Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PLANK SECURING ASSEMBLY FOR SCAFFOLD CONSTRUCTIONS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to scaffolding assemblies with plank hold down
members
that hold planks in place, thus avoiding slippage or pilferage of the planks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(0002] Scaffolds are normally built up using a substantial number of inverted
U-shaped
vertical supports formed of pipes. These inverted U-shaped vertical supports
are
aligned parallel to one another and extend front-to-rear toward the building;
and they
have upper horizontal front-to-rear pipes on which planks are placed.
Triangular bracing
is provided on the U-shaped supports and extending between adjacent supports.
A first
set of ground layer vertical U-shaped supports is provided, and additional
sets of
supports are stacked on top of the first set. To align and secure the upper
sets of
supports to the lower sets, a short guide pipe of reduced diameter is firmly
mounted at
each pipe junction to extend into each pair of vertically aligned pipes.
Further, at each
level, the planks are mounted on the horizontally extending front-to-rear
extending
horizontal pipes associated with each of the U-shaped supports.
[0003] These planks, which are usually nominal 2" x 12" boards about 12 feet
long,
are often "borrowed" or stolen by other workmen at the scaffolding location or
by others.
In addition, when these planks are merely set loosely in place, they may shift
in position
and fall from the scaffolding, and such an occurrence may result in personal
injuries.
[0004] Furthermore, a railing structure is provided at the topmost level
between the
vertical supports to prevent a person, on the planks, from falling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] One object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a simple
arrangement for
holding down scaffolding planks to prevent slippage and pilferage. In
accordance with a
specific illustrated embodiment of the present invention, this is accomplished
by the use
of hold down members formed of material having a substantially constant
thickness and
width and having two ends including, (a) a first end which may be downwardly
offset
and has a hole for mating with a vertical support pipe, and (b) a second end
that is
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substantially U-shaped, the U-shape being defined by three sections of the
material,
wherein a first section and a third section in the three sections has a
predetermined
spacing that is substantially equal to the thickness of the planks. The
substantially U-
shaped end wraps at least partially around the planks, thereby securing them
in place.
(0006] Another object of the invention, as indicated in the related prior art
patent cited
above and in this specification, therefore, is to provide a simple arrangement
for holding
down scaffolding planks to prevent slippage and pilferage. In accordance with
a specific
illustrated embodiment of the present invention, this is accomplished by the
use of hold
down members extending across and in engagement with the planks. These hold
down
members have holes at each end, and these holes have a diameter slightly
greater than
the outer diameter (OD) of the guide pipes at the junctions between vertically
extending
pipes. As the scaffolding is erected, once the first, lower set of U-shaped
supports and
overlying planks are set in place, then the hold down members are mounted on
the
upwardly-extending guide pipes and across the planks. Then, when the next
higher set
of U-shaped supports is mounted onto the lower set, the hold down members are
held
in place between the two sets of pipes, and the planks are securely held in
place. The
above described and many other features and attendant advantages of the
present
invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed
description
when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
(0007] In accordance with broader aspects of the invention, a platform
assembly
including supports, a plurality of platforms, and hold down members to hold
platforms
securely in place may be employed. The vertical supports are formed in
sections with
joints between successive sections, the hold down members are held securely in
place
by the upper and lower vertical supports bearing on the upper and lower
surfaces of the
hold down members at said joints. Clamping hold down members hold down
overlapping platforms where vertical support joints with upper and lower
supports are
not present.
(0008] At the topmost level, where an upwardly extending railing may be
provided on
one side only, the embodiment involving a pipe receiving hole at one end, and
a
substantially U-shaped configuration to go around the planks at the other end,
may be
employed.
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[0009] Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become
apparent
from a consideration of the following detailed description and the
accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scaffolding system built up using a
substantial
number of inverted U-shaped supports with triangular bracing and showing
support
planks and hold down members illustrating the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of an illustrative embodiment
of a
hold down member which is mounted on the upwardly extending guide pipes and
secures the planks which are placed on the horizontal front-to-rear pipes and
is an
enlarged showing of the portion of FIG. 1 identified by the dashed line circle
2.
(0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of different embodiments of the hold down
members.
(0013] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of another illustrative
embodiment of a
hold down member and is an enlarged showing of the portion of FIG. 1
identified by the
dashed line circle 4.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view of another illustrative embodiment of
a hold
down member wherein the hold down member securely holds down two layers of
overlapping planks and is an enlarged showing of the portion of FIG. 1
identified by the
dashed line circle 5.
[0015] FIG. 6 is side view of an illustrative embodiment of a hold down member
which
includes a platform retaining protrusion which allows for the planks to remain
in place
and an inverted U shaped portion that allows for other supports to attach to
the
horizontal front-to-rear pipes.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of FIG. 6.
(0017] FIG. 8 shows the upwardly extending guide pipe which forms part of the
scaffolding system as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.
(0018] FIG. 9 shows a retaining pin for holding the guide pipe and vertical
support
pipes in place.
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[0019] FIG. 10 is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of a hold down
member
which includes a substantially U-shaped end that extends or wraps at least
partially
around the planks in the platform assembly, and another end that mates with a
vertical
bar or pipe. The figure shows, in an exemplary manner, two layers of planks.
[0020] FIG. 11 is a side view of the hold down member of FIG. 10, showing the
substantially U-shaped end for wrapping at least partially around the planks.
The U-
shaped end is dimensioned to secure at least one or more layers of planks .
[0021] FIG. 12 is a top view of the hold down member of the type shown in FIG.
10,
having a hole at one end for mating with a vertical bar or pipe.
[0022] FIG. 13 is a side view of a hold down member of the type shown in FIG.
10,
showing the substantially U-shaped or hook shaped end for wrapping at least
partially
around the planks. The U-shaped end is dimensioned to secure one or more
layers of
planks.
[0023] FIG. 14 is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of a hold down
member
which includes one end having a hook like structure that engages the platform
assembly, and another end that mates with a vertical bar or pipe.
[0024] FIG. 15 is a side view depicting the hook associated with the second
end of the
hold down member of FIG. 14.
[0025] FIG. 16 is a top view of the hold down member of FIG. 14 showing one
end
having a hole that mates with a vertical bar or pipe.
[0026] FIG. 17 is a side view of an embodiment of a hold down member having
two
holes for mating with the front and rear vertical pipes, with the offset
portion of the hold
down member dimensioned to be two planks wide.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
j0027] Initially, the closely related specification of US Pat. No. 6,354,402
will be set
forth in connection with FIGS. 1-9 of the drawings.
[0028] The present invention is directed to scaffolding assemblies with plank
hold
down members that hold planks in place, thus avoiding slippage or pilferage of
the
planks. In particular, the present invention allows for a unitary structure of
scaffolding
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assembly with plank hold down members that hold the planks in place. The
unitary
structure of the scaffolding assembly with hold down members has numerous
positive
effects. First, it allows for the planks to be held securely in place thus
avoiding slippage
and potential personal injuries. Second, it acts as a deterrent against
pilferage of the
planks because the unitary structure of the scaffolding requires that the
scaffolding
assembly be disassembled in order to remove the planks. As a result, pilferage
may
occur only if the time has been taken to substantially disassembly the
scaffolding
assembly, thus creating a deterrent to removing and pilfering the planks.
Third, as
compared with communicated arrangements previously proposed for the same
purpose,
the unitary structure reduces the steps required to assemble a secure
scaffolding
assembly with hold down members thus saving time while still preventing
slippage and
pilferage.
(0029] The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in
the art to
make and use the invention and to set forth the best modes contemplated by the
inventor for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken
in a limiting
sense, but is merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of
the invention.
[0030] By way of example in FIG. 1, the above objects are accomplished by
providing
a scaffolding system built up using a substantial number of inverted U-shaped
supports
with triangular bracing 12. In an embodiment of the invention the scaffolding
assembly is built up using a set of front vertical pipes 14 and a set of rear
vertical pipes
16 where a "set" may include but is not limited to at least two pipes or what
is used by
one skilled in the art. Although alternative embodiments for the scaffolding
assembly
use pipes, many various forms of supports, including but not limited to what
someone
skilled in the art would use, such as supports made of plastic, metal, or
wood, for
example any combination thereof may be used in the assembly of the
scaffolding. In
one embodiment the supports are formed of pipes and these pipes may be made of
various materials including but not limited to what one skilled in the art
would use, for
example metal, plastic, wood or any combination thereof. To construct the
scaffolding,
the inverted U-shaped pipe sections are aligned parallel to one another with
upper
horizontal front-to-rear pipes 18 on which the planks 20 are placed. Although
one
alternative embodiment of the invention uses planks, various other materials
may be
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used as the platform in the assembly of the scaffolding. Thus a "platform" or
"platform
member" may be any material that provides support, including but not limited
to what
someone skilled in the art would use, such as reinforced plastic, heavy
plywood or
metallic beams, plastic sheets, and any combination thereof. Also a single
"platform" or
"plank" may be used instead of multiple "platforms" or "planks". Additional
horizontal,
vertical and diagonal pipes 22 or other supports may be used to provide extra
support
for the scaffolding assemblies.
[0031] As illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 3, illustrative embodiments
of the
hold down members 24 have holes 26 at each end and these holes 26 have a
diameter
slightly greater than the outer diameter (OD) of the guide pipe 28 as
illustrated in FIG. 8.
These guide pipes 28 are used at the junctions 30 between vertically extending
pipes
14 and 16 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4. As the scaffolding is erected, once
the first,
lower set of U-shaped supports 10 and overlying planks 20 are set in place,
then the
hold down members 24 are mounted on the upwardly-extending guide pipes 28 and
across the planks 20. Then, when the next higher set of U-shaped supports 10
is
mounted onto the lower set, the hold down members 24 are clamped in place
between
the two sets of pipes 14 and 16, and the planks 20 are held securely in place.
[0032] As illustrated by way of example in FIG. 2, one embodiment of the
present
invention includes inverted U-shaped hold down members 32 that are mounted on
the
upwardly extending guide pipes 28 and across planks 20. Then, when the next
higher
set of U-shaped supports 10 is mounted onto the lower set, the hold down
member 32
is clamped in place between the two sets of pipes 14 and 16, and planks 20 are
held in
place. In this embodiment, the hold down member 32 has an inverted U shape but
other
shapes may exist, including but not limited to what someone skilled in the art
would do
and any shape that substantially conforms to the shape of the plank or
plattorm.
[0033] As illustrated by way of example in FIG. 4, another embodiment of the
present
invention includes inverted U shaped hold down members 34 with a platform
retaining
protrusion 36 which holds the planks 20 in place. The platform retaining
protrusion 36
securely holds the planks 20 in place while the inverted U-shaped
configuration allows
for other triangular bracing supports 22 to attach to the horizontal front-to-
rear pipes 18.
FIG. 4 demonstrates an embodiment where the support 22 comes from the bottom
and
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attaches to the horizontal front-to-rear pipe 18 but other angles and
directions may
exist, including but not limited to what angle or direction one skilled in the
art would
choose, and any angle or partial angle from 0 to 360 degrees and any direction
which
would allow the support to add stability to the scaffolding assembly.
[0034) As illustrated by way of example in FIG. 5, another embodiment of the
present
invention includes a clamping hold down member 38 wherein the hold down member
38
securely holds down two layers of overlapping planks 20. FIG. 5 demonstrates
an
embodiment where a hinge 40 is used and the clamping hold down member is
securely
fastened with a nut 42 and bolt 44 but other methods of securing and holding
together
the clamping hold down member may exist including but not limited to what one
skilled
in the art would use, such as, a latch, spring, coil, bolt, screw nail, facet,
or any
combination thereof.
[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates the different hold down members 24. FIG. 3
demonstrates the
specific lengths and thickness of the hold down members independently and
relative to
one another but other lengths and thickness may exist, including but not
limited to the
length and thickness chosen by one skilled in the field.
[0036] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are side and bottom views of the hold down member 34
with
platform retaining protrusion 36 illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 8 illustrates the
guide pipe 28
at the junction 30 between vertically extending pipes 14 and 16. FIG. 8
illustrates the
guild pipe 28 with particular, diameter, shape and dimensions but other
diameters,
shapes and dimensions may exist, including but not limited to the diameter,
shape and
dimensions chosen by one skilled in the art. FIG. 9 illustrates a retaining
pin 46 for
holding the guide pipe 28 and vertical support pipes 14 and 16 together. Other
diameters, shapes, materials and dimensions may exists for the retaining pin
including
but not limited to what one skilled in the fields would use. In one embodiment
of the
present invention, the hold down members have length of approximately 38.5
inches, a
height of approximately 2.4 inches and a depth of approximately 2 inches, but
other
dimensions may exist, including but not limited to a length of approximately
37 inches to
39 inches, a height of approximately 1.25 inches to 3.25 inches and a depth of
1 to 3
inches. A length, width and depth used by one skilled in the art may also be
used. In
one embodiment of the present invention, the hold down members have holes 26
with a
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diameter of approximately 1.5 inches and a platform retaining protrusion 36
that is
approximately 5.1 inches from the closest part of the.hold down member hole
26.
[0037] FIG. 10 is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of a hold down
member
500 mounted in a scaffolding assembly 400. Specifically, the scaffolding or
platform
assembly 400 comprises a plurality of planks or platform members 502 resting
partially
on a horizontal pipe 554 connecting the front and rear vertical pipes 550 and
552
respectively. The hold down member 500 is formed of a single bent strip of
metal having
a substantially constant thickness and width and having two ends including,
(i) a first
end 504 that is downwardly offset and has a hole 512 (shown in FIG. 12) which
is
slightly larger than the outer diameter of the coupling member 556 and less
than the
outer diameter of one of the front and rear vertical pipes 550 and 552
respectively, and
(ii) a second end 501 that is substantially U-shaped or hook shaped, the U-
shape being
defined by three sections of the metal, wherein the first section 506 and the
third section
510 have a predetermined spacing, and the second section 508 connects the
first
section 506 and the third section 510. The spacing between the first section
506 and the
third section 510 is adjusted to accommodate at least one or more layers of
planks 502.
[0038] The hold down member 500 is placed over and in engagement with the
planks
502 with the hole 512 at the first end 504 of the hold down member 500
extending
around and mating with the upwardly extending coupling member 556, while the U-
shaped second end 501 wraps at least partially around the planks 502. This
arrangement ensures that the planks 502 are firmly held in place by the hold
down
member 500 thereby precluding slippage or pilferage of the planks 502.
[0039] In the subsequent stage, additional scaffold construction such as a
railing 600
is erected above the prior level with the vertical pipes of the additional
scaffold
construction 600 extending over the coupling member 556, and engaging the top
of the
end 504 of hold down member 500.
[0040] Incidentally, the hold-down member 500' of FIG. 13 is constructed to
extend
over a single layer of planks, as compared with member 500 which extends over
a
double layer of planks.
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(0041] In another embodiment, according to FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the hold down
member 700 is formed of a single bent strip of metal and has a first end 702
and a
second end 706. The first end 702 of the hold down member 700 has a hole 704
(shown in FIG. 16) for mating with one of the set of front and rear vertical
pipes,
whereas the second end 706 has a hook structure 708, as shown in FIG. 15, for
connecting with the scaffolding platform assembly. In a preferred embodiment,
the hook
structure 708 connects with a horizontal support member such as support 18 of
FIG. 2.
This arrangement ensures that the planks 502 are firmly held in place by the
hold down
member 700 thereby precluding slippage or pilferage of the planks 502.
(0042] From a broad perspective, it is be noted that the U-shaped second end
501 of
the hold down member 500 in FIG. 11, and the hook structure 708 of the hold
down
member 700 in FIG. 15 are in the configuration of hooks. Accordingly, the word
"hook"
is applicable to the U-shaped second end 501 of the hold down member 500 as
well as
to the hook structure 708 of the second end 706 of the hold down member 700.
(0043] F1G. 17 is a side view of an embodiment of a hold down member 800
having a
first end 802 and a second end 804. The first end 802 and the second end 804
each
have a hole for mating with a front and rear vertical pipe. The bent or offset
portion 806
of the hold down member 800 is dimensioned to be two planks wide, while other
embodiments shown herein are dimensioned to accommodate three planks. In this
regard, the scaffold configurations using only two planks accommodate trees,
or
protruding structural members such as a balcony, are within OSHA code
requirements,
which only require two planks at heights below seven feet.
[0044] Concerning dimensions, in specific illustrative embodiments, the hold
down
members may be of metal and of about 36" in length, about 2'/Z' wide, and of
about one-
eighth inch thick.
(0045] In conclusion, it is to be understood that the foregoing detailed
description and
accompanying drawings are illustrative of the principles of the invention. In
the
description of the embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings
which form part thereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration
specific
embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is not intended to be
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exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is to
be understood
that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes
may be
made without departing from the scope of the invention. Various changes and
modifications may be employed, for example, but not by limitation, different
shapes,
dimensions and materials of support planks or platforms and scaffolding
supports,
different angles and arrangements of the scaffolding supports and hold down
members
and different attachment, clamping and securing mechanisms for the described
hold
down members, joints between successive sections, and the scaffolding supports
may
be employed. Likewise, methods other than welding, bolting, clamping and using
hinges
may be used, such as nails or other known securing mechanism. It is also noted
that
the offset included in the hold-down member is intended to accommodate the
difference
in height between the upper surface of the planks and coupling member
junction; and
may be adjusted or eliminated to accommodate this difference. Accordingly, the
invention is not limited to this detailed description or to the specific
embodiments
described and shown in the drawings. With respect to the claims, it is the
applicant's
intention that the claims not be interpreted in accordance with the sixth
paragraph of 35
U.S.C. ~ 112 unless the term "means" is followed by a functional statement.
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