Temporary scaffolding system

Abstract

A scaffolding system in which a platform or wall may be secured to a crosspiece supported by cables near an angled structure or in another difficult location. A platform is secured to the crosspiece horizontally, while a wall is secured vertically. The crosspiece may be an angle iron or pipe, for example. Also disclosed are clamps and clamping arrangements for securing the platform or wall to the crosspiece.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is based upon and claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/588,510 filed Jul. 15, 2004, incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a temporary scaffolding system, and more particularly to a clamping system for use with the scaffolding system.

2. Related Art

It is difficult to mount conventional temporary scaffolding securely to an angled structure such as an angled or tapered tower or other structural member. Either the scaffolding system cannot clamp to an angled structure, or the angled structure may have braces that obstruct the clamping. A structure such as a tower also lacks horizontal surfaces for providing support.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention avoids these problems by utilizing cables that can be hung either surrounding or adjacent to an angled structure, thereby permitting a support for a temporary platform to be clamped to the cables.

Another aspect of the invention is a clamp that can be fastened securely to a cable at a range of angles, providing additional flexibility to the scaffolding system.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, vertical cables 10 are secured, for example by conventional loops 12 and/or shackles 14, to existing horizontal members of a structure such as beam 18. The cables 10 are tensioned with turnbuckles 16 or by any other suitable means, to increase the rigidity of the scaffolding system.

The beam 18 is of course capable of supporting a load, but is not in the location where a temporary platform is needed. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, to support a temporary platform where it is needed, an angle iron 20 is secured to a cable 10. Preferably the angle iron 20 is secured to the cable 10 at at least two points on the angle iron 20 as shown. In this example, a pair of conventional Crosby clamps 25 or any other suitable devices are used to secure the angle iron 20 to the cable 10.

Another portion of the angle iron 20, such as an opposite end, is secured to another cable (not shown) so that the angle iron 20 is thereby secured in a horizontal position.

The angle iron 20 supports a temporary work platform 30 such as a plank, extending transversely to the angle iron 20.

A J-bolt 35 extends downward through a hole 32 in the platform 30 to clamp the platform 30 onto the angle-iron 20. The “J” of the J-bolt 35 hooks around the angle iron. At the other end of the J-bolt 35, on the top side of the platform 30, a wing nut 37 along with a washer 38 and a Teflon stop nut 39 complete the clamping arrangement.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of four cables 10, two horizontal structural members 40, two angle irons 20, and two planks 30 secured to the angle irons to form a temporary work platform.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of how the arrangement of FIGS. 1-4 can effectively provide temporary work platforms around and among the tapered vertical towers as well as other angled and horizontal members of a bridge.

FIG. 6 shows a second aspect of the invention, namely a clamp 60 for use in the scaffolding arrangement. The cable 10 is secured by a pair of Crosby clamps 25A and 25B to a plate 50. The Crosby clamps are secured to the plate by U-bolts 52A and 52B. A pipe clamp 54 is bolted to the other side of the plate. The Crosby clamps permit the clamp 60 to rotate to any position about the cable, giving the clamp increased flexibility of use.

The pipe clamp 54 is used to hold a pipe or other member (not shown) which serves the same function as the angle iron in the first embodiment of the invention, for supporting a temporary work platform via J-bolts or any other suitable device.

FIGS. 7-10 show a scaffolding arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention, in which a supporting pipe may be mounted directly to a cable. Four cables 10 are shown. Two pipes 70 are each secured to a respective pair of the cables 10 by fasteners such as U-bolts or Crosby clamps 72 and matching nuts 74. The clamps 60 shown in FIG. 6 could optionally be used to secure the pipes to the cables.

The pipes 70 are preferably flattened or crimped as shown at 76, both to facilitate forming the holes for the fasteners 72 and to improve the grip between the pipe and the cable 10.

FIG. 8 is a detail view taken in direction “8” in FIG. 7.

A pair of scaffold planks 80 form a temporary work platform. Each plank has a track 82. The track is better seen in FIG. 9, which is a sectional view taken in direction “9” in FIG. 7, and FIG. 10, which is a sectional view taken in direction “10” in FIG. 9. A bolt 84 has a bolt head 86 inserted in the track 82. The bolt is secured to the pipe 70 by a J-hook 85 which is secured by a wing-out 87 to clamp the pipe 70 against the plank 80.

FIGS. 11-12 show a further aspect of the invention, in which a scaffold stairway may be mounted to cables. Cables 10 (only two being shown in FIG. 11) have pipes 70 mounted on the cables as shown in FIG. 7. Two scaffold stairways 90 are supported on the cables 10 by a clamping arrangement shown in detail in FIG. 12.

Specifically, a pipe clamp 92 is attached to the stairway 90 by a method such as welding, or may be integrally formed with the stairway 90. A top clamp half 92A and a bottom clamp half 92B are secured together by bolts 94A, 94B to clamp the stairway 90 to the pipe 70.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 13. The cables 10, turnbuckles 16, angle irons 20 and beam 40 are arranged as in FIG. 4 and the other figures. The angle irons may be attached to the cable with Crosby clamps, for example. However, in this case, metal siding or decking or another generally flat-shaped material is mounted vertically to the vertical arms of the angle irons to form a wall. As in the preceding embodiments, the wall sections may be attached to the angle irons with screws, bolts, j-hooks, etc.

The use in this description of such terms as “pipe,” “clamp,” “plank” and the like is not to be taken as limiting the invention, but rather such terms are to be construed to include all modifications, variations, substitutes and equivalents that would be known to those having the ordinary level of skill in the art.

Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present invention is not limited by the specific disclosure herein.

Claims

1. A method of providing a temporary platform near a structure, comprising the steps of:

securing at least one cable near said structure;

securing a crosspiece to said cable; and

securing said platform to said crosspiece.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said structure has angled portions; and further comprising the step of arranging said cable, crosspiece and platform without weight-bearing contact with said angled portions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said crosspiece is secured directly to said cable.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said crosspiece is secured to said cable by a clamp having a first portion secured to said cable and a second portion secured to said crosspiece.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said platform is comprised in a stairway.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said platform is provided by a plank.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one cable comprises a plurality of cables, and said crosspiece is secured to at least two of said cables.

8. A temporary platform provided near a structure, comprising in combination:

at least one cable secured near said structure;

a crosspiece secured to said cable; and

said platform being secured to said crosspiece.

9. The platform of claim 8, wherein said structure has angled portions; and wherein said cable, crosspiece and platform are arranged out of weight-bearing contact with said angled portions.

10. The platform of claim 8, wherein said crosspiece is secured directly to said cable.

11. The platform of claim 8, wherein said crosspiece is secured to said cable by a clamp having a first portion secured to said cable and a second portion secured to said crosspiece.

12. The platform of claim 8, wherein said platform is comprised in a stairway.

13. The platform of claim 8, wherein said platform is provided by a plank.

14. The platform of claim 8, wherein said at least one cable comprises a plurality of cables, and said crosspiece is secured to at least two of said cables.

15. An arrangement for securing a platform to a cable comprising:

a crosspiece for supporting the platform;

a first fastener for securing the crosspiece to the cable;

a second fastener for securing the platform to the crosspiece.

16. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein said crosspiece is an angle iron having two arms with an angle therebetween, one arm being disposed for supporting said platform, the other arm having said first fastener for securing the angle iron to the cable; and

wherein said second fastener secures said platform to said angle iron.

17. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein said second fastener has a hook portion engaging said crosspiece, and a securing portion engaging said plank.

18. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein said first fastener comprises a plate, a cable clamp mounted on one side of the plate, and a crosspiece clamp mounted on the other side of the plate.

19. The arrangement of claim 18, wherein said crosspiece is a pipe and said crosspiece clamp is a pipe clamp.

20. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein said crosspiece is a pipe, said first fastener being mounted directly to said pipe.

21. The arrangement of claim 20, wherein said first fastener is mounted to a flattened portion of said pipe.

22. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein said platform has a track formed therein, said second fastener having a portion for engaging said track for holding said platform to said crosspiece.

23. The arrangement of claim 22, wherein said second fastener further has a hook portion for engaging said crosspiece.

24. The platform of claim 8, wherein said cable extends vertically and said crosspiece extends horizontally.

25. The platform of claim 24, wherein said platform extends horizontally.

26. The platform of claim 24, wherein said platform extends vertically.