Scaffold Securing Device

Abstract

A scaffold securing device for securing scaffold boards. The device includes: first elongated arm member, an L-shaped second elongated arm member, a chain member, and an elongated connection member. The first elongated member includes two arm member end and an aperture. The L-shaped second elongated arm member is rotatably coupled to the first elongated arm member and includes: a pair of arm portions and an aperture. The elongated arm members are substantially flat. The chain member is coupled to the first elongated arm member. The elongated connection member, in the form of a swivel pin, connects the elongated arm members together by insertion through the apertures. The swivel pin includes an elongated body portion, a head portion, and an elongated lock portion. The second elongated arm member is rotatably coupled to the second arm member end of the first elongated arm member by hinging.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to scaffold securing devices, specifically a scaffold securing device for securing scaffold boards.

2. Description of the Related Art

Scaffolds are normally comprised of a substantial number of wooden planks, pipes, etc. Individuals typically employ scaffold securing devices or the like to hold scaffolds in place, in order to avoid slippage or pilferage of the planks, as well as minimize the chances of injury when performing construction or maintenance type work. What is needed is a device that enables a user to easily engage or disengage the device when desiring to disassemble the scaffolds when not in use. Some improvements have been made in the field. Examples include but are not limited to the references described below, which references are incorporated by reference herein:

U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,403, issued to Masino, discloses an adjustable stair stringer and railing construction assembly is disclosed. The assembly is adapted to use a pair of parallel stringer arms for each side of the stair, a riser/tred support bracket for each stair, and alignment and spacing elements for spacing the support brackets along the stringers. The brackets include formations for spacing the stringers with respect to each other and for spacing adjacent brackets along the stringers. The brackets are initially pivotally attached to each of the stringers so as to be rotatably movable about their pivotal attachment as the stringers are moved axially. Axial movement of the stringers with respect to each other establishes the angle of rise of the stair. Treds and risers are attached to the brackets to form the stairs and railings are attachable to the stringer and bracket assembly to complete the construction.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,191, issued to Hess, discloses a panel clamp for preventing warping of a panel formed from edge-glued boards during gluing of said boards, including two-ended opposing jaw members for maintaining the boards in lateral registration, adjustment means at the end of each jaw member for adjusting the separation of the jaws and release means for quickly releasing and assembling the clamp.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,477, issued to Fears et al., discloses a scaffold bracket is disclosed comprising a vertical beam of channel cross-section, a horizontal beam pivoted at its proximate end to a point between the ends of the vertical beam and adapted to nest within its channel cross-section, an angle bracket having a first and second end, the first end being connected to the proximate end of the vertical beam and the second end being connected to the middle of the horizontal beam whereby the horizontal beam is rigidly supported in a position substantially at right angles to the vertical beam, the vertical beam further having a hanger secured to its distal end, the hanger being adapted to engage a generally horizontal portion of a wall whereby the horizontal beam may be utilized to help support a scaffold along the wall.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,448, issued to Trainer, discloses a improved scaffold clamps are described. These clamps provide a complete enclosure means for securing a plurality of planks in side-by-side relationship. The enclosure means bears a rigid working plate with a press screw extending longitudinally therethrough for exerting pressure against the edges of the enclosed planks. These clamps provide an improved means for stabilizing scaffold platforms.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,929, issued to Cyr, discloses a scaffold stabilizer for use on a scaffold platform, consisting of a multiplicity of longitudinal planks of uniform thickness assembled in side-by-side contact to form a supporting floor or platform for workers. The stabilizer comprises a generally C-shaped unitary metallic clamping member comprising upper and lower plate members rigidly connected to an end plate member, the upper and lower plate members being sufficiently long and defining therebetween an opening sufficiently wide and long to receive a multiplicity of flooring planks in close side-by-side engagement. At least one of the plate members is bowed towards the other so as to provide a tight frictional engagement with one surface of the planks present therein. The upper and lower plate members are provided with means for securing and tightening the ends thereof together at a location adjacent the outermost plank contained within the clamping member. According to a preferred embodiment, the upper plate member is longer than the lower plate member to provide a workpiece-supporting surface when said clamping members are used in spaced pairs.

U.S. Design Pat. No.: D281,106, issued to Thomas et al., discloses the ornamental design for a scaffold plank

The inventions heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages which include: being inconvenient; being unsafe; having components that can easily be lost or misplaced; and/or being difficult to disassemble from scaffold boards.

What is needed is a scaffold securing device that solves one or more of the problems described herein and/or one or more problems that may come to the attention of one skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with this specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available scaffold securing devices. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a scaffold securing device for securing scaffold boards.

There is one embodiment of a scaffold securing device for securing scaffold boards that may include: a first elongated arm member that may have: a first arm member end; a second arm member end that may be opposite the first arm member end; and a first aperture that may be disposed near the first arm member end; an L-shaped second elongated arm member that may be rotatably coupled to the second arm member end of first elongated arm member and may include: a first arm portion that may be coupled to the second arm member end and/or may extend outwardly therefrom substantially orthogonal to the first elongated arm member; a second arm portion that may be coupled to an end of the first arm portion opposite the first elongated arm member and/or may extend outwardly therefrom substantially orthogonal to the first arm portion and substantially parallel to the first elongated arm member; and a second aperture that may be disposed near an end of the second arm member opposite the first arm portion, and may be substantially aligned with the first aperture.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the device may further include: a chain member that may be coupled to the first elongated arm member; and an elongated connection member that may be coupled to an end of the chain member opposite the first elongated arm member that may be configured to connect the first elongated arm member to the L-shaped second elongated arm member by insertion through the first aperture and the second aperture.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the elongated connection member may comprises a swivel pin, wherein the swivel pin may include: an elongated body portion that may have a body diameter sized smaller than a diameter of the first aperture and a diameter of the second aperture; a head portion that may be coupled to an end of the elongated body portion, and may have a head diameter sized larger than the diameter of the first aperture; and an elongated lock portion that may be pivotally and slidably coupled to an end of the elongated body portion opposite the head portion; wherein in an insertion mode of the elongated lock portion may be disposed substantially parallel to the elongated body portion and in a locked mode the elongated lock portion is disposed substantially orthogonal to the elongated body portion.

In still yet another embodiment of the present invention, the first elongated arm member and the second elongated arm member may be substantially flat.

In still yet a further embodiment of the present invention, the second elongated arm member may be rotatably coupled to the second arm member end of the first elongated arm member by hinging.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order for the advantages of the invention to be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a partially exploded perspective view of a scaffold securing device, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front elevational view of a scaffold securing device, according to one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial view of a scaffold securing device, according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, different embodiments, or component parts of the same or different illustrated invention. Additionally, reference to the wording “an embodiment,” or the like, for two or more features, elements, etc. does not mean that the features are related, dissimilar, the same, etc. The use of the term “an embodiment,” or similar wording, is merely a convenient phrase to indicate optional features, which may or may not be part of the invention as claimed.

Each statement of an embodiment is to be considered independent of any other statement of an embodiment despite any use of similar or identical language characterizing each embodiment. Therefore, where one embodiment is identified as “another embodiment,” the identified embodiment is independent of any other embodiments characterized by the language “another embodiment.” The independent embodiments are considered to be able to be combined in whole or in part one with another as the claims and/or art may direct, either directly or indirectly, implicitly or explicitly.

Finally, the fact that the wording “an embodiment,” or the like, does not appear at the beginning of every sentence in the specification, such as is the practice of some practitioners, is merely a convenience for the reader's clarity. However, it is the intention of this application to incorporate by reference the phrasing “an embodiment,” and the like, at the beginning of every sentence herein where logically possible and appropriate.

As used herein, “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” “is,” “are,” “characterized by,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional unrecited elements or method steps. “Comprising” is to be interpreted as including the more restrictive terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.”

Looking to the drawing figures, there is one embodiment of a scaffold securing device 10 for securing scaffold boards 12 used support individuals engaging in building construction and maintenance type activities. The illustrated device includes: a substantially flat first elongated arm member 14, such as, a steel or metal slab or plank, having: a first arm member end 16; a second arm member end 18 opposite the first arm member end 16; and a first aperture 22 disposed near the first arm member end 16. There is also shown a substantially flat L-shaped second elongated arm member 24, made of similar materials as the first elongated arm member 14, rotatably coupled to the second arm member end 18 of first elongated arm member 14, having: a first arm portion 26 coupled to the second arm member end 18 and extending outwardly therefrom substantially orthogonal to the first elongated arm member 14; a second arm portion 28 coupled to an end of the first arm portion 26 opposite the first elongated arm member 14 and extending outwardly therefrom substantially orthogonal to the first arm portion 26 and substantially parallel to the first elongated arm member 14; and a second aperture 30 disposed near an end of the second arm member 24 opposite the first arm portion 26, and is substantially in juxtaposition with the first aperture 22 when the elongated arm members 14, 24 are parallel to each other as shown in FIG. 1.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the device 10 further includes: a chain member 32 is fixedly coupled to the first elongated arm member; and an elongated connection member 34 fixedly coupled to an end of the chain member 32 opposite the first elongated arm member 14 and configured to connect the first elongated arm member 14 to the L-shaped second elongated arm member 24 by insertion through the first aperture 22 and the second aperture 30. The structure of the elongated arm members 14, 24 compliment each other, so as to receive and secure scaffold boards therethrough. The chain member 18, in the form of a chain, serves to retain the elongated connection member 34 to the device 10, thereby preventing a user from losing or misplacing and an important piece needed for the device 10 to perform its intended function.

In another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, the elongated connection member 34 comprises a swivel pin 36, that functions similar to a cuff link used for garments, having: an elongated body portion 38 that may have a body diameter sized smaller than a diameter 42 of the apertures 22, 30 such that the body portion can be easily inserted through the apertures; a head portion 44 that may be coupled to an end of the elongated body portion 38, and may have a head diameter 40 sized larger than the diameter of the first aperture 22 so the first elongated arm member 14 can not be involuntarily disengaged from the second elongated arm member 24 when securing scaffold boards 12; and an elongated lock portion 46 that may be pivotally and slidably coupled to an end of the elongated body portion 38 opposite the head portion 44, and configured to securely lock the elongated arm members 14, 24 together. As shown in the figures, the elongated lock portion 46 has an insertion mode 48, wherein the lock portion 46 is disposed substantially parallel to the elongated body portion 38, as shown in FIG. 3, and in a locked mode 50, wherein the elongated lock portion 46 is disposed substantially orthogonal to the elongated body portion 38, as shown in FIG. 2.

In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, the second elongated arm member 24 is rotatably coupled to the second arm member end of the first elongated arm member 14 via a hinge 52, such as a steel hinges for hardware manufactured by Paneloc Corp, 142 Brickyard Road, Farmington, Conn. 06032 for example, making it convenient for a user to engage/(disengage) the device 10 to/(from) scaffold boards 12.

In still yet a further embodiment of the present invention, the second elongated arm member 24 may be J-shaped such that a portion thereof may be placed over the second first arm member end 18, wherein the scaffold boards 12 are completely enclosed in between the arm members 14, 24 and secured by a loop device.

In operation of the illustrated embodiment, a user may place the second elongated arm member 24 underneath the scaffold boards 12 and rotate the first elongated arm member 24 about the hinge 52 until the arm members 14, 24 are parallel to each other, wherein the apertures 22, 30 are in juxtaposition with each other, as shown in FIG. 1. The user can then conveniently retrieve the elongated connection member 34 coupled to the first elongated arm member 14 and pivotally turn the lock portion 46 to place the lock portion 46 in the insertion mode 48 and insert the pin 36 through the apertures 22, 30 disposed in the elongated arm members 14, 24, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Afterwards, the user may place pivotally turn the lock portion 46 substantially 90 degrees, wherein the lock portion 46 is orthogonal to the elongated body portion 38, so as to the lock portion 46 in the lock mode 48, as shown in FIG. 2, to secure the scaffold boards 12 between the arm members 14, 24.

A user desiring to disassemble the scaffold boards 12, the user may conveniently place the lock portion 46 in the insertion mode 48, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The user may then grab the head portion 44 and upwardly pull the elongated connection member 34 out of the apertures 22, 30. The user may then rotate the first elongated arm member 14 such that the elongated arm members 14, 24 are no longer parallel to each other, enabling the user to remove the device 10 from the scaffolds.

Embodiments of the scaffold securing device 10 could be adapted for use on a multitude of scaffolding systems having traditional wooden planks or metal equivalents. The device also eliminates the need for a user to frequently adjust boards, as well as prevents the formation of potentially dangerous holes in the scaffold 10 due to prolonged exposure to weather elements.

It is understood that the above-described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates the elongated arm members 14, 24 being rectangular in shape, one skilled in the art would appreciate that the arm members may be shaped differently to conform to various shapes of scaffold boards 10, according to various embodiments. For example, square, etc.

Additionally, although the FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a plurality of scaffold boards 12 being secured by the device 10, one skilled in the art would appreciate that the device may be used to secure one entire scaffold board 12.

It is expected that there could be numerous variations of the design of this invention. An example is that the elongated arm members 14, 24; arm member ends 16, 18; apertures 22, 30; arm portions 26, 28; chain member 32; elongated connection member 34; swivel pin 36; head portion 44; elongated lock portion 46 and/or hinge 52 may vary in length, width, size, diameter, shape, design, color, thickness, etc., according to various embodiments.

Finally, it is envisioned that the components of the device may be constructed of a variety of materials, such as galvanized steel, metal, etc.

Thus, while the present invention has been fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made, without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A scaffold securing device for securing scaffold boards, comprising:

a) a first elongated arm member, including: a1) a first arm member end; a2) a second arm member end opposite the first arm member end; and a3) a first aperture, disposed near the first arm member end;

b) an L-shaped second elongated arm member, rotatably coupled to the second arm member end of first elongated arm member, including: b1) a first arm portion, coupled to the second arm member end and extending outwardly therefrom substantially orthogonal to the first elongated arm member; b2) a second arm portion, coupled to an end of the first arm portion opposite the first elongated arm member and extending outwardly therefrom substantially orthogonal to the first arm portion and substantially parallel to the first elongated arm member; and b3) a second aperture disposed near an end of the second arm member opposite the first arm portion, substantially aligned with the first aperture;

c) a chain member, coupled to the first elongated arm member; and

d) an elongated connection member, coupled to an end of the chain member opposite the first elongated arm member, configured to connect the first elongated arm member to the L-shaped second elongated arm member by insertion through the first aperture and the second aperture.

2. The scaffold securing device of claim 1, wherein the elongated connection member comprises a swivel pin including:

a) an elongated body portion, having a body diameter sized smaller than a diameter of the first aperture and a diameter of the second aperture;

b) a head portion, coupled to an end of the elongated body portion, having a head diameter sized larger than the diameter of the first aperture; and

c) an elongated lock portion, pivotally and slidably coupled to an end of the elongated body portion opposite the head portion; wherein in an insertion mode the elongated lock portion is disposed substantially parallel to the elongated body portion and in a locked mode the elongated lock portion is disposed substantially orthogonal to the elongated body portion.

3. The scaffold securing device of claim 2, wherein the first elongated arm member and the second elongated arm member are substantially flat

4. The scaffold securing device of claim 3, wherein the second elongated arm member is rotatably coupled to the second arm member end of the first elongated arm member by hinging.

5. A scaffold securing device for securing scaffold boards, consisting essentially of:

a) a first elongated arm member, including: a1) a first arm member end; a2) a second arm member end opposite the first arm member end; and a3) a first aperture, disposed near the first arm member end;

b) an L-shaped second elongated arm member, rotatably coupled to the second arm member end of first elongated arm member, including: b1) a first arm portion, coupled to the second arm member end and extending outwardly therefrom substantially orthogonal to the first elongated arm member; b2) a second arm portion, coupled to an end of the first arm portion opposite the first elongated arm member and extending outwardly therefrom substantially orthogonal to the first arm portion and substantially parallel to the first elongated arm member; and b3) a second aperture disposed near an end of the second arm member opposite the first arm portion, substantially aligned with the first aperture;

c) a chain member, coupled to the first elongated arm member; and

d) an elongated connection member, coupled to an end of the chain member opposite the first elongated arm member, configured to connect the first elongated arm member to the L-shaped second elongated arm member by insertion through the first aperture and the second aperture.

6. The scaffold securing device of claim 5, wherein the elongated connection member comprises a swivel pin including:

a) an elongated body portion, having a body diameter sized smaller than a diameter of the first aperture and a diameter of the second aperture;

b) a head portion, coupled to an end of the elongated body portion, having a head diameter sized larger than the diameter of the first aperture; and

c) an elongated lock portion, pivotally and slidably coupled to an end of the elongated body portion opposite the head portion; wherein in an insertion mode the elongated lock portion is disposed substantially parallel to the elongated body portion and in a locked mode the elongated lock portion is disposed substantially orthogonal to the elongated body portion.

7. The scaffold securing device of claim 6, wherein the first elongated arm member and the second elongated arm member are substantially flat

8. The scaffold securing device of claim 7, wherein the second elongated arm member is rotatably coupled to the second arm member end of the first elongated arm member by hinging.