as long as it does not allow liquid to pass through and has sufficient strength to suspend the scaffolding board 10 together with the chain 11. Also, the material of the sheet material forming the chain cover 4 is not particularly limited as long as it prevents liquid from passing through. The chain cover 4 may be made of a different material from the waterproof sheet 3. Furthermore, the chain cover 4 does not have to be formed from a sheet material in a cylindrical shape. For example, the chain cover may be made from a material such as metal, synthetic resin, or rubber. In that case, the upper end of the chain cover can be housed in the umbrella portion 2a, and the lower end of the chain cover can be connected to the waterproof sheet 3 without any gaps by inserting a seal between the lower end of the chain cover and the waterproof sheet 3. However, as in this embodiment, it is preferable that the chain cover 4 is formed from a sheet material that can be welded to the waterproof sheet 3 in a cylindrical shape, as this allows the lower end of the chain cover 4 to be connected to the waterproof sheet 3 without any gaps simply by welding the lower end of the chain cover 4 to the waterproof sheet 3.

[0039] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, a cone-shaped cover protector 5 is placed on the scaffolding board 10, positioned between the scaffolding board-side chain 11b and the chain cover 4, and covering the periphery of the scaffolding board-side chain 11b. The cover protector 5 is placed on the scaffolding board 10 so as to surround the opening 3a of the waterproof sheet 3, and has a hole (not shown) in the center through which the scaffolding board-side chain 11b is inserted.

[0040] More specifically, the cover protector 5 has a shape in which the top of a hollow cone is cut off with a horizontal plane, and the hole at the top of the cover protector 5 faces the opening 3a of the waterproof sheet 3. The scaffolding board side chain 11b is inserted into the inside of the cover protector 5 through the hole in the cover protector 5, and the lower end of the scaffolding board side chain 11b is connected to the joint 10a of the scaffolding board 10 through the opening 3a of the waterproof sheet 3. The size of the hole in the cover protector 5 is not particularly limited as long as it is large enough to allow the insertion of the scaffolding board side chain 11b. Furthermore, if the hole in the cover protector 5 is set to a size that allows the insertion of the scaffolding board side chain 11b with leeway, the insertion of the suspension side chain 11a into the hole in the cover protector 5 is permitted even if the connection position of the upper end of the suspension side chain 11a to the suspension is not directly above the position of the joint 10a of the scaffolding board 10 and the entire chain 11 is tilted. Therefore, if the size of the hole in the cover protector 5 is set to a size that allows the scaffolding board-side chain 11b to pass through with ease, the same cover protector 5 can be used even if the inclination of each chain 11 that suspends the scaffolding board 10 is different. However, cover protectors 5 with different hole sizes depending on the inclination of the chain 11 may also be prepared.

[0041] Furthermore, as mentioned above, the cover protector 5 is positioned between the scaffolding board-side chain 11b and the chain cover 4, as shown in Figure 2, and covers the perimeter of the scaffolding board-side chain 11b. This prevents the chain cover 4 from directly contacting the scaffolding board-side chain 11b and causing damage or deterioration to the chain cover 4.

[0042] Furthermore, the lower end of the chain cover 4 is connected to the periphery of the opening 3a of the waterproof sheet 3 along the outer circumference of the lower end of the cover protector 5. This arrangement allows the lower end of the chain cover 4 to be positioned against the outer circumference of the lower end of the cover protector 5 while being connected to the waterproof sheet 3, thus improving the work efficiency of connecting the chain cover 4 to the waterproof sheet 3. The height of the cover protector 5 is not particularly limited. Also, the cover protector 5 may be omitted.

[0043] As described above, the water-drop prevention device 1 of this embodiment prevents water from falling from a scaffolding board 10 suspended by a chain 11 connected to a suspension point, and comprises a partition member 2 having an umbrella portion 2a provided in the middle of the chain 11 and opening towards the scaffolding board 10, a waterproof sheet 3 having an opening 3a through which the chain 11 connected to the scaffolding board 10 is inserted and covering the upper surface of the scaffolding board 10, and a chain cover 4 which is cylindrical and covers the periphery of the chain 11, with its lower end connected to the periphery of the opening 3a of the waterproof sheet 3 and its upper end housed within the umbrella portion 2a.

[0044] In the water-drop prevention device 1 configured in this way, the upper end opening of the chain cover 4 is housed within the umbrella portion 2a, so the upper end opening of the chain cover 4 is located above the lower end of the umbrella portion 2a. Therefore, water adhering to the suspension-side chain 11a, which is on the suspension side of the chain 11 relative to the partition member 2, travels along the outer surface of the umbrella portion 2a and falls from the outer circumference of the lower end of the umbrella portion 2a, so the water adhering to the chain 11 does not reach the upper end opening of the chain cover 4. Consequently, water adhering to the chain 11 does not penetrate into the inside of the chain cover 4 through the upper end opening of the chain cover 4. Furthermore, since the lower end of the chain cover 4 is connected to the perimeter of the opening 3a of the waterproof sheet 3, water does not penetrate into the chain cover 4 from the lower end opening of the chain cover 4. Thus, in the water-drop prevention device 1, water adhering to the chain 11 cannot penetrate into the chain cover 4 from either the upper end opening or the lower end opening of the chain cover 4, thus preventing water adhering to the chain 11 from falling from the scaffolding board 10 through the opening 3a of the waterproof sheet 3.

[0045] Furthermore, in the water overflow prevention device 1 of this embodiment, the umbrella portion 2a is cone-shaped. With this configuration, the opening is wider compared to when the umbrella portion 2a is a narrow cylinder, making it easier to insert the upper end of the chain cover 4 into the umbrella portion 2a for storage, and to fix the upper end of the chain cover 4 in a state where it is stored inside the umbrella portion 2a. In addition, since the outer surface of the umbrella portion 2a slopes outward from the top end to the bottom end, water adhering to the outer surface of the umbrella portion 2a flows off easily. However, the shape of the umbrella portion 2a is not particularly limited as long as it can accommodate the upper end of the chain cover 4.

[0046] Furthermore, in the water fall prevention device 1 of this embodiment, the chain 11 is divided into a suspension-side chain 11a connected to the suspension point and a scaffolding board-side chain 11b connected to the scaffolding board 10. The partition member 2 has a suspension-side connecting portion 2b provided at the upper end of the umbrella portion 2a and connected to the lower end of the suspension-side chain 11a, and a scaffolding board-side connecting portion 2c connected to the upper end of the scaffolding board-side chain 11b, with at least the outer circumference of the upper end covered by the umbrella portion 2a.

[0047] In the water spill prevention device 1 configured in this way, the partition member 2 is positioned between the suspension-side chain 11a and the scaffolding board-side chain 11b, completely separating the suspension-side chain 11a and the scaffolding board-side chain 11b. As a result, there is no room for a gap to form between the partition member 2 and the chain 11. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water adhering to the suspension-side chain 11a from passing through the partition member 2 and running down to the scaffolding board-side chain 11b.

[0048] Furthermore, the water spill prevention device 1 of this embodiment includes a cover protector 5 that is cone-shaped with a hole in the center through which a chain 11 is inserted, is placed on the scaffolding board 10 and surrounds the opening 3a of the waterproof sheet 3, and is housed inside the chain cover 4, the chain cover 4 being formed from a tubular sheet material.

[0049] With the water-drop prevention device 1 configured in this way, the cover protector 5 is positioned between the scaffolding board side chain 11b and the chain cover 4, covering the perimeter of the chain 11. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the chain cover 4, which is made of sheet material, from coming into direct contact with the chain 11 and becoming damaged or deteriorated.

[0050] Furthermore, in the water-drop prevention device 1 of this embodiment, the lower end of the chain cover 4 is connected to the periphery of the opening 3a of the waterproof sheet 3 along the outer circumference of the lower end of the cover protector 5. With the water-drop prevention device 1 configured in this way, the lower end of the chain cover 4 can be positioned against the outer circumference of the lower end of the cover protector 5 and connected to the waterproof sheet 3, thus improving the work efficiency of connecting the chain cover 4 to the waterproof sheet 3. However, the cover protector 5 may be placed on the scaffolding board 10 to protect the chain cover 4 from the chain 11, and the lower end of the chain cover 4 may be connected to the waterproof sheet 3 without following the outer circumference of the lower end of the cover protector 5. Also, the cover protector 5 may be omitted.

[0051] Next, a water-fall prevention device 1A of the second embodiment of the present invention, shown in Figure 4, will be described. The water-fall prevention device 1A according to this embodiment is used in a suspended scaffolding 12 in which the divided chain 11 that suspends the scaffolding board 10 is replaced with a single, undivided chain 110. Furthermore, the configuration of the water-fall prevention device 1A of this embodiment is the same as that of the water-fall prevention device 1 of the first embodiment, except for the partition member 20, and the same reference numerals are used for common components, and detailed explanations are omitted.

[0052] As shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the partition member 20 in the water fall prevention device 1A of this embodiment is provided in the middle of the chain 110 and has a base portion 21 that is attached to the chain element 110a of the chain 110 from the side without any gaps, and an umbrella portion 22 formed by divided bodies 22a and 22b that are attached to the base portion 21 from the left and right directions and open to the scaffolding board side.

[0053] Furthermore, the upper end opening of the chain cover 4, which is connected around the opening 3a of the waterproof sheet 3 covering the upper surface of the scaffolding board 10, is housed within the umbrella portion 22, so that the upper end opening of the chain cover 4 is positioned above the lower end of the umbrella portion 22. Therefore, in the water spill prevention device 1A of this embodiment, as with the water spill prevention device 1 of the first embodiment, water adhering to the suspension-side chain 11a travels along the outer circumferential surface of the umbrella portion 22 and falls from the outer circumferential surface of the lower end of the umbrella portion 22, so that water adhering to the portion of the chain 110 that is on the suspension side of the partition member 20 does not reach the upper end opening of the chain cover 4. Consequently, water adhering to the chain 110 does not penetrate into the inside of the chain cover 4 through the upper end opening of the chain cover 4. Moreover, since the lower end of the chain cover 4 is connected around the opening 3a of the waterproof sheet 3, water does not penetrate into the chain cover 4 from the lower end opening of the chain cover 4. Therefore, with the water-drop prevention device 1A, water adhering to the chain 110 cannot enter the chain cover 4 from either the upper or lower end opening, thus preventing water adhering to the chain 110 from dripping from the scaffolding board 10 through the opening 3a of the waterproof sheet 3. In this embodiment, the upper end of the chain cover 4 is formed by tightly wrapping the sheet material around the chain 110 and welding one end of the sheet material in the circumferential direction to the sheet material itself, so the upper end of the chain cover 4 is maintained in close contact with the chain 110 and housed within the umbrella portion 22.

[0054] As shown in Figure 6, the chain 110 is constructed by connecting multiple chain elements 110a in a chain. Each chain element 110a is formed in an elliptical shape by a pair of left and right straight sections 110a1, 110a1 and a pair of upper and lower arc sections 110a2, 110a2 that connect the upper ends and lower ends of the straight sections 110a1, 110a1, respectively.

[0055] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the base 21 has a pair of clamping portions 21a, 21a formed by cutting along the longitudinal centerline of a rectangular plate made of synthetic resin, each of which is capable of inserting each of the straight portions 110a1, 110a1 of the chain element 110a and has two holes of a size corresponding to the outer diameter of each straight portion 110a1, 110a1. Since the cut extends to near one end of the rectangular plate in the longitudinal direction, the thickness of the joint portion on one end side of the pair of clamping portions 21a, 21a is thin. Furthermore, the base 21 is made of flexible synthetic resin. Therefore, the base 21 can be opened and closed by moving the other end side of the clamping portions 21a, 21a, which is the side opposite the joint, closer to the pivot point of the joint portion of the clamping portions 21a, 21a.

[0056] More specifically, the two holes provided in the base portion 21 have their centers located on the longitudinal centerline of the base portion 21. Therefore, on the opposing surfaces of the pair of clamping portions 21a, 21a formed by cutting along the longitudinal centerline of the rectangular plate, two semicircular grooves 21a1 are formed, each being half the size of the aforementioned holes.

[0057] Since the base portion 21 can be opened and closed in this manner, the base portion 21 can be moved from the side toward the chain 110 when it is open, the chain 110 can be positioned between the clamping portions 21a, 21a, and then the base portion 21 can be closed while housing the straight portion 110a1 of the chain element 110a in the grooves 21a1 of the clamping portions 21a, 21a, thereby allowing the base portion 21 to be attached to the chain element 110a of the chain 110 from the side. At this time, the opposing surfaces of the pair of clamping portions 21a, 21a are in close contact with each other. Furthermore, since the holes formed by the opposing grooves 21a1 of each clamping portion 21a are of a size corresponding to the outer diameter of the straight portion 110a1 of the chain element 110a, each clamping portion 21a is in close contact with the straight portion 110a1 of the chain element 110a. Therefore, the base portion 21 can be attached to the chain element 110a without any gaps.

[0058] In this embodiment, the base 21 is opened and closed by connecting one end of each clamping portion 21a. However, the clamping portions 21a and 21a may be separated, and the base 21 may be attached to the chain element 110a of the chain 110 by clamping it from the side with the two clamping portions 21a, 21a. Furthermore, the shape of the clamping portion 21a is not particularly limited. For example, the clamping portion 21a may be semicircular so that the base 21 becomes circular when the base 21 is closed. In this embodiment, the base 21 is made of synthetic resin. However, the material of the base 21 is not particularly limited as long as it does not allow liquid to pass through and is flexible. However, if the base 21 is composed of separated clamping portions 21a, 21a, the material of the base 21 does not need to be flexible.

[0059] The umbrella portion 22 is made of synthetic resin and, as shown in Figure 5, comprises a rectangular holding portion that embraces the outer circumference of the base portion 21 and a cone-shaped skirt portion connected to the holding portion. As shown in Figure 8, the umbrella portion 22 is formed by two divided parts 22a and 22b, which are split left and right. Each divided part 22a and 22b comprises a U-shaped holding portion equivalent portion 22a1 and 22b1 corresponding to the holding portion, and a substantially semicircular skirt portion equivalent portion 22a2 and 22b2 connected to the holding portion equivalent portion 22a1 and 22b1.

[0060] The skirt portion 22a2, 22b2 comprises a semicircular outer periphery 22a3, 22b3 having a tapered inclined surface, and an arched apex 22a4, 22b4 that closes a portion of the upper end of the outer periphery 22a3, 22b3. The gripping portion 22a1, 22b1 is connected to the upper edge of the outer periphery 22a3, 22b3 and the straight edge of the apex 22a4, 22b4. In this embodiment, the skirt portion of the umbrella portion 22 is cone-shaped, but the shape of the umbrella portion 22 is not particularly limited as long as it can accommodate the upper end opening of the chain cover 4, and may be, for example, rectangular. In addition, triangular stopper pieces 22a5, 22b5 are provided on the inside of each corner of the upper end of the gripping portion 22a1, 22b1, respectively.

[0061] Furthermore, each segment 22a and 22b is equipped with a connecting structure for linking the segments 22a and 22b together. The connecting structure consists of a projection 22a6 that protrudes from the end of the portion corresponding to the holding part 22a1 of one segment 22a on the right side of Figure 8 along the end face of the circumferential end of the outer peripheral part 22a3, and U-shaped hook portions 22b6 that protrude from the end of the portion corresponding to the holding part 22b1 of the other segment 22b on the left side of Figure 8 along the end faces of the circumferential ends of the outer peripheral part 22b3, with their tips facing each other. The segments 22a and 22b can be connected by inserting the projection 22a6 of one segment 22a into the inside of the hook portion 22b6 of the other segment 22b from above and below and fitting them together. The material of the umbrella portion 22 is not particularly limited as long as it does not allow the passage of liquid.

[0062] Next, the method for attaching the partition member 20 to the chain 110 will be explained. First, the base 21, which is in an open state, is moved from the side toward the chain 110, and the chain 110 is positioned between the clamping parts 21a, 21a. Then, the base 21 is closed while housing the straight part 110a1 of the chain element 110a in the grooves 21a1 of the clamping parts 21a, 21a, thereby attaching the base 21 to the chain element of the chain 110.

[0063] Next, with one divided body 22a and the other divided body 22b positioned above the base 21 attached to the chain element 110a, slightly offset so that one divided body 22a is below, sandwiching the chain element 110a, the umbrella portion 22 is assembled by bringing the two divided bodies 22a and 22b closer together in the vertical direction and inserting the projection 22a6 of one divided body into the hook portion 22b6 of the other divided body 22b to fit them together. After that, the umbrella portion 22 is moved downward so that the holding portion of the umbrella portion 22 holds the base 21. At this time, the base 21 is in close contact with the straight portion 110a1 of the chain element 110a, and the base 21 is held without any gaps by the holding portion of the umbrella portion 22, so the partition member 20 is attached to the chain 110 without any gaps. Furthermore, when the partition member 20 is attached to the chain 110 in this manner, the stopper pieces 22a5 and 22b5 provided on the inside of each corner of the upper end of the holding portion 22a1 and 22b1 come into contact with the upper end of the base 21. As a result, the upward movement of the base 21 relative to the umbrella portion 22 is restricted by the stopper pieces 22a5 and 22b5. Therefore, the base 21 can be prevented from falling off the umbrella portion 22.

[0064] Furthermore, when the divided sections 22a and 22b are connected, the circumferential ends of the outer peripheral sections 22a3 and 22b3 of each divided section 22a and 22b are only in contact with each other, resulting in a minute gap between the ends of the outer peripheral sections 22a3 and 22b3. In response to this, the circumferential ends of the outer peripheral section 22a3 of one divided section 22a are each provided with a closing section 22a7 that overlaps the underside of the end of the outer peripheral section 22b3 of the other divided section 22b. This closing section 22a7 closes the minute gap formed between the circumferential ends of the outer peripheral sections 22a3 and 22b3. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water adhering to the outer surface of the umbrella section 22 from entering the inside of the umbrella section 22 through the minute gap between the outer peripheral sections 22a3 and 22b3. However, in this embodiment, the upper end opening of the chain cover 4 is positioned so as not to face the minute gap between the outer peripheral portions 22a3 and 22b3. Therefore, even if water adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the umbrella portion 22 enters the inside of the umbrella portion 22 through the minute gap between the outer peripheral portions 22a3 and 22b3, that water will not enter the chain cover 4 through the upper end opening. For this reason, the closing portion 22a7 may be omitted.

[0065] As described above, the partition member 20 of this embodiment is composed of a base portion 21 and an umbrella portion 22 that can be attached to the chain 110 from the side, so the partition member 20 can be retrofitted to the chain 110 while it is suspending the scaffolding board 10.

[0066] Although not described in detail here, the cover protector 5 may also be composed of multiple segments, and each segment can be attached laterally to the chain 110 that is suspending the scaffolding board 19, so that the cover protector 5 can also be added later.

[0067] In this embodiment, since the base portion 21 is attached to the straight portion 110a1 of the chain element 110a, each clamping portion 21a of the base portion 21 has two grooves 21a1 formed along a pair of straight portions 110a1. However, the shape of the grooves 21a1 can be appropriately changed depending on the mounting position of the base portion 21 to the chain element 110a. For example, when the base portion 21 is attached to the joint between the chain elements 110a, a groove along the joint between the chain elements 110a can be provided on the clamping portion 21a of the base portion 21. In this embodiment, the divided portions 22a and 22b are connected by fitting the projection 22a6 of one divided portion 22a into the hook portion 22b6 of the other divided portion 22b. However, the connecting structure for connecting the divided portions 22a and 22b is not particularly limited.

[0068] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the partition member 20 is divided into a base portion 21 attached to the chain element 110a and divided bodies 22a and 22b that constitute the umbrella portion 22 attached to the base portion 21. However, as long as it can be attached to the chain 110 from the side without any gaps, there is no particular limit to which part of the partition member 20 is divided, nor is there any particular limit to the number of divisions of the partition member 20. For example, the partition member 20 may be divided into a first divided body in which the clamping portion 21a and one divided body 22a are integrally formed, and a second divided body in which the clamping portion 21a and the other divided body 22b are integrally formed. However, when the partition member 20 is divided into a first divided body and a second divided body, it is necessary to provide both a structure for attaching the partition member 20 to the chain element 110a without gaps (groove 21a1) and a connecting structure for connecting the divided bodies (projection 22a6 or hook portion 22b6) in one divided body, which makes the shape of the divided body complex and makes it difficult to manufacture the partition member 20. In contrast, as in this embodiment, when the partition member 20 is divided into a base 21 and divided bodies 22a and 22b, the base 21 having a groove 21a1 and the divided bodies 22a and 22b having projections 22a6 or hook portions 22b6 can be manufactured separately, so a partition member 20 that can be attached to the chain element 110a of the chain 110 without gaps from the side can be easily manufactured.

[0069] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the base portion 21 and the umbrella portion 22 of the partition member 20 are both made of synthetic resin, but the base portion 21 and the umbrella portion 22 may be made of different materials. Also, for example, if the base portion 21 is made of rubber and the base portion 21 is sandwiched between the divided parts 22a and 22b, and the base portion 21 is brought into close contact with the chain element 110a and the divided parts 22a and 22b, a configuration in which there are no gaps between the base portion 21 and the chain element 110a and between the base portion 21 and the umbrella portion 22 can be easily realized.

[0070] As described above, in the water-fall prevention device 1A of this embodiment, the partition member 20 has a base portion 21 that is attached to the chain element 110a of the chain 110 without any gaps from the side, and divided parts 22a and 22b that are attached to the base portion 21 without any gaps from the left and right directions to form an umbrella portion 22. With the water-fall prevention device 1A configured in this way, the partition member 20 can be retrofitted to the chain 110 while the scaffolding board 10 is suspended. Therefore, the water-fall prevention device 1A can also be installed on existing suspended scaffolding 12.

[0071] Furthermore, with this configuration, the partition member 20 is divided into a base 21 that is attached to the chain element 110a and divided parts 22a and 22b that constitute the umbrella portion 22 attached to the base 21. Therefore, the base 21, which has a structure (groove 21a1) for attaching to the chain element 110a without gaps, and the divided parts 22a and 22b, which have structures (projection 22a6 and hook portion 22b6) for connecting to each other, can be manufactured separately. Thus, a partition member 20 that can be attached to the chain element 110a of the chain 110 without gaps from the side can be easily manufactured.

[0072] However, if the partition member 20 is divided into multiple parts and can be attached to the chain 110 from the side without any gaps, the partition member 20 can be retrofitted to the chain 110 while it is suspending the scaffolding board 10. Therefore, there is no particular limitation on which part of the partition member 20 is divided, nor is there any particular limitation on the number of divisions of the partition member 20.

[0073] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it goes without saying that modifications, alterations, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0074] 1,1A...Water spill prevention device, 2,20...Partition member, 2a,22...Umbrella section, 2b...Suspension side connection section, 2c...Scaffolding board side connection section, 3...Waterproof sheet, 3a...Opening, 4...Chain cover, 5...Cover protector, 10...Scaffolding board, 12...Suspended scaffolding, 11,110...Chain, 11a...Suspension side chain, 11b...Scaffolding board side chain, 21...Base section, 22a,22b...Divided section, 110a...Chain element

Claims

1. In a water fall prevention device for a suspended scaffolding that prevents water from falling from a scaffolding board suspended by a chain connected to the suspension point, A partition member having an umbrella-shaped portion that is provided in the middle of the chain and opens towards the scaffolding board, A waterproof sheet covering the upper surface of the scaffolding board, having an opening through which the chain connected to the scaffolding board is inserted, The system includes a chain cover that is cylindrical in shape, covers the periphery of the chain, has its lower end connected to the periphery of the opening in the waterproof sheet, and has its upper end housed within the umbrella portion. A device for preventing water from falling onto a suspended scaffold, characterized by the following features.

2. The umbrella portion is cone-shaped. The device for preventing water from falling onto a suspended scaffolding as described in feature 1.

3. The chain is divided into a suspension-side chain connected to the suspension point and a scaffolding board-side chain connected to the scaffolding board. The partition member has a suspension-side connecting portion provided at the upper end of the umbrella portion and connected to the lower end of the suspension-side chain, and a scaffolding board-side connecting portion connected to the upper end of the scaffolding board-side chain, with at least the outer circumference of the upper end covered by the umbrella portion. The device for preventing water from falling onto a suspended scaffolding as described in feature 1.

4. The partition member is divided into multiple parts and attached to the chain from the side without any gaps. The water overflow prevention device according to feature 1.

5. The partition member has a base that is attached to the chain element of the chain from the side without any gaps, and a divided body that is attached to the base from the left and right sides without any gaps to form the umbrella portion. The device for preventing water from falling onto a suspended scaffolding as described in feature 1.

6. The cover protector is cone-shaped with a hole in the center through which the chain is inserted, and is placed on the scaffolding board, surrounding the opening of the waterproof sheet and housed within the chain cover. The chain cover is formed from a cylindrical sheet material. The device for preventing water from falling onto a suspended scaffolding as described in feature 1.

7. The lower end of the chain cover is connected along the outer circumference of the lower end of the cover protector to the periphery of the opening in the waterproof sheet. The device for preventing water from falling onto a suspended scaffolding according to feature 6.

Images