Trestle

Abstract

A modular trestle arrangement is disclosed. The trestle includes trestle supports each having a first leg, a second leg, and a brace. The second leg is sized to locate within the first leg for transport. The brace narrows in width from the first leg to the second leg. The brace includes a connection portion located centrally, including locating slots within which tabs of a connection portion can locate to connect one trestle support to another.

Description

“TRESTLE”Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a trestle, being a support for a table or other workbench.Background to the Invention

[0002] Heavy industry frequently requires items to be supported above the ground, for instance during maintenance operations. Sometimes this is done in fixed environments, such as workshops, but at other times it may be necessary to provide a supporting workbench in a temporary location. Such workbenches are generally located atop trestles.

[0003] In some cases, the workbenches may need to support items weighing in excess of 1 tonne. Indeed, it is known to require trestles certified to support weights up to 10 tonnes.

[0004] Trestles used for such large weights must be robust and sturdy. This often makes them unwieldy for transport purposes.

[0005] It is considered desirable to provide a trestle which can be collapsed into a relatively small volume for transport, but which can be readily reassembled into a supporting configuration in which it can bear large loads. It is further desirable to provide a trestle which can be used in a modular fashion such that multiple trestles can be readily mounted together to form a single supporting structure.

[0006] The present invention has been developed in light of these desiderata.Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a trestle to support a surface, the trestle including at least a first leg, a second leg, and a brace; the first leg being formed from a channel section having an inner depth and an outer depth, the second leg being formed from a channel section having an inner depth and an outer depth, the inner depth of the firstleg being greater than the outer depth of the second leg; the brace having a first end arranged to locate within the channel of the first leg of the trestle and a second end arranged to locate within the channel of the second leg of the trestle, the brace having a width that narrows from the first end to the second end.

[0008] Advantageously, this allows for the second leg of the trestle to be located inside the channel of the first leg for transportation purposes.

[0009] Preferably, each side of the brace is inclined at between 0.5° and 2° relative to a centre line of the brace.

[0010] Preferably, the brace includes a connection region located midway between the first end and the second end. The connection region preferably includes a plurality of locating slots and a plurality of bolt receiving apertures.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment the connection region includes two locating slots associated with a first bolt receiving aperture and another two locating slots associated with a second bolt receiving aperture.

[0012] The locating slots are preferably aligned in a lateral direction across the brace.

[0013] It is preferred that the brace includes at least one crush tube extending laterally across the brace.

[0014] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a connection assembly for connecting a first trestle to a second trestle, the connection assembly including: a brace within the first trestle, the brace of the first trestle having at least one locating slot and at least one bolt receiving aperture; a brace within the second trestle, the brace of the second trestle having at least one locating slot and at least one bolt receiving aperture; and a connecting portion having a first end and a second end,the connecting portion having at least one tab at its first end arranged to locate within a locating slot of the brace of the first trestle, the connecting portion having at least one tab at its second end arranged to locate within a locating slot of the brace of the second trestle, the connecting portion having at least one bolt receiving aperture at its first end arranged to align with the bolt receiving aperture of the first trestle; and the connecting portion having at least one bolt receiving aperture at its second end arranged to align with the bolt receiving aperture of the second trestle.

[0015] It is preferred that each brace has at least two locating slots, and each connecting portion has two tabs at each of its first end and its second end.

[0016] It is preferred that each locating slot is aligned with a longitudinal direction of the respective trestle.

[0017] In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a connection assembly for connecting a first trestle to a second trestle, the connection assembly including: a hollow beam extending above legs of the first trestle, the beam having an aligned first pair of apertures on opposing transverse sides of the beam, the first pair of apertures being spaced from a first end of the beam by a first distance, the beam having an aligned second pair of apertures, each of the second pair of apertures being located between the first end of the beam and a corresponding one of the first pair of apertures, a hollow beam extending above legs of the second trestle, the beam of the second trestle having an aligned third pair of apertures on opposing transverse sides of the beam, the third pair of apertures being spaced from a second end of the beam by a second distance, the beam of the second trestle having an aligned fourth pair of apertures, each of the fourth pair of apertures being located between thesecond end of the beam and a corresponding one of the third pair of apertures of the second trestle; the connection assembly including a connecting member having a first end and a second end, the connecting member having a first slot recessed axially inwardly of the first end and a second slot recessed axially inwardly of the second end, the connecting member having an aligned first pair of apertures behind the first slot, and an aligned second pair of apertures behind the second slot, whereby when a first bolt is passed through the first pair of apertures of the beam of the first trestle, and a second bolt is passed through the third pair of apertures of the beam of the second trestle, the connecting member can be received within beams of both the first and second trestles with: the first slot locating about the first bolt, the second slot locating about the second bolt, the first pair of apertures of the connecting member being aligned with the second pair of apertures of the first trestle, and the second pair of apertures of the connecting member being aligned with the fourth pair of apertures of the second trestle.

[0018] Advantageously, this allows for the connecting member to be readily slid into position before being fixed in position by means of a bolt passing through the aligned second pair of apertures of each beam.

[0019] Preferably, the first distance is the same as the second distance.

[0020] Preferably the connecting member has two sides, each of which has a first slot, a second slot, a first aperture and a second aperture all axially aligned.

[0021] The connecting member is preferably formed of a channel section having a web and two side flanges.

[0022] The connecting member is preferably arranged to be received within the beam in a sliding fit.

[0023] In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a connection means for connecting a first trestle to a second trestle, the connection means including a first connection assembly including a connecting portion as described above and a second connection assembly including a connecting member as described above.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] It will be convenient to further describe the invention with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention. Other embodiments are possible, and consequently the particularity of the following discussion is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention. In the drawings:

[0025] Figure 1 is a perspective of two trestles in accordance with the present invention, shown joined together;

[0026] Figure 2 is a side view of a first trestle from within Figure 1 , along with connecting members;

[0027] Figure 3 is an end view of the trestle of Figure 2;

[0028] Figure 4 is a perspective of a trestle support from within the trestle of Figure 1 , shown collapsed for transportation;

[0029] Figure 5 is an exploded view of the collapsed trestle support of Figure 4;

[0030] Figure 6 is a perspective of a trestle support beam from within the trestle of Figure 1 , shown collapsed for transportation;

[0031] Figure 7 is an exploded view of the collapsed trestle support beam of Figure 6; and

[0032] Figure 8 is a view of a connecting member from within the collapsed trestle support beam of Figure 6.Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[0033] Referring to the Figures, Figure 1 shows two trestles 10, being a first trestle 10a (in full lines) shown connected to a second trestle 10b (in phantom lines). Each trestle 10 has two trestle supports 12, an upper beam 14, and a lower longitudinal brace 16. The arrangement is such that the upper beam 14 extends in a longitudinal direction, the trestle supports 12 are each mounted to the upper beam 14 near respective outer longitudinal ends thereof, and the lower longitudinal brace 16 extends between the two trestle supports 12, parallel to the upper beam 14 and directly below the upper beam 14.

[0034] Each trestle support 12 has a first leg 20, a second leg 22 and a transverse brace 24.

[0035] The first leg 20 and the second leg 22 are formed from a channel section; that is, are each generally C-shaped in cross section with a web 26 and two flanges 28 that project in the transverse direction. Each leg 20, 22 extends from an upper end 30 to a lower end 32. The flanges 28 at the upper end 30 each includes a wide portion having an upper bearing surface 34 which is oriented at 110° relative to the web 26, and a pivot bolt receiving aperture 36. The arrangement is such that when the first leg 20 and the second leg 22 are each in the position shown in Figure 1 , that is, angled as part of an A- frame support, the upper bearing surface 34 is horizontal.

[0036] Each of the first leg 20 and the second leg 22 includes a beam locating portion 38, which is formed as an angled extension of the web 26 at the upper end 30. The beam locating portion 38 is angled at 160° relative to the web 26; that is, the beam locating portion 38 is perpendicular to the upper bearing surface 34.

[0037] The beam locating portion 38 has two fixing apertures 40 which are spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the trestle 10.

[0038] Each of the first leg 20 and the second leg 22 has an adjustable foot 42 which is pinned to the lower end 32 of the leg 20, 22 by means of a pinningbolt 44. The pinning bolt 44 extends across the lower end 32 of the leg 20, 22 from one flange 28 to the other; that is, in the longitudinal direction of the trestle 10.

[0039] A brace supporting bolt 46 extends across each leg 20, 22 parallel to the pinning bolt 44. The brace supporting bolt 46 is located about 25% of the distance from the lower end 32 to the upper end 30 of the respective leg 20, 22.

[0040] The first leg 20 has an outer depth, defined as the distance from the outside face of one flange 28 to the outside face of the other flange 28, and an inner depth, defined as the distance from the inside face of one flange 28 to the inside face of the other flange 28. In a typical embodiment, the outer depth of the first leg 20 is 129mm and the inner depth of the first leg 20 is 123mm.

[0041] The second leg 22 is generally a mirror image of the first leg 20, with the principal difference being its outer depth and its inner depth. The outer depth of the second leg 22 is close to, but smaller than, the inner depth of the first leg 20. In a typical embodiment the outer depth of the second leg is 114mm and the inner depth of the second leg is 108mm.

[0042] In addition, the second leg 22 has a crush tube 48 extending between the pivot bolt receiving apertures 36.

[0043] The first leg 20 and the second leg 22 are joined by a pivot bolt 50 which passes in turn through a first pivot bolt receiving aperture 36 of the first leg 20, a first pivot bolt receiving aperture 36 of the second leg 22, the crush tube 48, a second pivot bolt receiving aperture 36 of the second leg 22, and a second pivot bolt receiving aperture 36 of the first leg 20. It will be appreciated that when joined in this fashion the first and second legs 20, 22 can be rotated relative to each other between a collapsed configuration as shown in Figure 4 whereby the second leg 22 is generally located within the first leg 20 and adeployed configuration as shown in Figures 2 and 3 where the respective upper bearing surfaces 34 are aligned and horizontal.

[0044] The transverse brace 24 is formed as a channel section which tapers in width from a first end 52 to a second end 54. At the first end 52 the transverse brace 24 has an outer width close to, but less than, the inner depth of the first leg 20. In a typical embodiment the transverse brace 24 has an outer width of 118mm at its first end 52. At the second end 54 the transverse brace 24 has an outer width close to, but less than, the inner depth of the second leg 22. In a typical embodiment the transverse brace 24 has an outer width of 101 mm at its second end 54.

[0045] In a typical embodiment the tapering or narrowing of the transverse brace 24 causes each side to be inclined at about 1 ° relative to a centre line of the transverse brace 24.

[0046] Crush tubes 56 extend laterally across the transverse brace 24 at its first end 52 and its second end 54. When the trestle support 12 is assembled, the brace supporting bolt 46 of the first leg 20 passes through the crush tube 56 at the first end 52 of the transverse brace 24, and the brace supporting bolt 46 of the second leg 22 passes through the crush tube 56 at the second end 54 of the transverse brace 24.

[0047] The transverse brace 24 has a connection region 59 located midway between the first end 52 and the second end 54. The connection region includes two bolt receiving apertures 60, side-by-side along a midline of the transverse brace 24. The connection region also includes four locating slots 62, two aligned on a first side of the bolt receiving apertures 60 and two aligned on a second side of the bolt receiving apertures 60. The locating slots 62 extend in, and are aligned in, a lateral direction of the transverse brace 24; that is, are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the trestle 10.

[0048] The upper beam 14 is a square hollow section beam. It is arranged, in use, to locate along the upper bearing surfaces 34 of the two trestlesupports 12, with the beam locating portions 38 projecting on either transverse side of the upper beam 14. The upper beam 14 has four fixing apertures on each transverse side: a first fixing aperture 64 spaced from a first end 65 of the upper beam 14 by a first distance; a second fixing aperture 69 located between the first fixing aperture 64 and the first end 65 of the upper beam 14; a third fixing aperture 95 spaced from a second end 66 of the upper beam 14 by a second distance (which is equal in length to the first distance); and a fourth fixing aperture 97 located between the third fixing aperture 95 and the second end 66 of the upper beam 14. It will be appreciated that each of the fixing apertures 64, 69, 95, 97 on one transverse side of the upper beam 14 is aligned with a corresponding fixing aperture 64, 69, 95, 97 on the other transverse side of the upper beam 14 so as to create an aligned pair of apertures 64, 69, 95, 97. Fixing bolts 67 can be passed through the fixing apertures 40 of the beam locating portions 38 and aligned pairs of fixing apertures 64, 69, 95, 97 of the upper beam 14 in order to lock the upper beam 14 to the trestle supports 12.

[0049] The lower longitudinal brace 16 is formed generally from a channel section having a web 68 and two flanges 70. At either longitudinal end of the lower longitudinal brace 16 the web 68 extends beyond the flanges 70. Two tabs 72 extend downwardly from the web 68 at each longitudinal end, one from each transverse side. The arrangement is such that the tabs 72 are sized and shaped so as to slide into locating slots 62 in the transverse brace 24. The web 68 also includes a bolt receiving aperture 74 at either longitudinal end. The bolt receiving aperture 74 is positioned such that when the tabs 72 are in the locating slots 62 the bolt receiving aperture 74 of the lower longitudinal brace 16 is aligned with a bolt receiving aperture 60 of the transverse brace 24, allowing a holding bolt 76 to be engaged to fix the lower longitudinal brace 16 to the transverse brace 24.

[0050] The first trestle 10a can be connected to the second trestle 10b via the use of two further members: a connecting portion 80 for connecting the nearest transverse brace 24 of the first trestle 10a to the nearest transverse brace 24 of the second trestle 10b, and a connecting member 82 forconnecting the upper beam 14 of the first trestle 10a to the upper beam 14 of the second trestle 10b.

[0051] The connecting portion 80 is a shorter version of the lower longitudinal brace 16. The arrangement is such that the combined length of the lower longitudinal brace 16 and the connecting portion 80 is equal to the length of the upper beam 14. The connecting portion 80 has two tabs 72 extending downwardly at a first end 81 of the connecting portion 80, and a further two tabs 72 extending downwardly at a second end 83 of the connecting portion 80. The connecting portion 80 has respective bolt receiving apertures 74 at each of its first end 81 and second end 83.

[0052] In the same way that the lower longitudinal brace 16 connects the transverse brace 24 of a first trestle support 12 to that of a second trestle support 12 in the same trestle 10, the connecting portion 80 connects the transverse brace 24 of a rear trestle support 12 of a first trestle 10a to the transverse brace 24 of a front trestle support 12 of a second trestle 10b.

[0053] It will be appreciated that the connection region of each transverse brace 24 includes one bolt receiving aperture 60 and two locating slots 62 oriented towards the other trestle support 12 of the same trestle 10a, and one bolt receiving aperture 60 and two locating slots 62 oriented away from the other trestle support 12 of the same trestle 10a; that is, oriented towards the second trestle 10b. In use, the lower longitudinal brace 16 is affixed to the first of these sets and the connecting portion 80 is affixed to the second of them. As can be seen in Figure 1 , at the outermost longitudinal end of a series of joined trestles 10 a single set of a bolt receiving aperture 60 and two locating slots 62 remains unused.

[0054] The connection region includes two bolt receiving apertures 60, side- by-side along a midline of the transverse brace 24. The connection region also includes four locating slots 62, two aligned on a first side of the bolt receiving apertures 60 and two aligned on a second side of the bolt receiving apertures 60.

[0055] The connecting member 82 can be seen in more detail in Figure 8. The connecting member 82 is formed of a channel section having a web 84 and two flanges 86. The connecting member 82 is sized so that it fits inside the upper beam 14 in an easy sliding fit.

[0056] Each flange 86 has a first recessed slot 88 at a first end 87 of the connecting member 82 and a second recessed slot 91 at a second end 89 of the connecting member 82. The recessed slots 88, 91 extend inwardly of the flanges 86 in an axial direction, and are sized so as to easily locate about a fixing bolt 67.

[0057] Each flange 86 has a first bolt receiving aperture 90 located on the inside of the first recessed slot 88, and a second bolt receiving aperture 93 located on the inside of the second recessed slot 91 . It will be appreciated that the bolt receiving apertures 90, 93 are both located between the first and second recessed slots 88, 91 , along a nominal axial line connecting the first recessed slot 88 to the second recess slot 91 .

[0058] The first bolt receiving aperture 90 of one flange 86 is aligned with the first bolt receiving aperture 90 of the other flange 86 to create an aligned first pair of apertures 90. Similarly, the second bolt receiving aperture 93 of one flange 86 is aligned with the second bolt receiving aperture 90 of the other flange 86 to create an aligned second pair of apertures 93.

[0059] In use, each trestle 10 is provisionally erected by pivoting the first leg 20 of each trestle support 12 relative to the second leg 22 of the trestle support 12 until the transverse brace 24 can extend between the first leg 20 and the second leg 22; fixing the transverse brace 24 of each trestle support 12 in position via the brace supporting bolts 46; locating the tabs 72 of the lower longitudinal brace 16 in the relevant locating slots 62 of the transverse brace 24; fixing the lower longitudinal brace 16 in position by means of the holding bolts 76 within the aligned bolt receiving apertures 60, 74; placing the upper beam 14 across the upper bearing surfaces 34 and fixing the upper beam 14 in position by use of a single fixing bolt 67 passing through the innermost fixingapertures 40 and first fixing apertures 64 at a first trestle support 12 and another single fixing bolt 67 passing through the innermost fixing apertures 40 and aligned third apertures 95 at a second trestle support 12.

[0060] If the trestle 10 is to be used as a single trestle 10 then the remaining fixing bolts 67 are passed through the outermost fixing apertures 40 and aligned second and fourth fixing apertures 69, 97.

[0061] If the trestle 10a is to be connected to the second trestle 10b, the first end 87 of the connecting member 82 is inserted into the first end 65 of the upper beam 14. The connecting member 82 is slid within the upper beam 14 to its greatest extent, whereby the first recessed slots 88 locate about the fixing bolt 67 nearest the first end 65 (that is, the fixing bolt passing through the first pair of fixing apertures 64). The second trestle 10b can then be positioned with the second end 89 of the connecting member 82 projecting into the second end 66 of the upper beam 14 of the second trestle 10b. Pushing the first trestle 10a and the second trestle 10b towards each other will result in the second recessed slots 91 of the connecting member 82 engaging with the fixing bolts 67 passing through the third fixing apertures 95 of the second trestle 10b.

[0062] Once the trestles 10a, 10b have been thus brought together the outermost fixing apertures 40 of trestle 10a and aligned second fixing apertures 69 will be aligned also with the first bolt receiving apertures 90 of the connecting member 82. Similarly, the outermost fixing apertures 40 of trestle 10b and aligned fourth fixing apertures 97 will be aligned with the second bolt receiving apertures 93 of the of the connecting member 82. The remaining fixing bolts 67 can therefore be inserted into the aligned apertures in order to lock the trestle support 12, upper beam 14 and connecting member 82 to each other.

[0063] At the same time, the connecting portion 80 can be positioned with its tabs 72 in the available locating slots 62 on adjacent transverse braces 24. It can then be fixed in position by use of a holding bolt 76 passing through theavailable bolt receiving aperture 74 of the connecting portion 80 and aligned bolt receiving aperture 60 of the transverse brace 24.

[0064] As shown in the drawings, the trestle 10 may be provided with an upper channel section 92. The upper channel section 92 has a web 94 which is arranged, in use, to locate atop the upper beam 14. The upper channel section 92 has two lifting lugs 96. The lifting lugs 96 are each attached by means of bolts 98 that pass through aligned apertures 100 in the web 94 and apertures 102 along a top surface of the upper beam 14.

[0065] As shown in Figure 6, for transport purposes the connecting member 82 may be transported inside the upper beam 14, with the lower longitudinal brace 16 and the connecting portion 80 locating atop the upper channel section 92.

[0066] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims1. A trestle support 12, the trestle support 12 including at least a first leg 20, a second leg 22, and a brace 24; the first leg 20 being formed from a channel section having an inner depth and an outer depth, the second leg 22 being formed from a channel section having an inner depth and an outer depth, the inner depth of the first leg 20 being greater than the outer depth of the second leg 24; the brace 24 having a first end 52 arranged to locate within the channel of the first leg 20 of the trestle support 12 and a second end 54 arranged to locate within the channel of the second leg 22 of the trestle support 12, the brace 24 having a width that narrows from the first end 52 to the second end 54.

2. A trestle support 12 as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each side of the brace 24 is inclined at between 0.5° and 2° relative to a centre line of the brace.

3. A trestle support 12 as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the brace 24 includes a connection region 59 located midway between the first end 52 and the second end 54.

4. A trestle support 12 as claimed in claim 3, wherein the connection region 59 includes a plurality of locating slots 62 and a plurality of bolt receiving apertures 60.

5. A trestle support 12 as claimed in claim 4, wherein the connection region 59 includes two locating slots 62 associated with a first bolt receiving aperture 60 and another two locating slots 62 associated with a second bolt receiving aperture 60.

6. A trestle support 12 as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the locating slots are aligned in a lateral direction across the brace 24.

7. A trestle support 12 as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the brace 24 includes at least one crush tube 56 extending laterally across the brace 24.

8. A connection assembly for connecting a first trestle 10a to a second trestle 10b, the connection assembly including: a brace 24 within the first trestle 10a, the brace 24 of the first trestle 10a having at least one locating slot 62 and at least one bolt receiving aperture 60; a brace 24 within the second trestle 10b, the brace 24 of the second trestle 10b having at least one locating slot 62 and at least one bolt receiving aperture 60; and a connecting portion 80 having a first end 81 and a second end 83, the connecting portion 80 having at least one tab 72 at its first end 81 arranged to locate within a locating slot 62 of the brace 24 of the first trestle 10a, the connecting portion 80 having at least one tab 72 at its second end 83 arranged to locate within a locating slot 62 of the brace 24 of the second trestle 10b, the connecting portion 80 having at least one bolt receiving aperture 74 at its first end 81 arranged to align with the bolt receiving aperture 60 of the first trestle 10a; and the connecting portion 80 having at least one bolt receiving aperture 74 at its second end 83 arranged to align with the bolt receiving aperture 60 of the second trestle 10b.

9. A connection assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein each brace 24 has at least two locating slots 62, and each connecting portion 80 has two tabs 72 at each of its first end 81 and its second end 83.

10. A connection assembly as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein each locating slot 62 is aligned with a longitudinal direction of the respective trestle 10a, 10b.

11. A connection assembly for connecting a first trestle 10a to a second trestle 10b, the connection assembly including: a hollow beam 14 extending above legs 20, 22 of the first trestle 10a, the beam 14 having an aligned first pair of apertures 64 on opposingtransverse sides of the beam 14, the first pair of apertures 64 being spaced from a first end 65 of the beam 14 by a first distance, the beam 14 having an aligned second pair of apertures 69, each of the second pair of apertures 69 being located between the first end 65 of the beam 14 and a corresponding one of the first pair of apertures 64, a hollow beam 14 extending above legs 20, 22 of the second trestle 10b, the beam 14 of the second trestle 10b having an aligned third pair of apertures 95 on opposing transverse sides of the beam 14, the third pair of apertures 95 being spaced from a second end 66 of the beam 14 by a second distance, the beam 14 of the second trestle 10b having an aligned fourth pair of apertures 97, each of the fourth pair of apertures 97 being located between the second end 66 of the beam 14 and a corresponding one of the third pair of apertures 95 of the second trestle 10b; the connection assembly including a connecting member 82 having a first end 87 and a second end 89, the connecting member 82 having a first slot 88 recessed axially inwardly of the first end 87 and a second slot 91 recessed axially inwardly of the second end 89, the connecting member 82 having an aligned first pair of apertures 90 behind the first slot 88, and an aligned second pair of apertures 93 behind the second slot 91 , whereby when a first bolt 67 is passed through the first pair of apertures 64 of the beam 14 of the first trestle 10a, and a second bolt 67 is passed through the third pair of apertures 95 of the beam 14 of the second trestle 10b, the connecting member 82 can be received within beams 14 of both the first and second trestles 10a, 10b with: the first slot 88 locating about the first bolt 67, the second slot 91 locating about the second bolt 67, the first pair of apertures 90 of the connecting member being aligned with the second pair of apertures 69 of the first trestle 10a, and the second pair of apertures 93 of the connecting member 82 being aligned with the fourth pair of apertures 97 of the second trestle 10b.

12. A connection assembly as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the first distance is the same as the second distance.

13. A connection assembly as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the connecting member 82 has two sides 86, each of which has a first slot 88, a second slot 91 , a first aperture 90 and a second aperture 93 all axially aligned.

14. A connection assembly as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the connecting member 82 is formed of a channel section having a web 84 and two side flanges 86.

15. A connection assembly as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the connecting member 82 is arranged to be received within the beam 14 in a sliding fit.

16. A connection means for connecting a first trestle 10a to a second trestle 10b, the connection means including a first connection assembly being a connection assembly as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, and a second connection assembly being as connection assembly as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 15.

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