US3509966A - Scaffold structure - Google Patents

Description

I -R. L. sARNo 3,509,966 SCAFFOLD STRUCTURE I Filed March 14, 1968 May 5, 1970 Jrzwmor Q/cfidrd .21 2547710 P [2. WWWQ L United States Patent U.S. Cl. 182119 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A scaffold structure having a pair of spaced end frames of conventional design. A pair of platform support assemblies are adjustably mounted on the end frames and adapted to support a platform member therebetween. Each support assembly is comprised of a horizontal platform support member having a pair of elongated connector members fastened to opposite ends thereof. Such connector members are provided with a plurality of vertically spaced notches positioned for engagement with the horizontal cross members of the end frames. The sides of the connector members together with a pair of slidable locking pins serve to securely hold the support assemblies on the end frames in any desired vertical position and further serve to facilitate easy adjustment of the platform from one vertical position to another.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention This invention relates to scaffold structure of the type normally employed to provide a movable work platform which can be vertically adjusted.

(2) Description of the prior art Prior structures of this type usually employ some kind of adjustable platform support which require drilled openings in the end frames and pin type connections of one type or another (see US. Pats. Nos. 2,335,046 and 2,593,122). This invention eliminates such openings and threaded pins and provides an easier, quicker means for making a vertical adjustment of the work platform.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A scaffold structure comprising a pair of spaced end frames each having a pair of vertical members and a plurality of horizontal cross supportsjA pair of platform supporting assemblies areadjustably mounted on the end frames. Each support assembly includes a horizontal platform support having a pair of elongated vertically extending connector members fastened to opposite ends thereof. The connector members each have a plurality of vertically spaced bearing surfaces thereon adapted for engagement with the end frame cross supports. The sides of the connector members together with a pair of movable locking assemblies serve to securely hold the platform support assemblies on the end frames at the desired vertical position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation view (with parts broken away) of a scaffold structure embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the scaffold structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the side bar assemblies.

3,509,966 Patented May 5, 1970 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In its simplest form the scaffold structure of this invention is comprised of a pair of spaced end (or ladder) frames 10, 10 and a pair of side bar assemblies (or platform supports) 12, 12 mounted therebetween. End frames 10, 10 (FIG. 2) are comprised of pairs of vertical members 14, 14 and a plurality of horizontal cross support members 16 extending therebetween. In the preferred embodiment, vertical members 14 and horizontal members 16 are made of tubular steel construction with the cross members fastened to the vertical members by welding.

To facilitate portability of the scaffold, wheel assemblies 18 may be removably mounted in the lower ends of each pair of vertical members 14 of the end frames 10.

Each side bar assembly 12 is comprised of a horizontal cross support member 20 having a pair of elongated, vertically extending connector members 22 fastened to opposite ends thereof by welding or other suitable means. Cross support members 20 may be of any suitable design such as that shown in FIG. 4 wherein each member 20 is made from a formed steel strip of substantially channel-shape having an inwardly extending lip 24 thereon for supporting a platform 23 between the two side bar assemblies. Angle brace members 25 are provided to strengthen the connection between cross supports 20 and connector members 22.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each connector member 22 is made from a formed steel strip having wall portions 26 and 28 extending at an angle of approximately with respect to each other. Cross support members 20 are fastened to connector members 22 by welding the ends of members 20 to the upper portions of wall 26 of members 22. When thus connected, walls 26 extend at right angles to the faces of members 20 while walls 28 extend substantially parallel to such faces.

Wall portions 28 are provided with a plurality of vertically spaced notches 30 and a pair of integral retaining ears 32, 32 which extend parallel to wall portions 26.

As shown in the drawings (FIGS. 1-3), side bar assemblies are adjustably mounted on end frames 10 by positioning side bar assemblies so that walls 28, 26 and ears 32 of each connector member 22 will partially encircle vertical members 14 of the end frames with a notch 30 of each connector engaged with a cross support member 16.

To securely and removably retain the platform support assemblies '12 on end frames 10, each connector member 22 is provided with a locking pin assembly 34, the details of which are clearly shown in FIG. 3. Such assembly is comprised of a bracket member 36 welded or otherwise fastened to wall 26 of connector member 22 having a pair of aligned openings in which a pin member 38 is slidably mounted. Pin 38 is provided with curved handle portion 40 and a retaining key 41. The pin is biased to its locking position (FIG. 3) by a spring 42. In such position the end portion 44 of the pin serves to securely retain the con nector members 22 on the vertical tubes 14 as shown in FIG. 3. Pin 38, it is noted, is positioned so that it extends at an angle with respect to the wall 26 and ears 32 of connector 22. This is done to facilitate easy adjustment of the platform support assemblies 22 on the structure. It should be understood, however, that pin 38 could be positioned for movement parallel to wall 28 if so desired.

Assume it is desired to adjust the height of platform 23 from the position shown in the drawings to some other position. The first step would be to remove the platform from between lips 24 of support members 20. The next step is to disconnect one platform supporting assembly from the end frames. This is accomplished by first retracting pins 38 by pulling on handles 40 thereof to thus allow connector members 22 to slide freely away from vertical posts 14 of the frame. By sliding one end of assembly 12 further back than the other end, the notches 30 will clear the cross supports 16 and thus allow movement of the assembly 12 to a different level where it can be again connected to the frame by reversing the steps outlined above. The platform 23 is then reinstalled at the new level.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that with the various parts in assembled position, connector members 22 (and the load carried thereby) will be supported on the end frames by the engagement of frame cross supports 16 in notches 30, said notches serving to provide spaced bearing surfaces adapted for engagement with the end frame cross supports. It will also be noted that all side movement of the connector strip 22 in a horizontal plane is restricted by the combined action of connector walls 26, 28, ears 32 and locking pins 38 whichtogether serve to completely surround the vertical posts 14 of the end frames 10.

While only one set of end frames is shown in the drawings, it should be understood that additional sets can be added to increase the height of the overall structure. This can be done by the use of extension pins of conventional design (not shown) which are inserted into the mating ends of vertical posts 14 of the end frames. Similarly, additional sets of platform support assemblies 12 may be employed if desired to provide platforms at different levels with a single pair of end frames 10.

The above-described structure provides relatively easy and fast height adjustment of the platform level with the locking pins arranged for positive engagement and clearly exposed for quick, visual check. The structure is versatile in that it'can be used on ramps, stairs, etc. by simply locking the platform supports at different levels on the end frames to provide a level platform even though the end frames are supported at different levels.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modificaiions may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended :laims.

What is claimed is:

1. A scaffold structure comprising:

a pair of spaced end frames each having a pair of vertical members and a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal cross supports extending between the inside lateral faces of said vertical members;

a pair of platform supporting assemblies adjustably mounted on said end frames and adapted to support a platform means therebetween;

each of said supporting assemblies being comprised of a horizontally extending cross support having at each of its ends a connector member by means of which said cross support is adjustably secured to said end frames;

each of said connector members being comprised of a vertically extending U-shaped (in horizontal plane) bracket of which the inner flange engages the inside face of a vertically extending member of one of said end frames, of which the outside flange engages the outside face of said vertically extending frame mem- 65 is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced notches to provide a plurality of fore and aft extending bearing surfaces, any one of which is adapted to engage a cross member of said end frame; and each of said supporting assemblies being further characterized by a locking mechanism at each end for securely locking said connector members at any given vertical position on said end frames, said locking mechanisms serving to prevent movement of said cross supports in a laterally inward direction in respect to said vertically extending members of said end frames.

2. The scaffold structure of claim 1 in which each of said locking mechanism is comprised of a bracket, a pin slidably mounted therein, said pin in its locked position being adapted to engage the outside lateral face of a vertically extending member of said end frame, and a spring means adapted to bias said pin in its locked position.

3. A scaffold structure comprising:

a pair of spaced end frames each comprising a pair of vertically extending members having a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal cross supports extending between the inside lateral faces of said vertical members;

a pair of platform supporting assemblies adjustably mounted on said end frames and adapted to support a platform means therebetween;

each of said supporting assemblies being comprised of a horizontally extending cross support having at each of its ends a connector member by means of which said cross support is adjustably secured to said end frames; and

each of said connector members being comprised of a vertically extending U-shaped (in horizontal plane) bracket of which the inner flange engages the inside face of a vertically extending member of one of sai end frames, of which the outside flange engages the outside face of said vertically extending frame member and of which the web engages theinside lateral faces of said vertically extending frame members and is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced notches to provide a plurality of fore and aft extending bearing surfaces, any one of which is adapted to engage a cross member of said end frame.

4. The scaffold structure of claim 3 wherein each of said connector members includes a locking mechanism for securely holding said connector members in assembled position at any given vertical position on said end 50 frames, said locking mechanism serving to prevent movement of said cross supports in a laterally inward direction in respect to said vertically extending members of said end frames.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 653,953 5/1951 Great Britain.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner

Images