Scaffold couplers

A scaffold coupler for coupling two tubes or other scaffolding elements to one another in a scaffolding structure, comprising two interconnected means for clamping to respective ones of said elements to hold those elements to one another, wherein at least one of said clamping means comprises a pair of hinged jaws to embrace the respective tube or other scaffolding element for establishing a clamped intercoupling therewith, and an over-centre lever mechanism that is selectively actuable to close and clamp the jaws onto said element, the jaws having respective ends hinged together and each having a free end remote from its hinged end, a first of said jaws defining a cylindrical clamping surface that subtends more than 180 degrees between its free and hinge ends to provide a partially closed mouth to the jaw, said first jaw having resilience to enable said mouth to be snapped over said tube or other scaffolding element for initial retention of said first jaw engaged with that element prior to closing of said second jaw upon said engaged element and actuation of the lever mechanism, the second of the two jaws subtending less than 180 degrees between its free and hinge ends to define a gap between its free end and the free end of said first jaw when said second jaw is closed upon said engaged element within said mouth, and said over-centre lever mechanism is actuable when the second jaw is closed upon said engaged element to urge the free ends of the first and second jaws towards one another across said gap.

A scaffold coupler for coupling two tubes or other elongate scaffolding elements to one another in a scaffolding structure, comprising two interconnected clamping means for clamping to respective ones of the elements to hold those elements together substantially at right angles to one another, each said clamping means comprising:

• a pair of jaws to embrace the respective tube or other scaffolding element for establishing a clamped intercoupling therewith;
• an over-centre lever mechanism that is selectively actuable to close and clamp the jaws onto said element, said over-centre mechanism including means providing resilient bias to oppose said actuation, and an actuating lever for angular displacement to actuate the mechanism in closing and clamping the jaws onto said element;
• a linking lever;
• a first hinge connection between the actuating lever and the linking lever;
• a second hinge connection effective between the actuating lever and one of the jaws, said second hinge connection comprising a selectively-disengageable hook interconnection between the actuation lever and said one jaw;
• and a third hinge connection between the other jaw and the linking lever;
• said displacement of the actuating lever causing the first hinge connection to be moved into alignment with the second and third hinge connections against said resilient bias and to snap through such alignment to be retained there with the jaws clamped onto said element;
• the coupler including a unitary base member common to both said clamping means, and wherein the said one jaw of each said pair of jaws is defined in said unitary base member.

A scaffold coupler comprising:

• a pair of jaws, each jaw having a concave surface abutting a respective portion of a tube or other scaffolding element embracing the tube or other scaffolding element for establishing a clamped intercoupling therewith;
• an over-centre lever mechanism that is selectively actuatable to close and clamp the jaws onto said element, said over-centre mechanism including means providing resilient bias to oppose said actuation, and an actuating lever for angular displacement to actuate the mechanism in closing and clamping the jaws onto said element;
• a first hinge connection;
• a second hinge connection between the actuating lever and one of the jaws, the first hinge connection being between the actuating lever and the other jaw;
• and a third hinge connection effective between the two jaws themselves, said third hinge connection comprising a selectively-disengageable hook interconnection between the two jaws;
• said displacement of the actuating lever causing the first hinge connection to be moved into alignment with the second and third hinge connections against said resilient bias and to snap through such alignment to be retained there with the jaws clamped onto said element.

A scaffold coupler comprising:

• a pair of jaws to embrace a tube or other scaffolding element for establishing a clamped intercoupling therewith;
• an over-centre lever mechanism that is selectively actuable to close and clamp the jaws onto said element, said over-centre mechanism including means providing resilient bias to oppose said actuation, and an actuating lever for angular displacement to actuate the mechanism in closing and clamping the jaws onto said element;
• a linking member;
• a first hinge connection effective between the actuating lever and the linking member, said first hinge connection comprising a selectively-disengageable hook interconnection between the actuation lever and the linking member;
• a second hinge connection between the actuating lever and one of the jaws;
• and a third hinge connection between the other jaw and the linking member;
• said displacement of the actuating lever acting via the disengageable connection to pull the two jaws towards one another and causing the first hinge connection to be moved into alignment with the second and third hinge connections against said resilient bias and to snap through such alignment to be retained there with the jaws clamped onto said element.