Movable Connecting Means for Scaffolding Railing Posts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing scaffolding systems face challenges in efficiently assembling and disassembling leading railings, which are often bulky, heavy, and require multiple workers due to jamming issues in telescoping designs, leading to increased assembly effort and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A tubular railing system with a first and second section, featuring a movable connecting means along its longitudinal axis, allowing for easy attachment and detachment from railing posts and enabling single-person assembly and movement between scaffolding levels without disconnection, enhancing safety and reducing workload.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If telescopic railing posts with sliding post elements are used, then a single installer can erect a leading railing, but the sliding post elements can easily become jammed, ultimately rendering the railing posts unusable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly effortVSAvoidjaming of sliding elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the movable connecting means from the railing post itself and places it in the railing component. The connecting means includes a connecting element with a through-opening that receives a销 (pin) which can move along a guided path in the railing post. This separates the mobility function from the post structure, eliminating the jamming issue while maintaining ease of assembly and relocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If frame structures are used to replace guardrails and diagonals, then the upper horizontal ledgers already form the guardrail for the scaffolding level to be assembled above, but the frame structures are relatively bulky, heavy, and therefore complex to assemble requiring several fitters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleading guardrail functionVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the leading railing system into separate modular components: railing posts, railings, and movable connecting means. This segmentation allows each component to be simple and lightweight individually, while collectively providing the complete leading guardrail function. The modular design enables assembly by a single fitter compared to the bulky frame structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If traditional railing posts are used that require detachment and reattachment for each level, then secure connections are ensured, but the assembly process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection securityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic connectivity through the movable connecting means. The connecting element with through-opening and movable pin allows the railing posts to be easily detached and reattached to different levels while maintaining secure connections. The pin can move along a guided path during installation and then lock into position, providing both ease of relocation and connection security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3839172B1Railing post for a front railing, front railing for temporarily preventing falls from a new scaffolding level, scaffold for building, repair and/or assembly work and method for constructing a scaffold
Publication Date: 2023.05.17 TOBLER
  • EP3839172B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3839172B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP3839172B1 patent drawingFigure 8~10

AI summary

A railing post (1) for a leading railing comprising at least one first and one second connecting means (13; 16) for respective attachment to a connecting element (3) of a railing post (2), wherein the railing post (1) is designed as a tube (11), in particular a hollow tube with a longitudinal axis (Q) and extends along this longitudinal axis (Q), wherein the railing post (1) comprises a first and a second section (18; 19), wherein the first section (18) comprises the first connecting means (13) and the second section (19) comprises the second connecting means (16), characterized in that the first and/or the second section (18; 19) each comprises an elongated hole (17, 17') extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis (Q), in which a connecting means (13; 16) is arranged to be movable, in particular displaceable, along the longitudinal axis (Q).