US2850309A - Adjustable connector for scaffolds - Google Patents

Description

' Sept. 2, 1958 Filed Feb. 13, 1957 C. F. GROVER ET AL ADJUSTABLE CONNECTOR FOR SCAFFOLDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Charles}? aver Richard L. Werner 9w, QM 1% THE/R ATTORNEYS p 2, 1958 c. F. GROVER ETA]. 2,850,309

ADJUSTABLE CONNECTOR FOR SCAF'FOLDS Filed Feb. 13, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F i g. 8

INVENTORS.

Charles-E Grover Richard L. Werner THE IR A T TORNE VS p 1953 c. F. GROVER ET AL 2,850,309

ADJUSTABLE CONNECTOR FOR SCAFFOLDS Filed Feb 13, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TORS- Char E Grover Rich L. Werner BY wmm THE/I? ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 2, 1958 United hatent 2,ssc,sc9

QJNNECTQR FQR SCAFFOLDS (Iharies F. Grover, Greenville, and Richard L. Werner,

Sharon, Pa, assignors to R. D. Werner Co. Erica, Greenviiie, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Appiication February 13, N57, Serial No. 639,955

Claims. (Cl. 287-62) This invention relates to a connector device or unit and particularly, to an adjustable connector device or construction for structures that are to be adapted to irregular support or floor surfaces and which may be of a type to be rolled or moved from one place to another.

The need for an adjustable construction of the abovementioned type has been particularly urgent in the field of scaifold structures and particularly, collapsible scaffolds. In recent years, there has been a rapid growth in the provision and utilization of collapsible scaffolds. Scafiolds of this type may be readily assembled and disassembled at a given location and at such a location may be moved, as needed, to provide for repairing, cleaning, painting and general building maintenance work. Scaffold units are generally assembled for usage to become tiers or a vertical column of units of a desired operator-supporting height. The rolling type of scaffold has been preferred, in that it limits damage to floor or support surfaces, does not require hitches, and is more adaptable.

Although adjustable legs have heretofore been devised for support structures, such as scaffolds, our investigations have indicated that none of them fully meet requirements and particularly, from the standpoint of simplicity and accuracy of level adjustment, while at the same time permitting a fool-proof quick release of an adjusted relationship to facilitate adapting a scaffold to a new type of surface or to a new location. It is also important that adjustment constructions be absolutely fool-proof, in that the tilting of one end of a scaffold, due to the release or failure of one end post or leg device, may cause serious damage and may result in loss of life.

It has thus been an object of our invention to meet the problem involved in providing an adjustable device or connector and one that is suitable for use with a foot support assembly or construction which will fully meet requirements of the art as to strength, safety, adjustability, etc., and that will, at the same time, provide a much stronger, easier to manipulate, and more practical structure;

Another object of our invention has been to devise a new and improved form of adjustable device that is suitable for use in a foot or leg construction of support structures such as scaflolds;

A further object of our invention has been to devise an adjustable connector unit or device that does not require a spring or resilient part for effecting its latching and releasing operations, and a device which may be turn-controlled to interlatch and release cooperating means of its adjustable parts;

A still further object has been to devise an adjustable connector whose adjustments may be quickly accomplished even when the connector is a part of a leg or foot system that is bearing some weight at the time an adjustment is being made;

These and other objects of our invention will appear to those skilled in the art from the illustrated embodi ment and the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section in elevation through an adjustable assembly, unit or device of our invention; in this figure, the parts are in an adjusted-locked, connected or supporting relationship with respect to each other;

Figures 2 to 4, inclusive, are horizontal sections on the same scale as and taken respectively along lines IIH, IIIIII, and IVlV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view similar to and on the same scale as Figure 1, but showing parts of the construction in a position-released or unlocked relationship with each other;

Figures 6 and 7 are horizontal sections on the same scale as and taken respectively along lines VIVI and VII-VII of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional detail showing the construction of latch collar part, taken along the line VIIIVIII of Figure 9, and on the same scale as Figures 1 and 5;

Figure 9 is a bottom end or plan view on the same scale as Figure 8 and taken along line IXIX thereof;

Figure 10 is an outside view in elevation on the same scale as Figures 8 and 9, taken along line XX of Figure 11, and showing the construction of an underpositioned, position-hold collar part or adjustment collar portion of the structure of Figures 1 and 5;

Figure 11 is a top end or plan view on the same scale as Figure 10 and taken along line Xl-Xi thereof;

Figure 12 is a somewhat diagrammatic flat plan showing the parts of Figures 8 and 10 with their opposed, interfitting, and cooperating end faces in a slightly spaced relationship for clarity of illustration; it also shows opposed or interlatching or cooperating surfaces of the latch collar part of Figures 8 and 9 and of the positionhold collar part of Figure 10 and;

Figure 13 is a greatly reduced perspective fragment showing a utilization of adjustable devices of our invention with a scafiold, where the scaifold is positioned on floor or support surfaces of uneven contour, such as represented by a pair of steps.

In carrying out our invention, we eliminate the need for a split-sleeve type of assembly, wherein the sleeve member must always retain its flexibility to eifectively operate for the purpose intended, namely to alternately provide a close adjustment and a rough or loose adjustment. We have devised an adjustable unit, assembly, device, or structure 1 the operation of whose latching and releasing portions is positively effected by nonresilient or rigid members and without reliance upon the inherent resilience of one of the members. Our device may be height or length slide-adjusted and then, by a turn of an adjustment means or collar 16, be accurately and positively retained in such adjusted position. We, however, employ a position-retaining means 17 that may, in effect, be resiliently positioned.

As shown is Figures 1 and 13 of the drawings, an adjustable unit or device 1% of our invention is particularly suitable for adjusting the height or level of a unit 5*, such as a scaffold. in Figure 13, I have somewhat diagrammatically indicated a lower portion of the frame of the scafiold 9 that has downwardly-depending end or corner, hollow-end, tubular, post or column members 11. Devices it? of our invention are shown turnably or rotatably mounted between supported members or end posts 111 and support members, such as floor stand units 13 or rolling caster units 12. The latter maybe of any conventional construction such as, for example, shown in the Darnell Patent No. 1,895,150. That is, if desired, the adjustment units or devices 10 may be'carried on stationary bottom stands or feet 13 (see Figure instead of caster assemblies 12 (see Fig, ures 1 and 13). However, irrespective of the type of foot employed, whether it is: of a rolling or of a stationany type, it: will be nQtedthat the unit 101 of our; invene.

tion is rotatably or turnably mounted with;respectthere.-

to and has a part that is'rotatably or turnably mounted: Withliespectj to the, endpost or leg membersrll.

As shown in Figure 13, the units. of our. invention may be employed to hold the scaffold 9 on a. levelsor firm foundation or base, so that it'will not tilt, and so that different shapes, levels, and, contours. of supporting surfacesmay be utilized. By wayof example, we have. found that a thirty inch length of adjustable studi or shaft can provide an adjustment for two or three stair; risers. In Eiigu-re- 1:35,, a. one-stair riser is shown. Since eachunitordevice '10 is independently adjustable with respect to the others, the four points of support shown may allbeof; different levels tomaintain the scafiold 9' in a level and. non-tilting, supported relationship.

In Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, we have shown a locked position of a longitudinally-adjustable connector unit or device constructed in accordance with our invention. As previously intimated, the device 10 may be employed for a number of purposes, but importantly, to connect a. foot or base part with a leg part of an overhead structure in. such a manner that adjustments may befacilitated be-,

tween the: two partsand the adjusted relationship may be efiected quickly, accurately and safely without the need for; a. slow, finer adjustment.

projecting stud, bar, adjustment shaft part or. meme 4 having an inset portion 15g to receive a rubber stop block 25 for a wheel of the unit 12.

In Figure 5, We have shown similar bearings 21 and 22 that rotatably carry or journal the journal portion 15d of the shaft member 15 within and with respect to a stationary foot, support or floor. stand 13. Nut 24 may be used to rotata'bly hold the stand 13 in position with respect to the shaft 15.

her 15 is, as shown, adapted to extend longitudinally or vertically within the lower end portion of. hollow end post, tube. orcolumn member 11 of the structure 9 to be supported. The shaft 15 has an upper cylindrical portion 15a which is positioned Within the member 11 and is provided, withan inwardly-oifset, upper end having central bore 150;, The bore 150- receives a bearing leg guide,;cup or part. 14 therein. The part 14- may be securedin positiom by Weld metal w and serves as an upper end bearing or rotatable support for the adjustment shaft 15 within leg 11. It will be noted that a'device, such as here involvcd', must withstand heavy longitudinal or'compression force, asapplied. through the legs of the scaifolding to its feet or casters, and at the same time, must be entirely safe from the standpoint of having, strength against bend-- ing movement of the two primary'members makingmpor defining the joint.

Thegreater length or extent of the stud or shaft 15.

is. provided with latching'portions or external threads 15]; to cooperate with a stationary, locking part or-latch collar member 18. As shown in Figures 2 and 4 and 6 and 7,

the shaft 15 has a pair of opposed flat, clearance or re- 1, this support comprisesa. top plate member 20 and main.v

load bearings 21 operatively'carriedtherein. to cooperate with. the journal portion 15d. The portion 15d also (as shown in Figure 1) may project as. a neck. into an: upper portion of a wheel horn or frame 12. A thrust bearing assembly 22 and a dust and dirt guard piece. or annulus 23. are removably held in position against, the horn12 by. an. internally-threaded nut 24 that cooperateswith ex,-

ternal threads 15 on the lower end of. 15d. In. this. manner, the horn 12 and the lower bearings are held; in.

position on the shaft portion lid to allow the latter. to.- freely rotate or turn with respect to the caster assembly- 12 and thebearings 21 and 22. In Figure; 1,, we have also shownthelQ-Wfilffilldjfif the stud or, shaft memhenIS-asx To control adjustment of the unit 10, we have provided an outer sleeve member or adjustment collar part 16' which has an in-turned annular rim portion 16a at its one (upper) end to guide along the outer Wall or diameter of the post member Hand retain an expansion. spring 19 in position within an operating. chamber defined by it and the post member 11. To facilitate turning the sleeve or collar 16 about inner or latch collar 18, we have provided it with a knurled or ribbed outer surface 16b. A lower or position-holding or retaining v ring, collar part or member 17 is secured, asby weld metal w, within the inner. periphery of the other (or lower) end portion of the collarmemzber 16 to project radially or transversely-inwardly therefrom and cooperate with control, latching or locking coli- 1 lar member or part 18.

The latch collar part 18. is internally threaded, as shown particularly in Figures 8 and 9, along opposed segments or portions 18b which lie" on a cylindrical. or peripheral.

axis, operate with the threaded segments or. portions. 151; of the.- stud. or shaft member 15. The upper end of the latch. collar 18 has aninner ledge 18a to receive or sent the lower end. of thepost 11 (see Figures land 5); and is se.v

cured in position with respect thereto by weld metal. w: (see Figure l).

To. resiliently retain the bottom collar or ring, part1 in a cooperating, meshing, position-retaining, latching; en.- gagement with the stationary collar 18, We haveprovidetla spiral, stainless steel, spring or resilient part 19., The

- spring 19 is shown as a free length type havingfl'attened:

of our construction or device are in a so-called locked} or latched. position, latch or threaded portions 151) ofthe central stud or shaft 15 are in interlatching engagement: with cor-responding threaded portions 18b of the inner or latch collar 18, and the flattened or planar opposedsides 15e of the stud or shaft 15 lie in the same planes or project. in the same direction as corresponding sides 17a of the lower. collar part 17 (see Figure 4). When the outer or adjustment collar 16 is turned manually, the lower collar part 17 as well as the shaft 15 are turned. simultaneously (compare Figures 3 andv 4 with'Figures 6 and 7). is due to the fact that the part 17 and the shaft 15 have a complementary (but slide) fit (see Figures 4 and 7). However, the parts or memberslland 18 are retained in a stationary relationship. Thus, relative movement is between suchmembers and particularly, the'inner collar'18 and the shaft 15.

In other words, such a relative movement causes. the shaft 15 to move at right angles to its original positioning, so that its threaded portions'15b are out of engagement with threaded portions 18b of the coll'armember 18 and are, in effect, in a sliding-clear or free relationship wi'tl'r" respect toopposed curvilinear or clearance portions 18a of. the member 18. At this time, the shaft 15' may be: freely slid longitudinally. or vertically and with: respect; the parts or members 11 and 18, but will nott'carry thecollar 16 and collar part 17 with it. is true sincet as; shown in Figuresl and 4,. 5 and" 7, the: portions 1.7a

The threaded portions 18b correspond. to and .co-.

and 17b of the part 17 are always in a clearance-defining or free sliding relationship with the portions 15]; and 152. In Figures 5 to 7, our unit is shown in an unlocked relationship, in the sense that its shaft or stud part or member is loosely-slidable longitudinally or vertically with respect to lock, latch or control part 18.

Referring particularly to Figures 10, 11 and 12, the lower or end collar part 17 is of annular form having a circular or cylindrical outer periphery and a pair of opposed inner wall curvilinear surface portions 17b that are formed on an inner circular radius and are joined with a pair of opposed flat or planar inner wall surface portions 17a. The wall portions 17:: have upper faces a which decline centrally towards a cross depression or groove 12 and the wall portions 175 have similar upper faces c which decline towards a central cross groove or cross depression d.

As shown in Figures 8, 9 and 12, the inner or latch collar 18 is of substantially cylindrical or annular form on both its inner and outer peripheries. However, opposed curvilinear portions or segment pairs 1% are internally threaded while opposed release portions or segment pairs 18a are smooth or unthreaded. Along their lower faces, the portions 18a and 18b each have tongues b and d which interfit respectively with somewhat complementary grooves 12 and d of the upper faces of the lower collar part 17. That is, the segments 18a have centrally-downwardly declining faces a which terminate in the tongue or rounded nose b, and the segments 181) have corresponding centrally-downwardly declining faces 0' which terminate in the tongue or rounded nose d.

As shown particularly in Figure 12, the surfaces or faces a and the grooves b of the bottom collar 17 are to be engaged or positioned-latched with corresponding faces a and tongues 12' of the inner collar member 13, while faces 0 and grooves d are to be engaged or position-latched with corresponding faces 0' and tongues d. This provides quadrant locking positions for the inner or locking collar member 18, as retained by the resiliency of the spring 19. However, when the outer or adjustment collar 16 is manually turned, a position change takes place between the opposed faces ac and a'c' against the resiliency of the spring and tongues 12 and d may snap into a new position within grooves d and b.

What we claim is:

l. A quick-adjustment connector device that will withstand longitudinal force along its axis without bending and that is suitable for supporting a compression leg of portable scaffolding which comprises, a pair of members to be adjusted longitudinally with respect to each other and defining a joint therebetween, one of said members being a tubular post and the other being an adjustment shaft extending in a telescopic relation within said post, said shaft having a bearing guide part at its inner end turnably and longitudinally-slidably mounted within said post, a latch collar carried by the end portion of said post that is adjacent to the joint and projecting about said shaft at a longitudinally-forwardly spaced-apart position with respect to said bearing part, said latch collar and said shaft having cooperating latching portions and at least one of them having an offset portion along its periphcry to release the latching portions of the other when they are turned relatively with respect to each other, so that said shaft may be moved longitudinally with respect to said post to adjust its position with respect thereto, an operating collar operatively positioned to project along and about said latch collar and about said post and shaft at the joint, an annular control ring adjacent an outer end portion of said latch collar and secured to project radiallyinwardly of one end portion of said operating collar and having portions in a longitudinally-slidable interlatching relationship with said adjustment shaft to turn said shaft and to move longitudinally therealong, the outer end portion of said latch collar and an inner face of said control ring having opposed interlatching portions to lock said shaft against turning movement with respect to said post, said operating collar at its other end portion having a. radially-inwardly projecting flange portion and defining an operating spacing about the adjacent end portion of said post, a spring operatively positioned within the operating spacing in an expanded relation between said flange portion and an inner end portion of said latch collar to urge the opposed interlatching portions of said latch collar and said control ring into a cooperating relation with each other, and said operating collar being positioned for longitudinal movement along the joint to compress said spring and move said opposed interlatching portions out of their cooperating relation with each other, so that said shaft may be turned with respect to said post to move their latching portions into and out of a released relation with each other.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein interfitting tongue and groove portions constitute said opposed interlatching portions of said latch collar and control ring.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said tongue and groove portions have centrally-declining faces which terminate in rounded nose faces.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the latching portions of said shaft and said latch collar are spaced segments about their respective outer and inner periphones.

5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein, said shaft has a pair of opposed substantially flat sides and a pair of opposed threaded sides that constitute its latching and offset portions, and said latch collar has a pair of opposed clearance sides and a pair of opposed threaded sides that constitute its latching and offset portions, the flat and clearance sides cooperating with the threaded sides to release said shaft with respect to said latch collar, and the threaded sides cooperating with each other to lock said shaft in position with respect to said latch collar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 644,391 Woodworth Feb. 27, 1900 1,161,406 Milson Nov. 23, 1915 1,634,276 Stevenson July 5, 1927 2,599,670 Thomas June 10, 1952 2,610,903 Stone Sept. 16, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 655,055 France Apr. 15, 1929

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