Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02423411 2003-04-04
SCAFFOLD SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a scaffold system and more
particularly to a system comprising a plurality of scaffolding elements for
supporting
planking material spanning therebetween in either a wall position adjacent a
wall
structure or in a roof position for use as a fall restraint device and
material support
on a roof structure.
BACKGROUND
Injury to workers is commonly of concern in the construction industry.
Accordingly there is an increasing requirement for employers in the
construction
industry to provide fall protection for their workers when working on roof
structures or
other elevated environments. Main areas of concern are workers falling from
elevations which may include such activities as setting roof trusses or
otherwise
working on the roof of a building structure. Readily supporting workers both
in
preparation for assembly of a roof structure arid working on the actual roof
itself is
desirable.
SUMMARY
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
scaffold system comprising a plurality of scaffolding elements for supporting
planking
material spanning between adjacent scaffolding elements, each scaffolding
element
comprising:
an elongate upright extending in a respective longitudinal direction;
and
a base arm supported on the upright to project outwardly transversely
to the longitudinal direction to a free end spaced outwardly from the upright,
the free
end of the base arm including mounting means for securement to a supporting
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surface, the base arm being supported for sliding movement in the longitudinal
direction of the upright;
the scaffolding elements being usable in.:
a roof position in which there is provided anchoring means for
selectively restricting movement of each base arm in relation to the
respective
upright for supporting the uprights on an inclined supporting surface
comprising a
roof structure whereby the planking material may be supported to span between
the
base arms of the scaffolding elements; and
a wall position in which there is provided an auxiliary arm for
being supported on each upright spaced in the longitudinal direction from the
base
arm to project laterally outwardly to a free end spaced outwardly from the
upright,
the free end of the auxiliary arm including mounting means for securement to
the
supporting surface whereby the free ends of both the base arm and the
auxiliary arm
of each upright may be secured to an upright supporting surface comprising a
wall
structure and whereby the planking material may be supported to span between
the
auxiliary arms of adjacent scaffolding elements.
The use of multiple scaffolding elements each having an adjustable
sliding base arm which can be fixed by the anchoring means at various
positions
permits the uprights to be supported in a vertical orientation on various
inclinations
of roof structures. A barrier along the lower edge of a roof structure can
thus be
readily formed by spanning planking material between the base arms or by
providing
an additional railing structure spanning the uprights. In an alternate use,
providing
both a base arm and an auxiliary arm permits the upright to be supported
adjacent a
wall structure for readily spanning planking material between the auxiliary
arms
spaced upwardly from the ground to conveniently support workers thereon.
Providing an auxiliary arm and an adjustable base arm on the same upright
readily
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permits the scaffolding element to be used in either the roof position or the
wall
position described herein.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided
a scaffold system comprising a plurality of scaffolding elements for
supporting
planking material spanning between adjacent scaffolding elements, each
scaffolding
element comprising:
an elongate upright extending in a respective longitudinal direction;
a base arm supported on the upright to project outwardly transversely
to the longitudinal direction to a free end spaced outwardly from the upright,
the free
end of the base arm including mounting means for securement to a supporting
surface, the base arm being supported for sliding movement in the longitudinal
direction of the upright; and
anchoring means for selectively restricting movement of each base
arm in relation to the respecfiive upright for supporting the uprights on an
inclined
supporting surface comprising a roof structure;
whereby the planking material may be supported to span between the
base arms of the scaffolding elements.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided
a scaffold system comprising a plurality of scaffolding elements for
supporting
planking material spanning between adjacent scaffolding elements, each
scaffolding
element comprising:
an elongate upright extending in a respective longitudinal direction;
a base arm supported on the upright to project outwardly transversely
to the longitudinal direction to a free end spaced outwardly from the upright,
the free
end of the base arm including mounting means for securement to a supporting
surface; and
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an auxiliary arm for being supported on each upright spaced in the
longitudinal direction from the base arm to project laterally outwardly to a
free end
spaced outwardly from the upright, the free end of the auxiliary arm including
mounting means for securement to the supporting surface;
whereby the free ends of bath the base arm and the auxiliary arm of
each upright may be secured to ar7 upright supporting surface comprising a
wall
structure; and
whereby the planking material may be supported to span between the
auxiliary arms of adjacent scaffolding elements.
The mounting means at the free end of each base arm preferably
comprises a mounting plate having mounting apertures therein which is
supported
for relative pivotal movement on the base arm. The mounting plate is
preferably
pivotal through a range of inclinations relative to the base arm including the
wall
position in which the mounting plate lies substantially parallel to the
longitudinal
direction of the respective upright.
When the base arm of each scaffolding element includes a tube for
slidably receiving of the respective upright therethrough, the tube and
upright may
have respective mating cross-sections for restricting relative rotation
therebetween.
For additional stability, each scaffolding element may include a foot
support fixed to a bottom end of the upright, opposite the auxiliary arm and
lying
perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the upright.
Particularly in the roof position, the upright of each scaffolding element
preferably includes a plurality of railing apertures spaced apart in the
longitudinal
direction and formed to extending through the upright transversely to a
direction of
the respective base arm. The railing apertures are accordingly arranged to
slidably
receive railing members therethrough which span between adjacent scaffolding
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elements for additional for protection on a roof structure by forming an
upright
barrier.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a single scaffolding element adjacent
a wall structure in the wall position.
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the scaffolding element in the roof
position.
Figure 3 is a front elevational view of a plurality of scaffolding elements
with planking material and railing elements spanning between adjacent
scaffolding
elements in the roof position.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the base arm.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the auxiliary wall arm.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a scaffold
system comprising a plurality of scaffolding elements, each being designated
by
reference character 10. The scaffolding elements 10 are arranged for
supporting
planking material 12 spanning therebetween in either a wall position as shown
in
figure 1 or a roof position as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The scaffold system
is
primarily for supporting workers therean in elevated areas in the construction
industry. When supported in the roof position the scaffold system may also be
used
as a barrier including railing elements 14 spanning between the scaffolding
elements
in a fall restraint system.
Each scaffolding element 10 includes an upright 16 in the form of an
elongate rigid tube of square cross section which extends in a longitudinal
direction
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from a first lower end 18 to a second upper end 20. A foot support 22 is
provided at
the first lower end of the upright in the form of a beam supported
perpendicularly on
the end of the upright 16 by a pair of braces 24 spanning between the upright
and
the free ends of the beam. The beam of the foot support 22 is generally square
in
cross section forming a rigid tube which is fixed with respect to the upright
by
welding or other suitable mounting mechanisms.
A base arm 26 is supported on the upright 16 for sliding movement in
the longitudinal direction of the upright. The base arm 26 generally comprises
a rigid
channel having a pair of spaced apart sides 28 and a flat upper surface 30
spanning
between the top edges of the sides 28. A slider tube 32 is supported at an
inner end
34 of the base arm so that an opening therethrough extends generally
perpendicularly to the flat upper surface of the base arm. The slider tube 32
is
square in cross section having similar dimensions to the upright 16 for
slidably
receiving the mating cross section of the upright therethrough.
The orientation of the slider tube is fixed with respect to the upper
surface 30 of the base arm such that the surface of the base arm lies
perpendicular
to the longitudinal direction of the upright for supporting planking material
12
thereon. The length of the base arm 26 is suitably arranged to permit a pair
of two
by ten beams to be laid flat side by side on the upper surface 30. A
reinforcement
tube 36 is mounted at the free end 38 of the base arm between the sides 28 of
the
base arm for added strength at the free end. The base arm is formed of a
folded
plate metal which receives the slider tube 32 and the reinforcement tube 36
therein
by welding or other suitable fastening so that the tubes are fixed with
respect o the
sides 28 and the upper surface 30 of the base arm.
A pivot plate 40 is pivotally supported an the free end 38 of the base
arm 26. The pivot plate 40 includes a pair of parallel mounting plates 42
formed on
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opposing sides of the pivot plate at an inner end thereof for mounting on the
base
arm. The mounting plates 42 are suitably spaced for receiving the free end of
the
base arm therebetween for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis of a
fastener
received through co-operating apertures in the mounting plates 42 and the free
end
38 of the base arm including the reinforcement tube 36..
The pivot plate itself extends in a longitudinal direction from the inner
end to a free end thereof for locating a plurality of apertures towards the
free end,
offset both laterally and longitudinally from one another for receiving
fasteners
therethrough to secure the pivot plate to a supporting surface. The pivot
plate is
pivotal through a range of inclinations relative to the upright including a
parallel
position in which the pivot plate is parallel to the longitudinal direction of
the upright
for use in the wall position of Figure 1.
In the wall position, the base arm 25 is slide downwardly to its lowest
position on the upright adjacent the fact support 22 for anchoring using a
releasable
anchor pin 44 which is received through ca-operating apertures in the slider
tube 32
of the base arm and the upright 16. When the pin 44 is received through the co-
operating apertures, the base arm is fixed in relation to the upright.
In the roof position, the pin 44 is released to permit the base arm to be
adjustably positioned in the longitudinal direction of the upright so that the
upright
may be positioned vertically when the font support 22 and the pivot plate 44
are both
engaged on an inclined roof supporting surface. A plurality of transverse
apertures
are located in the upright at spaced positions in the longitudinal direction
for
receiving the pin 44 therethrough corresponding to various supporting surface
inclinations. Once the desired position of the base arm is located the pin 44
is again
used to anchor and fix position of the base arm relative to the upright.
Further
fastening of the pivot plate 40 to the supporting surface using suitable
fasteners,
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preferably screws, permits the upright to be secured in the roof position.
Once in the roof position, the railing elements 14 may also be
supported to span between adjacent scaffolding elements. The railing elements
are
supported by a rail support plate 46 in the form of an elongate plate which is
positioned parallel and spaced alongside an upper half of the upright 16. A
plurality
of mounting rods 48 connect the rail support plate 46 to the upright at a
plurality of
spaced positions in the longitudinal direction of the upright. The spaced
defined
between each adjacent pair of rods 48 defines transverse railing apertures 50
extending through the upright with rod spacing being arranged such that each
railing
aperture 50 is suitably sized to receive a conventional two by four wood beam
when
the wood beams are arranged to span between adjacent scaffolding elements 10.
The rail support plate 46 includes a fastener aperture formed therein in
alignment
with each of the transverse railing apertures 50 for anchoring the railing
elements
within the respective railing apertures.
An auxiliary wall arm 52 is provided for use in the wall position of figure
1. The auxiliary wall arm 52 is similarly supported on the upright 16 and has
a
length which is approximately equal to that of the base arm 26. The auxiliary
wall
arm 52 is an elongate member having a pair of sides 54 which are joined by an
upper surface 56 spanning between top edges of the sides 54. An inner end of
the
wall arm 52 includes an opening formed therethrough for slidably receiving the
upright and the rail support plate 46 therethrough to permit the wall arm 52
to be
slidable in the longitudinal direction of the upright.
A pair of co-operating apertures are formed in each side 54 of the wall
arm at the inner end thereof in alignment with the opening receiving the
upright
therethrough. The pairs of apertures formed in both sides are aligned with one
another with each aperture being spaced in the longitudinal direction of the
upright.
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The upright includes a plurality of co-operating apertures formed in pairs at
spaced
positions therealong for selectively securing the wall arm to the upright by
receiving
pins 60 through the wall arm and the upright at one of the spaced positions
therealong.
Accordingly height of the wall arm relative to the upright may be
adjusted depending upon the selected co-operating pair of apertures in the
upright to
be secured to the apertures in the wall arm. Securing the wall arm with a pair
of
apertures ensures that the wall arm is fixed relative to the upright both in
longitudinal
position and angular orientation such that the upper surface 56 remains
perpendicular to the langitudinal direction of the upright.
At the free end of the wall arm, the sides 54 project in a longitudinal
direction of the arm beyond the upper surface to define a pair of end portions
58
which are parallel and suitably spaced from one another to receive the
narrower
dimension of a conventional two by four wood beam snugly therebetween.
Fastener
apertures are located in both end portions 58 for securement to an upright two
by
four beam received therebetween when k>eing supported adjacent an upright wall
structure as in Figure 1. Planking material in the wall positian is arranged
to span
between the upper surfaces 56 of the wall arms 52 of adjacent scaffolding
elements.
Height of the planking material is thus adjusted by selecting a desired
longitudinal
position of the wall are along the upright and by subsequent securement of the
wall
arm in a fixed position by releasable pins 60 received through the co-
operating
apertures.
Using the companents described herein, the scaffolding elements 10
can be used in either the wall position ar the roof position as shown in the
accompanying figures. In the wall position, attachment of both the wall arm
and the
base arm to a framed wall structure permits an interior perimeter wall
scaffold to be
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formed in which a work platform is provided for use by workers to layout and
set
trusses on the exterior walls of a building structure from within the interior
of the
structure. Accordingly workers are not required to balance along the top edges
of
perimeter walls when setting roof trusses as was previously required.
Additional
work in the general area at the base of the roof, including installation of
fascia
boards and initial sheathing on the roof structure, can also be readily
accomplished.
Once the initial installation phases of a roof structure are completed
the scaffolding elements may be removed from the wall position and reassembled
in
the roof position along the base of the roof structure as a temporary fall
restraint and
perimeter guard rail system. When assembled in the roof position, the
auxiliary wall
arm 52 is preferably removed so that railing elements rnay be readily
installed. The
adjustable nature of the base arm also permits a level work platform when
operating
through a broad range of roof inclinations. ~ecurement of the pivot plate to
the roof
structure is preferably accomplished by eight #12 two and a half inch long
wood
screws. The wood screws are installed through the pivot plate and into the
roof
sheathing and a truss supporting the sheathing thereon. Once the first row of
sheathing is installed the scaffolding elements can readily be pasitioned in
the roof
position thereon. Each of the co-operating apertures in the upright for
alignment
with the apertures formed at the inner end of the base arm corresponds to a
conventional roof inclination. These include four by twelve slopes as well as
six by
twelve, eight by twelve, ten by twelve and twelve by twelve slopes. The use of
the
anchor pin secures the base arm at the selected corresponding inclination. The
scaffolding elements are preferably supported on the roof structure no more
than
three meters or ten feet apart using the wand screws received through the
pivot
plate as noted above. Once the scaffolding elements are fixed on the
supporting
surface of the roof structure, two rows of two by ten planking material are
preferably
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supported on the base arms in side by side configuration. A guard rail ar
railing
elements can then be installed by slidably receiving the elements through the
appropriate railing apertures formed in the upright. 'fhe railing elements may
be
secured to the uprights by fasteners received in the apertures in the rail
support
plate as desired. Height of the railing spanning between each pair of adjacent
scaffolding elements preferably alternates being received in the railing
apertures
from adjacent pairs of scaffolding elements to form a generally consistent
barrier of
railing elements spanning all scaffolding elements.
The scaffolding elements are intended to be a readily affordable
scaffold system for use either adjacent wall structures ar as a fall restraint
system on
a roof structure. The scaffolding elements are not intended to be a heavy duty
support for supporting considerable work materials thereon but is rather
intended to
mostly support the weight of one or more workers thereon.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been described in
the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible
within the
scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely by
the scope
of the appended claims.
