SCAFFOLDING PLATFORM WITH MATERIALS LEDGE

Abstract

Scaffolding for use along a wall of a building includes at least one mast and a platform supported in an elevated position on the mast. The platform has a deck and a walk board below the front edge of the deck for supporting workmen along the wall of the building. In addition, the platform has a materials ledge that is located above the deck immediately behind the front edge of the deck, so that workmen on the walk board may easily retrieve materials and tools that are on the ledge.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to scaffolding, and more particularly to an elevated platform for scaffolding.

Masons and those who assist them often work well above the ground when laying the masonry for multistory buildings and other tall structures. Scaffolding enables them to work at such high elevations. The typical scaffolding used by masonry contractors includes at least one mast and a platform that is supported on the mast. The platform climbs the mast as the masonry rises, keeping the masons and other workers at the level of the highest tier of masonry.

The platform typically has a deck and a much narrower walk board located about two feet below the deck. The walk board lies closest to the wall under construction and the masons work on it as they lay the masonry. The other workers, who assist the masons, work on the much wider deck. Here they maintain mortar at the correct consistency and place it on mortarboards where the masons can reach it. Likewise, they keep the masons supplied with brick, blocks, or stone, again placing it where the masons can easily reach it. Even so, to grasp bricks or other forms of masonry, the masons must turn and bend over to the level of the deck. The same holds true when they load their trowels with mortar located on mortarboards. The constant bending coupled with turning, leaves many masons fatigued and plagued with joint and muscle infirmities.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of scaffolding provided with a platform constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention, with the scaffolding being along a wall under construction;

FIG. 2 is an end view, partially broken away, of the scaffolding taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a front view of the scaffolding taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, scaffolding A (FIG. 1) serves to elevate those who work on it above the ground along a wall B of a building or other structure so that they may undertake work at those elevations while remaining safe and free from repetitive twists and bends. The scaffolding A is particularly suited for use by masons and those workers who assist masons.

Basically, the scaffolding A includes at least one, and preferably two or more masts 2 and a platform 4 that is supported on the masts 2. The platform 4 has the capacity to climb the masts 2 and thus change its elevation. To this end, the platform 4 may carry a motor that raises and lowers it.

Each mast 2 has a base 10 and a tower 12 that rises from the base 10. The base 10 rests on a solid supporting surface, such as the ground or pavement, and is provided with leveling devices 14, such as screw jacks, to bring the tower 12 to and maintain it in a vertical orientation. The towers 12 extend through the platform 4, which moves upwardly and downwardly on the towers 12. Each tower 12 includes multiple sections that fit together end to end. As the tower 12 grows and the platform 4 rises on it, additional sections are added to the tower 12, and those already there are attached to the completed portion of the wall B to stabilize the tower 12.

The platform 4 includes (FIGS. 2 and 3) a deck 20, a walk board 22 below the deck 20, and a materials shelf or ledge 24 above the deck 20. All three provide horizontal surfaces. In addition, the platform 4 has an underlying structure 26 of trusses and connecting members that support the deck 20 and the walk board 22. The towers 12 for the masts 2 connect with platform 4 through the latter's underlying structure 26.

The deck 20 provides the widest of the three horizontal surfaces (FIG. 2). It extends all the way to the rear of the platform 4, its rear edge generally connecting with the rearmost components of the underlying structure 26. Here the platform 4 is provided with a guard rail 28 that attaches to the underlying structure 26 and projects upwardly from the deck 20. At the deck 20, the guard rail 28 secures a toe board 30 that prevent items from sliding off the rear edge of the deck 20. Actually, the guard rail 28 and toe board 30 may extend along the ends of the deck 20 as well. The deck 20 is generally continuous, but it does have openings 32 (FIG. 1) through which the towers 12 of the mast 12 extend.

The walk board 22 projects forwardly beyond the front edge of the deck 20, yet lies between 24 and 27 inches below the deck 20. It is about 20 inches wide. The front edge of the platform 4 lies immediately above the walk board 22, and thus the walk board 22 is closest to the wall B when the scaffolding A is in use.

The materials ledge 24 lies above the deck 20 (FIGS. 2 and 3) along the front edge of the deck 20, indeed at an elevation that places it near the waist of a mason standing on the walk board 22. As such it should be between about 7 and 14 inches higher than the deck 20 and between 30 and 38 inches higher than the walk board 22. It is supported on legs 34 that extend from and are secured to the deck 20. The ledge 24 extends backwardly over the deck 20 for about 16 or 17 inches, or in other words, is about 16 or 17 inches wide, but can be between 15 and 20 inches wide. The ledge 24 contains openings 36 (FIG. 1) that are suitable for receiving tools used by masons such as cement trowels and levels. It must possess enough strength to support a small stack of bricks, stone, or cement blocks and also a mortarboard laden with mortar. In the space between the ledge 24 and the deck 20, the platform 4 may be provided with electrical outlets 38 for power tools and also hydrants 40 for supplying water to mix with cement (FIGS. 1 and 3).

In use, the scaffolding A enables masons and the workers that assist them to work comfortably and safely at the elevation of the highest tier of masonry for the wall B as the wall B rises. The masts 2 support the platform 4 at an elevation convenient for masons to work at the very top of the highest tier, and at this elevation, the walk board 22 is normally below the highest tier. The masons stand on the walk board 22. The workers that assist the masons remain for the most part on the deck 20. Here they mix cement and water to provide mortar for the masons, or if the cement and water are mixed below, they maintain the mortar at the correct consistency by mixing more water with it from time to time. Just as importantly, they place the mortar and bricks or other masonry where the masons, who are on the walk board 22, may easily retrieve them—and this is on the materials ledge 24. To grasp a brick or other individual item of masonry, a mason need only turn partially and remove it from the ledge 24. Likewise, when the mason needs mortar, he merely loads his trowel with mortar that is of the correct consistency on a mortarboard that rests on the materials ledge 24. Neither of these efforts requires the mason to bend over to retrieve bricks or mortar at the level of the deck 20.

Should the mason require power tools, those tools may be plugged into one of the electrical outlets 38 immediately below the ledge 24 and above the deck 20. This keeps the deck 20 and walk board 22 free of extension cords. The workers may obtain water from the hydrant 40, preferably through a short hose connected to the hydrant 40.

The mason's tools when not in use may be stored along the ledge 24 by inserting them into the openings 36 in the ledge 24.

While the scaffolding A is well suited for use by masonry contractors, it also has utility for other types of elevated work.

Claims

1. A platform for scaffolding, said platform comprising:

a deck having a front edge;

a walk board located below the deck at the front edge of the deck and projecting forwardly from the deck, the walk board being narrower than the deck; and

a materials ledge located above the deck at the front edge of the deck and set rearwardly from the walk board so that those on the walk board can easily retrieve items on the materials ledge, the materials ledge being substantially narrower than the deck.

2. A platform according to claim 1 and further comprising an underlying structure located beneath and supporting the deck and the walk board.

3. A platform according to claim 2 wherein the deck extends beneath the materials ledge.

4. A platform according to claim 2 wherein the materials ledge is between 7 and 14 inches above the deck.

5. A platform according to claim 4 wherein the materials ledge is between 30 and 38 inches above the walk board.

6. A platform according to claim 2 wherein the materials ledge has an opening for receiving and retaining tools.

7. A platform according to claim 3 and further comprising legs extending between the materials ledge and the deck for supporting the materials ledge above the deck.

8. A platform according to claim 3 wherein a space exists between the materials ledge and the deck, and further comprising an electrical outlet in the space.

9. A platform according to claim 8 and further comprising a water hydrant located adjacent to the materials ledge.

10. A scaffolding comprising the platform of claim 2 and at least one mast extending upwardly from a supporting surface through the platform for supporting the platform in an elevated position above the supporting surface.

11. The scaffolding according to claim 10 wherein the deck has an opening through the mast extends.

12. The scaffolding according to claim 10 in combination with a vertical wall of a building, the scaffolding being located such that the walk board of the platform is along the vertical wall.