Scaffolding

Abstract

A weld-free scaffold for suspending from the top of a wall includes inverted L-shaped hangers with hooks on horizontal top arms thereof for engaging the top of the wall, feet on the bottom ends of the vertical arms of the hangers for extending between studs for stabilizing the scaffold, horizontal support bars extending outwardly from the hangers for supporting platform planks, adjustable stops on the bars for locking planks in position, and a railing defined by posts mounted in the outer ends of the bars and rails detachably securable to said posts.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a scaffold and in particular to modular scaffold.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

There are many patents and laid open applications relating to scaffolds. Some of the patents and applications disclose scaffolds of generally the type described herein, i.e. scaffolds for suspending from the top of a wall. Examples of such structures are disclosed, for example by CA 2,054,534, filed by Gerardo Rizzardo on Oct. 3, 1991, CA 2,359,388, filed by Donald Harrison on Oct. 19, 2001, U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,727, issued to Roland Yennio, Jr., on Jun. 11, 1996 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,838, issued to Levi Lapp on Mar. 9, 1999. The majority of currently available scaffold systems are somewhat bulky and include elements which are welded together for strength. Welding is somewhat expensive and adds to the price of scaffolds. When elements of a scaffold are welded, deep welds are required. Moreover, for safety reasons, the welds must be frequently inspected. While some of the scaffold system described in the above listed documents provide at least a partial solution to welded structures, there is always room for improvement.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a relative simple scaffold for suspending from the top of a wall. The scaffold is weld-free, and easy to transport, assemble and mount on a wall.

This invention also provides a relatively simple corner assembly, i.e. an assembly for connecting the scaffold to a corner of a wall.

According to one aspect, the invention relates to a scaffold for suspending from the top of a wall comprising:

(a) a plurality of hangers, each including

• • (i) a vertical arm for resting against the wall
  • (ii) a horizontal top arm slidable in and extending outwardly from an upper end of the vertical arm for resting on the top of the wall
  • (iii) a hook on an outer free end of the horizontal arm for engaging an edge of the top of the wall for retaining the hanger on the wall, and
  • (iv) a foot perpendicular to a bottom end of the vertical arm for resting against the wall

(b) a horizontal support bar extending outwardly from said vertical arm for supporting planks defining a platform for a worker;

(c) a stop slidable on said support bar for locking said planks in position on said support arm; and

(d) a railing for mounting on an outer end of said support arm including

• • (i) a post mounted in aligned openings in an outer end of said support arm; and
  • (ii) a plurality of rails for mounting on said post, each rail being slidable relative to said post; and
  • (iii) a latch for locking each said rail in a fixed position on the post.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a corner support assembly for use in a scaffold system comprising

(a) a hanger for suspending the corner support on a corner defined by a pair of walls perpendicular to each other, the hanger including a vertical arm for resting against the wall corner, a pair of feet at 90° to each other proximate a lower end of the vertical arm for extending along the walls to stabilize the hanger, a pair of horizontal arms at 90° to each other proximate the upper end of the vertical arm for extending over top ends of the walls, and hooks on outer free ends of said horizontal arms for engaging inner sides of the top ends of the walls to retain the hanger on the corner;

(b) a horizontal support bar extending outwardly from said vertical arm between the ends thereof for supporting planks of a platform; and

(c) a post for mounting in an outer end of said support bar for supporting rails to define a railing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is a schematic, isometric view of a scaffold in accordance with the invention mounted on a partly constructed wall;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a platform support assembly used in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded, isometric view of the assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded, isometric view of a stabilizer used in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded, isometric view of a stop used in the scaffold of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a railing used in the scaffold of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a corner platform support assembly used in a scaffold system in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded, partly sectioned, isometric view of the ends of a platform support used in the assembly of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, the scaffold system of the present invention indicated generally at 1 is intended for use on a wall 2 defined by double top and bottom plates 3 and 4, respectively and studs 5. The system 1 includes a plurality of supports 7 for a platform 8 and a railing 9. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each support 7 includes an inverted L-shaped hanger 10 defined by a vertical arm 12 and a horizontal top arm 13. Both of the arms 12 and 13 are tubular aluminum and have rectangular or square cross sections. The horizontal arm 13 is hooked over the top plate 3 for suspending the system from the wall 2. The arm 13 is slidable in aligned holes 15 (one shown) in the top end of the vertical arm 12 so that the length of the arm 13 can be adjusted to the width of the top plate 3. The arm 13 is held in the vertical arm 12 by a bolt 16 and a wing nut 17. A plurality of holes 18 in the horizontal arm 13 permit locking of the arm in a variety of positions depending on the width of the top plate 3. An inverted L-shaped hook 20 on the outer free end of the horizontal arm 13 engages the inner edge of the top plate 3.

A T-shaped stabilizer or foot 22 is provided at the bottom end of the hanger 10 for stabilizing the hanger. The top 23 of the T extends between studs 5 to prevent rotation of the hanger 10 when mounted on a wall. The stem 24 of the T extends through a hole 25 (FIG. 3) in the bottom end of the vertical hanger arm 12, and is secured therein by a bolt 26 and a nut (not shown). Alternatively, the foot 22 can be a straight bar or tube 27 (FIG. 4) connected to the vertical arm 12 by a bolt 28, and wing nut 29, whereby, when the nut 29 is loosened, the foot 22 can be rotated to a vertical position for transporting.

A horizontal platform support bar 30 is connected to the vertical arm 12 by a bracket defined by a pair of triangular plates 31 connected to the arm 12 by a pair of triangular plates 31 connected to the arm 12 by bolts 32 and nuts 33. A diagonal brace 34 extends between the bottom 1 of the arm 12 and the middle of the bar 30. The brace 34 extends into holes (not shown) in one side of the arm 12 and in the bottom of the bar 30, and is secured in position by bolts 35 and nuts 36 (one shown).

A stop 38 is slidably mounted on the bar 30. As best shown in FIG. 5, the stop 38 includes a bracket 39 of generally U-shaped cross section with parallel side walls 40 and an end wall 41. Rectangular openings 42 (one shown) in the side walls 40 receive the bar 30. A bolt 43 extends through a nut 44 in the end wall 41 for securing the bracket 39 in a fixed position against the innermost planks 46 defining the platform 8 (FIG. 1). A short tubular post 47 is pivotally mounted in the upper end of the bracket 39 for rotation between a horizontal non-use position (FIG. 3) and a use position (FIG. 2). The post 47 is rotatable on a bolt 48 (FIG. 5) held in the bracket 39 by a nut 49. A bolt 51 extending through a nut 52 and an aligned hole (not shown) at the top end of the post 47 bears against the innermost plank 46 of the platform 8, preventing lateral movement of the plank.

The railing 9 is defined by posts 54 mounted in the outer free ends of the bars 30 and a plurality of rails 55 extending between and connected to the posts 54 by bolts 56 and wing nuts 57. The posts 54 extend through aligned holes 59 in the outer ends of the bars 30 and are secured therein by bolts 60 and nuts 61 (FIG. 3). As best shown in FIG. 6, the rails 55 are square cross section, aluminum extrusions containing generally C-shaped channels 62 extending along their length for receiving the heads 64 of the bolts 56. Preferably, the heads 64 of the bolts 56 are conical to reduce sliding friction between the bolts and the rails 55. The wing nuts 57 on the bolts 56 are loosened to permit sliding of the rails 55 relative to the posts 54. Tightening of the wing nuts 57 against the rails 55 secures the latter in position. When assembling the railing 9, the posts 54 are mounted in the platform bars 30, the rails 55 are slid into position and the nuts 57 are tightened against the rails.

With reference to FIG. 7, a corner support for use in a scaffold according to the invention includes a hanger 70 defined by a square cross section vertical arm 71 with a pair of short bottom braces or feet 72 extending outwardly at 90° to each other from adjacent sides of the arm 71 for bearing against the outside and one edge of a stud 5 at the corner of a wall 2. A pair of horizontal arms 73 extend outwardly from the same sides of the vertical arm 71 near the upper end thereof. The arms 73 are connected to the arm 71 by rectangular lock pins 74, which are available from many sources including Miller Products Co., of Osceola, Iowa. The arms 73 carry short posts 75 with holes therethrough for receiving second horizontal arms 76 carrying inverted L-shaped hooks 77 at their outer free ends. The arms 76 are connected to the post 75 by lock pins 74. In use, the hooks 77 engage the inner edges of top plates 3 at 90° to each other, whereby the corner support is secured in position.

A horizontal platform support bar 79 extends outwardly from the outside corner of the vertical arm 71. The ends of the bar 79 have V-shaped notches 80 for mating with the outside corner of the vertical arm 71. A pin 81 with a threaded hole 82 there through is mounted in the bar 78 near each notch 80 for receiving a bolt 83. Diagonal braces 84 extend between the upper end of the vertical arm 71 and the horizontal support bar 79. A lower brace 85 extends between the bottom end of the arm 71 and the outer end of the support bar 79. A sleeve 86 connected to the outer free end of the bar 79 by a pin 81 and a bolt 83 supports the post 54 of a railing or fence. The post 54 has holes 88 for receiving the bolts 56 which connect the rails 55 to the post.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the scaffold is completed by generally C-shaped end guards 85 connected to the posts 54. A worker can clip his/her safety belt or harness to the posts 54, the rails 55 or the guards 85 while working on the scaffold.

It is seen that not only is the scaffold of the present invention weld free, but the mainly tubular elements are connected together by sliding into holes or by a simple pin (nut) and bolt assembly. Thus, the scaffold is relatively easy to assemble and disassemble, and, for the most part, is manufactured from readily available light weight, tubular aluminum.

Claims

1. A weld-free scaffold for suspending from the top of a wall comprising:

(a) a plurality of hangers, each including (i) a vertical arm for resting against the wall (ii) a horizontal top arm slidable in and extending outwardly from an upper end of the vertical arm for resting on the top of the wall (iii) a hook on an outer free end of the horizontal arm for engaging an edge of the top of the wall for retaining the hanger on the wall, and (iv) a foot perpendicular to a bottom end of the vertical arm for resting against the wall

(b) a horizontal support bar extending outwardly from said vertical arm for supporting planks defining a platform for a worker;

(c) a stop slidable on said support bar for locking said planks in position on said support arm; and

(d) a railing for mounting on an outer end of said support arm including (i) a railing post mounted in aligned openings in an outer end of said support arm; and (ii) a plurality of rails for mounting on said railing post, each rail being slidable relative to said post; and (iii) a latch for locking each said rail in a fixed position on the railing post.

2. The scaffold of claim 1, wherein said foot is rotatable relative to said vertical arm for rotation between a vertical storage position and a horizontal use position.

3. The scaffold of claim 1, wherein said stop includes a bracket slidable on said support bar; a bolt in said bracket for securing said bracket in a fixed position on said support bar; and a stop post pivotally connected to said bracket for rotation between a vertical non-use position and a horizontal use position.

4. The scaffold of claim 1, wherein said foot is T-shaped, including a stem for removable mounting in a bottom end of said vertical arm and a top for extending between studs when the foot is mounted in the vertical hanger arm.

5. The scaffold of any one of claims 1, wherein each rail includes a longitudinally extending C-shaped slot for receiving heads of bolts extending through railing posts.

6. The scaffold of claim 5, wherein said bolt heads are conical for reducing sliding friction between the rail and the posts.

7. A weld-free corner support assembly for use in a scaffold system comprising:

(a) a hanger for suspending the corner support on a corner defined by a pair of walls perpendicular to each other, the hanger including a vertical arm for resting against the wall corner, a pair of feet at 90° to each other proximate a lower end of the vertical arm for extending along the walls to stabilize the hanger, a pair of first horizontal arms at 90° to each other proximate the upper end of the vertical arm said first horizontal arms extending parallel to the top ends of the walls when the hanger is in a use position; and second horizontal arms connected to said first horizontal arms for extending over top ends of the walls, and hooks on outer free ends of said second horizontal arms for engaging inner sides of the top ends of the walls to retain the hanger on the corner;

(b) a horizontal support bar extending outwardly from said vertical arm between the ends thereof for supporting planks of a platform; and

(c) a railing post for mounting in an outer end of said support bar for supporting rails to define a railing.

8. The corner support assembly of claim 7, including hanger posts carrying said second horizontal arms slidable on said first horizontal arms.

9. The corner support assembly of claim 8, wherein said second horizontal arms are slidable in said hanger posts.

10. The corner support assembly of claim 7, wherein said support bar is hollow and includes notches for mating with outside corners of said vertical arm and a railing post; pins extending transversely through said support bar proximate the ends thereof; and threaded holes in pins for receiving bolts extending through said vertical arm and said railing post.