Lift-type scaffolding

Abstract

A scaffold structure accessory is essentially comprised of a elongated, horizontal, laborer's alternate walkway and material support member having a clevis connector at its inboard end and a safety rail receptacle connector at its outboard end, a first vertical support member attached to the laborer's alternate walkway and material support member near its outboard end, a second vertical support member attached to the laborer's alternate walkway and material support member near its inboard end, and a connector on each vertical support member that co-operates with the scaffolding laborer's walkway and material support of a conventional prefabricated lift-type scaffolding module.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES

[0001] None.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention pertains generally to building erection equipment, and particularly concerns accessory structure that may be added to conventional lift-type scaffolding for use in the erection of masonry walls and the like in a manner that significantly improves the utilization efficiency of masonry laborers using the improved scaffolding.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Known-type modular, prefabricated, lift-type scaffolding utilized primarily for the erection of masonry walls, of block or brick and mortar, is usually provided with vertically erect towers, carriages carried by the towers with each having a mason's material support, a mason's walkway support, and a selectively attached laborer's material and walkway support. Each scaffolding module also usually includes a conventional hand-operated winch, pulley, and cable mechanism that is attached to the tower, attached to the carriage, and operated to controllably raise or lower the carriage and its several supports relative to the wall being erected.

[0004] The laborer's material and walkway support are so-positioned in elevation relative to the mason's walkway support that much of the time a laborer using the laborer's walkway support to transfer material from the level of the laborer's walkway and material support to the level of the mason's material support is required to lift and raise excessive weight during the course of a working day.

[0005] Accordingly, I have invented a scaffold structure accessory that may conveniently combined with the known lift-type scaffolding module to significantly reduce the amount of laborer's effort required in the transfer of masonry material such as block, brick, or mortar from the level of the laborer's walkway and material support to the level of the mason's material support.

[0006] Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent during consideration of the detailed description, drawings, and claims which follow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The scaffold structure accessory of the present invention is essentially comprised of a elongated, horizontal, laborer alternate walkway and material support member having a clevis connector at its inboard end for co-operation with the scaffolding module tower and a safety rail receptacle at its outboard end for receiving a laborer's safety rail, a first vertical support member attached to the laborer's alternate walkway and material support member near its outboard end, a second vertical support member attached to the laborer's alternate walkway and material support member near its inboard end, and a connector on each vertical support member that co-operates with the scaffolding laborer's walkway and material support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of one known form of lift-type scaffolding;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation view of the FIG. 1 known form of lift-type scaffolding modified and with its carriage in an elevated condition;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the accessory structure of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevation view of the accessory structure invention of FIG. 3 combined with the lift-type scaffolding of FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevation view of the accessory structure invention of FIG. 3 a combined with the lift-type scaffolding of FIG. 2; and

[0013] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective front elevation view of the improved lift-type scaffolding of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically partially illustrate a form of known lift-type scaffolding designated 10. Known lift-scaffolding embodiment 10 is basically comprised of a pre-fabricated and erected vertical tower structure 12 which carries a unitary, hand-winched lift carriage 13 that is essentially comprised of an attached material support member 14 and its connected mason's walkway support member 16 together with an optionally added and interconnected laborer's walkway and material support member 18. Material support member 14 and walkway support member 16 are detachable from carriage 13 and may be pinned to tower structure 12 to enable carriage 13 and laborer's walkway and material support member 18 to be moved independently as may be required to obtain additional materials. An included conventional hand-winch and connected cable and pulley combination 20 is provided to raise and lower the carriage assembly as required. Support members 14, 16, and 18 are illustrated as respectively supporting material support boards 22, mason's walkway boards 24, and laborer's walkway and material boards 26. Scaffolding 10 is shown in a typical position relative to a masonry block wall 28 that is to be erected course by course. FIG. 2 illustrates the FIG. 1 lift-scaffolding configuration with the scaffolding module carriage 13 in an elevated condition and with the mason's walkway support member 16 and material support member 14 pinned to tower structure 14 at a level above carriage 13.

[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment 30 of the scaffolding structure accessory of the present invention. Such accessory is basically comprised of a horizontal, laborer's alternate walkway and material support member 32 having a connected safety rail receptacle 34 at one end and a connected clevis fitting 36 at the opposite end that co-operates with tower structure 12. Horizontal, laborer's alternate walkway and material support member 32 is supported near one end by an outboard vertical support member 38 whose lower extreme 40 telescopes into a safety rail receptacle provided on support member 18 and at its opposite end by a vertical support member 42 having a clevis fitting 44 that engages with a walkway support member 18. A connected diagonal brace 46 completes the structure accessory assembly.

[0016] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate accessory assembly 30 combined with the lift-scaffolding of FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, to form the modified lift-type scaffolding designated 50 and 60. Note that in the FIG. 5 illustration I show an included pallet of masonry blocks 52.

[0017] Also note that, although not shown in the drawings, the FIG. 5 scheme may be modified to provide an optional additional or separate hand-operated winch, pulley, and cable combination that may be utilized to raise or lower the combined laborer's walkway and material support member 18 and co-operating structure accessory 30 independently of the mason's material support member and mason's walkway support member combination.

[0018] In FIG. 6 I illustrate the improved scaffolding of the present invention in a schematic perspective front elevation view to show the different scaffolding modules as interconnected by typical cross-bracing members and module separation members.

[0019] Various changes in shape, proportioning, and materials of construction may be made to the invention disclosed herein without departing from the intent, scope, or meaning of the claims which follow.

Claims

1. For use with a prefabricated lift-type scaffolding module having a tower structure, a carriage having an attached inwardly-projecting mason's walkway support member and attached outwardly projecting laborer's walkway and material support member, and a mason's material support member positioned above the mason's walkway support member, and a winch, pulley, and cable combination for raising and lowering the carriage and its attachments relative to the tower structure, an accessory structure comprising:

a horizontal laborer's alternate walkway and material support member having an inboard end and an outboard end;

a first vertical support member connected to the outboard end of said horizontal laborer's alternate walkway and material support member; and

a second vertical support member connected to the inboard end of said horizontal laborer's alternate walkway and material support member;

said horizontal laborer's alternate walkway and material support member having a connector at its inboard end for co-operation with the tower structure, said first vertical support member having a connector at its lower end for co-operation with the carriage laborer's walkway support member; and said second vertical support member having a connector at its lower end for co-operation with the carriage laborer's walkway and material support member.

2. The accessory structure invention defined by claim 1 wherein said first vertical support member has a lower end that serves as a connector by insertion into a safety rail receptacle included with the scaffolding carriage laborer's walkway and material support member.

3. The accessory structure invention defined by claim 1 wherein said second vertical support member has a lower end that is provided with an attached clevis that serves as a connector by co-operating with the scaffolding carriage laborer's walkway and material support member.