US3454131A - Scaffold - Google Patents

Description

y 1969 I w. J. s. JOHNSON ET AL 3,454,131

SCAFFOLD Filed Jan. 26, 1968 Sheet of4 INVENTOR5 WALLACE J.S. JOHNSON 98 y ROBERT E. FISHER W W W ATTORNEYS y 3,1969 w. J.,S. JOHNSON ETAL 3,454,131

SCAFFOLD Filed Jan. 26, less Sheet- 3 of 4 lss'gg les sz.

64 INVENTORS WALLACE J.S. JOHNSON ROBERT E. FISHER ATTORNEYS 1969 w. J. 5. JOHNSON ETAL 3,454,131

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July 8, 1969 SCAFFOLD Sheet Filed Jan. 26, 1968 INVENTORS WALLACE is. JOHNSON ROBERT E. FISHER ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 182115 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A scaffold having a framework made up of a plurality of vertical members and a plurality of brace members each running between a pair of vertical members, a pair of horizontal platforms one above the other, the upper one having an opening between it and the adjacent framework, and a pair of ladders, one of which runs from intermediate the ends of the lower platform to one side of the framework, or adjacent that side, and into the opening, the other of which runs from intermediate the ends of the upper platform upward to an opposite side of the framework.

Background of the invention This invention relates to scaffolding, and more particularly to a scaffold which is capable of being easily erected and dismantled by a person moving only within the scaffold structure.

In the prior art, various scaffold structures having ladders within their frameworks are known (see, for example, the United States patent to Blomgren et al., No. 69,168, and German Patents 23,199 and 725,709). These devices allow the user of the scaffold to remain within the framework thereof while climbing up and down. This is obviously safer than the form of scaffold which the user must climb along the outside. However, it will be noted that none of these patents disclose a scaffold which, while being strong and compact, can be completely constructed by one climbing only within it to relatively great height. The device of Blomgren et a1. obviously must be preconstructed to a great extent before the scaffold is actually set up at its site. The German Patents 23,199 and 725,709 disclose no simple manner of construction, and require a great deal of climbing about each structure as it goes up, a relatively unsafe manner of construction.

It is an object of this invention to provide a scaffold which can easily be constructed by one climbing only within the structure as it is constructed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a scaffold which, while fulfilling the above object, can be built to any reasonable height.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a scaffold which, while fulfilling the above objects, is extremely simple, compact and strong.

Summary of the invention Broadly stated, the scaffold comprises a framework made up of a plurality of substantially vertical members and a plurality of brace members each interconnecting a pair of substantially vertical members, the framework defining a base and first and second substantially vertically extending sides. Included are platform means disposed in the framework extending from the first side to the second side thereof and defining with the framework an opening within the framework. Further included are first ladder means extending upward from adjacent the base and from intermediate the first and second sides toward the first side and into the opening defined by the platform means and the framework. Means are included which extend from the first ladder means intermediate M 3,454,131 Patented July 8, 1969 the first and second sides to the first side. Included are second ladder means extending upward from the platform means intermediate the first and second sides to the second side.

Brief description of the drawings These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the scaffold;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, with a portion removed, of a ladder used in the scaffold;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with the scaffold built to a higher level;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the scaffold shown in FIG. 4, with certain variations thereto;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but with other variations thereto;

FIG. 8 is a view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown at 10 a scaffold. Part of the scaffold 10 is a framework 12. The framework 12 includes vertical members 14, 16, 18, 20, which may each be of one piece or of a series of pieces fixed together. The members 14, 16, 18 and 20 have locking casters 22, 24, 26, 28 fixed thereto respectively. Horizontal braces 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 each interconnect vertical members 18 and 20, and horizontal braces 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 each interconnect vertical members 14 and 16.

Diagonal cross braces 50, 52 each interconnect vertical members 14, 20 and diagonal cross braces 54, 56 each interconnect vertical members 16, 18. These members and braces make up the framework 12 of the scaffold 10.

A pair of longitudinal braces 58, 60 each extend between braces 30 and 40. Longitudinal braces 58, 60 attach to braces 38, 40 by means of members 62, '64 fixed on the ends of longitudinal brace 58 and members 66, 68 fixed on the ends of longitudinal brace 60. One of these members is shown in FIG. 5. As shown therein, member 62 is substantially U-shaped to mate with brace 40 and rest on it. An extendable member 70 allows the member 62 to be locked to the brace 40. The other members 64, 66, 68 operate in a similar manner. If desired, members 62, 64, 66, 68 need not include extendable members so that no locking takes place, the U-shaped members 6 2, 64, 66, 68 merely resting on the respective braces.

Fixed to the longitudinal braces 58, 60 is a platform 72 horizontally disposed in the framework 12 and extending from brace 30 to brace 40.

A second pair of longitudinal braces 74, 76 each extend between braces 38 and 48. These longitudinal braces 74, 76 attach to braces 38, 48 by means of members 78, 80, 82, 84 which correspond to members 62, 64, 66, 68. Fixed to the longitudinal braces 74, 76 is a platform 86 horizontally disposed in the framework 12 and extending from brace 38 to brace 48. It will be seen that the platform 86 defines with the framework 12 an opening 88 adjacent the platform 86.

Extending from the platform 58 intermediate braces 30, 40 and to the brace 48 is a ladder 90 which extends toward the opening 88. The ladder 90 is hung on the brace 48 by means of members 92, 94 similar to members 62, 64, 66, and 68 and rests on pivotal feet 96, 98 on the platform 58.

The scaffold 10 is dimensioned so that its highest point may be reached by a person standing on the ground. The

scaffold may thus be constructed in any reasonable order by a single person in complete safety.

FIG. 3 shows the scaffold 10 with another level 110 built thereon. The level 110 is made up of vertical members 14, 16', 18', 20 which fix to and extend from vertical members 14, 16, 18, 20 respectively. Horizontal braces 112, 114, 116, 118 each interconnect vertical members 14 and 16', and horizontal braces 120, 122, 124-, 126 each interconnect vertical members 18 and 20'. Diagonal cross braces 128, 130 interconnect braces 38, 122 and braces 48, 118 respectively, and diagonal cross braces 132, 134 interconnect braces 112, 126 and braces 118, 120 respectively. These members and braces add to framework 12 to make up a framework 126 of the complete scaffold of FIG. 3.

A pair of longitudinal braces 138, 140 each extend between braces 126, 118. These longitudinal braces 138, 140 attach thereto by means of members 142, 144, 146, 148 similar to member 62. Fixed to the longitudinal braces 138, 140 is a platform 150 horizontally disposed in the framework 136 and extending from brace 126 to brace 118. It will be seen that the platform 150 defines an opening 152 adjacent the platform 150.

Extending from the platform 86 intermediate braces 38, 48 is a ladder 154 which extends toward the opening 152. The ladder 154 is hung on brace 118 by means of members 156, 158 similar to members 62, 64, 66, 68 and rests on pivotal feet 160, 162 similar to pivotal feet 96, 98 on the platform 86.

FIG. 3 shows a guard rail structure 164 built on the second level 110. This guard rail structure is made up of vertical members 14", 16", '18", 20 which fix to and extend from the vertical members 14', 16, 18', 20" respectively. Horizontal braces 166, 168 each interconnect vertical members 14" and 16", and horizontal braces 170, 172 each interconnect vertical members 18" and 20". Diagonal cross brace 174 interconnects horizontal braces 166 and 172, and diagonal cross brace 176 interconnects horizontal braces 168, 170. Longitudinal braces 177, 179 each interconnect horizontal braces 168, 172.

As now explained, the scaffold of FIG. 2, and higher levels thereon, may be easily and safely constructed. As stated previously, the scaffold 10 of FIG. 1 is dimensioned so that its highest point may be reached by a person standing on the ground. The scaffold 10' may thus be easily and safely constructed by connecting the vertical members 14, 16, 18, 20 to the braces 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56. The longitudinal braces 58, 60, 74, 76 and platforms 72, 86 may then be mounted.

If the second level 110 of FIG. 3 is desired, it may be constructed in a quite simple manner. First, the vertical members 14', 16', 18', 20' and braces 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134 may be carried up to platform 86 by a person ascending ladder 90 and assembled. The person then descends ladder 90 and carries up ladder 154, which he mounts on platform 86 and brace 118. The person then descends ladder 90 and ascends it with longitudinal braces 138, 140 and platform 150, which he mounts between braces 118, 126.

It will be noted that, during this construction, the person so constructing moves only within the scaffold framework as it is being constructed. This is made possible because of the unique combination of the disposition of ladders and openings defined by the platforms and framework. The fact that each ladder extends from between the ends of a platform to a side of the framework, with each successive ladder leading to an opposite side of the framework, allows each platform to be used as a landing by one ascending or descending the ladders. This disposition of ladders, it should also be noted, allows a standard size ladder to be used no matter what the length of platforms used. This is so because the ladders merely rest on platforms and are connected to only one side of the frame. The horizontally disposed platforms, it has been found, add greatly to the stiffening of the scaffold.

It will be apparent that additional levels of scaffolding and/or guard rail structure such as 164 may be built in the same manner, with the person passing only within the scaffold previously built.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 4. This scaffold 210* is made up of vertical members 212, 214, 216, 218, braces 220, 222, 224, 226, 228 intercon necting vertical members 212 and 214, braces 230, 232, 234, 236, 238 interconnecting vertical members 216 and 218, and cross braces 240, 242 similar to the previous embodiment. However, braces 220-238 are substantially the width of platform 244 and platform 246, which is about one-half the width of the previously described scaffold. An opening 248 is defined by platform 246 and the framework. A ladder 250 leads into the opening 248 and is attached to brace 238- by members 251, 253, which are similar to member 62, and which incorporate extendable members similar to member 70. The opening 248 may be covered by a trapdoor after a person has ascended the ladder 250 and is on platform 246. The person may then move within the scaffold 210 to build additional levels 254 and a guard rail structure 256 thereon similar to the previous embodiment.

A variation of the scaffold shown in FIG. 4 is shown in FIG. 6. This embodiment does away with the platform 244 and in its place provides a pair of support braces 258 and 260, each of which extends from brace 230 to the ladder 250. This results in an even simpler construction than in the previous embodiments.

FIG. 7 shows yet another variation of the scaffold shown in FIG. 4. Instead of ladder 2'50 locking the brace 238, it attaches to a brace 262 on which rests a portion 246A of platform 246. This allows the person ascending the ladder 250 to step directly on the platform portion 246A instead of having to pull his feet back as he would in the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 6.

In this embodiment the ladder 250 attaches to a brace 262 which makes up part of the support structure of platform 246. It will be noted that, if platform 246 is not locked to brace 238, but merely rests thereon, as may sometimes be the case, locking the ladder 250 to the brace 262 means that upward movement of the ladder 250 results in upward movement of the platform 246, obviously an undesirable result. This upward movement of the ladder 250 may occur if a person steps on platform 244. bowing it to a certain extent, and then gets off the platform 244. As this platform 244 moves back up to its original position, it will urge the ladder upward. This is no problem when the ladder 250 is locked to brace 238, since that brace 238 is fixed and no lifting will occur.

However, lifting of the platform 246 would occur in similar circumstances if the platform 246 was not locked to the braces on which it rests and the ladder 250 was locked to brace 262. To overcome this problem, U-shaped members 264, 266 (FIG. 8) are provided on the ladder 250 to hook over brace 262 to support the ladder 250 while allowing upward movement of the ladder 250 relative to brace 262 (and this platform 246). Cut out p01- tions 268, 270 are provided in platform portion 246A to allow such upward movement. Thus, if a person steps on platform 244 and then steps off, member 264 will be carried from position A to position B (FIG. 8), and platform 246 will remain in proper position. The ladder 250 may then, of course, be moved back to its proper position.

As pointed out previously, the forms of scaffold described lend themselves to easy and safe construction. This is so mainly because of the zigzag disposition of the ladders (i.e., successive ladders leading to opposite sides of the frame), which allows the platforms to support the ladders and to be used as landings for the ladders they support. Since the platforms of the scaffold are used as landings, no other landings need be provided, and consequently the platforms can be relatively of large width for a given scaffold (i.e., room need not be allowed for separate landings, since the platforms also serve the purpose of landings). Also, since the ladders do not go from one side of the framework to the other, a standard ladder length may be used for any length scaffold, or various length ladders may be used in the same scaffold without problems. The platforms, as pointed out previously, further serve as cross braces to greatly stiffen the structure.

It will be seen that herein is provided a scaffold which can be easily constructed to any reasonable height by one moving only within the structure as it is being assembled. The scaffold provided is extremely simple, compact and strong, and can, of course, be constructed in an extremely safe manner. Obviously, the invention can be carried out in many different ways, and the embodiments shown and described herein are merely illustrative. Consequently, we do not desire to be limited by the embodiments shown and described, but only by the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A scaffold comprising:

(a) a framework made up of a plurality of substantially vertical members and a plurality of brace members each interconnecting a pair of substantially vertical members, said framework defining a base and first and second substantially vertical sides;

(b) platform means disposed in the framework and extending from the first side to the second side thereof and defining with the framework an opening within the framework;

(0) first ladder means extending upward from adjacent the base and from intermediate the first and second sides toward the first side and into the opening defined by the platform means and the framework;

(d)' means extending from the first ladder means intermediate the first and second sides to the first side; and

(e) second ladder means extending upward from the platform means intermediate the first and second sides to the second side.

2. A scaffold according to claim 1, wherein the first ladder means extends to adjacent but spaced from the first side.

3. A scaffold according to claim 1, wherein the first ladder means extends to the first side.

4. A scaffold according to claim 1, Wherein the means extending from the first ladder means intermediate the first and second sides to the first side comprises brace means and extending from the ladder means to the first side.

5. A scaffold according to claim 1, wherein the means extending from the first ladder means intermediate the first and second sides to the first side comprises another platform extending from the first side to the ladder means and further to the second side.

6. A scaffold according to claim 1, wherein are included means for selectively closing the opening defined by the second platform means and the framework and becoming part of the second platform when the opening is so closed.

7. A scaffold comprising:

(a) a framework comprising first, second, third and fourth substantially vertical members, first, second, and third substantially horizontal braces each interconnecting the first and second vertical members, said second brace being above said first brace, said third brace being above said second brace, fourth and fifth sustantially horizontal braces each interconnecting the third and fourth substantially vertical members, said fifth brace being above said fourth brace, and a plurality of braces interconnecting the second and third, and fourth and first, substantially vertical members respectively;

(b) a first substantially horizontal platform extending from the first brace to the fourth brace and being detachably secured thereto;

(0) a second substantially horizontal platform extending from the second brace to the fifth brace and being detachably secured thereto, and defining with the framework an opening within the framework adjacent the second platform;

(d) a first ladder extending from the first platform intermediate the first and fourth braces and toward the opening to the fifth brace, the first ladder being detachably secured to the fifth brace; and

(e) a second ladder extending from the second platform intermediate the second and fifth braces and to the third bnace, the second ladder being detachably secured to the third brace.

8. A scaffold according to claim 7, wherein are included means for selectively closing the opening defined by the second platform and the framework and becoming part of the second platform when the opening is so closed.

9. A scaffold according to claim 7, wherein the first substantially horizontal platform defines with the framework another opening substantially directly below the second substantially horizontal platform, the opening defined by the second substantially horizontal platform and the framework being substantially directly above the first substantially horizontal platform.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 69,168 9/ 1867 Blongreen et al 182-179 279,347 6/1883 Creecy et a1. 18283 388,829 9/1888 Clark 182-83 2,941,616 6/1960 Grover et al 182179 3,011,586 12/1961 Harvey 182-179 3,221,837 12/ 1965 Fisher 182-115 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Exatminer.

U.S. Cl. X.R. l82ll9, 178

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