The present invention relates to a support assembly, to be clamped between two opposite walls, for instance in order to receive a vertical load transverse to the assembly.

In order to support working platforms in ventilation shafts or lift shafts, or shuttering, in casting landings and stairs, the known technique has been to build up scaffolds in the shafts and the staircases. These scaffolds, which comprise a framework, for instance of tubes, are time consuming to install and usually at least two persons are required for the work. Moreover, scaffolds of this type are rather expensive to rent. The time for building up and taking down the scaffolds as well as the renting costs substantially affect the costs of these kinds of casting or mouldind operations.

According to one aspect of the invention, a support assembly for mounting a crossbar between two walls includes a pair of end parts each including a plate, one surface of which is provided with a U-shaped yoke, the web of which forms a support for the crossbar and the legs of which form lateral supports for said crossbar, one plate being provided with fixed pegs to rest against one of the walls, while the other plate is provided with throughgoing threaded clamping bolts adapted to be screwed against the other wall.

In one embodiment, the said other plate carries nuts to receive the clamping bolts and the nuts are rigidly connected to the surface of the plate which is arranged to face the other wall. In order to provide firm contact with the walls both the pegs and the clamping bolts may be formed with pointed ends.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways but one specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one bracket;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the bracket shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second, adjustable, bracket;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the adjustable bracket of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sketch showing the brackets clamped employed to support a beam or crossbar between two walls in a shaft.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a bracket which comprises a rectangular plate 1, to which a U-shaped yoke 2 is welded. The U-shaped yoke is adapted to serve as a supporting element for a beam or crossbar, for instance of wood, whereby the bottom 3 of the yoke carries the crossbar while its legs 4 serve as lateral supports therefor. The lateral supports are provided with holes 14 to make it possible to fasten the bracket to the crossbar by means of nails or the like. In the rectangular plate 1 there are three holes 5, in which pegs 6 are riveted.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an adjustable bracket which also comprises a rectangular plate 7, with a supporting yoke 8 for the other end of the crossbar. The supporting yoke is designed in the same way as those of the first bracket and is provided with holes 15 for fastening the bracket to the crossbar. The plate 7 is also provided with three holes 9, and on the back of the plate nuts 10 are welded concentrically with the holes 9 and serve as mounting members for threaded clamping bolts 11.

FIG. 5 shows a crossbar 13 being clamped between two opposite walls in a shaft by means of the two brackets. One condition for gaining the technical advance according to the invention and absorbing forces in the transverse direction of the crossbar is that the two parts are clamped against a relatively inelastic material such as concrete or steel. In order to keep the clamping force constant, the elastic properties of the material must be such that no movement takes place after clamping.

The mounting of the support assembly according to the present invention can easily be effected by one person in the following way. The crossbar is cut to a suitable length, which is the distance between the shaft walls minus the thickness of the parts 1, 6, 7, 10 and a short length of bolt 11. The plates 1 and 7, respectively, are then fastened to each end of the crossbar 13 by means of nails through the holes 14 and 15 in the U-shaped yokes. The brackets and crossbar are now held in such a position that the fixed plate 1 is placed against one of the shaft walls 16, whereafter the clamping bolts 10 are screwed by hand against the other shaft wall 17 when the crossbar has been correctly positioned. When the assembly is lightly mounted, the position is adjusted, and then the clamping bolts are fastened with a ratchet wrench. When the clamping bolts are firmly tightened the pegs 6 in the first shaft wall 16 are struck with a hammer so that their pointed ends enter the wall 16 slightly, whereafter the clamping bolts are re-tightened as much as possible. The clamping bolts are suitably greased with graphite grease or the like in order to reduce the friction between the plate 7 and the bolts.

As is previously mentioned the bracket assembly according to the invention can suitably be used as a support, for instance for inner moulds or shuttering in the casting of shaft walls; protective platforms in shafts; working platforms for lift mechanics; working platforms in ventilation shafts; moulds in casting of landings and stairs, shaping of lift door frames and moulds in casting smaller vaults. Furthermore, it can be used to cover temporary openings in vaults during building.