Scaffold Planks
A first scaffold plank member having a board like member having a top surface, first and second opposing end edges and a first and second opposing side edges; a first and second side rails, the side rail attached to the board like member near the respective side edges, each respective side rail extending downwardly from the top surface, each side rail having an inward and an outward facing surface, positioned near both the first and second opposing end edges, a first and second clips separated by a distance from one another, the first and second clips extending outwardly from the respective end edges, each clip having a terminating downwardly projecting lip, and a channel section located between the lip and the respective end edge, the channel section shaped to engage a horizontal scaffold member; a series of slots through the top surface, said series of slots positioned near the first side edge, each slot of said series of slots having a portion of the slot positioned inwardly of the inward facing surface, each slot being sized to accept a portion of a clip through the slot, two of said slots are separated a distance to accept two clips on a second scaffold board whereby, if a portion of a second scaffold plank's first and second clips are inserted through these slots, so that the second scaffold plank is supported by the first scaffold plank.
This application is a continuation of PCT/US2018/29615 filed on Apr. 26, 2018, which application claimed the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 62/490,908 filed Apr. 27, 2017, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUNDA scaffold frame is an interconnected series of horizontal vertical scaffold members and vertical scaffold members used to create a supporting structure for an elevated work surface. The horizontal and vertical scaffold members are generally pipe shaped members (circular or square in cross section, for instance) where the ends of each horizontal scaffold member terminates in connectors that attaches to a vertical scaffold members. The connectors can be clamp members (such as in tube and clamp scaffolding, see for instance,
Instead of upstanding cups, a flat annular ring with openings in the ring may be used as the vertical connector on the vertical scaffold member, to couple to a connector on a horizontal scaffold member. Examples of annular ring/connector systems are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,273,463; 6,027,276; 5,961,240; 5,605,204; 4,840,513; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. These systems are generally referred to as wedge or pinlock scaffold systems. The pinlock system relies upon a wedge or pin being slidable (generally hammer driven) through the horizontal end connector and rosette. The above “system” scaffolds require a horizontal member to couple to a vertical member, that is, a horizontal member cannot couple to another horizontal member.
Once a scaffold frame is erected, an elevated work surface is created by using scaffold boards that are supported at each end of the board by horizontal scaffold frame members. Typically, scaffold boards or planks are wooden, fiberglass, or metal board-like members, having a length (such as 10 feet) and a width, such as 9 inches. A scaffold board generally comprises a top surface, such as 6 inch, 9 inch, 12 inch, or 18 inch wide board, and come in various lengths, such as 2 feet long to 10 to 16 feet long. A typical metal scaffold board is shown in
When a scaffold board 10 is placed in a scaffold structure, the clip channel 52 will rest or engage a horizontal scaffold member, thereby supporting the scaffold plank 10. The clips 50 can be vertical orientated plates, such as shown in
Alternatively, two “interior” horizontal scaffold members can be positioned in the interior of the frame, on opposite sides of the obstruction (which will require additional vertical members, as the horizontal members generally couple to a vertical scaffold member. particularly in system scaffolding). Note, however, the “additional vertical scaffold member” can be an intermediate scaffold joint, one embodiment of which is as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,973,711, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, to create a frame structure to allow placement of short scaffold planks at right angles to the existing scaffold planks, to thereby close the opening created by the obstacle. This is depicted in
The invention is an improved scaffold plank. As shown in the view of
As can be seen in
As shown in the embodiment of
The top surface 40 of the scaffold board 10 also has a series of openings or slots 100. In the embodiment shown in
As shown in
If the board is constructed with clips 50 positioned vertically on the side rails (such as shown in
Details of these boards are shown in the remaining portions of
When vertical clips are used, the two terminating ends of the scaffold board may be mirror images, or almost mirror images, as the offset needed for horizontal clips is not required for end-to-end positioning. See
To assemble boards in a side-to-end configuration in an existing scaffold frame structure, a first scaffold plank utilizing the slotted openings is positioned in a scaffold structure, supported on each of its terminating ends by opposing horizontal scaffold members. A second scaffold plank (which may lack the slotted openings 100, but has end clips 50) is positioned at 90 degrees to the first scaffold plank, with the clips at a first end of the second board positioned above corresponding slots 100 of the first scaffold board (i.e., those slots along the side edge of the first board). The second scaffold board is lowered, so that the clips at the first end of the second board partially pass through the aligned slots or openings in the first board, until the first end of the second scaffold board member is supported by the first scaffold board. One end of the second board is now coupled to, and supported by, the first board, without an intervening horizontal member between the first and second board members. The clips on the second end (the distal end) of the second board may be supported by a another horizontal scaffold member, or supported by a third scaffold board orientated 90 degrees to the second scaffold board, with the third scaffold board having slots that align with the clips at the second terminating end of the second scaffold board.
While the illustrative forms disclosed herein have been described with particularity, it will be understood that various other modifications will be apparent to and can be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For instance, the improved board may have only a single side adapted with slots to support a board in a side to end configuration. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the claims appended hereto be limited to the example and descriptions set forth herein, but rather that the claims be construed as encompassing all the features of patentable novelty which reside herein, including all features which would be treated as equivalents thereof by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains.
When numerical lower limits and numerical upper limits are listed herein, ranges from any lower limit to any upper limit are contemplated.
Claims
1. A first scaffold plank member comprising a board like member having a top surface, first and second opposing end edges and a first and second opposing side edges;
- a first and second side rails, said first side rail attached to the board like member near the first side edge, and the second side rail attached near said second side edge, each respective side rail extending downwardly from the top surface, each side rail having at least one outward facing surface and at least one inward facing surface;
- positioned near both the first and second opposing end edges, a first and second clip attached to the first scaffold plank separated by a distance from one another, the first and second clips extending outwardly from the respective end edges, each clip having a terminating downwardly projecting lip, and a channel section located between the lip and the respective end edge, the channel section shaped to engage a horizontal scaffold member;
- a series of slots through the top surface, said series of slots positioned near the first side edge, each slot of said series of slots having a portion of the slot positioned inwardly of one of said at least one inward facing surfaces of said first side rail, each slot in said series of slots being sized to accept a portion of a clip through said slot, each slot of said series of slots positioned through said top surface of said first scaffold plank and at least two of said slots in said series of slots are separated a distance to accept two clips on a second scaffold board whereby, if a portion of a second scaffold plank's first and second clips on said first end edge of said second scaffold plank edge are inserted through two of said slots in said series of slots, the lips of such inserted first and second clips would be positioned near to one of said at least one inward facing surfaces of said first side rail of said first scaffold plank and the channels of the second scaffold plank are thereby supported by the first scaffold plank, the top surfaces of said first and second scaffold board's top surfaces are closely aligned, and the first end edge of the second scaffold board is solely supported by said first scaffold plank.
2. The first scaffold plank of claim 1 where each of said series of slots are aligned with one another on an axis on said top surface extending between said first and second end edges.
3. The first scaffold plank of claim 1 where each of said series of slots begin at said first side edge and extend toward said second side edge.
4. The first scaffold plank of claim 3 wherein each of said series of slots are positioned partially through said first side rail.
5. The first scaffold plank of claim 4 wherein each of said slots in series of slots has a bottom portion that terminates in said first side rail, said bottom forming a landing site to couple to a clip on a second scaffold board inserted into one of said slots to thereby support a second scaffold board on said bottom portion.
6. The first scaffold plank of claim 2 wherein said slots are offset a distance from said first edge, and said top of said scaffold board between each slot and said first edge form landing sites to couple to a clip on a second scaffold board inserted into one of said slots to thereby support a second scaffold board on said landing site.
7. The first scaffold plank of claim 3 where said series of slots are not equally spaced along said first edge.
8. The first scaffold board according to claim 4 wherein the clip width above said channel, said width being less than or equal to the depth of the slot bottom from the top surface.
9. A method of coupling a first scaffold plank with a second scaffold plank on at least one end, in a scaffold structure comprising horizontal and vertical scaffold members;
- the first scaffold plank comprising a board like member having a top surface, a bottom surface, first and second terminating ends each with an end edge, and a first and second opposing side edges;
- a first and second side rails, said first side rail attached to the board like member near the first side edge, and the second side rail attached near said second side edge, each respective side rail extending downwardly from the top surface, each side rail having at least one outward facing surface and at least one inward facing surface;
- positioned near both the first and second opposing end edges, a first and second clip attached to the first scaffold plank separated by a distance from one another, the first and second clips extending outwardly from the respective end edges, each clip having a terminating downwardly projecting lip, and a channel section located between the lip and the respective end edge, the channel section shaped to engage a horizontal scaffold member;
- a series of slots through the top surface, said series of slots positioned near the first side edge, each slot of said series of slots having a portion of the slot positioned inwardly of one of said at least one inward facing surfaces of said first side rail, each slot in said series of slots being sized to accept a portion of a clip through said slot, each slot of said series of slots positioned through said top surface of said first scaffold plank and at least two of said slots in said series of slots are separated a distance to accept two clips on a second scaffold board;
- said first scaffold board supported by a first and second horizontal member on its two terminating end edges;
- said second scaffold board comprising:
- a board like member having a top surface, a bottom surface, first and second terminating ends each with an end edge, and a first and second opposing side edges;
- a first and second side rails, said first side rail attached to the board like member near the first side edge, and the second side rail attached near said second side edge, each respective side rail extending downwardly from the top surface, each side rail having at least one outward facing surface and at least one inward facing surface;
- positioned near both the first and second opposing end edges, a first and second clip attached to the first scaffold board separated by a distance from one another, the first and second clips extending outwardly from the respective end edges, each clip having a terminating downwardly projecting lip, and a channel section located between the lip and the respective end edge, the channel section shaped to engage a horizontal scaffold member
- the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning said second scaffold board at substantially 90 degrees to said first scaffold board, said second scaffold board positioned such that the first and second clips of the second scaffold board on the first terminating end are aligned with corresponding slots on the first scaffold board;
- lowering the second scaffold board's first terminating end so that a portion of the first and second clips on the second scaffold board member pass through the aligned slots of the first scaffold board until the second scaffold board's first terminating end is supported solely by the first scaffold board member without said second scaffold board's first terminating end being directly coupled to a horizontal scaffold member.
10. The method of claim 9 where said first scaffold plank further comprises where each of said series of slots are aligned with one another on an axis on said top surface extending between said first and second end edges.
11. The method of claim 9 where said first scaffold plank further comprises where each of said series of slots begin at said first side edge and extend toward said second side edge.
12. The method of claim 11 where said first scaffold plank further comprises wherein each of said series of slots are positioned partially through said first side rail.
13. The method of claim 12 where said first scaffold plank further comprises:
- wherein each of said slots in series of slots has a bottom portion that terminates in said first side rail, said bottom forming a landing site to couple to a clip on a second scaffold board inserted into one of said slots to thereby support a second scaffold board on said bottom portion.
14. The method of claim 10 where said first scaffold plank further comprises wherein said slots are offset a distance from said first edge, and said top of said scaffold board between each slot and said first edge form landing sites to couple to a clip on a second scaffold board inserted into one of said slots to thereby support a second scaffold board on said landing site.
15. The method of claim 11 where said first scaffold plank further comprises where said series of slots are not equally spaced along said first edge.
16. The method of claim 12 where said first scaffold plank further comprises the first scaffold board according to claim 4 wherein the clip width above said channel, said width being less than or equal to the depth of the slot bottom from the top surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 25, 2019
Publication Date: Feb 20, 2020
Inventors: Johnny Curtis (Denham Springs, LA), Stephen Howard Thacker (The Woodlands, TX)
Application Number: 16/663,529